Antigua, Guatemala has become a popular destination among travelers who want to experience the vibrant culture, great food, beautiful architecture, fun activities, and abundant natural beauty in and around the city. Antigua has a lot to offer, and we wish we had more time to experience more of it. We really loved our couple days there, and we put together this basic city guide to hopefully help you plan an enjoyable trip to this wonderful city as well!
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When to Visit Antigua
Guatemala is called the ‘land of eternal spring.’ While some areas in the jungle and along the coast can get brutally hot and a bit humid, we think Antigua definitely embodies that name with its pleasant temperatures year round. The average monthly high temperatures over the course of the entire year only range from around 21-25°C (69-77°F) and the average lows range from about 12-15°C (53-59°F).
Because of the relatively mild temperatures year round, there isn’t really a bad time to visit Antigua. However, note that the region has a rainy season from May to October. Rainy days are more frequent during this time, but showers are often pass over quickly. November through April are much drier and sunnier months, making that period a bit more ideal for outdoor activities, including volcano treks. The dry season is also peak season for travelers, so expect prices to be a bit higher, and make sure you plan a bit more in advance to secure tour spots and accommodation.
Getting There and Away
Bus
There are colorful public buses (camionetas) that connect Antigua to Guatemala City, Chimaltenango, and other cities in the area. These are definitely the most budget-friendly mode of transport. Buses will often have their destination indicated in the front and someone will sometimes be shouting the destination out the front door. Most will stop at/depart from the main bus terminal in Antigua.
If you don’t know much Spanish, we wouldn’t recommend taking the public buses. We also wouldn’t recommend this if you have a lot of luggage. Furthermore, with traffic, transfers you may have to do, and stops the buses make, it will usually take longer than the following options.
In addition to public buses, there are also various private bus companies in Guatemala. However, at the time of our visit, there were none leaving directly from or running to Antigua. We suspect this will change in the future with how popular Antigua is becoming. We booked an overnight bus from Guatemala City to Flores (Maya del Oro bus company) with a van transfer booked through Guatemala Transportation to get us from Antigua to the bus terminal in Guatemala City.
Private or Shared Transfers
One of the most common ways among tourists to travel between cities is by van transport. There are many companies you can find online to book a transfer between Antigua and the airport or bus terminal in Guatemala City, various cities along the shores of Atitlán, and other destinations. Some popular options to book through include Guatemala Rides, Guate Driver, Simoon Tours, Transport Guatemala, and Quetzal Shuttle. You can also find options through Get Your Guide and Viator as well as various websites and drivers posting their contact information on travel forums.
Additionally, hotels are often willing to organize a ride for you. We’d recommend doing a little searching before organizing a ride through your hotel to make sure you aren’t being overcharged. Note that some of the more budget hotels may just send a friend or staff member to transport you as opposed to an official transport company.
We used Transport Guatemala to travel from the airport in Guatemala City to Panajachel, a van organized by our hotel to travel from San Pedro to Antigua, and the van mentioned in the section above to get us from Antigua to Guatemala City bus terminal.
We’ve heard a lot of negative stories across companies regarding shuttles not showing up, terrible customer service, etc. So, come in with a little patience and flexibility in case issues arise. We encountered an issue with our ride from the airport to Panajachel where the shuttle showed up over 2 hours late. They claimed it was because of a strike near the airport, but we had been watching all of the other shuttles come and go and were the last group of gringos waiting outside.
Taxi or Rideshare
There are Ubers and inDrivers as well as taxis available between Guatemala City and Antigua. In the smaller cities around Atitlán and Antigua, rideshares aren’t as widely available, so it may be harder to find a ride, especially to another city. You may encounter a lot of cancelled rides when trying to find one to take you a long distance through the app.
If taking a taxi, make sure to have cash. Per the suggestion of a few locals, we’d avoid taking taxis at night. We have also heard of tourists encountering issues where the driver will stop between cities to demand more money (regardless of time of day).
Honestly, with rideshares and taxis being a similar cost to the shuttle vans to get to Antigua, we’d just recommend taking the shuttle for peace of mind.
Getting Around Antigua
Antigua’s historic center is where most of the restaurants, hotels, accommodation options, and attractions sit. So, it is very easy to walk around to explore it. We think this is the best way to experience the historic streets, beautiful architecture, various shops, cafés, and more around the city.
For attractions that might be a bit further out of the city center, there are tuk tuks, taxis, and rideshares available. Tuk tuks are quite cheap (usually Q5-15 depending on distance and time), whereas taxis and Uber/inDrive cost a bit more but are a better options for transport beyond the city limits. For taxis and tuk tuks, confirm the price before you take a ride.
