Antigua Guatemala

Arco de Santa Catalina

Santa Catalina Arch

What was a walkway used in the 17th century by the nuns of the Convento de Santa Catalina to cross over 5ª Avenida Norte from their cloisters to the parochial school without having to venture into the dusty street, is now the cliché tourist photo op in Antigua. And with good reason — the Arco de Santa Catalina is a lovely sight indeed, crowned by a clock tower that was added a bit later, in the 1830s. Today, the arch is looked after by the Santos family, owners of the nearby jewelry store Reino del Jade and Hotel El Convento.

Banco Industrial Numismatic Museum

Small but high-quality museum interpreting history of Guatemalan currency.

Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00, Sat Sun 09:00-17:00·Free

Catedral de Antigua Guatemala

Catedral de San José

The second church to occupy this site and one of the largest in Central America during its heyday, the Catedral de Antigua Guatemala was built in 1680 to replace its antecessor that dated to 1541. While most of the building was leveled during the earthquake of 1773, the ornate Baroque facade emerged relatively unscathed. While a partial reconstruction beginning in the 19th century has allowed the building to once again be home to a functioning church, other portions of the complex remain in ruins.

Cerro de la Cruz

The Hill of the Cross is at the north end of the city and offers the best views of Antigua. You can walk to the base of the hill from anywhere in Antigua within 10–20 minutes. Robberies have taken place on the walk up the hill in the past, but there are now police on the track during opening hours, and it is considered safe by the locals. The walk from the foot of the hill lasts less about 10 minutes. If you are concerned about either safety or fitness you can catch a tuk tuk to the top and walk down with other people.

Daily 07:00-18:00·Free

ChocoMuseo Antigua

Learn how to make chocolate from the cocoa beans. A unique experience where you learn everything about the history of chocolate, the cacao plantations, and the industry of chocolate making. At the end of the class you will make your own chocolate bar at your taste and will be able to bring it back home with you.

Daily 10:00-19:00·Free

Colegio de San Jerónimo

The useful lifespan of the Colegio de San Jerónimo was short indeed: the sixteen years between its completion in 1757 and the earthquake of 1773 that destroyed it saw the building used first as a secondary school staffed by the Friars of La Merced, then as a royal customs house. Today, though it's quite a bit further afield from the other colonial ruins, San Jerónimo is popular with visitors for the beautifully landscaped gardens in its courtyard, centered on a lovely fountain and playing host frequently to dance performances, festivals, and other cultural events. As for the building itself, you can tour through the crumbling ruins of the old dormitories with their handsome vaulted ceilings, then head to the upper level for a great view of Volcán Agua in the distance.

Daily 09:00-17:00·Q30

Convent Sor Juana de Maldonado

Museum of the Traditions of Holy Week

Two themes: It interprets the conservation and restoration of the convent and also aspects of Antigua Holy Week. Gives an appreciation of the everyday lives of 18th-century nuns. Poster displays in English and Spanish. Video loops in Spanish, but conceptually understandable to English speakers. Static displays and two videos of the Antigua tradition of Holy Week artistic carpets of colored sawdust.

Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Closed weekends·Q40, students Q20

Convento de Santa Clara

One of the largest complexes of colonial ruins in Antigua, the Convento de Santa Clara was built in 1715 as the home of an order of Franciscan nuns founded some years earlier by a group of six sisters from Mexico. Today this ruin is most notable for its facade, which largely survived the earthquake of 1773 that devastated the complex; it's one of the most ornate in all of Antigua, replete with intricate statuary and ornamentation in molded stucco. Interestingly, the facade is located in the rear of the complex: in front is a spacious, well-tended courtyard garden not too different from the one at Colegio de San Jerónimo, ringed by the ruined remains of the former cloisters. Ascend to the upper level for a nice view over the surrounding mountains.

