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Antigua (Guatemala)

La Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua) is a city in Guatemala. It was the colonial Spanish capital of Central America, it is a World Heritage site, and is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in Guatemala.

Understand

Antigua'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 9th 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 7th from south to north. The calles are further divided into oriente (east) and poniente (west). The street intersection at the north-east corner of the Palace of the Captains-General, i.e. at the south-east 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 cobblestoned 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" (because 1a signifies "primera", 2a is short for "segunda", 3a for "tercera", etc); then "av." (for avenida) or "Cle" (for calle), 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 calle 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 memorise that the north and south sides of Parque Central are 5a and 4a calles, and the west and east sides are 5a and 4a avenidas. 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 ave. 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.

The Inguat Tourist Office is on the south-east side of the Parque Central. Open until 5 pm Monday to Friday. Open Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

Get in

Located just 30 miles (45 km) west of Guatemala City, you can get here in 45-60 minutes from La Aurora Airport.

You can catch a crowded chicken bus (recycled US school bus) from Guatemala city for US$1 or Q7.

There are regular shuttle vans directly from the airport to Antigua. These cost around $10 US each and leave regularly all day until 8PM. You don't need to prearrange anything; just show up.

There is a direct shuttle bus from Copán, Honduras which departs twice a day at 5:30AM and midday.

A charter tourist van costs about USD $30. The driver will meet you at the airport with your name on a sign. For first-time visitors, the convenience and security of arranging a van like this might be worth the cost.

Transportation by bus is cheap compared to taxis or shuttles, but would be less convenient and take a longer time. For Antigua, you would need to take a cab to the second class bus station that does this route and get on a chicken bus.

There is no commercial air or train service for this town.

Get around

Antigua is very compact and easy to walk around. Most tourist destinations are in an 8-by-8 block area less than 1 km across. You can walk across it 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.

If you don't know the city streets too well, and it's past about 11PM, it is best to get a taxi back to your accommodations from Parque Central, especially if you're alone, or going more than a few blocks away from the well lighted Central Park area.

Tuk-tuks and taxis can take you to destinations within the city center for Q10 or less -- negotiate the fare with the driver in advance. Flag down a cruising tuk-tuk, or pick up a taxi from the queue at Parque Central.

See

The whole city is full of historic buildings, monuments, fountains and ruins. This city was founded by the Spanish in the XVII Century, and it follows the traditional design of a Main Plaza surrounded by Government and Catholic Church buildings. It's worthwhile to visit La Catedral, el Palacio de los Gobernadores, Convento de Capuchinas, Convento de Santa Clara, el Arco de Santa Catarina, Iglesia La Merced and the Handcrafts Market.

Entrance fees for the Ruinas are steep, except for the Ruinas y Museo de San Francisco which is a bargain at 5 Quetzals; the Ruinas de Santa Clara, Ruinas de San Jeronimo, Ruinas La Recollecion and the Museo Capuchino charge 30 Quetzals for foreigners (locals 2 Quetzals). The Museo Hotel Casa Santo Domingo charges 40 Quetzals, although here you may see just the ruinas for free.

The Parque Central is a park in the center of town. The park is a city block in size, with concentric circular walkways threading among trees and a fountain in the center. The trees are decorated with lights, and there are plenty of benches for sitting and people-watching. The Inguat tourist agency, the city hall and police office, the cathedral, and several banks and tourist businesses line the four sides of the park. Many Antiguans hang out in the park, and it has a pleasant, bustling, friendly feel during the day (at night, slightly less so... use your judgment).

A large cross is prominent on a hill to the north of the city (Cerro de la Cruz). It is a pleasant, moderately strenuous 30-minute walk to the cross from the Parque Central. On a clear day there is a fine vista over most of Antigua and the Volcán de Agua rising high to the south. Note: there are persistent reports of robberies on this trail. The Tourist Police lead a free walk up to the park at 10AM and 3PM daily. Check-in with the Tourist Police office which is on the north side of City Hall at the north east corner of Parque Central (Central Park).

