Gabrielle & Roy Diego
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
Hike to Cerra de la Cruz
One of the most iconic "to-do's" in Antigua. 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 (particularly Volcan Agua), and the big stone cross makes for some dramatic photography.
Parque Central (Central Park)
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
Nim Po't
A great place for souvenirs! It has a vast array of traditional Maya clothing, as well as hundreds of masks, wood carvings, kites, refrigerator magnets, assorted Maya deity Maximón figurings and edible gifts, such as locally roasted coffee and chocolate.
Mercado de Artesanias
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 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.
ChocoMuseo (Chocolate 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.
Iglesia y Convento de la Recolección
A large, spectacular monastery ruin with giant pieces of wall and masonry left in place since it fell centuries ago.