Guidebook for Antigua Guatemala
Food Scene
This one is nice to go on a Sunday evening, that day they have the second pizza for free.
We like to sit outside in their nice garden close to the fire..
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Angie Angie Cafearte
1a Avenida SurThis one is nice to go on a Sunday evening, that day they have the second pizza for free.
We like to sit outside in their nice garden close to the fire..
Nice little Mexican place with most of the evenings live music.
We are in love with the Shrimp & Bacon Burrito!
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Cactus Taco Shop
6a Calle PonienteNice little Mexican place with most of the evenings live music.
We are in love with the Shrimp & Bacon Burrito!
An all organic farm that also offers tours, volunteering, a farm-to-table restaurant, a store, Farmers Markets on Saturday mornings (live music, vendors with organic fruit and vegetables, natural soaps, and fresh juices, free activities..), Thursday- and Friday night activities and much more! Check out their homepage for more details
https://caobafarms.weebly.com/
This one is a little bit located outside of the center. There go free shuttles from Central Park.
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Caoba Farms
Final 5 Avenida SurAn all organic farm that also offers tours, volunteering, a farm-to-table restaurant, a store, Farmers Markets on Saturday mornings (live music, vendors with organic fruit and vegetables, natural soaps, and fresh juices, free activities..), Thursday- and Friday night activities and much more! Check out their homepage for more details
https://caobafarms.weebly.com/
This one is a little bit located outside of the center. There go free shuttles from Central Park.
This is a nice place to have breakfast or lunch or just to have a coffee or some fresh juice in their beautiful garden. They also have a store with healthy food products.
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Vivero y Café La Escalonia
36 5 Avenida SurThis is a nice place to have breakfast or lunch or just to have a coffee or some fresh juice in their beautiful garden. They also have a store with healthy food products.
Cozy little place to have a simple but nice dinner or just some drinks.
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Por Qué No? Cafe
Cozy little place to have a simple but nice dinner or just some drinks.
For something different, eat like a local and pick up some street food for lunch or dinner. Antigua has several food markets, but the best one is located in the park in front of La Merced Church.
Every weekend, vendors from around Antigua set up street carts and serve empanadas, rellenos, arepas, and other delicious foodstuffs. It's cheap too, at anywhere from Q5 to Q20 per item.
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Convent of La Merced
For something different, eat like a local and pick up some street food for lunch or dinner. Antigua has several food markets, but the best one is located in the park in front of La Merced Church.
Every weekend, vendors from around Antigua set up street carts and serve empanadas, rellenos, arepas, and other delicious foodstuffs. It's cheap too, at anywhere from Q5 to Q20 per item.
Café Condesa has become an Antigua institution, serving up delicious food and warm service in an attractive colonial building. Café Condesa uses only fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the coffee beans are 100% organic.
Cafe Condesa puts on a great Sunday breakfast brunch buffet, 9 AM until 1 PM. All you can possibly eat: scrambled eggs, potatoes, pancakes with maple syrup, fruit, cereal, yogurt, quiche and even dessert! Just 78 Q currently.
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Café Condesa
5a Avenida NorteCafé Condesa has become an Antigua institution, serving up delicious food and warm service in an attractive colonial building. Café Condesa uses only fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the coffee beans are 100% organic.
Cafe Condesa puts on a great Sunday breakfast brunch buffet, 9 AM until 1 PM. All you can possibly eat: scrambled eggs, potatoes, pancakes with maple syrup, fruit, cereal, yogurt, quiche and even dessert! Just 78 Q currently.
I loveee their Piri Piri Burrito and their garlic sauce :) But they have a lot of great food for cheap prices.
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Toko Baru
1a Avenida SurI loveee their Piri Piri Burrito and their garlic sauce :) But they have a lot of great food for cheap prices.
Essentials
For imported goods and everything else you need we have supermarket “La Bodegona”, which is located close to the market.
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La bodegona
27 PonienteFor imported goods and everything else you need we have supermarket “La Bodegona”, which is located close to the market.
