We’ve got lived in Guatemala for 4 years and by no means tire of exploring this implausible nation and love visiting Antigua! On this put up we share our high suggestions on essentially the most wonderful issues to do in Antigua, Guatemala.
Antigua, Guatemala, is usually ignored as a journey vacation spot. Don’t do this! As an alternative get out to discover this Historic Spanish Colonial metropolis nestled within the coronary heart of Central America.
Uncover historical Mayan historical past and see astonishing 360 volcanic views. This hidden gem just isn’t solely budget-friendly, however you additionally get to expertise a wealthy tradition firsthand that’s fused with Spanish traits and indigenous influences. Guatemalan tradition values household and is thought for its brightly coloured textiles, agriculture, the tune of the marimba, which is the nationwide musical instrument, and friendliness.
With this information, you’ll know precisely the best way to spend every day in Antigua, Guatemala. What to do, the place to remain, and the very best meals to eat. Uncover household enjoyable actions and create memorable moments.
E-book distinctive out of doors adventures that you could’t miss, plus learn how to get to Antigua from the airport in Guatemala Metropolis.
Unforgettable Issues To Do
This bucket checklist of inspirational experiences in Antigua, Guatemala, will guarantee you will have the last word journey of a lifetime. From out of doors adventures for the adrenaline junkie to stress-free moments and household leisure concepts.
Listed here are the highest issues to do in Antigua that you simply completely don’t need to overlook and that you’ll bear in mind for years to come back.
Hike an Energetic Volcano
If the concept of seeing a volcano erupt appeals to the joys seeker in you, there may be one volcanic hike in Antigua that you simply and your loved ones will love. The Pacaya Volcano Hike! This hike is finest when booked as a guided tour.
Strap in your mountain climbing boots and discover lava fields as a household. Pacaya Volcano is a good simple hike for households, together with teenagers and youthful children. In case you choose to not stroll, there may be additionally an choice to do Pacaya Volcano on horseback.
See lava and smoke stream out of the volcano crater as you hike alongside the ash-covered volcanic rock. You’ll be able to even roast marshmallows within the sizzling lava. Pacaya Volcano is 2552m in elevation and takes 6-7 hours to hike in its entirety with a information. You’ll be able to e book a half-day household tour here.
In case you would favor to hike a more difficult volcano, one that might require you to be a complicated trekker, then e book your in a single day tour to climb and camp on Acatenango Volcano, which is among the highest Volcanoes in Central America.
Acatenango can also be an energetic volcano however hasn’t erupted since 1972. Nevertheless, this beast of a volcano presents direct views of Volcan Fuego, which straight interprets to Hearth.
Fuego is an excessively energetic volcano placing on a tremendous show of Hearth erupting from the highest of the crater each 20 minutes or so. To see Fuego erupt from the highest of Acatenango is to see one thing spectacular. This hike roughly prices $90 {dollars} per individual and lasts two days. You’ll be able to e book your overnight tour here.
Semana Santa
Plan your trip round Easter, also called Holy Week. You should have the chance to have a good time Semana Santa, a roman catholic celebration, and see the world-renowned avenue processions on the Thursday and Friday earlier than Easter and on Easter Sunday.
Semana Santa is an extravagant Easter pageant all through Guatemala and in Antigua particularly. In the course of the festivities, the complete city and each member of the household take part within the world-famous spiritual ceremonies, together with marching bands, incense, choices, and processions.
That is an unparalleled celebration like no different. From grand and lavish spiritual floats to intricately designed alfombras, that are elaborate “carpets” on the streets designed by hand with sawdust. Semana Santa combines tradition and custom that you’ll bear in mind for a lifetime. You’ll be able to e book a Semana Santa tour here.
Getting Round
It’s nice in case you communicate Spanish or have a primary understanding of the language, however in Antigua, it’s not a requirement. Talking Spanish does make getting round simpler; nevertheless, many automotive providers are bilingual.
After you land in Guatemala Metropolis, it would be best to have pre-booked a automotive service to drive you to Antigua. Some Inns provide this service. The journey is about an hour to an hour and a half, relying on visitors.
You’ll be able to pre-book your shuttle service from Guatemala Metropolis airport to Antigua, Guatemala here.
The easiest way to get across the Previous Metropolis is to stroll. Antigua is a really walkable and pleasant small metropolis. In case you choose to not stroll, you may seize a Tuk Tuk, a small 3-wheeled taxi. Tuk Tuk’s are available throughout city.
In case you are going a bit additional, taking a Uber is at all times a good suggestion. You’ll be able to take a rooster bus, a reworked college bus, and Guatemalans’ primary type of transportation. Nonetheless, I’d advocate solely doing that when and extra for the expertise than utilizing it as a means of formal transportation. The drivers are identified to be careless.
