Antigua is a charming small city in southern Guatemala that is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and the beautiful cobblestone streets. An interesting fact is that it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. Antigua is definitely one of the most beautiful towns I have ever visited, and something about this town just feels a little bit magical. It is surrounded by volcanoes, has beautifully painted buildings, and has wonderful people.
How many days in Antigua, Guatemala?
3–5 days is the ideal time to spend in Antigua, in my opinion. It will give you enough time to explore the city, do the amazing volcano hike, and leave room for some other things to do.
Things to do in Antigua:
1. Explore the city:
I would definitely spend one of the days exploring the entire city. It has so much to offer and is absolutely gorgeous.
- Santa Catalina Arch: Built in the 17th century, this picturesque archway offers a stunning view of Volcán de Agua. It is one of Antigua’s most photographed and famous landmarks.
- Nim Po’t Souvenir Store: It is located on the same street as the Santa Catalina Arch. This big souvenir store sells all kinds of textiles and handicrafts produced by locals from all over Guatemala.
- Parque Central: Discover Antigua’s main square, which is surrounded by the Cathedral and the Captain General’s Palace. The beautiful floral garden in the middle invites you to linger.
- Iglesia de la Merced: It is one of the most iconic and beautiful baroque-style churches in town.
- Catedral San José: One of the biggest churches and definitely the most known cathedral in Antigua. It’s located right next to the Parque Central. The ruins of the church are also right behind it and only cost Q20 to enter.
- Cerro de la Cruz: It is an easily accessible spot that has some of the best views of Antigua and its surrounding volcanoes. You’ll just have to walk up some concrete stairs for around 15-20 minutes, which is maybe a 10-minute walk away from the city center.
- Go on a Bar Crawl: Antigua is known for some great bars and pubs. Many hostels offer pup crawls, which are a great way to meet new people. It’s a safe way to explore the nightlife.
2. ChocoMuseo:
Indulge in the world of chocolate at this museum, where you can learn about the chocolate-making process. You can even make your own chocolate with the Bean to Bar workshop for 25 dollars, which takes around 2 hours. They’re open every day from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. You can book the workshop on their website here.
3. Museo Casa del Tejido Antiguo:
Discover the artistry of traditional Guatemalan weaving and textiles in this captivating museum. They offer tours of the place in English and Spanish, which take about half an hour and cost Q25. They even offer weaving classes for Q450 or a bracelet-making class for Q75. It’s open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and is about a 20-minute walk out of town. You don’t have to pre-book, but to make sure they have space, you can quickly call or message them.
4. Acatenango Volcano Overnight Tour:
This is an absolutely must-do if you’re visiting Antigua and are in good physical condition. It’s quite intense, but probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. I did this tour with Tropicana for Q500 (around $60 USD, although I just recently saw that they raised the price to $79 USD). You’ll start hiking up the volcano in the morning until you reach one of the basecamps. The hike will take around 4-5 hours with multiple breaks in-between (believe me, you will need them). From there, if you’re lucky with the weather, you’ll have an amazing view of the Volcán de Fuego, which is highly active. Small explosions of gas and ash occur almost every 15–20 minutes! As soon as the sun begins to set, you’ll be able to see the lava every time it explodes. I have never seen anything like it before; it is absolutely terrific! 😀
5. Pacaya Volcano Day Hike:
It is one of the most accessible active volcano hikes in Guatemala and is a full-day tour. I saw some pretty good offers on Viator.com for around $35 USD. They’ll pick you up at the hostel and drive you to the entrance of the National Park. After climbing up the trails of the volcano with some great views, you will reach the plateau, from which you can see the main crater of the volcano. You’ll come across some dried lava fields to roast your marshmallows and later make your way back down again. The entire tour takes about 6 hours.
Best restaurants and bars in Antigua:
- El Portal Cafe: A super cute cafe right next to the Parque Central. It offers different kinds of breakfast, coffee, and smoothies. Prices are okay; due to the location, it’s a bit more expensive, but not unreasonable. A plate with eggs, bread, and coffee should cost around Q50–60. They offer free wi-fi and have very comfortable seats, making them ideal for planning your days in Antigua. They’re open from 6 a.m til 9 p.m.
- Saberico: It serves good local food and has a beautiful garden, which makes the experience all the better. Everything about the restaurant makes you want to stay for a while and enjoy the ambience. The menu offers a lot of vegetarian options as well, and the prices vary between Q50 and Q100. Their opening hours are between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Check out their menu on their website.
- Del Otro Lado: This is a small and cozy restaurant hidden only two blocks away from Parque Central. It offers locally produced products and typical Guatemalan food for a very good price. A lunch menu costs around Q50–60. They’re open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Best hostels in Antigua:
- Tropicana Hostel: This is definitely one of the best and biggest hostels in Antigua. It has a beautiful rooftop and a pool to relax on beautiful days, and the beds have curtains, which is always a plus. The only downside is the dorm size; 15 beds in a room is quite a lot and something you may want to consider. The travel agency from Tropicana offers different kinds of tours and also transportation to other destinations within Guatemala. So you won’t have to spend hours searching for one. The prices are very reasonable as well. They have a restaurant where they offer all kinds of foods as well. A dorm will cost you around $13 USD per night.
