Antigua, Guatemala — why you should add this to your bucket list!!

What comes to your mind when you hear Antigua? For me, like most Indians it used to be an island in the Carribean.

However, turned out that there is another town called Antigua in Central America.

I never planned on travelling to Guatemala, but after hearing stories from other travellers, I decided to include this in my itinerary. It was the best decision.

Guatemala

A country that is roughly the size of a mid sized state in India. Guatemala city – the capital of the country is infamous for its violence and usage of guns on the streets unfortunately.

While traveling you will hear horrific stories about various aspects, but you should learn to filter some. After all 8 million people are living in the city.

I am a huge fan of the country, the people, the culture, the geography, the natural resources and its biodiversity.

Active volcanoes, beautiful beaches, archeological wonders, jungles, lakes, ruins, history and its biodiversity make this country unique and worth every single minute of your time and every penny of your money.

During my backpack, I spent 4 months in the beautiful country primarily in 2 locations Antigua & San Pedro La Laguna.

Antigua

Antigua is an old Spanish settlement located around 1 hour from Guatemala City.

This quaint little town with its cobbled streets, colonial architectures, Spanish schools, myriad restaurants & cafes, local markets and a surreal live Volcano in the backdrop make it a tourists dream.

The cafes and restaurants sport a colonial feel and are certain to transport you to the 16th Century.

It is one of my favourite destinations in the world.

Reaching Antigua

Antigua is located 40 kilometres (1 hour) from Guatemala City, the capital and also a major tourist hub.

It is well connected with shuttles running between other Central American countries and also Mexico.

Reaching here is quite convenient, no matter where you are traveling from.

Volcano Fuego

Imagine sitting in a cafe sipping on Guatemalan coffee or in an Irish bar having artisanal beer while watching a Volcano erupt every 5–10 minutes.

That’s right, Mount Fuego is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and in my opinion watching a volcano erupt and spew lava is nothing less than spectacular.

I was fortunate that I could experience this marvel everyday that I spent in Antigua through my terrace.

For adventure seekers, the best view is from the neighbouring volcano called Mount Agua or Acatenango. Summiting at 4000 meters, the view from here is surreal.

You can hike Acatenango with one of the several tour operators in Antigua. I would recommend Wicho & Charlie’s. They also run a popular hostel.

It is an overnight hike and you can summit Agua in the same evening to see the sunset or in the morning to see the sunrise. It is a moderate/difficult hike and will take you about 7 hours to summit.

The volcano gets cold at nights, you can see clear skies and walk through 5-6 different landscapes.

Do not cut corners while choosing a company for this expedition as it really defines how good your experience is.

Architecture & Ruins

Whether you are a history buff, a photography enthusiast or a corporate mule, the architectural structures in this 16th-century city will take your breath away.

On offer within the city limits are world heritage sites, ruins, and churches.

It will be a treat for all your senses reminding you of the glory days of the Spanish settlers.

A small fee will allow you entry, audio guides and a lifetime worth of stories.

Market in Antigua

The market in Antigua is one of the best places to spend time. Be it practising your Spanish, bargaining capabilities, taking stunning photos or simply buying fresh ingredients.

The market is always bustling and bursting with activities.

There are a lot of boutique stores selling artisanal stuff besides the local market. Some of them unique and available only in Antigua.

Restaurants & cafes

The main town of Antigua is filled with thematic restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs that are housed in several old Spanish structures.

These structures reek of royalty and the variety of cuisines available will simply blow your mind.

No two cafes have the same ambience and the whole eating experience is taken to the next level.

Even the McDonald’s is extremely stylish 😂 and in a large colonial building.

Street vendors, bakeries sell their wares for a decent budget ensuring there is something for every one across the spectrum.

Daily & weekly fun events such as trivia, quiz nights, BBQ, language exchange, pool parties, beer pong etc. are run across several establishments.

Learn Spanish

One of the major activities that attracts so many tourists to this town are the number of schools offering Spanish language through immersion programs.

Antigua can be labeled as the Spanish learning capital of the world due to the number of options that are available here.

Pick a private lesson or a group lesson based on your preference across levels for weekly prices of USD 85.

You will get complete opportunity to practise and enhance your language skills as the whole place is well equipped for this reason.

Final Thoughts

Antigua is a traveler’s dream — there is something for all kinds of travellers. It is one of those places that people from Asia typically will not hear about.

However, next time you plan a trip or need ideas, do give this city a spin and research. You will not be disappointed.

Have you ever heard of Guatemala? Would you like to see a live Volcano?