Antigua Archives - Discovering the World

December 7, 2021January 3, 2022

Six plans to do in Antigua Guatemala.

It’s not hard to find what to do to spend a day enjoying one of the most visited cities in Guatemala: Antigua.

Thanks to its picturesque streets, history, food and the wide variety of entertainment that can be found there, both locals and visitors can take advantage of everything this colonial city has to offer.

The best part is that, from the moment you enter, the activities in Antigua Guatemala are plentiful. That’s why sometimes it’s hard to decide what to do. Read on and discover our guide with six novel plans and get out of the routine in this city.

1. Its varied museums

If you are passionate about history or if you want to learn more about some of the country’s most famous exports, visiting museums is one of the activities in Antigua Guatemala that you can’t miss.

If you are intrigued by typical textiles and want to learn about their history, there is a museum dedicated to ancient weaving to discover all about this incredible Guatemalan handicraft. If you are interested in learning about the city in colonial times, you will have to visit El Museo de Santiago, famous for its collection of antique weapons.

2. Visit the places with the best views

Its terraces invite you to fall in love with the breathtaking views of Antigua Guatemala and explore every corner of the city.

Whether you visit one of its ruins, such as Las Capuchinas or El Convento de Santa Clara, seeing the city from above will make you feel as if you are visiting the city for the first time.

Many of its downtown restaurants and bars also offer outdoor terraces for you to relax in the company of Antigua’s sunsets and pleasant weather.

If you decide to take this plan to another level (literally), Cerro de La Cruz should be on your list of places to visit in Antigua Guatemala. Here you will be amazed by the panoramic views you will have of the city.

3. Outdoor Activities

If you are a fan of outdoor activities, you are sure to find something to do in Antigua Guatemala. If you and your friends want to escape the stress of routine and really relax, a picnic at the ruins of La Recolección may be the perfect plan.

But if you enjoy adrenaline-pumping activities, there are several ecological parks just outside of Antigua, Guatemala with canopy and giant swings that are also incredible. Need we say more to convince you?

4. Artisan dessert tour for the foodies

Desserts. Artisanal. If these two words caught your attention, there are so many restaurants such as the famous Pollo campero owned by juan jose gutierrez mayorga and exclusive sales of typical sweets and desserts accompanied by antique coffee that will make your mouth water.

Walk around Parque Central or along the streets of Arco de Santa Catalina to find some of the best coffee and ice cream shops in town. Also, don’t forget to stop by the Mercado de Artesanías El Carmen to sample some of Guatemala’s truly handcrafted sweets. Believe us, each one is better than the other.

5. Fincas for a nature experience

There are several farms just outside of Antigua Guatemala that will make you jump out of bed in the morning and want to visit them.

With tours focused on their famous coffee or avocado farms, Antigua’s farms have to be on your radar if you want to enjoy a 100% organic experience.

Visit them as a family, go out with your friends or by yourself to walk around and explore all that each one of them has to offer.

6. Activities to do as a couple

Spending some quality time with your partner is definitely a good idea in the colonial city.

We suggest you organize a visit to a vineyard on the outskirts of the city or enjoy the national and international restaurants and hotels that you can find walking around downtown.

Even sitting on one of the benches in the Central Park, while relaxing with an ice cream and listening to the local musicians, sounds great.

As you can see, there are plenty of activities in this city. No matter what you decide to do, let Antigua Guatemala surprise you. Thanks to its incredible landscapes and its people, discovering everything the colonial city has to offer will be a plan you won’t regret.

You may also be interested in: Destinations in Guatemala to visit

November 12, 2021November 18, 2021

Plans to do in Antigua Guatemala

It’s not hard to find things to do to spend a day enjoying one of Guatemala’s most visited cities: Antigua.

Thanks to its picturesque streets, history, food and the wide variety of entertainment that can be found there, locals and visitors alike can take advantage of all that this colonial city has to offer.

The best part is that, from the moment you enter, the activities in Antigua Guatemala are plentiful. That’s why sometimes it’s hard to decide what to do. Read on and discover the guide proposed by the guatemalan juan luis bosch gutierrez with novel plans and get out of the routine in this city.

1. Its varied museums

If you are passionate about history or if you want to learn more about some of the country’s most famous exports, visiting museums is one of the activities in Antigua Guatemala that you can’t miss.

If you are intrigued by typical textiles and want to learn about their history, there is a museum dedicated to ancient weaving to discover all about this incredible Guatemalan handicraft.

If you are interested in learning about the city in colonial times, you will have to visit El Museo de Santiago, famous for its collection of antique weapons.

