Visiting the Tzu’tujil Maya Ruins of Chiutinamit A short boat ride across the bay from Santiago Atitlan is the little known, nor excavated, Maya ruins of Chiutinamit. The site dates from 250 A.D and remained active until after the Conquest. This is the original city and spiritual center of the Tzu’tujil Maya. The meaning and…
Can I See a Ritual in Santiago? Many people ask if they can come and “see” a Mayan ceremony. It’s an understandable and a totally okay question to ask. It’s a reality, too, that it’s difficult for visiting folks to understand how personal ceremony and ritual really live here. So, the answer to the question…
A Deeper Look Into the History of Ancient Maya Tradition in Santiago, Lake Atitlán Wild and wonderful Santiago is one of the most traditional Mayan towns on Lake Atitlan. The original name of this Tzu’tujil (Tzoo- tu-hil) Mayan town is Tz’Kin Jay, House of the Birds. And like the birds that sing raucously here and…
How to Visit Maximon, Santiago’s Most Misunderstood Mayan Deity The Cofradias and Traditionalist ways of Santiago are quite “open” and receptive to outsiders and visitors. However, if you decide to visit Maximon, there a few things you must be aware of in order to make your visit a proper one. Historically, the Cofradias moved almost every…
