Antigua Guatemala: A Backpacker’s Guide to Colonial Charm & Culture
- Jack Thompson
- Jul 2
- 7 min read
Why Visit Antigua Guatemala?
This may be one of the easiest posts I ever write, why? Because I fell in love with Antigua.
Antigua is one of those rare places that blends postcard-perfect beauty with a laid-back vibe that hooks backpackers from day one. Not only this, its pretty progressive with trendy bars, international cuisine (everything from Italian to Nordic!) and cool little coffee stops. Once the capital of Guatemala, this UNESCO World Heritage city is of Spanish masterplanning meaning linear streets that seem to frame a view of a volcano each time you turn a corner. Look back from the iconic Arco de Santa Catarina and Agua Volcano looms like a backdrop from a Disney film, but its not a film, its real and it is ohhhh so joyful.
Just beyond the borders of the city you will find what has become an infamous right of passage hike for backpackers and explorers looking for a thrill; the Acategano hike. Antigua is the springboard for this with multiple companies offering a 2 day excursion. Picking you up early doors to take you to the start of the hike at 2000 meters above sea level from here you hike a further 1800 which gets you to your base camp from which you can watch the active volcano of Fuego. It coughs ash and spits volcanic lava against the dark night sky. ITS SPECTACULAR. Here you sleep for the night before an early start to summit Acatenango, an extra 200 meters of what feels like a vertical climb. The reward looks like this ...
A sunrise view over the volcano over the clouds, on what feels like the very top of the world. This city volcano combination is undeniable.
BUTTTTTTTT, there is more to antigua than this so let me give you some tick list items for your time in Antigua so you can maximise your stay and have an enriching experience.
The Top Things to Do in Antigua with History & Backpacker Tips.
No.1. Wander Through the Santa Catalina Arch
This is the photo spot of Antigua (see image above ⬆️ a pastel yellow arch with Volcán de Agua looming perfectly behind it.
Built in the 17th century, the arch once connected a convent on both sides of the street, allowing nuns to pass without breaking their vow of enclosure.
*Tip: Go early for crowd-free shots and golden morning light, this place gets as busy as Lombard Street.
No.2. Climb Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross)
This is a must for 2 reasons, No.1 it gives you a panoramic viewpoint over Antigua that gives you the classic volcano-and-city shot. and No.2 you can treat is as a mini warm up to the Acatenango hike (if you are doing it) Antigua is still at 1545 meters above sea level, not Cusco levels but still heigh enough for your body to be a bit slower hiking up to the cerro de la cruz view point. This image is actually one of my favourites from travelling Central America ⬆️ The cross was placed here to bless the city, but the hill has long been a spiritual lookout even pre-colonisation.
It’s a 15–20 min walk from town. Go in daylight (mornings are safest) and take water. Locals and police patrol regularly.
No.3. Explore the Churches & Earthquake Ruins
Antigua’s spiritual heart lies in its churches, I have a separate blog post on 'the baroque churches of Antigua', make sure to check it out. Many left partially destroyed after centuries of earthquakes some restored and some remain intact, they are all a treat to discover. The highlights are:
La Merced Church
Baroque beauty with a vibrant yellow façade.
It survived the 1773 quake that destroyed much of the city.
Free to enter. Visit late afternoon when the light hits just right.
San Francisco Church & Ruins
Final resting place of Brother Pedro, Guatemala’s first saint.
You can walk through haunting cloisters and collapsed domes — a silent memory of Antigua’s colonial past.
Cathedral of San José
Originally one of the most important cathedrals in Central America.
The ruins behind the rebuilt façade are truly atmospheric.
Entry is around 5–10Q ($1), and totally worth it.
No. 4. Hike Pacaya Volcano
The alternative to the more well known volcano hike, this is one of the few places on Earth where you can walk over cooling lava flows.
