Travel Guide in Guatemala

Using this Antigua Guatemala Travel Guide will help you make the most of your trip to this exotic Caribbean location.

The decision to visit Antigua in Guatemala is a wise one, as the area is widely considered more safe than Guatamala City and boasts just as many, if not more, tourist activities for guests of all ages. The best part about a stay here is that you are not disconnected from Guatamala City. It is not at all difficult to find transportation to many of the main attractions of the city including Monterrico Beach, Coban, Atitlan Lake, or even some locations in Honduras. A trip here is a safe base for outreach to surrounding areas of interest. However, there is much to see and do in Antigua itself and you will not have to leave in order to have a great experience. You should note that cruise ships stop here, and take notice of dock days to plan for or avoid the crowds.

Volcanoes

No trip to Antigua Guatemala is complete without a stop to at least one of the three volcanoes found here. The most prominent of the three is the "Volcano of Water" or the Volcan de Agua located to the south of the city. The volcano itself is steeped in the history of the area. The Spaniards called in Hunapu when the land was first discovered. Today many inhabitants still use this name to refer to the peak here which reaches more than 12,000 feet into the sky. The modern name was only derived after a massive mudslide from the volcano buried the then second site of the capital.

Peaks Acatenango and Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire) complete the trio of volcanoes found here. Both of these mounts are located west of the city.. Acatenango last erupted in the 1970s. The Volcano of Fire is famous for it's near constant level of low activity. You can smoke billowing from the top daily, though large eruptions are now rare.

Religious Sites

There are several sites important in the Christian faith found in Antigua that warrant a visit, as well. The area is renowned for activity during the church season of Lent and during Holy Week when each Sunday a different parish will lead a procession through the streets on elaborate carpets laid on the streets. The season of Lent traditionally falls on the 40 days proceeding Easter.