A Rooster Bus isn’t a taxi however a town-to-town shuttle. To catch a rooster bus to a close-by village, you may go to the place they decide and drop folks off in Antigua, which is true between Pollo Campero and the out of doors market on the principle street referred to as Calzada Santa Lucia.
Exchanging Cash
There’s one dominant airport in Guatemala Metropolis, which is the closest airport to Antigua. Whenever you fly into La Aurora Worldwide Guatemala Airport, it’s a good suggestion to change $50 for Quetzals or Q’s to have some money readily available.
When exchanging extra money, I like to recommend utilizing a Guatemalan financial institution like BI or Banrural as a result of they usually have a greater change price than the airport and are simply discovered downtown in Antigua.
Another choice is to make use of a travel-friendly bank card that doesn’t incur worldwide charges. Bank cards are broadly accepted in Antigua, or you may withdraw from an ATM machine, which is a superb thought in case your financial institution at dwelling doesn’t cost a global atm withdrawal payment, which is incurred along with the change price and the same old atm payment.
When utilizing an ATM, at all times use an atm inside a financial institution to lower the chance of your card being compromised. The banks have full-time safety, and the ATMs throughout the banks are a safer possibility than utilizing ATMs on the road.
The change varies by small quantities given the date, and you may examine the present price of change here.
When To Go to
Top-of-the-line issues about Antigua, Guatemala, is the climate. The local weather is at all times nice, which is why Antigua Guatemala is known as the land of everlasting spring, and for that cause, it’s a nice journey vacation spot yr round. Nevertheless, there’s a dry season and a wet season.
The dry season is from November to Could. The wet season is from Could till November when it’s usually good in the course of the day however normally rains most evenings. Though most individuals have a tendency to go to in the course of the dry season, one of many advantages of visiting in the course of the wet season is wildlife are vibrant.
I like to recommend visiting in the course of the dry season if you’re desirous about all-day out of doors excursions like mountain climbing the volcanoes that require good climate. Nevertheless, suppose you’re skipping the volcano hike and need to sightsee. In that case, the moist season actually is gorgeous as a result of the flowers and greenery are so vivid, and there may be usually a variety of time early within the day to do enjoyable actions earlier than the rain units in.
Household Enjoyable Actions
Stroll Central Park
This isn’t your common park. That is the middle of the neighborhood and is normally bustling with smiling distributors colorfully wearing conventional apparel. Town typically hosts free festivals right here, and the park is encircled by attractive timber across the central water fountain.
The Parque is surrounded by metropolis buildings of distinctive structure, retailers, and cafes. Antigua Central Parque has a backdrop of volcanos and is taken into account some of the lovely parks in Guatemala.
Play at a Finca
The Fincas or Farms are plentiful and provide household enjoyable actions. At La Azotea, you may hire bicycles and bike across the grounds, which embrace dust pathways by means of espresso plantations and gardens.
At Finca Colombia, you may pay a small payment to take part in a soccer match, swim of their indoor pool, and hike across the pathways.
Genuine Guatemalan Cooking Class
Be taught the historical past and significance of native delicacies and learn to make typical Guatemalan meals as a gaggle. Style and create your individual conventional dishes utilizing the artistic flavors of Guatemala. E-book here!
Wonderful Excursions
Take a Strolling Tour of This Historical Metropolis
The structure in Antigua, one among UNESCO’s World Heritage Websites, is finally very distinctive. You don’t want to depart with out experiencing a strolling tour of the structure, together with well-known landmarks just like the Santa Catalina Arch and quite a few cathedrals, ruins, and parks.
These excursions are a superb possibility for the complete household. Stroll alongside cobblestone streets, take photos and be taught enjoyable details in regards to the area’s historical past. E-book your strolling tour here.
Make Your Personal Chocolate
We aren’t speaking about baking a cake. As an alternative, this household enjoyable workshop on the Chocolate Museum is all in regards to the historical past and course of of constructing chocolate from the Cocoa Bean like historical Mayans.
This workshop is so enjoyable not solely since you get to eat the purest chocolate, however you additionally get to take some dwelling. The lessons usually final 2 hours and value about $25 per individual, and you may tour the Chocolate Museum without spending a dime. E-book it here.
Espresso Tour
Espresso and tradition are what you may anticipate while you e book your guided espresso plantation tour at Filadelfia, a espresso farm that has been round for over 150 years. Be taught in regards to the cultivation of espresso from its origins and pattern the automated flavors. Filadelfia has been roasting espresso beans since 1866 and they’re glad to share their ardour with you. E-book by means of their Facebook Page.
Museum Tour
At The Museum of Colonial Artwork, you may start to know the complicated historical past of the area and the constructing by which the Museum sits. See wooden sculptures and artwork and tour the galleries. You’ll be able to e book your museum tour here.
