Traveling in the City of Antigua and Its Surroundings in Guatemala

 General

The city of Antigua in Guatemala is located about 40 km southwest of the capital city, Guatemala City. The city is famous for its colonial-style building architecture, colorful houses, churches, and ancient ruin structures that serve as archaeological sites located right in the heart of the old city.
Adjacent to the city are three high volcanoes: Agua to the south, and Acatenango and Fuego to the southwest of the city, with Fuego being an active volcano.

 

The city of Antigua and the volcanoes next to it:

 

The city was founded in 1543 and served as the capital of Guatemala until it was destroyed by a severe earthquake in 1773, after which the capital was relocated to the new site where Guatemala City is now located.
In the 20th century, restoration and rehabilitation of the ruins of the beautiful city that once stood here began, and it was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city's residents are mostly Spanish-speaking and are of mixed Spanish and Mayan descent. There are also Maya people who speak various dialects of the Mayan language and sometimes do not speak Spanish.
Antigua is a successful starting point to begin a trip in Guatemala. This is a touristic city full of attractions, and its surroundings also feature attractive travel destinations such as villages, towns, lakes, and volcanoes. For example, a trip to the active Pacaya volcano.
The vibrant city is also successful as a base for star trips thanks to the selection of hotels it offers to tourists. 

♦  Viator - Booking an airport transfer to Antigua:
Private Airport Transfer to Antigua Guatemala

Recommended Hotels in Antigua

Hotel Museo Casa Santo Domingo

The only five-star hotel in all of Guatemala. Located about a ten-minute walk from the center of the old city in an ancient and special building with lots of character and atmosphere.

The hotel, which spans a large area, features a swimming pool, gym, spa, upscale and successful restaurant, charming gardens, and several museums and galleries. Free internet and parking.   

Villa Colonial

A 4-star hotel located 1.8 km from the center of the old city. The rooms are large and spacious.

The hotel, designed in a colonial style, features a swimming pool, restaurant, and gardens. Free internet and parking for hotel guests.  

Meson Panza Verde

A 4-star hotel in classic European construction style with well-tended gardens, an art gallery, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city. The hotel is located a short walking distance from Antigua's central square.

Elegant rooms with a fireplace and seating area. Some rooms feature a jacuzzi. The hotel has a quality restaurant. Free internet and parking.

Hotel Mesón de María

A 3-star hotel in the heart of the old city (200 meters from the central square). The hotel features a colonial design with an interior courtyard and gardens. Free internet and parking.

Attractions for Travelers in Antigua

The city has taxis and plenty of tuk-tuks (a very popular mode of transportation throughout Guatemala), but most hotels are not far from the center, and it is recommended to take a walk to the center of the old city. Along the way, you will pass by numerous churches, shops, restaurants, and squares.

The city's central square, Plaza Mayor, is bustling with people and vendors, especially on weekends and holidays, with plenty of cotton candy sellers, balloons, souvenirs, and various foods.

♦ Recommended guided tours in the city of Antigua (to book from the Viator website):

 

 

Sometimes you will even spot bands in the streets dressed in traditional clothing singing and playing for passersby. The city is full of life and a festive atmosphere.

 

Adjacent to the central square is the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral: 

 

In the northern part of the square is the City Hall and adjacent to it an artisan market of weaving works for which Guatemala is known.

 

 

Among the additional buildings and sites worth visiting are:

• Convent of La Merced which houses a large and beautiful courtyard with an impressive fountain in its center. The convent is built with massive columns and walls that gave it good durability against earthquakes.

 

 

•The only 5-star hotel in Guatemala named Casa Santo Domingo which was built on the ruins of a large monastery. The hotel features many works of art, beautiful gardens with fountains, flowers and parrots, a restaurant, a museum, a church, and a unique atmosphere.

 

 

• The municipal market and central bus station, where you will witness its colorful and decorated buses.

Near the station is the municipal market (Mercado Municipal) and next to it a market of characteristic handicrafts named Mercado de Artesanías.

   

 

• ChocoMuseo where there are explanations on how chocolate is made from cocoa beans to the final product and of course plenty of tastings and a shop where you can buy local chocolate. The highlight of visiting the place is the chocolate-making workshop.

 

 

• A public site where Mayan women wash clothes. The place features a series of stone basins bordering a water pool.

