What to expect when visiting Antigua, Guatemala
Few places captivate the imagination quite like Antigua, Guatemala. This Central American dream of a city is rife with intricate doorways, vibrant colors, and delightful detail.
Once the colonial capital of Guatemala, Antigua was founded on the site of a Mayan city in the 16th century. As a result, the storied town features baroque architecture and ruins all around.
Headed to Antigua soon? Here's what to expect when you arrive:
It's easy to get to.
Antigua is located about an hour from Guatemala City. If you're arriving by air, you can catch a cab directly from Aurora International Airport (GUA) to Antigua for around 300 quetzales (~$38.) Alternately, you can book a shared shuttle for around 80-115Q (~$10-15.)
Once you clear customs, there's clear signage directing you towards where you can secure either method of transit.
Practice your Spanish before you go (or even once you get there!)
There are plenty of Western expats around, and some of the locals are bilingual. But many people in Antigua don't speak English at all.
While the really touristy attractions tend to feature more English-speakers, not all of them do. Case in point: many of the excursions up nearby Pacaya Volcano only include a local guide (meaning, just Spanish.)
Needless to say, if you or your travel companions aren't fluent in Spanish, brush up on some basic phrases and travel-related conversation before you visit. If you're serious about improving your skills, there are lots of schools around Antigua where you can sign up to take Spanish classes. It's a great place to do so - the Guatemalan accent is quite clear, and Guatemalans in general are very kind and patient!
WiFi is hard to come across.
...as in, it's pretty much nonexistent. Hotels and hostels have it, as do internet cafes, but expect access to be few and far between everywhere else (and even when it is available, service is preeeeetty slow.)
The cobblestones are as dangerous as everyone says.
The streets of Antigua are pretty much exclusively cobblestone. Before I visited, I kept seeing warnings about this left and right: 'The cobblestones are no joke!' 'Twisted ankles are super common!' 'Be really careful!'
Me, being a semi-skeptic, brushed it off, thinking, 'I've been to Europe. There are cobblestones everywhere in Europe. The ones in Antigua can't be worse than that, we'll be fine!'
Wrong. They are worse, and we were less than fine. Our first step outside of the hotel and my travel buddy ATE IT, nearly breaking her toe in the process.
Point being, the cobblestones throughout Antigua can be pretty dangerous. Exercise extra caution when walking around town, and wear closed-toe shoes where possible. Heels can definitely be left at home!
Use Uber.
Antigua is an extremely walkable city, but Uber is a great tool to use in getting around, especially at night. It's insanely cheap, easy, and reliable.
Tuk tuks and cabs are also fine to use, but avoid the colorful chicken buses that go around town - at least when they're overcrowded or it's after dark. They're a common spot for pickpocketing.
Google Maps/location services don't work as well in Antigua.
We had issues locating our hotel a few times due to this, even when using data. I'd recommend downloading maps offline prior to leaving a wifi zone, and know the crossroads and address of your destination and/or pickup point just to be safe.
The food is delicious.
Seriously. You're in for some amazing eats. Whether it's traditional Guatemalan cuisine, Mexican, Italian, pizza, or whatever else you're craving, Antigua has it in abundance - and they know how to do it right! The food scene was one of my favorite things about Antigua.
The markets are a great place to haggle.
There are markets everywhere in Antigua. They're buzzing and colorful, a true destination in which you can easily kill an entire day - and a great place to pick up trinkets for friends and family back home.
The paintings, textiles and ceramics for sale are unbelievably gorgeous, and you can haggle everywhere to get really cheap prices. Not to mention, you can find beautiful leather goods plus some offbeat items like hand-made machetes (yes, really.)
It's equally relaxing and adventurous.
Antigua truly is the best of both worlds. There are spas, museums, galleries, and markets to peruse for all your leisurely needs. You can unwind by your hotel pool, or hit up a rooftop for a lazy afternoon sipping cocktails and noshing on plantains.
But, just as equally, the town is a huge adventure capital, serving as a jumping-off point for ventures into the surrounding countryside. You can zip-line across canyons, hike up and camp atop active volcanoes, or head out towards other Guatemalan attractions, like the nearby Lake Atitlan.
Midway through a zip-lining excursion, surrounded by volcanoes - check out Fuego erupting behind us!
Everything is cheap.
Antigua is insanely cheap, which, aside from explaining why Guatemala is such a backpacker's magnet, makes the destination one that sufficiently epitomizes the phrase 'getting the most bang for your buck.'
On average, we paid between $5-6 for every meal we ate (many including drinks!) Our excursion to Pacaya Volcano, including roundtrip transportation and a guide, was $12 a person. An Uber around town typically cost about $1. The most expensive thing we did was zip-line for $50 a person - but even that became a complete bargain when we turned out to be the only ones signed up and it became a private excursion.
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Ready to experience Antigua for yourself? Disco Terra Travel can arrange the perfect itinerary for you! Reach out here and let’s get started.
You may also be interested in:
Everything you need to know before hiking Pacaya Volcano
The Ultimate Antigua, Guatemala Itinerary: 3 days
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