Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala banner Architectural detail - dotm=yes

VolcanoArchAntigua - The quintcrucial Antigua: the Arco de Santa Catalina, with Volcán Agua in the background.

La Antigua Guatemala was the colonial Spanish capital of Central America. It is a World Heritage Site and is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in Guatemala.

About Antigua Guatemala

History

Now commonly referred to as just Antigua (or La Antigua) and the city was one of the grand colonial capitals of the Spanish Empire in America from the 16th-18th centuries. Under the name Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, it was the original "Guatemala City". A disastrous earthquake in 1773 destroyed or damaged most of the city and the Spanish crown ordered the capital moved to a new city, what became the modern Guatemala City. In 1776 this old city was ordered abandoned. Not everyone left, but it turned from a bustling capital into a provincial town, filled with the ruins of its former glory. It became known as "Antigua Guatemala", meaning "Old Guatemala".

In the 20th century there was increasing appreciation for the large amount of preserved colonial Spanish architecture here, development to host visitors and the city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

Semana Santa

Carpet and decoration for Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala 01 - Holy week decoration in Escuela de Cristo, Antigua

Semana Santa ("Holy Week") is the spanish name for the week of Easter celebrations, which lasts from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The Semana Santa is celebrated in the whole Spanish speaking world with street processions in which religious groups carry life-sized, heavy and holy statues through the streets. Antigua Guatemala, together with Seville (Spain), is one of the most famous and traditional spots in the world to celebrate these Easter processions. First records of Semana Santa processions in Antigua date back to the year 1543.

Nowadays, Antigua is particularly famous for its carpets made of colorized sawdust that show and form religious symbols and get decorated with fruits and vegetables. These carpets are displayed in churches and on the streets - the latter as a grounding for the processions to walk over it. The streetcarpets, however, are of short attraction and although it takes hours to form then they are directly wiped away by the cleaning team after being walked over for the first time.

During Semana Santa, Antigua is the touristic hotspot in Guatemala and it seems like half of the city is involved in the Easter celebrations in one way or the other. If you plan to visit Antigua during this time, book in advance and expect to pay higher prices compared to the rest of the year.

Orientation

The city's streets are mostly laid out in a rectangular grid aligned with the compass, with the Parque Central as an origin point. North-south roads are avenidas or avenues, numbered from 1st to 8th from east to west. The avenidas are further divided into sur (south) and norte (north). East-west roads are calles or streets, numbered from 1st to 9th from north to south. The calles are further divided into oriente (east) and poniente (west). The street intersection at the northeast corner of the Palace of the Captains-General, i.e. at the southeast corner of Parque Central, is the origin of this division. Avenidas are sur south of 5ª Calle and norte north of it. Calles are oriente east of 4ª Avenida and poniente west of it.

Some roads have names that don't follow the avenida/calle numbering scheme and some roads away from the center don't follow the grid. Most corners do not have signs showing the name of either the street you are on or the one you just came up to. All are paved with cobblestones and sidewalks are generally not very good.

Addresses are numbered sequentially outwards from the origin point. Even-numbered addresses are on one side of the street and odd numbers are on the other. Street addresses are written with the street or avenue number first, followed by the letter "a" in superscript (because 1ª signifies "primera", 2ª is short for "segunda", 3ª for "tercera", etc.); then "Av." (for avenida) or "Cle." (for calle) and then "Ote." (oriente, east), "Pte." (poniente, west), "Sur" (south), or "Nte." (norte, north); then the street address number. For instance:

"5ª Av. Nte. #5" is address #5 on 5th Avenue North. The small number shows it is just a little north of the north-south divider, 5ª Calle.
"3ª Cle. Ote. #28" is address #28 on 3rd Street East. The relatively large number shows it is some ways east of the east-west divider, 4ª Avenida.

It's helpful to memorize that the north and south sides of Parque Central are 4ª and 5ª Calles and the west and east sides are 5ª and 4ª Avenidas respectively. Parque Central is the reference point for east, west, north and south in street addresses. "5ª Av. Nte. #5" is north of Parque Central. "5ª Av. Sur #5" is south of Parque Central. Essentially, if you understand which way is north of Parque Central, you can find anything in the city. Inguat Tourist Office - info-@ 5ª Calle Oriente #11 14.55626, -90.73166 One and a half blocks east of Parque Central between 2ª and 3ª Avenidas☎ +502 7832-0787 Opening Hours: Monday - F, 08:00-17:00, Saturday - Sunday 09:00-17:00 (Updared May 2023)}}

GPS 14.556|-90.732

Travel to Antigua Guatemala

Travel by plane to Antigua Guatemala

There is no direct commercial air service to Antigua. The closest airport is La Aurora International Airport (IATA Flight Code: GUA) in Guatemala City, which is 45 minutes to an hour from Antigua by car.