Wandering through Antigua’s colorful market is a great way to get a feel for this city. The Mercado is the local market, and you can buy everything here. Stroll through the maze passages in the covered market, watch the locals going about their everyday business, and snap some photos which are quintessential Guatemala.
This market provides you with a real taste of Guatemala. It will take a couple of hours to explore all the vendors and is one of the most fun things to do in Antigua Guatemala. The artisans market is located on the left and the local market with nearly every fruit, vegetable, and animal available in the country for sale.
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Central Market Antigua
4 PonienteWandering through Antigua’s colorful market is a great way to get a feel for this city. The Mercado is the local market, and you can buy everything here. Stroll through the maze passages in the covered market, watch the locals going about their everyday business, and snap some photos which are quintessential Guatemala.
This market provides you with a real taste of Guatemala. It will take a couple of hours to explore all the vendors and is one of the most fun things to do in Antigua Guatemala. The artisans market is located on the left and the local market with nearly every fruit, vegetable, and animal available in the country for sale.
Parks & Nature
A hotel/restaurant, on top of a mountain just outside of Antigua, the village offers stunning views of the Panchoy Valley and to our nearby Volcano neighbors. It is completely run on Solar and Wind energy. For more info and how to get there, have a look on their website: www.hobbitenango.com It can be chilly up there so make sure to bring a sweater or jacket.
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Hobbitenango
A hotel/restaurant, on top of a mountain just outside of Antigua, the village offers stunning views of the Panchoy Valley and to our nearby Volcano neighbors. It is completely run on Solar and Wind energy. For more info and how to get there, have a look on their website: www.hobbitenango.com It can be chilly up there so make sure to bring a sweater or jacket.
On a sunny day, taking a leisurely walk up to Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) is an extremely enjoyable activity. Located on the edge of town and perched upon a hill, this large cross looks out onto the best views of Antigua and its volcanoes. The walk itself is about 30 minutes, and when you reach the top it's dramatic views will unfold beneath you, so don't forget your camera! There are often food and drink stalls here, as well as locals selling souvenirs, it’s a great spot to chill out.
It’s recommended that you only go during daylight hours for safety reasons.
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Cerro della Croce
On a sunny day, taking a leisurely walk up to Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) is an extremely enjoyable activity. Located on the edge of town and perched upon a hill, this large cross looks out onto the best views of Antigua and its volcanoes. The walk itself is about 30 minutes, and when you reach the top it's dramatic views will unfold beneath you, so don't forget your camera! There are often food and drink stalls here, as well as locals selling souvenirs, it’s a great spot to chill out.
It’s recommended that you only go during daylight hours for safety reasons.
This one is not for everyone, it is quite heavy, but if you can do it, it can be a experience of a lifetime. This is a 2-day hike with camping on the Volcano with a close view of (If you are lucky, errupting) Fuego.
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Acatenango
This one is not for everyone, it is quite heavy, but if you can do it, it can be a experience of a lifetime. This is a 2-day hike with camping on the Volcano with a close view of (If you are lucky, errupting) Fuego.
Pacaya Volcano is the most popular volcano trek in Antigua, probably because it’s the most accessible. You only need a moderate level of fitness to scale Pacaya and can do it in a half day. The volcano is still active, so you can toast marshmallows on the still-hot rocks. The volcano is still active, so you can toast marshmallows on the still-hot rocks.
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Pacaya
Pacaya Volcano is the most popular volcano trek in Antigua, probably because it’s the most accessible. You only need a moderate level of fitness to scale Pacaya and can do it in a half day. The volcano is still active, so you can toast marshmallows on the still-hot rocks. The volcano is still active, so you can toast marshmallows on the still-hot rocks.
Parque Central, also known as Plaza Central Park, is the beating heart of Antigua. Buzzing with activity, and bordered by cathedrals, fountains, trees and colonial buildings, the plaza is the best place to get a feel for the town and enjoy a spot of people watching with some ice cream.
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Central Park
4 Avenida NorteParque Central, also known as Plaza Central Park, is the beating heart of Antigua. Buzzing with activity, and bordered by cathedrals, fountains, trees and colonial buildings, the plaza is the best place to get a feel for the town and enjoy a spot of people watching with some ice cream.