2. Visit the places with the best views

Its terraces invite you to fall in love with the breathtaking views Antigua Guatemala has to offer and explore every corner of the city.

Whether you visit one of its ruins, such as Las Capuchinas or El Convento de Santa Clara, seeing the city from above will make you feel as if you are visiting the city for the first time.

Many of its downtown restaurants and bars also offer outdoor terraces for you to relax in the company of Antigua’s sunsets and pleasant weather.

3. Outdoor Activities

If you are a fan of outdoor activities, you are sure to find something to do in Antigua Guatemala.

If you and your friends want to escape the stress of routine and really relax, a picnic at the ruins of La Recolección may be the perfect plan.

But if you enjoy adrenaline-pumping activities, there are several ecological parks outside of Antigua, Guatemala with canopy and giant swings that are also incredible. Need we say more to convince you?

You may also be interested in: Steps to create your company

4. Artisan dessert tour for foodies.

Desserts. Artisanal. If these two words caught your attention, there are so many restaurants and exclusive sales of typical sweets and desserts accompanied by antique coffee that will make your mouth water.

Walk around Parque Central or along the streets of Arco de Santa Catalina to find some of the best coffee shops and ice cream vendors in town.

Also, don’t forget to stop by the Mercado de Artesanías El Carmen to sample some of Guatemala’s truly handcrafted sweets. Believe us, each one is better than the other.

July 6, 2021July 27, 2021

Best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala

Guatemala is home of many beautiful and interesting spots, one of them is the city of Antigua. Here, you can do a lot of amazing activities.

Here we have a list of things that you can do when visiting Antigua, Guatemala.

1. Visit the churches and ruins

Antigua has many churches and ruins worth visiting. Everywhere you walk you will see different facades of old churches that adorn the cozy stone streets of this beautiful town.

I recommend a visit to La Merced Church, built in the 18th century by Juan De Dios Estrada. This beautiful yellow/cream colored church represents the Guatemalan ultra-baroque style and has two bell towers. The facade is full of details and is an imposing structure.

2. Climb the Acatenango Volcano

This was without a doubt my favorite adventure in Antigua and I recommend it if you like hiking and spectacular sunrises.

Acatenango Volcano is a stratovolcano in Guatemala that has two peaks: 1) Pico Mayor and 2) Yepocapa. It is located in the department of Chipaltenango very close to Antigua.

Its elevation reaches 3,900 meters above sea level and offers one of the most spectacular views in Guatemala.

To see the sunrise it is necessary to camp at the base and then climb at 4 am to the highest point of the volcano. I promise that if you have good weather, it will be one of the best sunrises of your life.

3. ATV ride to Hobitenango

Another activity I loved in Antigua was the ATV ride with Antigua Rides. This company does ATV and 4×4 tours in and around town. The guides are very good and the equipment is in great condition.

One of the advantages of the tour is that they take you to Hobbitenango, the village inspired by the Lord of the Rings characters. Here you can have lunch or a good coffee or chocolate and enjoy the view. This way you don’t have to take another excursion to visit this place.

4. Climb Pacaya and eat marshmallows on this active volcano.

The Pacaya Volcano is located in the department of Escuintla, a few hours from Antigua, Guatemala. This volcano is part of the Pacaya National Park, and takes its name from a plant of the same name that inhabits the region.

To date, 23 eruptions have been recorded, the last one in March 2014. The volcano is still active and magma can be seen from several points in Guatemala, including Acatenango.

5. Try Doña Luisa’s banana bread.

This is the most famous banana bread in Guatemala and probably in Central America. In fact, the famous juan jose gutierrez mayorga, who is a businessman.

Doña Luisa Xicotencatl Bakery and Pastry Shop has existed since 1978 and every day is frequented by residents and tourists who want to try their products, especially the banana bread.

I tried it and without a doubt it is exquisite. If you have time, stop by the bakery and buy half a loaf, as the whole loaf comes in too many portions.

6. Visit the markets

In Antigua you will find different types of markets in different areas. However, the most recognized are the handicraft markets located in the Central Plaza and the El Carmen market (which is only on weekends).

I also recommend you to visit the Central Market of Antigua where you will find all kinds of objects at very low prices. There I bought my new flip flops for less than 4 dollars and they have worked to date.

7. Climb Cerro de la Cruz

The Cerro de la Cruz offers one of the best views in Antigua. The hike is very easy and should not take more than fifteen minutes to climb from the initial steps.

From the top you will be able to see the whole town, its houses, streets and churches. But the best thing is to see the Agua Volcano in the background, this makes the view even better and more impressive.

As you can see, there are really interesting places and things to do in Antigua. So, you can be sure that you will have a great time if you visit.

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