Is Antigua Guatemala Safe?

ANTIGUA

Antigua is a backpacker’s paradise with its cobblestone streets, colourful and historic buildings, and vibrant cultural scene. It's one of the safer areas in Guatemala full of young explorers looking to take on the challenge of the infamous volcano hike Acatenango and Fuego. Petty theft can still occur, especially around the markets, however generally in this area you are going to be just fine. The advice here would be the same as we would give anywhere in the world ... Keep your belongings secure, especially in crowded areas (like the markets) and during festivals. The city is generally walkable even at night however always keep a keen eye out and be cautious of your surroundings. Even at night I felt pretty darn safe when walking around alone but for context, I (was) a 32 year old male. I will also say that I did not want to leave this city. Its so charming and has so much to offer that I looked at property prices in the area, just as an FYI, they are not cheap! But to really drum this home, here is a video from our last day in Guatemala before taking a 22 hour (not as in the video 20) shuttle to Leon in Nicaragua. Also if you want to know about the Baroque Churches of Antigua then we have written about those also.

Here I stayed at a number of hostel but two stunners really stood out, these are Ojala and Maya Papaya. We stayed Maya Papaya before the Acatanango hike and Ojala after, the thinking being we would need a good sleep both before and after the excursion. We were right and the beds really did not disappoint. If you want to read a full write up blog post from my time in Guatemala you can, in my 'Is Guatemala Safe for Tourists?' blog post.