Antigua is one of Guatemala’s biggest tourist attractions: a charming colonial town with great food and nightlife, fascinating colonial ruins and a number of markets offering colorful handicrafts. Still, visitors may want to get out of town for a day: here are some options.
Climbing a Volcano
Antigua is surrounded by four volcanoes: Fuego, Agua, Acatenango and Pacaya. Fuego is currently the most active, and on a clear day visitors can watch it occasionally shoot up a plume of smoke. Climbing tours to Acatenango and Agua are possible: Fuego is rarely climbed due to the constant volcanic activity. By far, Pacaya is the most popular tour: it can be climbed in a day and hikers get a close-up look at flowing lava! It is possible to sign up for a Pacaya tour at any of the operators scattered around Antigua: look around for the best price. There are often bandits robbing hikers, so ask about the current security situation before you sign up.
The Chichicastenango Market
Every Thursday and Sunday, the Quiché town of Chichicastenango comes alive with a market selling dazzling textiles, finely carved masks, colorful chess sets and much, much more. The streets and central square fill up with a maze of stalls, all promising great bargains. The market is a dream for souvenir shoppers and photographers. While there, check out the old colonial church: it is said to have native idols hidden in the walls during construction. To get there, take a series of buses from Antigua (Antigua-Chimaltenango, Chimaltenango-Los Encuentros, Los Encuentros-Chichicastenango), or sign up at any tour operator for a van service. Taking the buses may save as much as $10 or so, but they take more time and changing buses can be a pain.
Lake Atitlan
Panajachel is a sleepy town on the shores of the stunningly beautiful Lake Atitlan. It’s home to some great restaurants, shops and cafes. It’s possible to get to Panajachel by public buses (catch a bus for Panajachel at Los Encuentros) or sign up for a tour in Antigua. One popular tour includes hiking, kayaking on the lake, and a couple of hours in town before returning to Antigua.
Tikal
The city of Tikal was once one of the mightiest in the Maya Empire. For centuries, the ruined city was hidden in the jungle, waiting to be discovered. Today, it is one of Guatemala’s top visitor draws. It’s possible to do Tikal as a day-trip from Antigua: it involves leaving early, taking a flight from Guatemala City, seeing the ruins, and returning the same way. Many of the tour agencies spread out around Antigua offer this tour, so shop around for the best deal.
Guatemala City
There isn’t much in Guatemala City (about one hour away by bus), but the Popol Vuh Museum (6a calle, Universidad Francisco Marroquin) and the Archaeology Museum (Edificio 5, La Aurora Park) may be of interest to those who want to learn more about Maya culture and history.
Most visitors won’t want to leave Antigua for very long: it’s a fun, happening place with good Spanish schools, activities, restaurants and nightlife. But for those with a little more time, these day trips are worth a look!
Christopher Minster - I'm a freelance writer. I mostly write about travel, history and culture. I enjoy writing fiction as well.
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