ATV Tour
Go on an ATV mountain tour by means of the small villages on the outskirts of Antigua to wilderness trails. See extra of the agricultural landscapes of Guatemala off the overwhelmed path.
The tour prices about $70 per individual and is usually 5 to six hours lengthy. You’ll be able to drive your individual ATV four-wheeler, otherwise you generally is a passenger. E-book here!
Bike Tour
A cool approach to see ruins which might be unfrequented is to e book a half-day mountain bike tour. This tour presents views of earthquake-crumbled church buildings and agricultural environment. This tour is finest for ages 13 and up.
Distinctive Locations To See
Hobbitenago
Hobbitenago is an eco-park that sits in a valley and spans 26 totally different areas to traverse with gorgeous views. This particular place is true to its title, with a number of hobbit houses you may discover. I like to recommend spending not less than a half day right here, if not a whole day.
They host dwell music occasions, have eating places within the hobbit houses, musical play areas for youths, Instagram-worthy picture ops, and miles of trails to stroll by means of nature.
Hobbitenago is about half-hour exterior of Antigua and requires a 4×4 shuttle from the car parking zone, which they’ve out there all day. The doorway payment is Q50 which equates to beneath $7 for adults, and Q30 for youths beneath 10, which is about $4. This entrance payment consists of the 4×4 shuttle to and from the eco-park to the car parking zone.
Cerro de la Cruz
That is an overlook level to the traditional metropolis beneath. It’s reachable by automotive or mountain climbing up a stairway on the backside of the mountain on the sting of the town.
As soon as reaching the highest, you’re rewarded with distributors, volcanic views overlooking Antigua, and a big white cross that’s stated to protect the town.
The Out of doors Market Place
Go to the Mercado de Aetesanias, the Artisan Market open day by day. These native markets are situated on the principle avenue referred to as Calzada Santa Lucia, close by the Pollo Compero quick meals restaurant.
The out of doors market has lots of of distributors promoting all the things from contemporary fruit and veggies to electronics, clothes attire, toys, and contemporary meat. Weave your means by means of the stalls and discover one thing particular to purchase and convey dwelling with you.
One thing to recollect is the market is money solely. If you wish to be taught much more historical past about domestically grown meals, this Gastronomic and Cultural tour begins in central park and extends into {the marketplace}.
Architectural Ruins
Santa Domingo Ruins
See historical buildings planted round gardens, together with a church and monastery.
El Carmen Ruins & Sunday Market
Make sure you go to these ruins downtown on Sunday to make the most of the colourful vendor market. The ruins sit in entrance of a number of dozens of distributors promoting colourful mementos and trinkets on market days.
Antiguo Colegio de la Compañia de Jesús
This fascinating spoil sits in central Antigua and will be considered from the street. If you need to get a better look, you may pay a small payment to go contained in the gates and take photos.
Catedral de San José
These ruins are my favourite. Stroll amongst enormous crumbled blocks and think about the deep blue sky by means of the vaulted holed ceilings.
Day Journeys From Antigua
Monterrico
If vacationing for per week or longer, a day journey to the coast is a should! Go away Antigua, the previous metropolis, early and take a shuttle that may be booked at any company round Antigua, and head to Monterrico to see the black-sanded seashores of the Pacific coast. The drive one-way is about two and a half hours. Here is a advisable reserving service.
When planning your day journey and reserving a shuttle inquire about releasing child turtles into the ocean! From September to February, each day, turtles are launched, usually as soon as within the morning and as soon as within the night. With some resorts, you may launch child turtles in Monterrico in the course of the season by paying a payment or with the Conservation Middle.
Inns in Monterrico that launch child turtles are Johnny’s Place, Resort el Delfin, Atelie del Mar, or the Conservation Middle of Tortuguero. The expertise of releasing a tiny child turtle is one thing extraordinary for everybody, from youngsters to adults. Keep away from utilizing a flash whereas taking photos, and be mild with the tiny creatures.
Lake Atitlán
Positioned within the division of Sololá, Lake Atitlan is among the most lovely lakes on this planet. The drive from Antigua one-way is about 3 hours. The large blue lake is surrounded by the “three giants” Volcanos, Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro, making the views completely breathtaking.
The villages surrounding the lake provide totally different environments to vacationers, from the peaceable aura of Santa Cruz la Laguna and San Pedro to the festive ambiance of Panajachel, a city identified for its colourful events.
The easiest way to go to the small villages after arriving on the lake is by small boats referred to as lanches, that are available, just like a ship taxi or simply e book a tour that takes care of all the things, even your shuttle from Antigua! See 3 distinctive Mayan Villages by way of guided tour, e book here.
The place To Eat
Antigua is very good for having various meals choices. You could find a big number of morning cafes that serve the very best Guatemalan espresso, out of doors lunch spots, native cultural delicacies, and fancy steakhouses. The number of eating in Antigua is limitless.
