The city of Antigua, Guatemala, was founded in 1543 by Spanish colonists, and Antigua Guatemala beaches are some of the most beautiful in Guatemala--stunning and clean. There are few naturally occurring beaches in the country, but the quality make up for the quantity.

Monterrico Beach

Monterrico Beach is arguably the best beach in Guatemala. This beach is located near Antigua and is accessible by train or bus. Unlike other beaches in Latin America, this one is remarkable for the lack of commercialization on the beach. There no resorts on the beach; visitors are essentially looking at what the beach was like during the time of the Spanish missionaries. Sport enthusiasts will be happy to find strong waves off the coast line. One thing to remember is that the current here is strong, so swimmers should be wary when going further then knee deep water. There is a lush line of trees by the shoreline for people who might be interested in going on a hike during their visit. Visitors will delight in the black sand from the local volcanoes. Visitors should remember to bring footwear with them, as the sand can get hot. 

Lake Atitan Beach

Lake Atitan is located by the city and is a fresh water lake. The lake is surrounded by black sand beach from the local volcano. The Maya still live in the area and survive off the tourism industry. They organize groups on the beach for tourists. People who are interested in sport fishing will be excited to visit the lake. The lake contains black bass that was introduced into the local food chain in 1958, as a way to stimulate the local economy. The beach is also home to archeological digs as evidence of civilizations that were found in the lake itself. There are resorts in the area of Monterrico. Visitors to the lake can start their day with a light breakfast from a café and then walk down to the beach. After a leisure drip in the lake, tourists can then have a picnic lunch and arrange for a boat tour of the lake.