Q’umarkaj, one of the most important cities of the K’iche’ Maya, sits 2.5 km from the town centre of Santa Cruz del Quiché and reopened in May 2026 after security measures, according to Guatemala’s Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (MCD). The ministry gives the hours as 8:00 to 16:00 and the entry as Q30.00 for foreign visitors and Q5.00 for Guatemalan visitors; its cultural directory (SIC) lists the same hours and fees. It is both an archaeological park and a living sacred place, where spiritual guides use the altars and caves for ceremonies.
This page covers the decision to make the trip: what the site costs, when it opens, how to reach it from the CA-1, what is left of the temples and what to expect on the ground. All facts are from the MCD’s own pages and from AGN, the government news agency, read on 1 November 2026. The ministry writes the name as Q’u’ma’rkaj and the SIC directory as Qumarkaaj and Qumarka’aj; this page uses Q’umarkaj, the form AGN uses.
Quick summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Where | 2.5 km from the town centre of Santa Cruz del Quiché, department of Quiché (MCD) |
| Entry | Q30.00 foreign visitors; Q5.00 Guatemalan visitors (MCD, 6 May 2026; SIC) |
| Hours | 8:00 to 16:00; days of the week not stated (MCD; SIC) |
| Status | Reopened May 2026 after security actions (MCD) |
| Run by | Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (SIC lists MICUDE) |
| Phone | 40386383 (SIC listing contact) |
| On site | Museum, main plaza, temple remains, ball court, caves, toilets, parking, guard post with visitor register (SIC) |
| Route | CA-1 to Los Encuentros, then route 15 toward Chichicastenango (MCD) |
The May 2026 reopening
The ministry’s release of 6 May 2026 says community leaders had reported that insecurity was affecting the area, which had limited access and the holding of activities, mainly ancestral ones. The Instituto de Antropología e Historia (IDAEH), with its Departamento de Monumentos Prehispánicos y Coloniales (DEMOPRE), coordinated with the Policía Nacional Civil, the División de Protección a la Naturaleza and the Comisión Presidencial de Atención a la Conflictividad to reinforce surveillance and protection of the site.
Community and ancestral authorities take part in the process, among them the Consejo del Pueblo K’iche’ and the Cocode of the colonia Las Ruinas, together with spiritual representatives. The ministry says it seeks to improve security and guarantee respect for the spirituality and cultural practices of the K’iche’ people, and that other projects to improve the running of the site are under way.
Fees and hours
| Source | Hours | Foreign visitor | Guatemalan visitor |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCD news release, 6 May 2026 | 8:00 to 16:00 | Q30.00 | Q5.00 |
| SIC directory listing (last modified 31 August 2026) | 8:00 am to 4:00 pm | Q30.00 | Q5.00 |
The two ministry sources agree. Neither lists a child, student or senior rate, and neither names the opening days. The SIC listing gives a contact number, 40386383, and says the guard post at the site keeps a visitor register.
Getting there
The ministry’s directions run up the Inter-American Highway (CA-1) to Los Encuentros, then onto national route 15 in the direction of Chichicastenango, roughly 19 km to Santa Cruz del Quiché. The site is 2.5 km from the town centre; the SIC listing adds that it is still on route 15. There is parking for vehicles inside the complex (SIC).
For the road and shuttle options to the area, see Guatemala City to Chichicastenango and Antigua to Chichicastenango. Route 15 is also the road to Chichicastenango, home of the Chichicastenango market.
