Guatemala has so much to offer for every type of traveler. An option is the bordering regions with Belize where you can explore beaches, jungle areas such as beautiful ‘Semuc Champey’, and archeological Mayan sites. A different option is to travel to the city of Antigua where many day trips are available, including all 3 volcanoes and the deepest lake in Central America. This post covers my experience flying into Guatemala City and traveling to Antigua. I share how surprisingly easy and safe it is to have an authentic travel experience when traveling in Guatemala.
Arriving in Antigua
After extensive research and listening to the advice of fellow travelers who have visited Guatemala before, I went straight from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua. There is not much to explore for tourists in Guatemala City and it’s not as safe as other tourist locations such as Antigua and the towns surrounding Lake Atitlán.
I suggest arriving during the day but avoiding rush hour (weekday evenings) since the drive is between 1 – 1.5 hours depending on traffic. There are many shuttle companies that can be arranged by your hotel. Uber is also a great option when traveling in Guatemala, unlike Mexico where ride-share is not allowed to enter airports or bus stations. Uber is one of the safest options, for short or long distances. Keep in mind that shuttles are definitely more affordable but these will drop you off at a centric location where you’ll need to transfer on your own to your lodging location.
Moving in Antigua
The historic center of Antigua offers many lodging options for all types of budgets. The center of Antigua is also very walkable, in other words, the distances are short and the city is safe. My only concern was crossing the heavily trafficked one-way streets since the cobblestone made it a risk to run across. With this in mind, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes with non-slip soles. Wear heels are your own risk!
A good option to move around the city, for those with limited mobility, is the famous “Tuk-tuks”. These are motorized bikes with two seats in the back. They fit perfectly through alleys and the narrow cobblestone streets. Like many things in Guatemala, the price is negotiable. A good way to verify the currency exchange is XE currency converter, the app also works offline.
As mentioned, Uber is also a good option when moving around in the city. For longer distances, such as day trips, I recommend booking tours or shuttles. There are many options online but once I arrived, I realized the prices offered by the hotels and agencies in the city are much more affordable. There are so many options for tours departing from Antigua, so I will get more into detail about day trips and tours in another post.
What You Need to Know About Antigua
Most places in Antigua accept credit cards. The center also has many ATMs available. The yellow 5B ATM is the best option since it only charges 10% of the total withdrawal amount versus the $4 USD that other ATMs charge. Also, I was not able to use either my Chase debit card or Revolut in the blue ATMs.
An important difference between Antigua and the small towns in Guatemala is that most restaurants include a 10% gratuity in your bill. As a foreigner who is always struggling to understand the social norms around tipping in each country, I appreciated this. Keep this in mind before including an additional tip. It is also best to verify your bill at the end since most cafes or bars do not include tips in the bill.
Last but not least, as in most Latin American countries, there are many street dogs throughout the country. As someone who has been attacked by dogs, I can honestly say there’s nothing to fear. Most dogs are malnourished and hence very weak and calm. This is heartbreaking and I tried to carry bread with me to share with them. Luckily, I realized that some businesses put out dishes with water and food for them.
Landmarks in Antigua
Free walking tours are available in Antigua and they focus on the history and architecture of the city. This time, I decided to explore on my own and photographed some of the landmarks that caught my eye.
The Arch of ‘Santa Catalina’ is probably the most famous landmark of Antigua. It is a popular photo spot so I recommend coming here early in the morning for a picture without people or vehicles. The Arch leads to the Church of ‘La Merced’, a beautiful yellow building from 1767 surrounded by street vendors and a park. The Church holds a former convent that is now archeological ruins frequented by tourists.
Another Church and convent with ruins is a short walking distance from the arch. The Church of ‘La Candelaria’ is also next to the former convent of ‘Las Capuchinas’ and the ruins are now an exposition of their former way of living, including the catacombs where a creepy nun mannequin “lays to rest”.
Next to the Cathedral, you’ll find Central Park which is lively during the day and night. The best pictures of the Cathedral can be taken from the park, especially during golden hour (sunset). This is also a good point of reference when looking for centric lodging or shuttle drop-off points. The park is surrounded by cafes, restaurants, bars, and even a chocolate museum!
