Ultimate Antigua Guatemala Travel Guide 2023

How to reach Antigua, Guatemala

By Road: 
There are a lot of ways to reach Antigua, Guatemala by road. A public bus is available from Guatemala City. There are some tuk tuks also available at the airport that offer a quick ride to the bus stop, but they have been known to rob tourists so I wouldn’t recommended. A regular shuttle service departs every day from the airport. There is another shuttle service from Copán, Honduras, that departs twice a day. Cab service is a safe option, but it is more expensive.

The option we would recommend is booking a pre-arranged private shuttle from the airport to Antigua. We recommend Antigua Tours to book this service as it’s a great price, easy and safe.

Airport:
La Aurora Airport is located in Guatemala City, and it is 40 minutes (with no traffic) from Antigua, Guatemala.

Antigua, Guatemala Travel Tips

Don’ts for Antigua 

Different places have different cultural norms, which should be followed to stay safe and have a good experience. There are several things you should keep in mind while visiting.

Don’t click a photo of locals without permission. Antigua and Guatemala are culturally rich places, and the people’s lifestyles are very attractive. Just ask before you start photographing someone.

Don’t be stupid late at night. Antigua Guatemala is a relatively safe city but as always have you wits about you when coming home at night from the bar, etc.

Don’t carry a lot of cash with you. Pick-pocketing is common in Guatemala, so avoid carrying a lot of cash with you, but keep in mind that there is not a large quantity of ATMs available, so have enough but be careful. You can even keep small amounts in different parts of your bag and a little in your pocket.

Do’s for Antigua 

Antigua is a small city, but there are a lot of fun things to do there. You can also pretty much walk the entire city.

Hike one of the surrounding volcanoes. It is a really mystic and amazing experience. Pacaya is the most popular place to hike because it’s easily accessible.

Try the chocolate. Cocoa beans are grown in Guatemala, so great chocolate is abundant. There is a chocolate museum in the town as well, where you can also taste a variety of chocolate and even watch them make it from scratch.

Go shopping in the Mercado. It is a very important part of Antigua, Guatemala. There’s a farmers’ market as well as an artisan market where you can buy souvenirs and other goods.

Try the coffee. With volcanoes usually comes good coffee. There are a few coffee plantations around Antigua, and you can take a tour of them.

Try the local food, or as you will see around in Spanish, “comida tipica.” Chiles rellenos are never a bad option to go with!

Typical Costs

Accommodation:
Although it is a small place, there are plenty of hotels in convenient locations. There are a variety of hotels located in the city, from hostels to five-star hotels. There are also a ton of boutique hotels with tons of character. We stayed at Casa Capuchinas and enjoyed our stay there.

Food: 
Food is usually not very expensive in Antigua, Guatemala. You can get a good meal for around $10–15 a person. There are also street vendors that serve cheap foods as well.

Transportation:
Taxi service is the most expensive, and that costs between Q100 and Q330. The bus costs around Q10. Walking is, of course, free and totally doable everywhere within the main city.

Top places to visit at Antigua 
There are a lot of places worth visiting in Antigua. From organic farms to historical monuments, art, cultural, and architectural places, you are sure to find something that catches your eye. Different markets and fiestas are always being organized to promote the heritage and crafts of Antigua, Guatemala.
Lglesia de La Merced
It survived the earthquakes and is a great display of art, architecture, and design. This church is decorated with beautiful stucco and has many statues and works of art inside. There is also a Spanish colonial fountain in the middle of the courtyard.
Cerro de La Cruz
A must-see view of Antigua Amazing photos of the city can be clicked from this place. It’s located on a hill that is about a 30-minute walk or hike to the top from the square. However, you can opt to take a taxi up there for around Q100 per way. The walk down the hill is really easy if you want to do some walking. Going up is a bit challenging.
Caoba farms
This farm is a little away from Antigua. It takes about a fifteen-minute car ride to reach them. This is an organic farm with a unique farm-to-table café that serves up local artisanal dishes and drinks. In the store and market, they sell fruits, vegetables, fresh juices, and organic soaps. Live music is also played at the café.
Casa Santo Domingo
It was a convent and sanctuary in the 1500s. Now it is a five-star hotel that has a candle factory, Eat and Drink, bar, pools, a fountain, tropical birds, and some of the finest museums in the city. This is a place worth visiting because of its rich historical importance and architectural beauty.
Hobbitenango
A must see for Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fans. This is the Latin American cousin of Hobbiton. It’s on the outskirts of Antigua, but there is a shuttle they provide to get there. If you get a chance, you can actually stay in one of the rooms that look like they came straight out of the castle.