What you will see
The ministry’s release names four places to walk: the Plaza Principal, the Templo de Tohil, the temple of Awilix and the ball court. The SIC listing describes the rest of the complex:
| Feature | What the SIC listing says is there |
|---|---|
| Museum | Built with K’iche’-inspired design; pieces from the excavations, a scale model of the city before its destruction by Pedro de Alvarado, and paintings including the battles of 1524, plus chronologies and maps of K’iche’ migrations |
| Kab’ek temple excavation | The front of a pyramid-type temple with a stairway; traces of the stucco the K’iche’ called T’zac; offerings are made on its west side |
| Plaza Principal | Buildings for religious, political, ritual-sport, scientific and organisational uses; still used today for spiritual and social activities and by ancestral authorities |
| Tojil / Templo de Tohil | Only the inner core survives; one of the most important altars for offerings today, with a circular burning place in front used in ceremonies |
| Awilix | On the east side of the plaza; its outer stone facing has been completely removed |
| Jakawitz | A large mound on the south side of the plaza; never excavated |
| Q’uq’umatz | A circular temple of the feathered serpent, now visible only as a circular impression in the plaza surface |
| Ball court | An I-shaped court; recent excavation shows its pumice-stone base and quarried-stone cover |
| Caves | Four recorded, man-made caves; three can be entered, one has collapsed; two north-east of the plaza are used by Ajq’ijab’ for ceremonies |
Expect remains rather than restored pyramids: the SIC listing says all the stone facing of Jakawitz was stolen, as at the other structures of Q’umarkaj, leaving a core of rubble and earth, and that at Tohil what is visible is rubble and the mud core of the temple. In September 2022, AGN reported that the ministry had improved six altars at the site, fitted out two new ones and reorganised the information panels, describing the site as a sacred place where the works help in the holding of ceremonies.
A sacred site, not only ruins
The MCD calls Q’umarkaj a living centre of Maya spirituality, and the SIC listing describes ceremonies at the Tojil altar, at the circular burning place in front of it and in the caves. Neither ministry source publishes a ceremony calendar or rules for visitors at ceremonies; ask at the guard post when you arrive.
Facilities
Per the SIC listing: wide green areas, two toilet blocks (one north of the main plaza and one beside the museum at the entrance), parking, and a guard post where you find the person in charge, the visitor register and printed information about the site.
For other highland Maya sites, see our pages on Iximché and Mixco Viejo.
Sources
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Sitio arqueológico Q’u’ma’rkaj retoma actividades con mayor seguridad (6 May 2026): https://noticias.mcd.gob.gt/2026/05/06/sitio-arqueologico-qumarkaj-retoma-actividades-con-mayor-seguridad/ (read 1 November 2026)
- Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Sistema de Información Cultural (SIC), Sitio Arqueológico Qumarkaaj listing: https://www.sicultura.gob.gt/directory-directorio_c/listing/sitio-arqueologico-qumarkaaj/ (read 1 November 2026)
- Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN), Concluyen trabajos de mejoramiento en el sitio arqueológico Q’umarkaj (16 September 2022): https://agn.gt/concluyen-trabajos-de-mejoramiento-en-el-sitio-arqueologico-qumarkaj (read 1 November 2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter Q'umarkaj?
Q30.00 for foreign visitors and Q5.00 for Guatemalan visitors, according to the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes news release of 6 May 2026. The ministry’s cultural directory (SIC), last modified 31 August 2026, lists the same two prices. Neither source lists a separate child or student rate.
What are the opening hours of Q'umarkaj?
8:00 to 16:00, per the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes (6 May 2026) and its SIC directory listing. Neither source states which days of the week the site opens, so check with the site before a weekday or holiday visit; the SIC listing gives the phone number 40386383.
Is Q'umarkaj open again?
On 6 May 2026 the Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes announced that Q’umarkaj had reopened after security actions. It said community leaders had reported that insecurity was affecting the area and had limited access and activities, mainly ancestral ones, and that the IDAEH coordinated with the Policía Nacional Civil, the División de Protección a la Naturaleza and the Comisión Presidencial de Atención a la Conflictividad to reinforce vigilance.
How do you get to Q'umarkaj?
The ministry’s directions: take the Inter-American Highway (CA-1) to Los Encuentros, then national route 15 in the direction of Chichicastenango, roughly 19 km to Santa Cruz del Quiché; the site is 2.5 km from the town centre, still on route 15 according to the SIC listing.
Can you see a Maya ceremony at Q'umarkaj?
The site is a working sacred place. The SIC listing says two of the caves north-east of the main plaza are used by Ajq’ijab’ (spiritual guides) for ceremonies and that the Tojil structure is one of the main altars for offerings. Neither the SIC listing nor the ministry’s May 2026 release publishes a ceremony schedule.
