The Museo Ixkik’ del Traje Maya, in Zona 3 of Quetzaltenango (Xela), shows more than 100 Maya costumes in 20 rooms; Guatemala.com’s August 2024 directory lists Q35 for foreigners and Q25 for nationals, open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but the Ministry of Culture’s undated SIC directory gives Q10 and Q5 and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. With two price lists in print, phone before you go: Guatemala.com gives 5273-4048 and the SIC gives 51389429 (both checked 9 November 2026). Weekend visits are by reservation, per Guatemala.com.
In short: a Maya-dress museum at 4a calle y 20 avenida, Zona 3. Published foreigner fees run from Q10 (undated Ministry of Culture listing) to Q35 (Guatemala.com list, August 2024), so call ahead; students Q10 and parking Q10 on the 2024 list. Weekdays only unless you book ahead.
Hours, fees and contact: the two lists side by side
| Item | Guatemala.com museum directory (published 12 Aug 2024) | Ministry of Culture SIC directory (undated) |
|---|---|---|
| Days | Monday to Friday; Saturday and Sunday with prior reservation | Not stated |
| Hours | 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. |
| Nationals | Q25.00 | Q5.00 |
| Foreigners | Q35.00 | Q10.00 |
| Students | Q10.00 | Not listed |
| Parking | Q10.00 | Not listed |
| Phone | 5273-4048, or the museum’s Facebook page | 51389429 |
| Location | 4a calle y 20 avenida, Zona 3, Quetzaltenango | Centro Intercultural de Quetzaltenango, departmental capital |
Both read 9 November 2026. The Guatemala.com entry credits its photograph to the museum itself; the SIC entry carries no date. The museum’s public Facebook page description, read the same day, gives no hours or prices. The safe plan is to budget the higher 2024 figures and confirm by phone.
Where it is and getting there
Guatemala.com places the museum at 4a calle and 20 avenida, Zona 3. In the same directory, the neighbouring Museo del Ferrocarril de los Altos is listed at 4ta calle between 19 and 21 avenida, Zona 3, in what Guatemala.com calls the well-known Parque Intercultural de Quetzaltenango. The SIC files the Ixkik’ under the name Centro Intercultural de Quetzaltenango.
Neither directory gives bus or taxi directions; for getting around the city, see Xela transportation.
What you see
The SIC listing says the word Ixkik’ means Piedra angular de la cultura maya, the cornerstone of Maya culture. The museum, it says, is devoted to the history and meaning of Maya dress, and its displays cover the history of clothing, weaving and how garments are made.
- 20 exhibition rooms. Both directories give this number. The SIC describes rooms on the history, symbolism, and cultural and scientific content of the Maya dress of Mesoamerica.
- More than 100 costumes. The SIC calls them national costumes of Guatemala from different municipalities. Guatemala.com breaks the collection into ceremonial, cofradía and work clothing, among others.
- Many language communities. The museum’s own Facebook page says its costumes come from several Maya linguistic communities and names K’iche’, Ixil, Tz’utujil, Mam, Q’eqchi’, Poqomchi’, Kaqchikel, Q’anjob’al and Achi'.
Also in Zona 3: the railway museum
Guatemala.com’s August 2024 directory lists the Museo del Ferrocarril de los Altos in the Parque Intercultural, showing old railway carriages, open Wednesday to Saturday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Q5.00 per person. Those hours are from 2024; confirm them before planning around them.
Three Xela museums from the same 2024 directory
Guatemala.com’s directory, marked as updated on 12 August 2024, lists Ixkik’ alongside other city museums. Its figures for three of them, for comparison:
| Museum | Where | Hours | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museo Ixkik’ del Traje Maya | 4a calle y 20 avenida, Zona 3 | Mon-Fri 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; weekends by reservation | Nationals Q25, students Q10, foreigners Q35, parking Q10 |
| Museo del Ferrocarril de los Altos | 4ta calle between 19 and 21 avenida, Zona 3, Parque Intercultural | Wed-Sat 3:00-6:00 p.m. | Q5 per person |
| Museo de Historia Natural Víctor Salvador De León Toledo | 7.ª calle between 11 and 12 avenida, Zona 1, Casa de la Cultura de Occidente, facing Parque Centroamérica | Daily 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 2:00-6:00 p.m. | Nationals Q5, foreigners Q20, students Q1 |
The same directory describes the natural history museum’s collection as zoology, Maya cultural pieces, the history of Quetzaltenango in the Sixth State of Los Altos and the marimba, with an archaeology and technology room; its listed phone is 7888-5273. All three rows are Guatemala.com’s 2024 figures, so treat them as a starting point and confirm by phone.
Before you go
- Phone first. Use 5273-4048 (Guatemala.com, 2024) or 51389429 (SIC); ask which fee applies to you and whether students need ID.
- Weekday, or book. Saturday and Sunday need a prior reservation, per Guatemala.com.
- Ask about payment. Neither directory says whether cards are accepted.
More in Xela
- Things to do in Xela, the wider list of the city’s sights.
- Quetzaltenango, municipality data.
- Riscos de Momostenango, eroded rock formations about half an hour from Xela.
- Quetzaltenango department.
Sources
- Guatemala.com, Directorio de museos en Quetzaltenango que puedes visitar, published 12 August 2024, read 9 November 2026. Travel site, secondary.
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Sistema de Información Cultural (SIC), listing Museo Ixkik’ del Traje Maya, Centro Intercultural de Quetzaltenango, undated, read 9 November 2026.
- Museo Ixkik del traje maya, official Facebook page, public page description, read 9 November 2026.
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Limits, prices and the altitude rules side by side: travel insurance for Guatemala · insurance for volcano hikes
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Museo Ixkik' del Traje Maya and when is it open?
Two published lists disagree. Guatemala.com’s museum directory (12 August 2024) gives nationals Q25.00, students Q10.00, foreigners Q35.00 and parking Q10.00, open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday by prior reservation. The Ministry of Culture’s SIC directory (undated, checked 9 November 2026) gives nationals Q5.00 and foreigners Q10.00, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone before you go.
Where is the Museo Ixkik' in Quetzaltenango?
Guatemala.com gives the address as 4a calle y 20 avenida, Zona 3, Quetzaltenango. The SIC directory files it under the Centro Intercultural de Quetzaltenango, in the departmental capital.
Can I visit Museo Ixkik' on a weekend?
Per Guatemala.com (August 2024), Saturday and Sunday visits are by prior reservation only. Contact the museum through its Facebook page or on 5273-4048, the number that directory gives.
What does Ixkik' mean?
The SIC directory says the word Ixkik’ means Piedra angular de la cultura maya, the cornerstone of Maya culture.
What is in the Museo Ixkik'?
The SIC directory and Guatemala.com both describe 20 exhibition rooms and a collection of more than 100 costumes. Guatemala.com says they include ceremonial, cofradía and work clothing, and the museum’s own Facebook page says it holds dress from several Maya linguistic communities, naming K’iche’, Ixil, Tz’utujil, Mam, Q’eqchi’, Poqomchi’, Kaqchikel, Q’anjob’al and Achi'.