- Selina Hostel: As always, Selina is a good option since it’s a hostel chain with certain standards to meet. They have a pool, a rooftop, a shared kitchen, and a co-working space. Prices are a bit more expensive; you’ll get a dorm for around $23 USD a night.
- Ojala Hostel: If you’re looking for a fancy hostel, this is it! It has beautiful dorms, a garden, free breakfast, and fast internet for all the digital nomads out there. It’s a bit pricier, around $27 for a dorm with eight beds.
How to get around in Antigua:
Since it’s a rather small town, everything is pretty much within walking distance. If you’re planning to go a bit further away or want to do a day trip to somewhere close by, I think Uber is probably the best or safest option. You can also ask your hostel if they have shuttle options or shared vehicles. Local taxis or the famous mototaxis, also called Chucheritos, are also quite cheap and a good way to get around.
How to get to Antigua:
Antigua is probably one of the most famous and touristic places in Guatemala. Getting there shouldn’t be too difficult, no matter where you are. I covered most of them here but if you feel like there’s something missing or you have your own experiences, let me know in the comments 🙂
From La Aurora Airport in Guatemala City:
The ride from La Aurora Airport (the main international airport in Guatemala City) to Antigua takes around 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the traffic. The streets are pretty well maintained and not winding either. It’s a quite pleasant journey. Here are all the options to get to Antigua:
- Private shuttle: You can pre-book it online, so they will be waiting for you at the airport already. It will cost around $40 and is probably the most comfortable but also the most expensive option since you don’t have to organize anything upon your arrival and you don’t share it with other people.
- Shared shuttle: This is my favorite option because it’s much cheaper but also very safe. You can also book in advance, but you could also just see at the airport what’s available and wait for other travelers to join. If you want to pre-book it, I recommend doing it with Guatego.com. They have pretty good and cheap options for around $19.
- Uber: I honestly don’t recommend it because it’s much more expensive and you’ll have to find internet or buy a SIM card first to book, which is not always that easy. But it is available in Guatemala and works pretty well too.
- Public Bus aka Chicken Bus: For the really brave ones or those with a super low budget, this is something to maybe look into as well. I have never heard anyone actually do it or recommend it, since it’s quite a hustle to even find one in the first place, plus it can be a bit dangerous too.
From Lake Atitlán:
If you’re staying somewhere around Lake Atitlán and want to make your way to Antigua, I would definitely plan enough time. The drive takes around 3 to 5 hours, depending on where you are and the traffic. The streets aren’t the best, but the views are absolutely beautiful.
- Shared shuttle: Almost all shared shuttles drive from Panajachel. So make sure you first make your way to Panajachel from whichever town you’re staying in. This is super simple since you can just take the water taxis from everywhere for Q15–Q30. Once you’re in Panajachel, you only have to find the Atitrans office. You can pre-book your ride here, or just swing by and see if they have a free seat as well. They will drop you off at your hotel, and a ride costs around $25.
- Private shuttle: This is a good option if you’re a group of people who want to share the shuttle or if you’re rich and don’t want to spend the ride with others. The price for a private shuttle is around $60, and it usually also departs from Panajachel. For this one, you most likely have to book it in advance. You can do that here.
- Chicken Bus: Again, I do not recommend this unless you’re really broke and just really need to save money. The roads are quite crappy, and the ride is long. Also, everybody kept telling me how it’s really not the safest option to travel in Guatemala. But it’s for sure the cheapest way to get around, and I also don’t have experience in it, so who knows; maybe it’s not as bad as everyone says it is. 🙂
From Flores:
The journey from Flores to Antigua is no joke and lasts an eternity. You’ll be in a bus or shuttle for around 12 hours, so make sure to come prepared and maybe take some food and water with you (not like me, who ended up begging for a piece of bread from another traveler, lol).
- Bus or shared shuttle: The cheapest option is to take a shuttle from Flores to Antigua directly without changing shuttles. It costs around $65 but isn’t the most comfortable option since all shuttles are quite small. The other option is to take a mix of a big bus and a shuttle. First, you’ll take a bus from Flores to Guatemala City Terminal Fuentes Del Norte Zone 1, and afterwards change into a shuttle that takes you to Antigua. The bus is really comfortable, which I think is nice since the drive is 8–9 hours. Waiting at the terminal for your shuttle to pick you up is also not too bad, so you can get some fresh air and maybe buy something to eat as well. This one will cost around $70. Both of them can be booked here.
- Plane + shuttle: Flores has an airport that offers almost daily flights from Flores to Guatemala City (La Aurora Airport). From the airport, you can choose one of the options mentioned above to get to Antigua. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a flight for $50, but usually they cost around $100. If you’re not a fan of long bus rides, this is definitely the option for you.
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