As mentioned above, you can take the colorful local buses that stop around the city and connect the cities near to Antigua. Just make sure to confirm that the bus stops at your intended destination and that you don’t carry flashy valuables with you.
Where to Stay
Being a popular place to visit, there are no shortage of accommodation options in Antigua. Options range from hostels to vacation rentals and nice boutique hotels.
When searching for accommodation, some things to keep in mind are whether they have an airport shuttle, whether they’re willing to store your bags while you hike Acatenango, or other specific things you might need based on your plans.
Here are some great options to consider for your stay.
Budget:
Posada Maya: double rooms with either shared or private bathrooms
Kamazoztz Hostel: dorms and double rooms with private bathrooms
Central Hostel Antigua: dorms to double rooms with private bathrooms and breakfast included
Hospedaje el Viajero: double rooms with either shared or private bathrooms
Yellow House Hostel: double rooms with either shared or private bathrooms
Mid-Range:
Ojala: dorms to deluxe rooms and included breakfast
Posada San Sebastian: double rooms with private bathrooms
Boutique Villa: private villas and apartments
Cacao Boutique Hotel: double rooms with private bathrooms and included breakfast
High-End:
Los Pasos Boutique Hotel & Spa: standard rooms to suites and included breakfast
Posada del Angel: double rooms to suites and included breakfast
Las Cruces Boutique Hotel: Suites and included breakfast
Casa Santo Domingo Hotel & Spa: double rooms to luxury suites
Where to Eat
Antigua has tons of restaurants, bars, and cafés to choose from all around the historic center. It would be hard to cover all the great options!
While in Guatemala, we definitely recommend trying local cuisine. Some good restaurants serving local dishes include El Comalote, La Cuevita de los Urquizú, and Rinconcito Antigüeño. You can also find a variety of traditional food and drink at both the Mercado Central and the food stalls set up in the evenings near Iglesia de la Merced.
Guatemala also produces great coffee. To enjoy a coffee and breakfast or treat, head to Fat Cat Coffee, Alegría, Café Boheme, or Luna de Miel.
Antigua is a beautiful city surrounded by gorgeous volcanic landscape. There are various restaurants where you can enjoy the views with a drink or meal. Some great rooftop options include Antigua Brewing Company, Café Sky, Aqua Antigua, Café Estudio, and SNUG. Though it sits outside the city center, El Tenedor is another spot that offers great food and views over the city and surrounding peaks that are worth the quick ride out of town.
Other great restaurants to try in Antigua include Las Tres Amigas for bar-type food, Kombu for ramen, Once Once and Samsara if you’re searching for vegan and vegetarian options, Fridas for Mexican, 27 Adentro for Latin American Fusion, Ni Fu Ni Fa for grilled meats, Franca for pizza and sandwiches, and Hector’s Bistro for French-inspired dishes.
Some Extra things we want to note. If you are prone to stomach issues or aren’t used to eating street food in Central America, use a little extra caution if you decide to eat at markets, street stalls, or other similar spots. Especially if you have a tour like Acatenango coming up where your access to a bathroom is limited. We did talk to multiple people who had some stomach issues during their travels around the area.
Iglesia del la Merced
Café de la Pared
Groceries
There are multiple grocery stores and little tiendas around Antigua. At the larger stores like La Torre and La Bodegona, you can find a wide variety of snacks, packaged food items, fruits and veggies, some prepared food, bottled water, some toiletries, beer and liquor, and basic household items. These are a great option if you need to stock up on snacks and water before your Acatenango trek or want to cook a meal at your hostel.
Tours
There are many incredible tours to take in and around Antigua. The most renowned one is the iconic trek up Volcán Acatenango to watch Fuego erupt.
If you want to go on one of these popular tours, it’s definitely a good idea to book online in advance – especially if you have a specific company you want to go with or you are on a tight schedule. There are some tour agencies located in Antigua, but you can also book in advance through their individual websites or social media, or you can find various tour options on sites like Get Your Guide and Viator.
Read our other post on some great tours and other activities to do in Antigua!
Money
Many establishments accept card; however, some accommodations, market stalls, smaller restaurants, etc. only accept cash. Various tours don’t take card payments, and you’ll want some cash for tipping guides as well.
There are quite a few ATMs in Antigua. Wherever we travel, we always recommend going to one inside a bank or monitored business and to only pull out money during the day when possible. We used the Banco Industrial ATM near Parque Central without issues and were able to pull out plenty of cash for a low fee. Check with your bank before travel to see if there are any extra fees associated with using your card with certain ATMs or if there are any partner ATMs that waive the fee.
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