Sololá: Tower of Central America and Museum

The Tower of Central America in Sololá is 26 meters tall and houses a museum with historical objects from the Department of Sololá and from Guatemala. The preserved collection also includes the tower’s original clock mechanism. A visit brings together three distinct aspects: the building itself, the historical collection, and the clock mechanism’s technology. The objects come from beyond the town of the same name; at the same time, the tower is a specific cultural landmark for Sololá.

The Tower of Central America

The tower’s four floors are open to visitors. From the tower, you can enjoy views of Sololá and Lake Atitlán. A visit thus combines the museum’s interior with views of the town and lake. If you are interested in both the historical objects and the view, they are different aspects of the same building.

Visiting and getting oriented

The listed opening hours for the tower are Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. As opening hours can change, check them before your visit. Guided tours and translations into other languages are also offered; check in advance whether they are available for your visit.

A municipal development plan from 2010 listed the public market in the center of the town center on Tuesdays and Fridays for its 2011–2018 planning period. This date is important if you are including the market in your current plans: check the current market days in advance.

Discoveries in the wider destination of Sololá

The wider destination of Sololá also includes Santiago Atitlán. Boats depart from the waterfront promenade there; children play at the water’s edge, with volcanoes rising in the background. Lake Atitlán lies in an ancient volcanic caldera that formed about 84,000 years ago. Boat trips on the lake offer views of volcanoes, mountains, and Maya villages along the shore.

Public and private boats connect Lake Atitlán with San Marcos La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna, Santa Cruz La Laguna, and Santiago Atitlán, among other places along the lakeshore. If you are planning a specific trip, check the service for your chosen day. In Santiago Atitlán, you can also book a boat trip around the bay or to other parts of the lake; check availability locally.

Maximón, also known as Rilaj Mam, is another cultural reference in Santiago Atitlán. A religious brotherhood cares for the statue; it is not permanently on display as an attraction, and its location may change depending on the ritual calendar. If you would like to include Maximón in your plans, find out its current location.

The tower, its museum, and the views of Sololá are associated with the town; Santiago Atitlán, its waterfront promenade, and the boat connections belong to the wider region. Check the location listed for a specific hotel offer before linking it to a particular excursion.

Discover more destinations: Pasajquim, San Pedro La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna, Cerro de Oro, Panajachel, Tzununa, San Antonio Palopó, San Lucas Tolimán

Go to the wider travel overview: Sololá.