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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.
Culture and History
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.
Travel to Antigua Guatemala & Visa Requirements
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. The Antigua bus station has moved about 1 km west of the Lonely Planet address. As of February, 2007 there was construction on the road to Antigua in both directions so be prepared to spend an extra 45 minutes or so in stop and go traffic.
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.
Tours & Getting around Antigua Guatemala
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.
Antigua Guatemala attractions and sightseeing
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. You'll find worthy 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 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 even 40 Quetzals, although here you may see the ruinas only for free.
The Parque Central is, strangely enough, 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 judgement)
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 a street paving, sequestering carbon dioxide. 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 was Q3.50 one way as of October 2008. 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.
Antigua Guatemala city tours
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.
- 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. I.e.: You need to be fit, carry gear and have to take precautions against altitude sickness. Most people who do this trip spend the night on the mountain though some go up an 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. As of December 2005, some tourists report climbing without problems as part of a tour with police escort. There are other 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.
This page was last edited at 17:11, on 20 December 2008 by Marc Heiden. Based on work by Robert Mercer, Ruben, Jim DeLaHunt, tom holley and David, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.
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