A taxi from the airport to Antigua is around GTQQQ0 and can be split among 2 or 3 riders to make it comparable with privately arranged shuttles. For your departure from Antigua and there are numerous travel agencies near Parque Central from which to purchase rides back to the airport. The usual cost is from -80 (Guatemala#Money|quetzales).

There are regular shuttle vans directly from the airport to Antigua that cost around GTQQ0 and leave regularly all day until 20:00. You don't need to prearrange, but demand can be high depending on the number of flights arriving at the same time, so pre-purchasing a ticket from a local travel agent is best. To return to the airport, almost all travel agencies in Antigua offer scheduled tourist shuttles to La Aurora, for fares ranging fromQ0-80. The earliest buses and shuttles depart at 04:00, in time to arrive at the airport by 05:00 for a 07:00 flight out. The lines at the airport are very long, so arrive at least 1 hour or more before your flight.

You can also pre-arrange a charter tourist van to pick you up at the airport, which for first-time visitors might be the safest and most convenient option. It costs aboutQQ0-350 and the driver will meet you at the airport with your name on a sign.

The Chicken_bus|Central Bus station (La Terminal) La Terminal 14.55818,-90.73982 is located in the west side of town, northwest of the intersection of 4a Calle Pte and Alameda Santa Lucia, in the lot behind "El Mercado" (Central market, see below under "buy"). From here the buses go to Chimaltenango, Esquintla, Jesus Santa Maria, San Miguel Dueñas, Ciudad Vieja, San Antonio Aguas Caliente and anywhere around. If going to Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango or Panajachel by Chicken bus take the Chimaltenango bus to the Interamerica Highway (CA-1) south of Chimaltenango and transfer to a westbound bus going towards the desired destination. Buses going north towards Chimaltenango also pass through Jocotenango, northern 'suburb' of Antigua. Buses to Guatemala City, San Miguel Dueñas and Ciudad Vieja Calle 4a Poniente A GPS 14.55680,-90.74046 leave from the next street south of the artisan craft market. Buses from Guatemala City leave from Guatemala_City#By bus|Terminal Trebol and stop under the pedestrian bridge at Tikal Futura Mall along Cazalda Roosevelt in Guatemala City.

There are numerous travel agents all over town who offer or arrange shuttles to Panajachel, San Marcos, San Cristobal de las Casas, Monterrico, Quetzaltenango, San Pedro La Laguana, Chichicastenango (market days); The airport, Lanquín y Semuc Champey; and Copan de Ruinas. Other destinations such as Flores/Tikal, Puerto Barrios, Tapachula, San Salvador and other city's in Central America are booked through a first class pullman bus company instead. From Antigua they transfer passengers to the pullman bus station(s) in Guatemala City by shuttle or mini-bus. The shuttles are more expensive than Chicken buses but are quicker, more comfortable and safer than Chicken buses. The shuttle options are offered either as one way transportation or they can be as part of an independent day trip or guided tour with return on the same day. There are day trips to Tikal which are offered with an early shuttle to the airport and a flight to Flores and back the same day/evening. Some of the local travel agents are:

Adrenalina Tours 2a Calle Poniente, Casa No, 3, Antigua Guatemala 03001 - ☎ +502 5308-5532 Operates shuttles between the popular tourist spots within Guatemala and arrange shuttle for onward travel to San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico; Leon, Nicaragua; Tunco, El Salvador; and La Ceiba, Honduras from Antigua.

Hedman Alas 5ª Ave North (Calle del Arco) 19, Antigua 03-001 - Next to La Posada de Don Rodrigo, between 2a Calle & 3a Calle Poniente. ☎ +502 7832-6162 Operates a 3AM shuttle from Antigua to their Guatemala City terminal where passengers continue onwards to Honduras. Arrivals from Honduras are roughly 9:30PM

LiteGua - 4ª Calle Oriente No. 48 - ☎ +502 7832-9850 Offers 3 or 4x daily mini-bus or shuttle connections to/from their Guatemala City bus station. From Guatemala City they go to to Caribbean_Coast_(Guatemala) | Caribbean Coast and Eastern Guatemala.

Mayan Kingdom Travel 6ª Ave Sur No 4 - ☎ +502 7832-0398 Authorized agent for TicaBus and Del Norte (FDN), Maya De Oro.

Maya Travel 5ª Calle Poniente No 2 - ☎ +502 7832-2157
Rainbow Travel Center 7ª. Avenida Sur No. 80 - ☎ +502 7931-7878 +1 866 978-6688 (USA) Opening 09:00-13:00 & 14:00-18:00, Saturday 10:00-13:00 & 14:00-17:00 Could be used to book onward international flights and research for local hotel They also offer day trip tours to other areas.

There are also other travel agents in Panajachel, Copan de Ruinas, San Cristobal de las Casas, Flores and other tourist destinations booking shuttles to Antigua.

