We arrived an hour and a half later to the Iximche Ruins. Iximché is a sacred site for modern-day Maya communities, especially the Kaqchikel Maya, whose ancestors built and ruled the city in the 15th century. Once home to plazas and temples, it later became the site of the first Spanish colonial capital in Guatemala before it was moved to Antigua. Today, local Ajq’ijab (daykeepers) still gather at Iximché to perform traditional fire ceremonies and offerings; rituals meant to cleanse, give thanks, and connect with ancestral spirits.

 

These ceremonies are especially common at active altars, like the ceremonial platforms located just before the main ruins. These spots are recognized as spiritual portals tied to the Maya calendar, cosmic energy, and lineage.

 

While tourists can respectfully observe or participate in blessings (often arranged through local guides), many ceremonies are private and held by local families for weddings, births, healing, harvests, and life transitions. The Guatemalan government officially recognizes Iximché as a site of living Maya religious practice, and the work of trained Ajq’ijab is legally protected.