The Experimental Station Valhalla is a nursery of macadamia trees with an interesting environmental and economic agenda. Valhalla has donated over 250,000 macadamia trees to indigenous communities in Guatemala. Macadamia nuts are a cash crop, with the potential to provide a better livelihood for Guatemalan peasants than does coffee. The farmer can use the trimmed branches of the trees for firewood. Additionally, macadamia trees take carbon dioxide out of the air and form it into wood, nuts and shells. The shells can be used for street paving. And Valhalla have found a way to provide the trees as genetically diverse complete plants, instead of as grafts. This allows natural selection to adapt the trees to changing environmental conditions. The station turns macadamia nuts into snacks, chocolates, a fine skin cream, a pure oil, and a flour which can be made into pancakes. Pancake breakfasts are served all day, every day until 3:30PM. The breakfast includes 3 pancakes made of macadamia flour, served with macadamia butter, homemade blueberry marmalade and a drink of your choice. No reservation required.

Experimental station Valhalla is a few km out of Antigua in the direction of San Miguel Dueñas. Chicken busses run every 30 minutes on this route, and the fare is around Q3.50 one way. The station offers tours in Spanish, English, and sometimes other languages as well. At the end of a tour they offer samples of their various macadamia products. tel +502-7888-6308, fax +502-7831-5799, web http://www.exvalhalla.net, email [1]. Open M-Sa 8AM-4:30PM.

Do

Cultural walking tours of Antigua are offered six days a week. They are the work of Elizabeth Bell, who came to Guatemala in 1969 from the U.S. and stayed. She has literally written the book on Antigua, twice (Antigua Guatemala: the city and it's heritage and Lent and Holy Week in Antigua). This tour is an interesting "peek behind the door" of Antigua -- telling you about the people and forces driving Antigua today and in its past, as you go to a few of the main destinations of Antigua. Since Elizabeth Bell is one of those people driving Antigua, her perspective is hard to beat. An essential complement to a more conventional tour of the of the top monuments and their histories. USD $18 per person (USD$15 for project volunteers), includes entrance fees. Some proceeds donated to cultural foundations in Antigua. Available in English and Spanish. Depart from the fountain in the Parque Central.

  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9:30AM-12:30PM, with Elizabeth Bell.
  • Mondays and Thursdays, 2PM-5PM, with Roberto Spillari.
  • Reservations requested from Antigua Tours [2], 3a calle ote #28, tel +502-7832-5821 and +502-7832-2046.

For those who like hiking, two trips near Antigua are highly recommended: Hiking up the active volcano Volcán Pacaya and/or the dormant Volcán Acatenango.

  • Going up the active Volcán Pacaya is quite easy and you will find dozens of travel agents who will be very happy to sell you tickets for a Pacaya-trip that normally costs between USD $7-9, depending on your bartering skills. This includes a bus-shuttle to and from Pacaya. Pacaya is an active volcano, and you get to go right to the craters edge. And yes, people do fall in occasionally! The hike is not too hard except for the last 100 meters or so that go over very loose rocks. Generally though, even unfit people of all ages can do this hike. It takes approx. 1.5 hours up and 45 minutes down the mountain. Note that there are a couple of kiosks at the bottom of this hike that offer cold beer.
    • Guatemala Ventures [3] has guided tours to Pacaya.
    • Antigua Tours offers guided tour from Antigua for US$75 fixed price for up to 5 people. Daily 6AM-1PM or 1PM-8:30PM.
    • Guatemala Turistica Pacaya tour information [4] (Spanish) with reassurances about security
  • Going up Volcán Acatenango is an entirely different cup of tea: This hike takes you from Antigua (1,500 meters) all the way to 3.976 meters (13,044 ft) in one day. You need to be fit, carry gear, take precautions against altitude sickness. Most people who do this trip spend the night on the mountain, though some go up and down within a day. Currently there are two outfits in Antigua who offer trips up Acatenango. If you have the gear, though, you can safely do the trip by yourself since there is only one way up.
  • The dormant volcano Volcán Agua stretches up invitingly to the south of Antigua. Some tourists recommend climbing as part of a tour with a police escort, in order to avoid problems; there have been reports of unaccompanied tourists being robbed. Definitely take the security situation seriously; ask at the Inguat office for advice, and go with a tour that has security you trust.

GuatemalaVentures [5] is located on 1era Av Sur (below Café Sky) in Antigua and offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as guided volcano hikes, mountain biking, kayaking, and bird-watching tours. They're happy to custom-tailor your excursion, and the guides speak English, German, and Spanish.

Mundo Guatemala, [6]. Antigua-based tour operator for Guatemala and Central America, with tailor-made travel for individuals and groups which is distinct, personal, and out-of-the-ordinary. Options include: short excursions (1-3 days) to 8-day and longer trips with focus on Mayan culture and traditions, relaxation, archeology, nature and/or soft adventure. Can also arrange Spanish lessons and homestay (see below). Also offers trips to Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica or Cuba. 