Transportation in Antigua Guatemala

Walk in Antigua Guatemala

Antigua is very compact and easy to walk around, with a layout that follows the typical Spanish colonial design of a main plaza neighbored by governmental and Catholic church buildings. Most of the sites of interest to visitors are contained in an 8x8 block area less than a kilometer across, which you can walk across in 15 minutes. Be careful: the sidewalks are narrow and not always in good repair, you may have to walk in the street with traffic whizzing by you and at night it's worth being cautious and aware of your surroundings. Standard tourist maps are linear in their drawings and thus are accurate only near the town center. Get a real map with accurate topography if you are seeking locations farther from the town center, as dead ends and curved streets are not portrayed accurately.

If you don't know the city streets too well and it is past about 23:00, it is best to get a taxi back to your lodgings, mainly if you're alone or going more than a few blocks away from the well-lit vicinity of Parque Central.

BusAntigua - A Chicken bus in Antigua

By Chicken bus

Chicken buses are good for travelling longer distances. To reach Guatemala City, one simply asks for the main route of the Chicken bus. They stop at every corner, honk the horn as early as 05:30 and yell out loud "Guate! Guate!". It is common to see one bus every 4 to 5 minutes leaving from the same corner. Buses to San Pedro, San Juan, and/or Santa Ana leave every 10 to 20 minutes; the best place to find these are at the Mercado or at Iglesia de Santa Lucia as they often do not follow the same set route through town.

By tuk-tuk or taxi

Guatemala#By car|Tuk-tuks and taxis can take you to destinations within the town center for or more. Negotiate the fare with the driver in advance. Otherwise and they will routinely charge 50-100% more than they should. Tuk-tuks do not go to Guatemala City and they stop working at 22:00, so one will need a shuttle or taxi instead. Flag down a cruising tuk-tuk, or pick up a taxi from the queue at Parque Central or along a main route to the city's periphery.

What to See

Colonial-era ruins

The preserved ruins of the old colonial government buildings and churches are not only Antigua's main tourist draw, but they're also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back from the 17th and 18th Centuries and these buildings were damaged in a serious of seismic events culminating with the devastating earthquake of 1773. They remained abandoned and crumbling until 1944, when Guatemala's President Jorge Ubico declared them a National Monument. Preservation (and, in some cases, partial reconstruction) of the ruins began soon afterward and continues through to the present day. With the exception of the comparatively affordable Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande, entrance fees for the ruins tend to be steep. Despite the popularity of the ruins with tourists, interpretive signs and plaques (where they exist at all) tend to be in Spanish only. If you're planning to take an organized tour and don't speak any (Spanish), try to seek out a bilingual guide.

Antigua cathedral 2008 06 - The restored facade of the Catedral de Antigua Guatemala.

Catedral de Antigua Guatemala - Catedral de San José | 5ª Calle Oriente 14.556666,-90.732920 ☎ +502 7832-0909 The second church to occupy this site and one of the largest in Central America during its heyday and the Catedral de Antigua Guatemala was built in 1680 to replace its antecessor that dated to 1541. While most of the building was leveled during the earthquake of 1773 and the ornate Baroque facade emerged relatively unscathed. While a partial reconstruction beginning in the 19th Century has allowed the building to once again be home to a functioning church, other portions of the complex remain in ruins.

Colegio de San Jerónimo 1ª Calle Poniente 14.560469,-90.738378 - Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00Q0 The useful lifespan of the Colegio de San Jerónimo was short indeed: the sixteen years between its completion in 1757 and the earthquake of 1773 that destroyed it saw the building used first as a secondary school staffed by the Friars of La Merced and then as a royal customshouse. Today, though it's quite a bit further afield from the other colonial ruins, San Jerónimo is popular with Muslim visitors for the beautifully landscaped gardens in its courtyard, centered on a lovely fountain and playing host frequently to dance performances, festivals and other cultural events. As for the building itself, you can tour through the crumbling ruins of the old dormitories with their handsome vaulted ceilings and then head to the upper level for a great view of Volcán Agua in the distance.

Convento de las Capuchinas 2ª Calle Oriente 14.559804,-90.731449 ☎ +502 7832-0184Q0 Formally known as the Convento e Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (Convent and Church of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza), this partially reconstructed building (which is also home to the offices of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua Guatemala) was, from 1736 to the devastating earthquake of 1773, home to a community of cloistered nuns. Today, visitors can explore the ruined remains of the former nuns' dormitories, amble through the desolate tranquility of the convent's still-thriving gardens and take in a panoramic view of the city from the rooftop terrace.

Convento de Santa Clara 2ª Avenida Sur 14.555016,-90.730709 ☎ +502 7832-0184Q0 One of the largest complexes of colonial ruins in Antigua and the Convento de Santa Clara was built in 1715 as the home of an order of Franciscan nuns founded some years earlier by a group of six sisters from Mexico. Today this ruin is most notable for its facade, which largely survived the earthquake of 1773 that devastated the complex; it's one of the most ornate in all of Antigua, replete with intricate statuary and ornamentation in molded stucco. Interestingly and the facade is located in the rear of the complex: in front is a spacious, well-tended courtyard garden not too different from the one at Colegio de San Jerónimo, ringed by the ruined remains of the former cloisters. Ascend to the upper level for a nice view over the surrounding mountains.

Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande 7ª Calle Oriente 14.553847,-90.729872 ☎ +502 7882-4439 Opening Hours: Daily 06:00-18:00 This grand old church is one of the most visited of Antigua's ruins, thanks to its status as final resting place of Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt: a 17th-century monk who is the first Catholic saint to hail from Guatemala and was famous as the "St. Francis of Assisi of the Americas" due to his ascetic lifestyle, charitable generosity and aid to marginalized groups within colonial Guatemalan society. A multi-domed structure in the Spanish Baroque style, San Francisco el Grande is a classic example of colonial-era architecture. It was partially reconstructed after the earthquake of 1773 and is still an operating church, but there's also a small museum onsite dedicated to Hermano Pedro and the history of the church.

LaRecoleccion. Antigua - Most of La Recolección complex still lies in ruins.

La Recolección Calle de Recoletos, corner of 1ª Calle Poniente 14.560556,-90.741111 - Opening Hours: Daily 09:00-17:00Q0 Built in 1708 as a church and monastery for friars from the Order of the Recollects, La Recolección sustained heavy damage in the earthquakes of 1717 and 1753 before meeting its final destruction in the massive Santa Marta Earthquake of 1773 that claimed most of the rest of the city along with it. Today it's among the largest ruins in Antigua, but it's also far off the well-trodden circuit (hidden away past the bus station at the west end of town) and not particularly impeccably maintained either: damage to La Recolección continued even after the quake, when much of the remaining material was plundered for other construction projects and structurally stable portions of the complex were altered for use as a soap factory, a horse stable and other purposes. Still, visitors can take advantage of the quiet tranquility and lack of crowds to enjoy a peaceful walk through the garden. As for the ruins themselves and the former church building is the best-preserved portion of the complex; the cloisters, former infirmary building and other remains less so. Convent Sor Juana de Maldonado Museum of the Traditions of Holy Week | 4ª Calle Oriente #45 14.55721,-90.72727 West end of town. On the straight extension of 4ª Calle Oriente before the bridge (Callejón de Puente de Chipilapa). Continue straight past the fountain toward “Bomberos.”☎ +502-7873-4646 Opening 09:00-17:00, Closed weekends Two themes: It interprets the conservation and restoration of the convent and also aspects of Antigua Holy Week. Gives an appreciation of the everyday lives of XVIII Century nuns. Poster displays in English and Spanish. Video loops in (Spanish), but conceptually understandable to Arabic speakers. Static displays and two videos of the Antigua tradition of Holy Week artistic carpets of colored sawdust. | priceQ0, studentsQ0 (June 2023)

Other attractions within the town center

Arco de Santa Catalina 5ª Avenida Norte, just north of 2ª Calle Poniente 14.559722,-90.734217 - What was a walkway used in the 17th century by the nuns of the Convento de Santa Catalina to cross over 5ª Avenida Norte from their cloisters to the parochial school without having to venture into the dusty street, is now the cliché tourist photo op in Antigua. And with good reason — the Arco de Santa Catalina is a lovely sight indeed, crowned by a clock tower that was added a bit later, in the 1830s. Today and the arch is looked after by the Santos family, owners of the nearby jewelry store Reino del Jade and Hotel El Convento.

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El Pasar de los Años ( during the weekend) As of early 2023 and the cheapest place to stay during the week. Reasonable hostel with a lot of beds put into a room. Has a kitchen, free WiFi and a spacious patio.

La Casa del Rompecabezas lecoantigua 2ª Avenida Sur #19 14.553533,-90.731043 ☎ +502 7832-6694 US$20/person/day daily or weekly (3-day minimum stay); US$15/person/day monthlyThere are four superior Muslim friendly rooms available for rent at this friendly homestay: two singles and two doubles. Free Wi-Fi, three meals served daily except Sunday, free purified water, coffee and tea, shared baths with hot showers.

Hostel 5 4ª Avenida Norte #33 14.561336,-90.733017 ☎ +502 7832-5462 for a dorm with full breakfast included Wonderful owner who will take very good care of you and is a great cook. Comfortable beds, clean facilities, lockers, very hot showers, awesome rooftop terrace with picnic table, hammock and a great view of the volcano. The bar/restaurant downstairs has very affordable cold soft drinks and serves great food.

Jungle Party Hostal - 6ª Avenida Norte #20 14.558829,-90.735425 ☎ +502 7832-8975 US$8-10/night A mid-sized hostel with a courtyard, bar, restaurant and hammocks. The operative word here is "party", so if you want a peaceful place where you can hit the hay early, look elsewhere. Wi-Fi free and daily happy hour. Hot water showers (hot water tank, not electric showerheads). Rate includes breakfast from anything on the menu. Dorm rooms from 4-6 beds. No outside food or drinks permitted.