Q40

Convento de las Capuchinas

Formally known as the Convento e Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Zaragoza (Convent and Church of Our Lady of the Pillar of Zaragoza), this partially reconstructed building (which is also home to the offices of the National Council for the Protection of Antigua Guatemala) was, from 1736 to the devastating earthquake of 1773, home to a community of cloistered nuns. Today, visitors can explore the ruined remains of the former nuns' dormitories, amble through the desolate tranquility of the convent's still-thriving gardens, and take in a panoramic view of the city from the rooftop terrace.

Q40

El Hato

A small village in the mountains 20 minutes and 200 meters above Antigua (1800 msl), where you can hike around through the forest and coffee plantations and take in the view of the city. Chicken buses to El Hato (40 minutes; Q4) leave from the Mercado several times a day on an irregular schedule.

Iglesia de La Merced

Erected in 1767 by friars from the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, or Mercedarians, La Merced was one of the few buildings in Antigua to withstand the Santa Marta earthquake that struck seven years later. This was due to the ingenuity of architect Juan de Dios Estrada, who designed the building with his memories and observations of the tremor of 1751 fresh in his mind: the building's modest height, bottom-heavy orientation, wide arches, and robust columns were intended to withstand earthquakes. La Merced was abandoned in 1829 when President Francisco Morazán expelled all clergy from what was then called the Federal Republic of Central America; the church wasn't reopened until 1853, by which time the attached monastery had fallen victim to looters who plundered its building materials for use elsewhere. Today, visitors can take in a distinctive yellow facade that has been called the most beautiful example of Spanish Baroque architecture in Antigua, pay the admission fee for the ruins of the monastery whose courtyard boasts what is reputed to be the largest fountain in Central America (the Mercedarian monks once raised fish in it), or, if you are in town during semana santa (Holy Week, the week before Easter), check out the processions that wind through the streets of old Antigua on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, beginning and ending at the church.

Mon-Fri 08:00-12:30 & 15:00-18:00, Sat Sun 08:00-12:00 & 14:00-18:00·Admission fee to convent GTQ15

Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande

This grand old church is one of the most visited of Antigua's ruins, thanks to its status as final resting place of Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt: a 17th-century monk who is the first Catholic saint to hail from Guatemala, and was renowned as the "St. Francis of Assisi of the Americas" due to his ascetic lifestyle, charitable generosity, and aid to marginalized groups within colonial Guatemalan society. A multi-domed structure in the Spanish Baroque style, San Francisco el Grande is a classic example of colonial-era architecture. It was partially reconstructed after the earthquake of 1773 and is still an operating church, but there's also a small museum onsite dedicated to Hermano Pedro and the history of the church.

Daily 06:00-18:00·Q8

La Recolección

Built in 1708 as a church and monastery for friars from the Order of the Recollects, La Recolección sustained heavy damage in the earthquakes of 1717 and 1753 before meeting its final destruction in the massive Santa Marta Earthquake of 1773 that claimed most of the rest of the city along with it. Today it's among the largest ruins in Antigua, but it's also far off the well-trodden circuit (hidden away past the bus station at the west end of town) and not particularly well-preserved either: damage to La Recolección continued even after the quake, when much of the remaining material was plundered for other construction projects and structurally stable portions of the complex were altered for use as a soap factory, a horse stable, and other purposes. Still, visitors can take advantage of the quiet tranquility and lack of crowds to enjoy a peaceful walk through the garden. As for the ruins themselves, the former church building is the best-preserved portion of the complex; the cloisters, former infirmary building, and other remains less so.

Daily 09:00-17:00·Q40

Museo Casa del Tejido Antiguo

Founded in 1998, the Casa del Tejido Antiguo is a museum dedicated to the craft of weaving as practiced for centuries by the native Mayans of Guatemala. Tucked away in an out-of-the-way corner of central Antigua, you'll be taken on a brief (30- to 40-minute) guided tour through about a half-dozen rooms of museum exhibits detailing the history, tools and techniques of traditional Mayan weaving. Then you'll be set loose into an even larger section containing artisans hard at work on garments, mats and artistic pieces. You can (and will be emphatically encouraged to) buy some of their work; whilst the quality is decent the cost is several times what a decent haggler would pay for similar pieces at the Mercado. All exhibits are in Spanish only, and only some of the staff speak English, so those who don't speak good Spanish should ask in advance for an English-speaking tour guide.

Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00, Sat 09:00-16:00·Q15 for guided tour of museum portion; free for those only visiting market

Museo Santiago de los Caballeros

Real Palacio de los Capitanes Generales

A museum showcasing preHispanic and colonial artifacts in part of this historic government palace.

Thu Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat Sun 10:00-16:00, but the palace and grounds are open daily all day

Parque Central

Plaza Mayor

This park is a city block in size, with concentric circular walkways threading among trees and a fountain in the middle. The trees are decorated with lights, and there are plenty of benches for sitting and people-watching. The city hall and police office, the cathedral and several banks and tourist businesses line the four sides of the park. Many Antiguans hang out in the park, and it has a pleasant, bustling, friendly feel during the day (at night, slightly less so. Use your judgment).

Valhalla Macadamia Farm

A nursery of macadamia trees with an interesting environmental and economic agenda. Valhalla has donated over 250,000 macadamia trees to indigenous communities in Guatemala. Macadamia nuts are a cash crop, with the potential to provide a better livelihood for Guatemalan peasants than does coffee. The shells can be used for street paving, and Valhalla have found a way to provide the trees as genetically diverse complete plants, instead of as grafts. This allows natural selection to adapt the trees to changing environmental conditions. The station turns macadamia nuts into snacks, chocolates, a fine skin cream, a pure oil, and a flour that can be made into pancakes. Pancake breakfasts are served every day until 15:30. The breakfast includes 3 pancakes made of macadamia flour, served with macadamia butter, homemade blueberry jam and a drink of your choice. No reservation required. The station offers tours in Spanish, English, and sometimes other languages. At the end of a tour they offer samples of their various products. To get there, try taking a chicken bus, which run every 30 minutes; the fare is around Q3.50 one way.

Mon-Sat 08:00-16:30

Volcán Acatenango

Acatenango (3976m) is a strenuous hike which can be done in one day or overnight. Camping overnight on Acatenango lets you watch the spectacular explosions of the active Fuego volcano from your camp site.

US$40–100

Volcán Agua

The dormant volcano stretches up invitingly to the south of Antigua. Some tourists recommend climbing as part of a tour with a police escort to avoid problems as robberies are frequent. Some unaccompanied tourists have been kidnapped. Definitely take the security situation seriously. Ask at the Inguat office for advice, and go with a tour that has armed security that you trust.

Volcán Pacaya

Going up the active volcano is quite easy and you will find dozens of travel agents who will be very happy to sell you tickets for a Pacaya-trip that normally costs between Q60–75, depending on your bargaining skills. This includes a bus-shuttle to and from Pacaya. Once there, foreigners must pay an extra Q50 for the park entrance. Going there without a tour is likely more expensive since you can only enter the area with a guide which by park rules charges an additional Q200 per group (up to 12 people.) As of early 2016, there is no hot lava left from the 2010 eruption but you can still roast marshmellows over vents and see the cold lava. Pacaya is an active volcano. You cannot get to the crater (you just get close), but there are some amazing views. The hike is not too hard except for the last 100 meters or so that go over very loose lava rocks. This hike can be strenuous and people who are not in good physical condition should give it carefully consideration (horses are also available for Q100 each way). If you go in the afternoon, be prepared to descend in the dark. It takes approximately an hour and a half up and 45 minutes down the mountain. There are a couple of kiosks at the bottom of this hike that offer cold beer.

Volcán de Fuego

This is usually reached from Acatenango, as part of the same trip for an extra charge to get closer to eruptions. This is only worth doing on clear evenings and may be too dangerous to do at all. From the basecamps, you walk down a steep trail from Acatenango (-300m altitude) and up (+300m altitude) onto Fuego, as well very steep, taking about 2 hours one way. From the viewing point, you'll watch the eruptions at a distance of a few hundred meters to the crater of Fuego.

Q100-200

Museo de Arte Colonial

Tue-Sun 09:00-16:00