Sightseeing
This convent was founded in 1699 by 6 nuns from Mexico. It’s now home to beautiful ruins that are used for events and tourists and is one of the top places to visit in Antigua Guatemala especially for architecture and history buffs.
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Convento Santa Clara
This convent was founded in 1699 by 6 nuns from Mexico. It’s now home to beautiful ruins that are used for events and tourists and is one of the top places to visit in Antigua Guatemala especially for architecture and history buffs.
This 16th-century convent-turned-hotel houses ancient colonial ruins, an impressive art collection, and a five-star hotel. The hotel is a significant monument, preserving treasures from America’s baroque era.
Casa Santo Domingo is a five-star hotel with a compelling history: years ago it was a convent and sanctuary that provided shelter for people of the Santo Domingo De Guzmán order. Today this hotel is part museum, part art gallery, part exotic gardens, entrance to the grounds is free, and on a fine day, there’s nowhere nicer to be in the city. Stroll through gardens adorned with stately fountains and historic crypts, admire the spa pools and spot the host of exotic birds that live here.
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Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
28 A 3a Calle OrienteThis 16th-century convent-turned-hotel houses ancient colonial ruins, an impressive art collection, and a five-star hotel. The hotel is a significant monument, preserving treasures from America’s baroque era.
Casa Santo Domingo is a five-star hotel with a compelling history: years ago it was a convent and sanctuary that provided shelter for people of the Santo Domingo De Guzmán order. Today this hotel is part museum, part art gallery, part exotic gardens, entrance to the grounds is free, and on a fine day, there’s nowhere nicer to be in the city. Stroll through gardens adorned with stately fountains and historic crypts, admire the spa pools and spot the host of exotic birds that live here.
This ornate church was home to the first monastery in the city. As one of the last churches built in the city, it is the embodiment of colonial architecture. La Merced Church is perhaps the prettiest Baroque church in the city, and certainly one of the best preserved. Anyone with the faintest interest in art, architecture, or design should pay a visit, as the church boasts magnificent stucco work that showcases the Moorish influence present in Spain at that time.
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Chiesa di La Merced
This ornate church was home to the first monastery in the city. As one of the last churches built in the city, it is the embodiment of colonial architecture. La Merced Church is perhaps the prettiest Baroque church in the city, and certainly one of the best preserved. Anyone with the faintest interest in art, architecture, or design should pay a visit, as the church boasts magnificent stucco work that showcases the Moorish influence present in Spain at that time.
The Arch of Santa Catalina is Antigua’s most iconic landmark, and probably one of the most recognizable symbols of Guatemala. Perched above a bustling street, this historic arch was built in the 1960’s, and its bright yellow stone, neat white trim and French clock make the perfect photo- especially with Volcan de Agua looming in the background.
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Arco de Santa Catalina
28 5a Avenida NorteThe Arch of Santa Catalina is Antigua’s most iconic landmark, and probably one of the most recognizable symbols of Guatemala. Perched above a bustling street, this historic arch was built in the 1960’s, and its bright yellow stone, neat white trim and French clock make the perfect photo- especially with Volcan de Agua looming in the background.
Built by the Franciscan brotherhood in 1542, this Catholic church is the oldest functioning church in the city and most visited sanctuary by locals. It also houses the tomb of the country’s only canonized saint, Hermano Pedro, making it one of the most fascinating places to visit in Antigua Guatemala. Its spectacular colonial architecture, grand courtyard, and ruined monastery make it an incredibly photogenic place to visit, but there’s also an interesting museum here dedicated to Hermano Pedro, a Spanish missionary who is Guatemala's only saint.
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San Francisco
7a Calle OrienteBuilt by the Franciscan brotherhood in 1542, this Catholic church is the oldest functioning church in the city and most visited sanctuary by locals. It also houses the tomb of the country’s only canonized saint, Hermano Pedro, making it one of the most fascinating places to visit in Antigua Guatemala. Its spectacular colonial architecture, grand courtyard, and ruined monastery make it an incredibly photogenic place to visit, but there’s also an interesting museum here dedicated to Hermano Pedro, a Spanish missionary who is Guatemala's only saint.