From the Cathedral, a short 30-minute uphill walk, you’ll find ‘Cerro de la Cruz’ or Hill of the Cross. This viewpoint is a small park with, obviously, a large cross. This ‘mirador'(viewpoint) offers a panoramic view of Antigua and the volcanoes on a clear day. If you hiked up ‘Pacaya Volcano’, then climbing the stairs to the viewpoint will be easy. There’s another route to the parking lot so you can take an Uber or Tuk-tuk as well. Keep in mind that the park closes at 6pm, you’ll be allowed to stay longer if you’re already up there, but walk down the stairs in the dark at your own risk.
Where to Eat in Antigua
Café Sol is one of my favorite spots in the center of Antigua. I went there for breakfast and stayed for the view. The specialty coffee and friendly staff are also good reasons to visit.
I also could spend hours exploring the art of Cafe Boheme. Their menu offers many healthy options for breakfast or lunch. Like many places in the center, their rooftop also has direct views of the volcanoes.
Where to try Typical food
La Cuevita de los Urquizú is the best place to start your gastronomical adventures in Guatemala. They offer the most typical meals which are always ready to serve. Even if there’s a line, it’s because they take the time to explain what each dish is. They serve you at the moment and take it to your table. Another great thing about La Cuevita is that they offer vegetarian and vegan options.
I had my first Guatemalan meal at 7 Caldos, per my Uber driver’s suggestion. This is a lovely restaurant, that although centric, feels like you’re in a ranch away from the city center. They have a lovely patio and sometimes live music. They offer many typical and flavorful dishes. Their tortillas were freshly made and the servers were very friendly. The portions and the prices were also very reasonable.
Another centric option for a typical meal that was suggested by a local is Arrin Cuan. Unfortunately, I did not get to try the food here but the pictures looked amazing.
Nightlife
Antigua has many rooftop bars. I was able to appreciate a beautiful sunset at Café Sky‘s rooftop bar. They offer classical cocktails, craft, and local beer, as well as bar food such as wings, fries, and even pasta.
Directly next to Cafe Sky, there’s a very dark and unique speakeasy called Café Nosé. It took me a minute to adjust my eyes to this place since it was mainly candle lit. They have a small menu where they only offer Guatemalan mezcal called Illegal and their craft beer. Although it looks small when you walk in, there are many passages leading to interesting corners, such as a completely dark secret library and a type of altar.
Antigua Brewing was definitely my go-to place. They brew their craft beer on location and offer a variety of other Guatemalan craft beers. I caught a live show on Friday night and was blown away by the talented young band. For cocktail lovers, there’s speakeasy inside the brewery. The entrance is through a phone booth! Once you’re in, there’s no menu, you simply tell the bartender what you like and you’ll get the bartender’s deal.
There’s an even better Antigua Brewing near the center. A 10-minute walk from the centric branch, there’s another Antigua Brewery in the forest! This place is huge and lovely. There are several fire pits with lounge chairs surrounding them and plenty of seating and cute lighting at night. It’s a very rustic vibe and truly enjoyed it on my last night. They also have TVs for the nights with important soccer matches.
Where to dance in Antigua
La Sala is a really fun bar for dancing and partying with locals. The street art on the walls is very unique and it glows on the best parts, such as street lights and water reflections, with the UV light. The only downside of this bar is that we were padded down before entering and realized some men go there to exclusively flirt with tourists.
El Barrio is a local favorite since it’s 5 bars in one! From cocktails bars, shots, a pub, a terrace, and even tacos, ‘El Barrio’ has something for everyone. I will warn you that it was extremely crowded on a Saturday night, and still, it shut at 12:30am.
Las Palmas is a great option for salsa lovers. There’s live music most nights, even on weekdays. The band wraps up at 11pm but the party continues. It is free to enter but there’s a cover for entrances after mining.
Summary
As a female solo traveler, I was a bit anxious about my first country in Central America. Do not be fooled by the alarming news, instead, read about the experience of fellow travelers who have actually visited the country. Take their advice and create your own travel adventure. Dare explore on your own and take tours to meet other travelers, and explore together. There is so much beauty in the beautiful country of Guatemala and I’m grateful to the able to share it with others. However, you decide to explore Guatemala, remember to always BE PRESENT!
Are you planning on visiting Guatemala? Let me know what your plans are in the comments below!
So many amazing tips!!
Thank you for sharing Joyce. This is definitely on the bucket list for the food, volcanos and Mayan ruins.