Posada Don Valentino - 5ª Calle Poniente #28 14.556396,-90.737141 ☎ +502 7832-0384 US$14-34/night Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 Spacious, light-filled rooms and common areas with Guatemalan furniture and textiles. All rooms have private bath, cable TV, 24-hour hot water and views. 18 standard rooms and 3 suites. 2 large terraces with city and volcano views. An Internet cafe, international phone service, travel agency, use of a shared kitchen, laundry service, bag storage, free bottled water. Bilingual staff. Discounts for large groups and longer stays.

Posada Juma OCAG - Alameda de Santa Lucía Norte #13 14.557948,-90.737694 ☎ +502 7832-3109QQ0 single,QQ0 double Rooms with private baths and cast-iron beds. Rooms set around a small pretty courtyard. Small sun terrace upstairs. Friendly and helpful staff.

El Viejo Danés elviejodanesguesthouse Alameda de Santa Lucia Norte, Callejón San Jerónimo #31 14.559984,-90.738244 ☎ +502 7832-3881 Check-in : 14:00-16:00 / Check-out: 11:00 US$14 for double room, US$19 for quadruple Small Hostel Close to the market, ruins and Chicken bus station, run by a friendly couple Roberto and Claudia. Clean, shared toilet and showers with hot water. Kitchen with cooking facilities and dining area on the rooftop terrace overlooking the ruins. Two-bed rooms also available. They can also organize tours to different sights in and around Antigua. English-speaking staff.

Villa Esthela - 2ª Avenida Sur #48 14.551947,-90.731320 ☎ +502 4102-4122 Bunk beds US$6.50/night; superior Muslim friendly rooms US$9-11/person/night Check-in : 13:00 / Check-out: 11:00 A nice quiet guesthouse in Antigua. You can use the kitchen to make your own meals but breakfast is included. Nice clean rooms and shared bathrooms are also very clean. Garden with hammocks and a living room with cable TV/DVD, nice way to meet other travellers. A little bit further from the center (10-15 minutes walk), but then you have also something good for a very good price.

Chez Daniel - chezdanielantigua Calle de San Luquitas #20 14.552829,-90.740671 ☎ +502 4264-1122 US$54 single, US$59 double, US$15 for each additional person Check-in : 13:00 / Check-out: noon-14:00 Spacious and modern rooms, complete with a comfortable double bed, along with a single bed, a huge bathroom with giant tub. Free Wi-Fi.

Entre Volcanes - formerly Posada Lazos Fuertes | Alameda Santa Lucia Sur #5 14.555762,-90.737764 ☎ +502 7832-8614 US$85-95/night A 15-room hotel, very clean, with an upscale colonial-style elegance that belies a quite down-to-earth room rate. In a busy part of town, but very quiet. Pleasant patio and rooftop terrace. Breakfast (ample portions!) included in the rate. Fast, reliable wireless Internet.

Hostal Las Marias - Calle a San Bartolo, Las Jacarandas, Lote #7 14.555211,-90.741663 ☎ +502 5516-9147 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 US$50-80 for standard rooms, apartments US$85 for 1-2 guests or US$100 for 3-4 guests A beautiful bed and breakfast in a very quiet and safe area, about 5 blocks from Parque Central. Comfortable rooms, hot water, Wi-Fi, complimentary water, shampoo, etc. Discount for groups, students, volunteers, adopting parents.

Hotel Casa Antigua hotelcasa-@ 3ª Calle Poniente #5 14.558105,-90.734457 ☎ +502 7832-9090 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 US$47-73 Historic hotel only a two-minutes walk from Parque Central. 22 rooms all with baths, 3 gardens with fountains and a rooftop terrace. All rooms are decorated with antiques. Discounts for large groups or weekly stays. Free Wi-Fi & Internet terminals, free purified water, breakfast is available, Coffee, use of kitchen, laundry service, bag storage, travel services, airport pickups, cable TV & hot water 24 hours.

Hotel Casa Cristina Callejón Camposeco #3A 14.561548,-90.735865 ☎ +502 7832-0623 US$25-45/nightThis small and charming 10-room hotel is only four blocks from Parque Central. All rooms have private bath and hot water. Free Coffee, tea and purified water. Wireless accessible from all rooms. Discounts for longer stays.

Hotel Casa Rustica - 6ª Avenida Norte #8 14.555415,-90.734807 ☎ +502 7832-0694 Weekdays: US$32 (single)/US$39 (double) with shared bath, US$40 (single)/US$49 (double) with private bath. Weekends: US$37 (single)/US$45 (double) with shared bath, US$46 (single)/US$56 (double) with private bath Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 All rooms are private, have comfortable anti-stress beds and lots of natural light. Free purified water, use of large shared kitchen, laundry service, bag storage, Internet terminals, small cafe, Internet cafe, travel services, airport pickups, cable TV & hot water 24 hours a day. The Wi-Fi signal is fast, strong and free for hotel guests (QQ/hr,Q0/day or /week for nonguests). Check your email while relaxing by the garden, on the terrace or in a hammock, while sipping on a cool one or eating a Snacks. And if you're a dog lover, you're in luck - there are three friendly ones who live on the property.