Viaventure[7] offerers high-end day- and multi-day trips from their base in Antigua Guatemala. Best to contact them with advance notice as they are not really set up for "walk-ins." They can arrange helicopter excursions, VIP guides, 4x4s, etc. Their services tend to be more expensive than other local agencies but they offer different products than what you will find at the many travel agencies around town.

Learn

  • Antigua Cooking School for the best Guatemalteca cuisine. www.antiguacookingschool.com - Subanik, Tamales Colorados Chiles Rellanos, Tamalitos, Pepian, Enchaladas, Chuchitos and more. In the heart of Antigua, beneath the arch, 5a Avenida Norte, #25B. 59448568 or 59903366.

Antigua is the most popular - though not the cheapest - place to learn Spanish in GuatePrices and hours vary, and can change depending on the season. Check 123teachme (listed below) for the most up-to date information. Also note that homestay opportunities are available as a cheaper and more culturally enriching living situation that a hotel; the average homestay with a Guatemalan family costs US$70 for 7 nights in your own room with shared bath and 3 meals daily except on Sunday.

  • 123teachme.com [8] has listings and reviews of schools teaching Spanish and other languages, in Antigua and in other locations. They edit information to keep the schools from skewing their ratings. You can compare the tuition cost, quality of instruction, and overall value. Go here for 123teachme.com's list of Spanish language schools in Antigua: [9].
  • Mundo Guatemala, [10]. can arrange customized Spanish language training, volunteering, and homestay accommodation. Well-trained and experienced teachers mix traditional conversation style with modern language training; adopting a real-life context that reflects multiple perspectives of daily life, culture and social environment of Guatemala. Housing is selected based on student’s individual profile – special diets (vegetarians/vegans), allergies, medical conditions. 
  • Escuela Tecun Uman Run by Mario Castellanos, one of the most experienced teachers in the City, the school has a good reputation with foreigners. [11]
  • Escuela Jimenez This school offers one-on-one instruction, customized to the student based upon an initial interview to determine the student's current knowledge of Spanish. Located near the main market street, the school is a family-operated business headed by Miguel Morales-Jiménez. [12]
  • Proyecto Lingüistico Francisco Marroquín This is the oldest Spanish school in Antigua, founded in 1969, which has expanded to include courses in a number of Mayan languages, including Kaqchikel, K'iche and Mam. Their "complete immersion program" includes the option of accommodations with a Guatemalan family. [13]
  • Spanish Academy Sevilla, 1st Avenida Sur # 17C, ☎ (502)7832-5101(fax: (502)7832-5101), [14]. Offers private Spanish lessons. Also offers choice of Student houses or Family stays accommodation, each with 3 meals/day 6 days/week, and private bathroom on request. Daily activities such as cultural exploration are frequently arranged by the school. 
  • Guate Linda Center Among the languages offered for teaching are: Spanish, English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, and a Mayan language named Kakchickel. Accommodation on school grounds is readily available. Education is done on a single teacher per student basis(one on one), with an average study time of 20 to 35 hours a week. [15]
  • Academia de Español Ya!, (5 blocks from the Parque Central), (info@espanolya.com), [16]. University-educated teachers. All materials included. One-to-one or group lessons. Garden area for studying. Will help you find afternoon activities and host family accommodations.US$90 for 4 hours/day, 5 days/week.  
  • Escuela de Espanol Cooperacion (7 Av Norte, 15B). A highly recommended school run as a cooperative, ensuring teachers get paid fairly. The school has a nice garden area for studying. US$90/week for 20 hours of one-on-one lessons. Homestays with Guatemalan families are available. Email <escuela_coop@yahoo.com> for more information.

Work

You can easily get a job as a waiter, waitress, bartender, or host in any of the many bars, restaurants and hotels in Antigua. Usually they pay from 8USD to 20USD a day plus tips. It's important to speak Spanish in most of these places, but you can slide by without it in some touristy spots, where most of the customers are foreigners. Also you can join in and volunteer at local non-profits.

Buy

When you change money at the bank, you will need your passport. If you change at a hotel you can do so without a passport, but the hotel will likely take a 3% service fee.