Breakfast & Lunch Spots
Caoba Farm
A family-friendly Finca or farm that homes a restaurant, natural gardens, flower beds, tropical flowers, a child’s play space, and palm timber. Eat your eggs benedict or conventional Guatemalan brunch in lush tropical gardens. Word that Fincas usually cost a small entrance payment of $2 or $3 per individual.
Unión Café Antigua
This breakfast and brunch spot is thought for its wholesome scrumptious meals, and vegetarian and vegan choices. They serve crisp domestically sourced fruits and veggies of their dishes. They provide freshly squeezed juices and scrumptious contemporary fruit and veggie smoothies.
El Native
This cafe is superb and has an outside backyard seating space and a cat named Lola. Order a selfmade bagel breakfast sandwich and a scrumptious latte. The El Native is situated behind a small restaurant plaza, La Fuente.
The entrance of the plaza has overhanging timber and seating round a stupendous and inventive water fountain, which can also be an important place to take pleasure in your breakfast.
Dinner
La Azotea
Attempt La Azotea for a soothing informal lunch or dinner open air accompanied by dwell music. This out of doors espresso farm has bicycle leases, two cafes, three eating places, and a beer backyard.
Inside Azotea, you may seize a conventional dinner of grilled lomito and chorizo close to the entryway at The Carbon Roof. Additional inside, you’ll discover Azote BG, which has a big out of doors house, a dwell stage for bands, pizza, burgers, handcrafted beers, smoothies, and extra. https://azotebg.com/
Escobar Home
Escobar Home is a steakhouse situated in entrance of the Antiguo Colegio de la Compañia de Jesús ruins in central Antigua and is a superb alternative for a nicer eating expertise. They serve an array of appetizers, soups, salads, and steaks, together with sirloin steak and prime rib. The costs at this restaurant are just like US costs. Anticipate to pay about $30 for a steak dinner.
La Fonda de la Calle Actual
For a purely conventional foodie expertise, go to La Fonda de la Calle Actual. A restaurant proper on Arco avenue or Arch avenue the place the well-known Santa Catalina Arch is situated.
They serve Conventional Guatemalan Meals. The menu consists of the nationwide dish of Pepian y Pollo, a stew of spices cooked with rooster and served with rice and conventional Guatemalan tortillas.
The place To Keep in Antigua
From luxurious colonial trip rental houses to attractive, reasonably priced resorts and cheap hostels, you could find an important place to remain within the heart of Antigua. Don’t fear about air-con or a heater as a result of the climate is a cushty temperature yr round.
Trip Leases
Get pleasure from a cheap keep for beneath $100 on this colonial sixteenth Century Home. Positioned in Central Antigua this home is completely situated within the heart of all of the motion.
This cozy rental is actually your house away from dwelling, and it’s reasonably priced too! At roughly $100 an evening, you and your loved ones can take pleasure in a big non-public yard, a pool desk, day by day housekeeping service, flat-screen TVs with high-speed web, and a few actually cool extras, together with the choice for airport transfers from Guatemala Metropolis into Antigua for a further $40 payment, which is about an hours drive to an hour and a half relying upon visitors.
Keep on this extravagant trip dwelling with a personal heated pool and jacuzzi. This four-bedroom trip dream dwelling consists of complimentary breakfast for all relations plus drinks and snacks served by the pleasant workers. Sit on the highest patio and spend your leisure time taking within the volcanic views. You’ll be able to pamper your self for about $250 to $350 an evening. The value might fluctuate relying in your journey dates and the variety of visitors included in your keep.
Inns
Resort For Any Funds
Selina Hostal is a low-budget place to remain that’s each easy, clear, and exquisite. Get pleasure from out of doors swimming in a tropical backyard. The Hostel does welcome youngsters of all ages. They do host occasions, and a few rooms could also be impacted by noise. This location is a steal at roughly $25 to $50 an evening! Value does rely upon in case you e book a personal room or bunk shared room possibility.
Household Pleasant Resort
Attempt a keep at this pet-friendly and kid-friendly resort Las Farolas. They provide grocery deliveries for a further payment and have a big picnic and backyard space with cozy rooms and an on-site restaurant that serves standard worldwide delicacies. The fee varies however is, on common, $60 to $100 an evening.
Luxurious Resort
Casa Santo Domingo. A keep at this 5-star resort features a leisure space, an on-site restaurant, a bar, and a wellness spa. Calm down on loungers, e book a physique scrub or again therapeutic massage, plus take pleasure in a full buffet breakfast within the morning. The fee is about $150 an evening to $200.
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I like a good time whether or not meaning day consuming, chasing my children round a swimming pool, or laying on a seashore someplace. I at all times have a e book close by and I am into sharing mother survival suggestions. Take a look at my website at: www.Ichugmywine.com.
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