Hotel Quinta de las Flores Calle del Hermano Pedro #6 14.550556,-90.728708 ☎ +502 7832-3721 US$65-95, US$140 for detached "casita"; higher for New Year's and Semana Santa | checkin=15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 Located a 10-minutes walk from the center of town, this hotel offers several quiet, almost free-standing rooms spaced around a central fountain. A special treat is the working fireplace, with firewood at the ready.

Posada Doña Luisa - 7ª Avenida Norte #4 14.556746,-90.736540 ☎ +502 7832-3414 US$39-45/night There is nothing fancy about this place, but the people there are warm and friendly and it is clean and quiet. Single, double and triple rooms available.

Posada la Merced - 7ª Avenida Norte #43 14.561235,-90.736132 ☎ +502 7832-3197 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 US$46-56/night Clean, well-kept hotel with helpful staff. The owner used to be a tour guide and offers great advice.

Casa Madeleine - Calle del Espíritu Santo #69 14.554260,-90.740893 ☎ +502 7832-9848 +1 877 325-9137 +502 7832 9358 US$110/night for standard twin or double room; US$157/nt for suite Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 A beautiful Bed & Breakfast about six blocks from Parque Central. Comfortable rooms, hot water, Wi-Fi, complimentary water, shampoo, etc. Whirlpool and Jacuzzi, spa services and packages. Great view of their courtyard and the volcano. Discount for groups, students, volunteers, adopting parents.

Casa Santo Domingo 3ª Calle Oriente #28A 14.558587,-90.727823 ☎ +502 7820-1220 +502 7832-4155 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: noon US$176-198/night for standard room, US$253/nt for suite A luxury international-class hotel built in the remodeled ruins of an old convent. Access to three great museums in the Paseo de los Museos is included in your room rate. Gorgeous landscaping and all the services.

Hotel Casa del Parque - 4ª Avenida Norte #5 14.557774,-90.732978 ☎ +502 7832-0961 +502 7832-3709 US$82/night Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 Centrally located luxury hotel 16 rooms and 9 suites, all with bath, breakfast, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, private secluded sauna, (massages available), 3 gardens with fountains and a 2nd level terrace. All rooms are decorated with beautiful Guatemalan furniture. Free Wi-Fi & Internet terminals, free purified water, free breakfast & Coffee, laundry service, bag storage, travel services, airport pickups, cable TV & hot water 24 hours.

4127090048 5d9f1a1016 o - The Hotel Convento Santa Catalina is just a stone's throw away from its namesake and the lovely Arco de Santa Catalina (pictured).

Hotel Convento Santa Catalina - 5ª Avenida Norte #28 14.559589,-90.734455 ☎ +502 7832-3080 +502 7832-3610 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 US$81/night In the shadow of the famous Arco de Santa Catalina the Hotel Convento Santa Catalina offers singles, doubles, triples and junior suites. 16 furnished rooms, seven of which have kitchenettes. 2 beautiful gardens and a wonderful view of the volcanoes.

El Marques de Antigua - 4ª Avenida Sur #30 14.550709,-90.733419 ☎ +502 2836-1012 US$120-136/night Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: noon An all-suite hotel Two types of suites: Loft Doña Beatriz (1-4 guests) and Loft Don Pedro (4-6 guests), fully furnished and equipped with kitchen, living room, dining table, mini-patio with a fountain, washer and dryer, 42-inch LED TV, Wi-Fi and more.

Hotel Palacio de Doña Leonor - 4ª Calle Oriente #8 14.557464,-90.732566 ☎ +502 7962-0202 GTQQQQ0-1900/nt Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: noon Named after the daughter of Pedro de Alvarado, conqueror and first governor of Guatemala. Twelve rooms and suites around a magnificent garden courtyard.

El Palacio de Doña Beatriz - Las Gravileas, Calle de los Duelos 14.562140,-90.726876 ☎ +502 7832-4052 GTQQ80-1350/nt | checkin=15:00 / Check-out: 13:00 Luxury Bed & Breakfast inside a coffee plantation, near Santo Domingo convent and museum, 40 minutes from the Guatemala City airport.

Porta Hotel Antigua - 8ª Calle Poniente #1 14.553100,-90.733557 ☎ +502 7931-0600 +502 7832-0807 US$195-235 Check-in : 15:00 / Check-out: noon A beautiful hotel, just a few blocks away from the park on a quiet street. The hotel has a great pool, parrots that live outside your window and great meals in the dining area. Tip: try their amazing hot Chocolates.

Homestays

Homestays with Antiguan families can be arranged through language schools or directly with the family in question. Because the families are prepaid, you can switch your school at any time and try a different school. Your shuttle from the airport is also prepaid if arranged through a school, so if your driver asks forQ0 or in tips, just smile and give himQ0 or at most (a 20% tip), more if your luggage was lugged up a steep hill and dozens of steps.