  • Hand-carved wooden masks and figures are popular in Guatemala, and easily found in many of the shops and stalls in La Antigua Guatemala. These make unique and wonderful gifts to bring home to friends and family, or just something unusual to remember your trip by.
  • Laundry can be done by various lavanderias around town. You drop off your laundry, 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 with another load. Two full backpacks of clothes weighed about 16 pounds.
    • Rapi Lavado, 6a Calle Pte No. 14, between 5a and 6a Ave Sur. As of December 2005, charged Q5,00 per pound.
    • Colonial Laundry, 4th Ave North #42, all the way to the end.
    • Spring Laundry, Primera Avenida Sur near Iglesia de San Francisco.

Eat

Antigua has cafes and restaurants for all tastes and budgets. The town is the most touristy place in Guatemala so you will find anything you are looking for;there is even a McDonalds, a Burger King, a Dominos Pizza and Subway! So, no, you will not starve while in Antigua.

  • La Peña de Sol Latino is a bar and restaurant featuring live music by Guatemalan and Central American bands (featuring Paco). Their macadamia dish is highly recommended. La Peña is located at 5 Calle Poniente (just along from El Sitio and opposite La Bodegona supermarket), Antigua Guatemala.
  • Restaurante Doña Luisa Xicotencatl, 4a Calle Ote 12, has the feel of a well-run corporate restaurant set in a gorgeous leafy courtyard of a historic building. Menu includes well-executed breakfast, hamburgers, and Guatemalan interpretations of Tex-Mex food. They use purified water on their vegetables and for drinking and ice, which means their menu is in-bounds for tender First World stomachs. There is a bakery in the building, which means that when you get close you can follow the delicious smells the rest of the way in. Highly recommended, especially for the cookies and daily selection of delightful breakfast breads.
  • Estudio35 5a avenida norte. Nice place, fine atmosphere, excellent pizza and tasty crepes and large variety of drinks and cocktails, Free WI-FI.
  • La Fonda de la Calle Real[17] Three locations: 3a Calle Pte 7, 5a Ave Nte 5, 5a Ave Nte 5 (the last two just north of the northwest corner of the Parque Central), tel +502 7832-0507. La Fonda has generous helpings of Guatemalan specialties, with reasonable prices and a touch of corporate efficiency in their operations. The "De Todo Un Poco" ("a bit of everything") platter combines steak, chicken, and sausage for Q91. The vegetarian "Pepian Vegetariano" offers green beans and other vegetables in a unusual smoky-flavored sauce4. The green salad is fresh and overflows the large plate. The 5a Ave Nte 5 location features a rustic three-story wood-frame building just off the Parque Central with pleasant second-story open balconies. Uses purified water for all drinks, ice, and preparation.
  • Y tu Piña, también. 6a Calle Oriente and Primera Avenida Sur. Breakfast. Lunch. Licuados. Benito's flavored rums. Luisa's famosa hangover soups. Proper espressos - usually. Manu Chao daily. Gratis Wi-Fi. Detox at Y tu Piña. Retox across the street at Café No Sé.
  • Travel Menu6a Calle Pte #14, one block south and partial block west of the southwest corner of Parque Central, on the north side of the street. Promises "small place, big portions", and delivers. It seats perhaps 20 people at about eight tables, in small, dim room painted to look like a underground European keller, lit only by candles on stands overflowing with waterfalls of wax drippings. They offer dinner entrees for low prices, with vegetarian options for everything. The portions are indeed generous. Beer and wine are also available, but not desserts. Topping it all off is the friendly proprietor, Jesper Nilsen of Denmark. Attracts a traveller crowd.
  • Rainbow Restaurant and Bookshop[18] 7a. Ave Sur #6 at 6a Calle, one block south and two full blocks west of the southwest corner of Parque Central. tel +502-7832-1919. offers tourist-friendly and wholesome breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. An early-bird breakfast special of tomatoes, beans, eggs, rice, and tea or coffee is easy on the wallet. Sandwiches and dinner entrees are inexpensive too, and salads and big desserts are also on offer. Use purified water for all drinks, ice and preparation. They have a rich schedule of live music, poetry readings, and interesting lectures about Guatemala.
