Matt & Tara
Things To Do
Santa Catalina Arch
The Santa Catalina Arch is one of the distinguishable landmarks in Antigua located on 5th Avenue North. Built in the 17th century, it originally connected the Santa Catalina convent to a school, allowing the cloistered nuns to pass from one building to the other without going out on the street. The clock on top was added in the era of the Central American Federation, in the 1830s. 5a Avenida Norte, Antigua, Guatemala
Parque Central
Parque Central is Antigua’s main plaza and the best place for a spot of people watching. Surrounded by a cathedral, fountains, arch-adorned buildings and plenty of trees, the plaza itself is beautiful, but it’s what happens here that’s the main draw. Parque Central is the beating heart of Antigua, and a great way to get a feel for the city is to simply sit on a bench and watch life unfold. You can spend all day here without it becoming boring, so grab a drink or snack and find yourself a bench. 4 Avenida Sur, Antigua, Guatemala
El Mercado
Wandering through the busy Mercado is one of the most colorful, and chaotic ways to experience Antigua. You can buy everything here—from fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and fish to clothes, shoes and pirate DVDs—and there are also several adjoining cafés that serve incredibly cheap and delicious authentic food. Unlike the markets that cater to tourists, selling traditional Mayan textiles and handicrafts, the Mercado is authentic and full of locals going about their day-to-day life. You’ll probably get lost, but that’s part of the fun. 27, Poniente 4, Antigua, Guatemala
Mercado de Artesanías
Many people consider the Artisan Market to be the main ‘tourist market’. Full of colourful textiles, traditional blankets, wooden masks, jade jewellery and woven purses, it’s an incredibly photogenic place to wander around. Because it’s a tourist market, you won’t find any animals here (dead or alive), and the stalls are arranged in an orderly manner, with clean, swept floors and a lovely entrance. Never buy anything at face value; vendors usually increase the price by three, so use that as a reference point when haggling. Mercado de Artesanías, 3a Avenida Norte, Antigua, Guatemala
Hike to Cerro de la Cruz
On a sunny day, hiking up to Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) on the edge of town is a must. As far as hikes go, this is very manageable: you can reach the top in half an hour. From the top of the hill you can enjoy unrivalled panoramic views of Antigua and its surrounding volcanoes, and the big stone cross makes for some dramatic photography.
Hike Guatemala's Picaya Volcano
Volcan de Pacaya is located just an hour and fifteen from Antigua. It first erupted over 23,000 years ago and is currently one of the most lively volcanos in Central America. Though the volcano has frequent eruptions that have been seen from Guatemala City, these bursts usually spew only small amounts of ash—just enough to make the rocks hot enough to toast marshmallows on, which you will literally get to do. So, if you are expecting to see red lava running down from the peak, that’s probably not going to happen. Though it’s possible to navigate your way to the volcano, it is easiest to book a tour. There are various tour companies in Antigua and Guatemala City that organize half-day trips to the Volcano of Pacaya, which last up to 4 or 6 hours (transfers + hiking). You can typically book them directly with your hotel concierge or prearrange tours online.
Explore the Famous Choco Museum
If your sweet tooth wasn’t sated by a few rellenitos, no problem. Guatemala is the birthplace of chocolate, and nowhere produces a better quality product than Antigua. You can mix pleasure with learning at the popular Chocolate Museum, where you’ll learn all about the Mayan love affair with the “food of the gods.” You can also get involved in one of the workshops there, where you’ll learn how to turn cacao bean into chocolate bar—and enjoy plenty of tastings along the way.
Take a Coffee Tour at Filadelfia Coffee Resort
The most complete coffee tour for more than 15 years, where visitors learn about coffee, from the plantation to the cup. Expect to learn cultivation and processing of coffee on our farm, with over 130 years of tradition that dates from 1870. Start with a walk through the nursery and coffee plantation, then continue to the wet milling and drying patio where the beans are processed and sorted. Finish the tour in our cupping lab where you will sip the best coffee in the world, the R. Dalton Genuine Antigua. Choose between an Americano or Espresso, and enjoy! Later the roasting and packing area, and the coffee cupping lab to finish with the visit. The tour ends sipping a cup of the best coffee in the world produced in Finca Filadelfia. Visit their website for tour and Unimogs shuttle information: http://www.filadelfiaresort.com/tours-en.html
Take a Day Trip to Lake Atitlan
Planning on extending your trip? Consider taking a day trip to Lake Atitlán! It may be difficult to pull yourself from the mesmerizing views of Lake Atitlán, but neglecting to visit the surrounding Mayan villages of Santiago Atitlán, San Pedro La Laguna, San Marcos La Laguna and San Antonio Palopó would be a total tragedy. Several local tour companies run from Antigua to Lake Atitlán, no-frills excursions to and around the lake that are inexpensive and cover four to five villages in approximately four hours. Plan for this to take up a whole day round trip back to Antigua. One recommended tour company is listed here: https://antiguatours.net/tours-and-destinations/panajachel-and-lake-atitlan/
Take a Day Trip to Tikal Mayan Ruins
Another great day trip idea if you have extra time is taking a trip to Tikal to see one of the largest Maya sites. The Maya of Mesoamerica reached remarkable intellectual and artistic heights as far back as 3.114B.C. when they began the calendar still in use today. They built huge temples, pyramids, stone monuments, and made major advances in mathematics and astronomy, and a hieroglyphic scripts. But the ancient civilization collapsed 950A.D. The ancient Mayas migrated to the Guatemalan highlands. Tikal was an important center during their classic period. It is often called the soul of the earth. This magical place is guaranteed to be a great adventure. Of the park’s 222 square miles, there are over 3,000 separate buildings have been revealed: temples, shrines, ceremonial platforms, residences, ball courts, terraces, causeways and plazas. The exuberant fauna and plant life are amazing. One recommended tour company is listed here: https://antiguatours.net/tour-item/tikal-tour/