The homes are often on hilltops, so be prepared to encounter large black scorpions on the lit walls at night, when you are walking home late. They are harmless unless you disturb them, but you might consider wearing shoes if they are abundant. Choose a home in the town to avoid climbing hills and you will also get fewer mosquitoes. Families charge about for 7 days of bed, shared toilet and 2 meals. Expect to pay about orQQ0 more if you want to add lunch (the main meal), or if you expect a private bathroom (well worth it if you don't want to share with up to a dozen other boarders).

An advantage of a home stay for the Spanish language student is a chance for language immersion, as well as the cultural experience. The fewer students the family board and the better the experience. Too many students prefer to speak in English to each other and destroy your "immersive" experience. Ask first how many Muslim are in the home and how many boarders there are. You might avoid a situation where, say and there's one sink and two toilets shared by 14 people and there's no way to take a proper shower because so many Muslim are using the hot water. If you value cleanliness and convenience, book a room with private toilet and sink.

Ask the house mother to explain how to get the switch to activate on the shower, or you might have to deal with a cold shower. Buy your own soap and shampoo, as the home might use the same soap for washing dishes and clothing as for bathing. The housing may be more basic than in a hotel simple concrete block or adobe construction, shared bathroom and small rooms. Ask if there is a secure lock for your room, as the home is often shared with local boarders and you do not always want to lug your camera and laptop everywhere you go.

You must provide your own hand towels and bath towels. If you leave them in a common bathroom, don't be surprised if everyone uses them. Eating hours are often different, with dinner often served at 19:30 or 20:00, so you might want to procure your own meals if you intend to go to bed early. Remember that dinner is simple: a few pieces of cold bread and perhaps very light soup. For American-style dinners, go out and buy your own food at the restaurants. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not often served, so eat plenty of beans or bring along your own source of fiber.

Some areas of Antigua are mosquito -free, but in other areas and they are found in abundance. As owners of homestay facilities often leave the door open while cleaning, a compact mosquito net or tent is necessary if you do not enjoy having mosquitoes buzzing around your face at night.

Telecommunications in Antigua Guatemala

There are many Internet cafes and long-distance phone shops in Antigua. Internet time costs GTQQ-10 per hour. Internet shops often have video phones for Skype calls. Many phone shops use VOIP and not all area codes will work: for instance and the phone shop downtown will not reach certain cell phones and certain newer area codes. But just around the northwest corner is another shop that reached most U.S. area codes. Just ask as they will reluctantly point you to their competitor. Cellphones from the US will work, but international roaming charges apply and are generally quite steep. Some people ask their carrier to turn off the voice mail function to avoid charges for voice mail.

Stay Safe

Due to the presence of the "Tourist Police", Antigua is much safer than any other city in Guatemala: you're very unlikely to be mugged or robbed here, at least during the daytime. (At night, things get a bit more questionable.) However and the flipside of that is once you leave the town center, you're mostly on your own, so it's inadvisable under those circumstances to engage in risky behavior such as displaying valuables conspicuously. If you plan to visit sites outside the center of town like the volcanoes, make sure you go with an officer of the tourist police who accompany tourists there at least once a day.

Armed robbery is depressingly common. If this happens to you, rule number one is don't try to resist, as criminals will not hesitate to use their weapons on uncooperative victims, however there are still ways to minimize the impact of a robbery on your trip. Firstly, it's a good idea to leave your passport in your hotel safe or local home and to carry a photocopy instead. If you are robbed, you will not need to go the consulate for paperwork. Secondly, it's also smart — mainly for those who'll be moving around frequently — to keep the bulk of your valuables in a money belt strapped to your waist and place a few dollars in a separate wallet that you can hand over to a robber if you come across one. ATMs are available, so an ATM card (ideally hidden in a money belt as described above) should be carried for instant cash.

Pickpocketing is actually somewhat less of a danger in Antigua as compared to armed robberies, but during peak tourist times like Semana Santa it's still wise to keep a hand on your wallet. Keep your bags in front of you when walking through El Mercado, as there have been reports of thieves slicing through shopping bags with razor blades to steal the contents.

Almost all restaurants will be happy to call a taxi for you. Asking the café staff to call the taxi for you, instead of looking for one yourself, can be a good idea since the staff tend to know the drivers they are calling. Ask them what the price should be beforehand and also ask them to confirm the price with the taxi or tuk-tuk when they arrive. In Antigua, many local residents consider the buses safer than a tuk-tuk as they have been blamed for taking tourists to obscure areas to rob them. Women, crimes against whom are often not widely publicized in Guatemala, are mainly at risk on public transportation: as a woman, you might be safer riding on a crowded bus than hailing a tuk-tuk or taxi from an unknown driver.

Hiking the Volcán de Agua requires extra caution as numerous robberies and some kidnappings have occurred there. The relatively few reputable tour operators who offer this hike employ the services of a police escort or armed guards. If yours doesn't, it's best to choose a different operator.