  • The Sabor Cubano 4a Calle Oriente 3A, a half-block east of the north side of the Parque Central. This restaurant has a slightly up-market feel. It has live Cuban music on Thursday through Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.
  • Cinema Café Bistro 5a Ave Sur #14, two blocks south of the southwest corner of Parque Central on the west side. Offers food and a full schedule of movies from mid-afternoon to late evening. Stop by for the current week's schedule.
  • Sangre 5 Av Norte #33, Fancy place, great food, fine atmosphere. Moderate prices. large selection of wine per glass.
  • Helados Sarita ("despues 1948"), 5a Ave Nte, just up from the northwest corner of Parque Central on the east side. This seems sort of like the Baskin-Robbins of Guatemala. Several dozen flavours of ice cream in three different choices of cones, sundaes and other more elaborate concoctions.
  • Helados Marco Polo 5a Ave Nte, just up from the northwest corner of Parque Central on the west side, opposite Helados Sarita. Offers ice cream dishes in a more polished atmosphere.
  • Street ice cream carts are common through the city and popular with the locals, but of unknown safety for sensitive stomachs.
  • El Pelícano Dorado At the South end of Calzada Santa Lucia, where it leaves for Ciudad Vieja, Nos. 7&7A. tel: +502 7832 7242. Authentic Food from Livingston: fresh fish and seafood, tapado, caldo de mariscos, ceviches, rice and beans, giffity, etc. Also traditional Garífuna punta music played live on the weekends.
  • El Mix, 4 avenida sur local 4a(half block from central park), ☎ +502 78328934(elmix@mail.com). Music, patio, vegetarian dishes, happy hour, Israeli food. 
  • Dabbawala Tandoori[19], Phone +502 7832-9976. a new curry delivery service in Antigua. Samosas, Onion Bhajis, Chicken madras, Vindaloo, Naan Bread, the works. One of the English owners, Felix or Mick, will bring your order round on a motorbike. Most small hotels are happy for you to have food delivered if you ask. Remember to ask the guys for plastic plates and forks if you need them!
  • Reilly's Irish Tavern, 5a ave. nte. #31, [20]. Antigua's only Irish pub. Serves Guinness, amongst other things.
  • Mono Loco, located just off Parque Central on 5a ave. sur, is a funky tourist friendly joint with cheap international calling and a few computers for internet use. The food is very "gringo-esque" but tasty nonetheless. There's a large bar on the ground level, as well as a covered open air second floor eating area. Very nice place - lots of tourists frequent it, but it's a good place to meet and greet, or enjoy a burger.
  • Antigua Cooking School[21] for the best Guatemalteca cuisine. Subanik, Tamales Colorados Chiles Rellanos, Tamalitos, Pepian, Enchaladas, Chuchitos and more. In the heart of Antigua, beneath the arch, 5a Avenida Norte, #25B. +502 59448568 or +502 59903366.
  • Cafe Mediterraneo, 6 Calle Poniente 6A, ☎ +502 7832-7180. Dinners starting at 6PM or so on. Open Weds-Mon.. Pasta, pasta, pasta, delicious. 
  • Nokiate, 1a avenida sur #7, [22]. Antigua's only real sushi bar where you can watch the sushi chef prepare the fresh rolls, sashimi and sushi, also has a great selection of latin-japanese cooking. The ambience is very warm and inviting. Great bar scene also. 
  • Bistrot Cinq, 4a calle oriente #7, [23]. A French bistro featuring great french food, very authentic cuisine found no where else in Antigua. American owned and operated. Features an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs work, and a great bar. Offers many specials and unique local foods hard to find elsewhere. 
  • Pan Colonial, 7th Av, Norte, Number 13d. daily. Tradition Guatemalian bakery, good selection of breakfast breads, one of the best in Antigua. Low Cost  
  • The Bagel Barn, 5a Calle Poniente #2, centrally located (10 meters off central park), travelers come here to get their fix of bagels, excellent coffee and wifi internet for those traveling with their own laptops. Bagel sandwiches include different breakfast and lunch selections using quality ingredients such as fresh mozzarella cheese, real cheddar, etc. Its a home away from home, a very cosy environment, movies showing in the afternoon and evenings. A great meeting place and starting point for your day in Antigua Guatemala.