Entertainment & Activities
Guatemala has excellent food, and you can discover just how varied it is with a cooking class. The most enjoyable class is at La Tortilla Cooking School - not least because it includes unlimited wine. During the class, you’ll learn how to make a variety of traditional dishes, as well as learn about the history behind these meals and why they’re important to Mayan culture. Dishes include things like pepían (a spicy, meaty stew considered one of Guatemala’s national dishes), beetroot salad, Guatemalan rice, and tortillas. Dessert is usually rellenitos-mouthwatering donuts stuffed with Mayan chocolate and a rich, sweet bean sauce.
La Tortilla Cooking School
4"N Diag. 6Guatemala has excellent food, and you can discover just how varied it is with a cooking class. The most enjoyable class is at La Tortilla Cooking School - not least because it includes unlimited wine. During the class, you’ll learn how to make a variety of traditional dishes, as well as learn about the history behind these meals and why they’re important to Mayan culture. Dishes include things like pepían (a spicy, meaty stew considered one of Guatemala’s national dishes), beetroot salad, Guatemalan rice, and tortillas. Dessert is usually rellenitos-mouthwatering donuts stuffed with Mayan chocolate and a rich, sweet bean sauce.
Guatemala’s coffee is known to be the best in the world, and the most special coffee tour you can do is with Finca Colombia, a family-owned farm a short drive from the city. The tour gives you an insight into the coffee making process-from seed to cup- as well as some of the problems of coffee growing. You’ll gain a new appreciation for just how much work goes into a cup, and once you’ve finished learning you can take a scenic walk around the beautiful, shady plantation-complimentary mug of coffee in hand. The altitude of 5,000 feet allows you to experience unrivaled views of the volcano, too, so don’t forget your camera.
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Finca Colombia, Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala’s coffee is known to be the best in the world, and the most special coffee tour you can do is with Finca Colombia, a family-owned farm a short drive from the city. The tour gives you an insight into the coffee making process-from seed to cup- as well as some of the problems of coffee growing. You’ll gain a new appreciation for just how much work goes into a cup, and once you’ve finished learning you can take a scenic walk around the beautiful, shady plantation-complimentary mug of coffee in hand. The altitude of 5,000 feet allows you to experience unrivaled views of the volcano, too, so don’t forget your camera.
Guatemala is famously the birthplace of chocolate, and Antigua is the place to discover the delights of this decadent product. Entrance to the city’s famous Choco Museum is free, and if you have a sweet tooth it should definitely be on your ‘must-visit’ list. Learn about the Mayan’s history with the ‘food of the gods’, participate in one of the fun workshops, and learn the secrets of turning bean into bar. As if that wasn’t enough, you can enjoy plenty of free tastings along the way!
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ChocoMuseo
Guatemala is famously the birthplace of chocolate, and Antigua is the place to discover the delights of this decadent product. Entrance to the city’s famous Choco Museum is free, and if you have a sweet tooth it should definitely be on your ‘must-visit’ list. Learn about the Mayan’s history with the ‘food of the gods’, participate in one of the fun workshops, and learn the secrets of turning bean into bar. As if that wasn’t enough, you can enjoy plenty of free tastings along the way!
Arts & Culture
Guatemala is famous for its woven textiles, so if you’re interested in learning more about these beautiful designs, head to Casa del Tejido.
Mayan textiles are far more important than one might think, and at Casa del Tejido you’ll learn all about the significance and history of the different Guatemalan weaves. Essentially a museum, market, and workshop in one, entrance to Casa del Tejido is free, although donations are strongly encouraged; the money goes towards supporting the work of indigenous Mayans.
Museo Casa del Tejido Antiguo
51 1a Calle PonienteGuatemala is famous for its woven textiles, so if you’re interested in learning more about these beautiful designs, head to Casa del Tejido.
Mayan textiles are far more important than one might think, and at Casa del Tejido you’ll learn all about the significance and history of the different Guatemalan weaves. Essentially a museum, market, and workshop in one, entrance to Casa del Tejido is free, although donations are strongly encouraged; the money goes towards supporting the work of indigenous Mayans.