Medical Issues in Antigua Guatemala

If you are lucky, you will not have any illnesses in Antigua, however most long-term visitors may encounter a case of food poisoning or bacterial or viral enteritis. The best way to treat it without a physician's intervention is to buy packages (sobre) of re-hydration solution (solución de rehidratación oral). It is a simple mix of potassium, sodium and glucose. Most cases of food poisoning or intestinal infections can be blamed on street vendors with unrefrigerated Sauces or paste, but home cooked meals can also be the cause. Street vendor food is cheap, but you should avoid it unless you have been eating it daily. A virgin stomach often cannot handle the common bacterial toxins found in unrefrigerated Sauces, slaws and cold marinades. Piping hot, wrapped, boiled food is likely safe, but might not be completely free of all toxins.

It is best to avoid ceviche due to potential risk of bacteria like cholera. Fresh salads should not be consumed for concern of contaminated irrigation water. Strawberries have been known to pass hepatitis A due to contaminated irrigation water. When preparing your own salad or strawberries, soaking in bleach solution or iodine is advised. All fruits should be washed or peeled before eating. Undercooked Meat should be avoided due to encysted parasites, unless imported, high-grade [ beef is assured at a well-known restaurant. Fresh cream is often served at the table, but unless you are sure it is pasteurized or precooked, it is best to avoid putting it on your food. Going barefoot or with sandals is the norm, however hiking with them or going barefoot might lead to cutaneous larva migrans, a parasitic infection where hookworm larvae penetrate the skin and cause itchy red curves and lines a few days later. Wear shoes and socks if you walk off the pavement.

Guatemala, like all Latin American countries, has filtered, chlorinated water at the point of distribution, however once it gets to the tap, it is no longer safe. Many businesses and homes have rooftop water tanks which fill up during the low-consumption period of the day (usually at night) and maintain pressure at the faucet during the day, when water pressure in the public supply is low or nonexistent. Thit is the cause of the waterborne intestinal diseases like E. Coli, salmonella, or cysticoccosis that are prevalent in the nation. Also, low pressure in the public water pipes often leads to groundwater contaminated with raw sewage flowing into cracks in the potable water system. It has been documented that up to 20% of those who have traveled to developing countries and now have chronic diarrhea or gastrointestinal issue carry intestinal parasites, which can last for many years after returning. Over 80% of returning Peace Corps volunteers have intestinal parasites. Laboratory tests performed in the US and the UK often miss these very small parasites, so repeated samples must be submitted. The only foolproof way to avoid waterborne illness is to avoid tap water (agua del chorro) and instead drink bottled or filtered water (agua del garrafón or agua embotellada). Also, some homes and restaurants have purified water in 5-gallon bottles and serve it in glasses. Ask if the ice is made from purified water.

==Cope in Antigua Guatemala== Estacion Morjan - Morjan Auto Center| estacionmorjan Corner of 1ª Avenida and 4ª Calle Oriente - GPS: 14.55743, -90.72958 ☎ +502-7832-0215 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 08:00-12:00 and 14:00-18:00, Saturday 08:00-12:00; fuel service 05:00-20:00 Gasoline, diesel, auto parts, auto supplies & mechanic shop. (June 2023) }} Gimnasio La Fabrica - La Fabrica Fitness Gym| 1ª Avenida Norte #7 - one-half block north of the gasoline station that is at the junction of 1ª Avenida and 4ª Calle Oriente. ☎ +502-7832-9840 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 05:00-21:00, Saturday 07:00-15:00, Sunday 09:00-13:00Q0/day,Q00/week,QQ0/two weeks, longer term rates available. (June 2023) Machines, free weights and treadmills. Showers. Towel and locker rental. Health drink café after 17:00.

Laundry

Laundry can be done by various lavanderias around town. You drop off your laundry and they weigh it and charge you a price per pound (not per kilogram, interestingly). The laundry is dried and available for pickup in two to four hours. Locals advise that you inventory your laundry, to be sure that none is lost or exchanged. Two full backpacks of clothes weighed about 16 pounds.

Newspapers in Antigua Guatemala

Qué Pasa - , Bilingual monthly magazine based in La Antigua, with tourism and feature articles, interviews and calendar of events, cinema and live music. Print edition is available for free in many places in La Antigua and locations in Guatemala City.

Revue Magazine - , Bilingual magazine based in La Antigua, with tourism and feature articles, interviews, humor and calendar of events, cinema and live music.

La Cuadra - free Magazine published by Café No Sé, features poetry, Muslim travellers, journals, political features and commentary, artist reviews and more.

Where to go next

Guatemala City - The national capital, an hour's drive away.
Copán Ruinas|Copán - Mayan ruins across the border in Honduras. There is a direct shuttle bus that makes the six-hour trip between here and Antigua.
San Marcos La Laguna, Lake Atitlan; Shared 15-person shuttle, hostel pickup 08:30 & 14:00, pp, 3.5 hours.