Drink

  • Cafe Sky 1a Av Sur 15. One of the best places in Antigua to take in the view of Volcan de Agua and the sunset.
  • Estudio 35 Arch Street #35 large variety of drinks and cocktails, they serve jagermeister, jack daniels among others. Live music almost every evening. Buena Vista every Wednesday. Fine place with reasonable prices.
  • Nokiate1st Avenida #7. Primera Avenida Sur. Just up from Cafe No Se - Super Fresh Sushi, Great Gin Tonics (ask for the TALL Glass) and Proper Martinis.
  • Y tu Piña, también. 6a Calle Oriente and Primera Avenida Sur. Breakfast. Lunch. Licuados. Benito's flavored rums. Luisa's famosa hangover soups. Proper espressos - usually. Manu Chao daily. Gratis Wi-Fi. Detox at Y tu Piña. Retox across the street at Café No Sé.
  • Café No Sé. Primera Avenida Sur. A bohemian beacon frequented by raconteurs. Live Music, bad attitudes, bad art, and colorful personalities. Serving cubano fajitas and a huge selection of tequilas. Perros: Pulque, Anoche, Alfombra and Feo.
  • Mono Loco (Funky Monkey). 1/2 block down on 5 Ave from the Central Park. Local and International Beers. Nachos, Buffalo Wings. Pop/rock music. Big screen TV to watch sporting events.

Sleep

Antigua offers a wide variety of hotels at all price levels. Additionally, many local families open their homes to students of Spanish and travellers.

