Life took us on a weekend trip to Antigua, Guatemala by chance. We went there because it had the fastest processing times for my husband’s Mexican visa. We spent one day in Guatemala City, and then we spent a weekend in Antigua for fun. Most people skip Guatemala City and go directly to Antigua and Lake Atitlan. We only had time for one this trip, so we chose Antigua. However, we are heading back to see Lake Atitlan in March 2024!
Getting to Antigua
Staying in Antigua
Things to do in Antigua
Eating & Drinking in Antigua
More Tour Options
How to get to Antigua
Since most tourists head straight to Antigua, you can generally get an Uber or a taxi directly there for about $35-$50 (one way). You may have to wait a bit for the Uber, but it was relatively simple. The drive is about 60-90 minutes. However, note that if there is traffic, this drive can take several hours, so plan accordingly. If you stay in Guatemala City or an airport hotel, you can also have them arrange a driver for about $50. For a slightly less expensive option, there are also shared shuttles that cost about $20 each way with a 2-hour drive time.
Where to Stay in Antigua
Since Antigua is a popular tourist destination, there are many hotels in the area for a range of prices. Antigua is also a relatively walkable city, so as long as you stay in the center, you will likely be able to walk everywhere you need to go. Here are a few hotel recommendations for Antigua:
- Las Farolas ($$$) – We stayed here and a few months later, my family was traveling to Antigua, and they also stayed there by coincidence, so you can’t go wrong!
- Camino Real Antigua ($$$)
- El Convento Boutique Hotel ($$$)
- Hopefully ($ – $$) – For a less expensive option.
What to do in Antigua
- Visit the famous Santa Catalina Arch – One of the most iconic photo spots in Guatemala, this arch is where you can get your Instagram pic. There isn’t much to actually see besides the arch, and if you want a picture with few people, you’ll have to go very early. However, there are a lot of little shops and artisans around there as well in case you want to pick up souvenirs.
- Go on a coffee tour – I highly recommend De La Gente’s coffee tour. DLG is a coffee co-op, and the tour is led by a small, local producer. They take you to their coffee fields, teach you about the process of farming coffee, and then take you to their home to learn the coffee production process. The co-op works in partnership with small producers in Guatemala to help them learn, make money, and ensure knowledge is shared. This tour was the highlight of our trip.
- Hike a volcano – We did not do a volcano hike on our trip because we didn’t have the time, but it’s one of the things I’d like to do. There are many volcanoes – several active – in Guatemala, and we even saw one of them – Fuego – shooting ash into the air from afar. The most popular volcano tour from Guatemala is Acatenango. There are many tours, but this one from Trek Guatemala looks good.
Where to eat and drink coffee in Antigua
We did not find the food to be especially good in Antigua, but we did find some good coffee spots. Here are some places we’d recommend for a weekend in Antigua.
- Hector’s Bistro ($$) – A nice, tranquil spot in Antigua that’s good for families and has a wide variety of food options.
- Rincon Tipico ($) – This casual, Guatemalan restaurant was really good and reasonably priced. Go early if you want the Adobado (the specialty). We went mid-afternoon and they were already out!
- Alegria Cafe – This coffee shop had great options for specialty coffee lovers and also looked like a good spot to hang out an work remotely.
- Coffea Cafes Especiales – We did not go here, but it’s definitely one I would try next time.
- Artista de Cafe – This is a great little spot to grab a coffee and read a book or work. We went there on our last day. It’s very aesthetic.
More Tour Options
Still looking for things to experience in Antigua, Guatemala? Check out the link below to find all the tour options available in this incredible city and region.
Please note: If you book through some of the links in this post, I may receive a commission.