 

 

•A street named Calle De Los Pasos featuring 14 small numbered churches along it.

• San Pedro Hospital located inside an impressive ancient building.

 

 

•The ruins of the Los Remedios Church of which most walls survived but the roof did not.

 

 

•A destination not to be missed: Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint of the city of Antigua:
On the hill adjacent to the city named Cerro de la Cruz there is an excellent viewpoint of Antigua and the volcanoes surrounding it. The hill got its name from the large cross placed on it.

 

 

Video about a trip to the city of Antigua:

Trips Outside the City of Antigua:

♦ Guided tours to destinations outside the city of Antigua (to book from Viator):

Around Antigua are many towns, mostly inhabited by Mayan people who make a living from agriculture and handicrafts.
Among the popular crops are cacao, coffee, and of course corn and beans.  

 

Coffee beans in their various stages:

 

 

It is recommended to visit an organic coffee farm and a cultural center named La Azotea Centro Cultural  located about two km north of Antigua.
The well-kept site features a coffee museum, a Mayan musical instrument museum, plant greenhouses, and most importantly: you can watch the entire coffee preparation process, taste various types of coffee, and of course purchase coffee produced on-site. 

 

 

 

 

Additional towns worth visiting near Antigua:

Ciudad Vieja

Which was the capital city of Guatemala before Antigua, was founded in 1527 and destroyed 14 years later by an eruption of the Agua volcano which released a massive flood of water trapped in its crater. The water flooded the city with tons of rocks and mud. Following this, Antigua became the new capital. The site features a church known for its decorations and adjacent to it a central square, typical of all cities and towns in the region. The town is built on the mountain slope and its streets are steep. 

San Antonio Aguas Calientes

A small town famous for the colorful textile works of the town's women who boast traditional, colorful, and extremely high-quality clothing. The spinning of wool by the town's women is done using ancient traditional methods. The town features a large and colorful indoor market where you can witness women spinning industriously and of course purchase their handicrafts.   

San Juan del Obispo 

Located at the foot of the Agua volcano and was the place of meditation for the Bishop. The attraction in this city is the castle of the first bishop of Obispo and the Baroque-style church. 

Trip to the Volcano

A trip to the active Pacaya volcano is a special and impressive experience. When you arrive at the foot of the volcano, you can climb the mountain either on foot or on horseback with a guide. I recommend going up on horseback and walking down a different path. A description of this trip is given in my article: Trip to the Pacaya Volcano and Hot Springs in Guatemala.

 

Pacaya Volcano:

 

 

Weather in Antigua:

The city is located at an altitude of over 1,500 meters above sea level and the weather is pleasant and you really do not need an air conditioner here; the hotels and houses in the area are not air-conditioned. The weather is the same all year round with an average temperature of 23 degrees Celsius.

 

Food and Drink:

The bustling streets of the city feature a wide variety of restaurants and bars.

A recommended quality restaurant in a beautiful hotel named La Posada de Don Rodrigo. The hotel features interior courtyards lush with vegetation and statues, as well as a band playing and singing on site. The food is successful, and the prices are quite high.

 

A popular and cheap dish in Guatemala: a dish called Pepian. This is a stew of chicken (or beef or pork) with vegetables and a thick spiced soup:

 

Another popular dish: Ceviche, chopped seafood (uncooked) with a seasoned vegetable salad:

 

A recommended local dessert: Rellenito Plantain (a type of large banana popular in Central America and eaten cooked) stuffed with black beans with cinnamon and a little chocolate. 

 

In most restaurants in Guatemala, you will of course be served tortillas made from corn dough, beans in various shades and cooking and serving forms, usually mashed beans in the form of a paste. The local cheese is soft, white, and tasty.

Drink: Tap water in Guatemala is not recommended for drinking; some hotels even provide purified water bottles (called Agua Pura) even for brushing teeth. 

 

Articles about Guatemala on our site: Trip to Antigua  |   Trip to Pacaya Volcano and Hot Springs  |  Trip to Lake Atitlan and Surroundings |  Semuc Champey Waterfalls and Stalactite Caves |  Trip to the Ixil Triangle |  Trip to Rio Dulce and Cruise to Livingston  |  Trip to Quirigua Ruins