Hostels/Hotels

  • Hostel 5, 4th Avenida Norte #33 (about 3 blocks from the centro). 50Q pp (for a dorm ($7US) with full breakfast included. Wonderful owner who will take very good care of you and is a great cook. Comfortable beds, extremely 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 cheap cold beers and serves great food.
  • Antigua Rentals(info@antigua-rentals.com), Affordable Vacation Rentals in Antigua Guatemala, ☎ +502 41970889, [24]. Great for a longer stay or travelers who like to have their own space with private kitchen and bathroom. * Antigua UmmaGumma Hostel, 7a Avenida Norte, #34, ☎ +502-7832-4413(ummagumma@itelgua.com), [25]. Two shared equipped kitchens, communal lounge area with direct TV, wireless high speed internet access, laundry service, international calls service, luggage store and travel agency.Dorms US$5 per person per night.  Dorms US$5 per person per night.  
  • Dos Loros Inn, Calle de San Luquitas #20, Callejon de Burrito, ☎ +800 234 2705(info@doslorosinn.com), [26]. Spacious and modern rooms, complete with a comfortable Queen bed, along with a single bed, a huge bathroom complete with giant tub! Just what you need after a long day walking the cobblestones of Antigua. Free wifi.Queen bed USD$56.  
  • El Gato Negro (Black Cat Hostel), 6a Avenida Norte, 1a., ☎ +502 7832 1229(info@blackcatantigua.com), [27]. Largest, and arguably most fun and funky, Hostel in Antigua. Price includes Breakfast (anything on the Desayuno menu). Full bar and restaurant. Free Internet, including wireless. There is a movie room of over 350 movies/DVD's for free. Double rooms can only be booked onsite. (Tip, it might pay to book ahead as it is popular)Dorm bed Q55 / Doubles Q130 (as of 05/22/07).  
  • Hostel Los Amigos, 2a Avenida between 7a and 8a calle. Dorm 35 Q (4USD) per person.  
  • Hotel Casa Rustica, 6th Ave Norte #8(1 block west of central park), ☎ +502 7832-3709(casarusticagt@hotmail.com), [28]. Only 1 block from central park. Gardens, terraces & hammocks. All rooms are private & comfortable. Single with shared bath (USD$15), or with private bath & cable TV (USD$22) and garden view(USD$29). Double with shared bath (USD$28) or with private bath & cable TV (USD$29) and garden view(USD$37); triple & quad rooms also available. Discounts for large groups, weekly & monthly stays. Free Wi/fi, free purified water, use of large shared kitchen, laundry service, bag storage, internet terminals, bar & internet cafe, travel services, airport pickups, cable TV & hot water 24 hours.USD$13-$37.  
  • Posada Don Valentino, 5th Calle poniente #28(2 blocks west of central park), ☎ +502 7832-0384(don.valentino@hotmail.com), [29]. 2 blocks from central park. 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. Bi-lingual staff. Single (USD$23), Double (USD$29), Triple (USD$35), Quad (USD$39), Deluxe suites available. Discounts for large groups and longer stays.USD$23-47/night.  
  • Hotel Casa Cristina, [30]. This small and charming 10 room hotel is located only four blocks from Central Park in the center of Antigua. All rooms have private bath and hot water. Free coffee, tea and purified water. Wireless accessible from all rooms. Standard single room (USD$18) with cable TV (USD$22), Standard double room (USD$22) with cable TV (USD$26), Deluxe room with Volcan de Agua view and cable TV (USD$35). Callejon Camposeco 3A (between 6th and 7th Avenue North, one block from La Merced church). Discounts for weekly and monthly stays.
  • Hostel Calle 6, 6ª Calle Poniente Nº 19(located 1 block from the Central Park), ☎ +(502) 5532-3274. A large hostel. Price includes Internet, laundry service, bag storage, & hot water 24 hours. There is a travel agency on the premises.Dorm bed Q35.  
  • Hotel Quinta de las Flores, [31]. A ten minute walk from the central plaza, 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. $58US per night for a double.
  • El Palacio de Dona Beatriz, [32]. Luxury bed and breakfast inside a coffee plantation, near Santo Domingo convent and museum, 40 min from the Guatemala city airport.
  • Casa Santo Domingo [33] is 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. 10 minutes walk to Parque Central. Regular rooms USD $170-190, Suites USD $215-360 as of December 2005. E-mail: domingoreservas@intelnet.net.gt. tel +502-7820-1222. fax +502-7832-4155. 3a Calle Oriente No. 28 "A".
  • Hotel Convento Santa Catalina, 5 Ave Norte #28, ☎ (502) 7832-3080(hotelconvento@yahoo.com, mail@conventohotel.com, fax: (502) 7832-3610), [34]. The Convent of Santa Catalina Martir was the second monastery founded by the Augustine Order in the year 1613. The church was inaugurated on September 15th, 1647. Within 10 years, the Convent contained 110 nuns and 6 novices, who were prohibited from going out into the streets and were not allowed to see or be seen by the general public. On the 23rd of August, 1693, a bridge was built to connect the monastery to the property which had been acquired by the convent on the other side of the street, so the nuns could cross the street unseen. This bridge is now the famous landmark of Antigua, The Arch of Santa Catalina Martir. The Hotel Convento Santa Catalina Martir 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. US$70-100.  
  • La Casa de los Abuelos, (mrosori@gmail.com), [35]. A family house, turned in a beautiful hotel, 5 minutes from downtown of La Antigua, a great view of the volcanoes, special packages for Spanish students and adoption parents. 
  • Porta Antigua, 8a calle poniente No.1, ☎ (502) 7832-2801(ventasantigua@portahotels.com, fax: (502) 7832-0807), [36]. A beautiful hotel, its 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 chocolate.US$150-225.  
  • Posada Dona Luisa, [37]. Located a few blocks from the park. 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.US$30-45.  
  • Casa Madeleine Bed & Breakfast and Spa, Calle del Espiritu Santo # 69, ☎ (502) 7832 9348(casamadeleine@aol.com, fax: (502) 7832 9358), [38]. checkin: 15:00; checkout: 13:00. A beautiful bed and breakfast located about 6-7 blocks from the central park. Comfortable rooms, hot water, Wi-Fi Internet, complimentary water, shampoo etc. Whirlpool and Jacuzzi, spa services and packages. Great view of their court yard and the volcano. Discount for groups, students, volunteers, adopting parents. USA telephone number +1-877 325 9137.US$95-$205.  
  • Posada Juma Ocag, Calzada de Santa Lucía # 13. Rooms with private bathrooms and cast-iron beds. Rooms set around a small pretty courtyard. Small sun terrace upstairs. Across from market. Friendly and helpful staff.From Q110.  
  • Posada Lazos Fuertes, [39]. A 15-room hotel, for which the profits are said to aid poor Guatemalan children whose parents live in the Guatemala City Garbage Dump, through Safe Passage (www.safepassage.org).Q395 for a double.  

Home stays

Home stays with Antigua families can be arranged through language schools or directly with the family in question. As an example, in December 2005 one family charged Q470.00 per person for a room and three meals a day, six days a week. An advantage of a home stay for the Spanish language student is a chance for language immersion, as well as the cultural experience. On the other hand, the housing may be more basic than in a hotel: simple concrete block construction, shared bathroom, and small rooms.

  • Ana & Dany are a friendly, welcoming young couple who offer a home stay. They have four guest rooms (only two with private bath) in their small house on Calle De Los Pasos near San Francisco church. Their two young children also live there, and a mother and several siblings are in and out. Both Ana & Dany speak some English, but are very clear and helpful to travellers trying out Spanish. They also teach Spanish privately and through schools. Rooms are small and basic, with concrete block construction, but clean and brightly painted. Food is Guatemalteca family cooking, with meat omitted for vegetarians. E-mail: anaguate at hotmail dot com.