Pacaya has been erupting on and off for over 500 years, shaping both the geology and folklore of the region. Book a shuttle from your hostel (typically around 100–150Q return + 50Q entry fee). You can hire a local guide at the entrance. Marshmallows can be roasted over vents in the lava rocks. It’s surreal.
No. 5. Join a Coffee or Chocolate Tour
If like me you are a coffee addict then good news, Antigua’s volcanic soil produces some of the world’s best coffee. Coffee was introduced in the 18th century and became one of Guatemala’s main exports with Antigua at its core. I did a tour with Finca Filadelfia who have a number of tour options and each usually ends with a tasting (the coffee is exellent). I took more of an 'overview tour' it was reasonably quick, but the setting is stunning! Actually, the whole plantation feels like a stately home.
The coffee is handpicked, dried and then processed in a fairly traditional way. Having done coffee tours in many places, there is not much to it but this plantation felt pretty plush, especially compared to some of the more rustic plantations in Colombia and the reason I do them is to try and taste the difference country to country! I went to Finca Filadelfia and good news here you can pick up a tour easily by simply arriving at the gate.
No.6. Visit Casa Santo Domingo
I accidentally stumbled across this place after walking past the 'back entrance' for the museum 'Paseo de los Museos', I spotted the traditional architecture and the entrance sign and with some time to kill I spontaneously went in. It was cheap for entrance, I started wondering around looking at the traditional architecture of the courtyard reading the information boards and it just kept going and kept getting better! It turns out this place is part hotel, part museum, part art gallery, it is built into the ruins of a 16th-century monastery. Originally the Santo Domingo convent, one of the richest in the region.
It collapsed in the 1773 earthquake but has been beautifully reimagined. You can visit the museums for around 85Q or grab a coffee at the bar and explore the public ruins for free. Its a great way to spend a few hours and the art gallery/ artefact collection is not only stunning, the gallery itself is also extremely well conceived. Its a very great way to add a bit of culture into your Antiqua trip.
No.7. Wander the Artisan Markets & Local Shops
Handwoven textiles, jade jewellery, leather goods, and masks, many with Mayan symbolism.Where to go:
Nim Po’t; Huge craft market with fixed prices.
Central Market; Chaotic, authentic, and buzzing.
Street stalls; Especially lively on weekends near Parque Central.
No.8. Take the Acetanango 2 day excursion
You did not think I was going to leave this our right?
No.9. Hostel Hop
This place has beautiful courtyards all over the shop and each hostel and hotel have there own unique designs and interpretations. Hostel hopping is a great way to explore the well maintained and joyful spaces and witness the interpretations of different hostels and brands.
No.10. Get Your Fill
Central America cuisine can be a bit lacking in variety at times, but Antigua puts that to bed for a while and is home to some really fantastic restaurants, the above image is of one of the food courts where you can find everything from European food to more local choices in an intimate setting.
How to Get to Antigua
So lets do logistics ...
Antigua is just 1–1.5 hours from Guatemala City, making it one of the most accessible places in the country for international travellers. Here’s how:
Shuttle Bus: Most popular option from Guatemala City or Lake Atitlán.
Local Chicken Bus: Cheap, chaotic, and iconic; a true backpacker rite of passage.
Private Taxi: Around $30–$40 USD if you're in a group or arriving late at night.
Antigua is one of those rare places that blends postcard-perfect beauty with a laid-back vibe that hooks backpackers from day one. Once the capital of Guatemala, this UNESCO World Heritage city is famed for its colourful colonial architecture, dramatic volcano views, and an infectious energy that flows through its cobbled streets.
For the backpacker Antiqua can be used as a springboard to a multitude of places including Hondoras, El Savador, Nicaragua or more locally the iconic Fuego Volcano hike. That, or it may be your first stop in Guatemala. Either-way, you are in for a treat as this city its a gem. If you want to know more about the shuttles to and from other countries we will cover this in our blog 'Crossing boarders, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.'
It's renowned for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, as well as a number of ruins and colonial churches.
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