Contact

There are many internet cafes and long-distance phone shops in Antigua. Internet time costs from Q5-10 per hour.

  • The Bagel Barn 5a Calle Poniente #2, offers free wifi internet for those travelling with laptop computers. Enjoy a nice cup of coffee or a freshly toasted bagel while you browse the net. You are 2 steps away from Central Park.
  • Enlaces is a large, well-run outlet that is perhaps the best value for price. They have Internet access on dozens of consistent, fast, reliable machines on two stories for Q6/hour, domestic phone calls at Q2, international calls (price unknown). They offer packages like an "Internet Value Card" at 10.5 hours for Q54 or 25 hours for Q100. They also have a travel agent and bar on the premises. 6a Avenida Norte, between 5a and 4a Calle poniente, one block due west from Parque Central.
  • Escuela Español International Calls has about a dozen machines with internet access for Q5/hour (as of Dec 2005). The price is great, but the machines aren't quite as fast and reliable as those at Enlaces. 6a Calle Pte #8, one block south and 1 block west of Parque Central.
  • Rainbow Restaurant and Bookshop includes internet access in its cornucopia of tourist-friendly offerings (price unknown) (as of Dec 2005). If you spend more than Q20 in the bookstore, you get 25 minutes of Internet time as a bonus. 7a Ave Sur #8 at 6a Calle. tel +502-7832-1919.
  • Funky Monkey Net - Now Known as BambooNet 5a Ave Sur L-2, Paseo de los Corregedores #6. tel +502-7832-4195. email peter@bamboogroupsa.com. A tourist-oriented cafe just south of Parque Central, offering good machines and a fairly low Q6/hour (as of Jul 2007). Upstairs is Bamboo Group, S.A. a real estate and business consulting office. Around the same atrium (Paseo de los Corregedores) there are several other tourist-oriented services including the Kinky Afro hair Salon. Their website [40], offers useful information like a tourist map.
  • Hotel Casa Rustica has a small bar & internet cafe inside its doors. Located just 1 block west of the central park @ 6th Ave norte #8. The Wi/fi signal is fast and strong. For hotel guest, this service is free. For walk-in customers, it is Q5/hr, Q20/day or Q70/wk. Check your emails sitting in the garden, terrace or a hammock, while sipping on a cool one or eating a snack. Also, if you are a dog lover, pet one of the 3 hotel mascots.

Stay Safe

Due to the presence of the "Tourist Police" Antigua is much safer than any other city in Guatemala. However, the tourist police are only present within the city. During the daytime your risk of getting robbed in Antigua is very small. However, if you leave the tourist-areas or if you walk the streets at night, there is a considerable risk. This is especially true during the time when the night and the morning shifts of the police change guard.

Almost all bars and restaurants will be happy to call you a taxi. Asking the barstaff to call the taxi for you, instead of looking for one yourself, can be a good idea since they 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 tuc-tuc when they call you one.

During peak tourist times, like Semana Santa or any major festival in Antigua, pickpockets abound and it´s wise to keep a hand on your wallet. Avoid carrying large quantities of money and flashing it around. Also, when walking through the crowded market, keep your bags in front of you, since there are certain thieves who use razors to cut the fabric without you feeling a thing, to gain access to the contents.

If you plan to visit sights like "La Cruz" outside town, make sure you go with an officer of the tourist police who accompany tourists there at least once a day. (See the See section).

The municipal water supply in Antigua is treated with chlorine (citation needed). However, don't regard it as completely safe. It's still wise to drink agua del garrafon or agua embotellada (purified bottled water), and not agua del chorro (tap water). Some homes and restaurants have purified water in five gallon bottles and serve it in glasses. It's sensible to ask if the ice is made from purified water.

Get out

Antigua is a very good base for anyone who wants to explore Guatemala. The city is bustling with language students and you will have no problems finding a bus to anywhere in the country.

Almost all travel agencies in Antigua offer scheduled tourist shuttles to La Aurora airport in Guatemala City. Fares range from USD $5-10. The earliest buses depart at 4AM, in time to arrive at the airport by 5AM and catch a 7AM flight out.

Shuttle buses from Antigua to Copán leave at 4AM and 9AM and take about six hours and cost $10-15.

This page was last edited at 19:32, on 26 March 2009 by Anne H. Putnam. Based on work by Robert Mercer, Ruben, Jim DeLaHunt, tom holley and David, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.