As the former colonial capital of Guatemala (and Central America), the World Heritage Site of Antigua is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the region. This spectacularly beautiful city is noted for its Baroque architecture and old ruins, and has many impressive churches.

Lying to the south-west of the present capital, Guatemala City, Antigua is easily accessed and is the foremost tourism spot in the country, showcasing the very best of Guatemala. Its mountain setting brings Antigua a pleasant and stable warm climate, meaning that it can be visited year-round.

In addition, Antigua has an excellent selection of hotels and also boasts good shopping and eating, as well as a surprisingly high concentration of Spanish-language schools. The tourist information office known as the Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo (INGUAT) is to be found on the Calle Oriente 2a, between Avenidas 2a and 3a, and close to both the Las Capuchinas and the Iglesia El Carmen churches.

WHY GO

Amazing World Heritage Site

ORIENTATION

The city proper is only a kilometre or so across and is mostly contained within a compact eight-by-eight block area, that is, eight blocks down and eight blocks wide. It can be crossed on foot in a few minutes, although it is best to use maps of Antigua to navigate, as there are little side streets going off here and there.

Despite being an old town, Antigua is systematically laid-out on a grid pattern. The aptly named Parque Central, also known as the Plaza Mayor, is at the core, while avenues (avenidas) go north to south and streets (calles) head east to west. Maps can be obtained from the Inguat Tourist Office on the Calle Oriente, or you may find that your hotel can furnish you with one. Antigua maps are also available from the numerous travel agencies based along the Avenida Norte and the Avenida Sur.

Self-guided sightseeing tours of the city are a good way to get your bearings of Antigua and understand what it has to offer in the way of tourism and attractions. A popular route starts at the Cerro de la Cruz and passes by some of the most prominent churches in the city.

Many striking colonial buildings surround the Central Park (Parque Central), a leafy plaza where locals and tourists alike choose to hang out, admiring the mermaids in the fountain. Located on the southerly axis of the Parque Central, the Captain General's Palace (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales) dates from the middle of the 16th century and once formed the heart of Latin America's government. To the north of the plaza is the Capuchin Convent (Convento de las Capuchinas), while residing a few blocks to the west, the Antigua Market (Calz de Santa Lucia Sur) is another good place to experience city life. 

With such a long and eventful history, Antigua comes with a series of museum exhibits and information to document its past life. Located at the former prison in the Palacio del Ayuntamiento is the popular Museo de Santiago (Santiago Museum), where weaponry exhibits are accompanied by instruments of torture, coins and ceramics from colonial days. Also sited at Antigua's City Hall is the Old Book Museum (Museo del Libro Antiguo) and its early printing press.

Further cultural offerings in the city include the Hermano Pedro Museum (Museo del Hermano Pedro) at the Iglesia de San Francisco, the Centre of Popular Art (Centro de Arte Popular) at the Casa Antigua El Jaulon shopping arcade, and the Museum of Colonial Art (Museo de Arte Colonial) at the Old University of San Carlos (Universidad de San Carlos). 

WHEN TO GO

Antigua has seasonal weather, as with the rest of Guatemala, with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season is in the wintertime and goes from November to February, while the wet season takes off mid-May to mid-October. It never rains in Antigua as much as it does on the coast, though. Temperatures average around 20°C / 68°F and you can bet on warm days and cool nights.

The best thing about the climate here is that you can visit at any time, even during the wet season - it rarely rains all day, with afternoon showers being the norm. August and September usually have the most rain. March and April are probably best avoided on the heat side, however, and you may also get caught out at night if you are staying in the mountainous areas, particularly during the dry season, so bring a sweater when visiting at this time of the year.

HOW TO GET THERE

Antigua is a compact city in the central highlands region of Guatemala, lying approximately 40 km / 25 miles to the south-west of the capital city,Guatemala City. It is in the centre / west of the country, around 100 km / 62 miles from the coast on Guatemala maps, and is served by major highways from all directions.
 

There are various volcanoes and hills around Antigua to keep you oriented if you don't have regional maps to hand. The Water Volcano (Volcan Agua) is due south of the city, while to the south-west are the Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes, the latter of which has smoke coming from its peak. Cerro de la Cruz, meanwhile, is a popular landmark hilltop to the north.When you fly into La Aurora International Airport, it may be worth hiring a car if you are planning to get out and about during your holiday. Guatemala City is comfortably under an hour from Antigua and one day trip that most tourists choose to make, coming to admire the capital's striking architecture, tour its national museums and enjoy its massive festivals. Excursions to the surrounding volcanoes are also recommended, with the Pacaya Volcano (Volcan Pacaya) being especially close, impressive and still active, regularly spewing lava. Also close by, the Water Volcano (Volcan Agua) offers a choice of hiking trails, and guided tours of the twin-peaked Acatenango Volcano (Volcan Acatenango) provide tourists with an exhilarating experience and spectacular views across the Volcan de Fuego (Volcano of Fire).

Additional day trip possibilities from Antigua include south-westerly Ciudad Vieja (Old City), the Centro Cultural La Azotea coffee plantation next to the village of Jocotenango, the seaside village of Monterrico, and the artisan village of San Juan Comalapa. For seasonal festivals, the adjacent towns of Santiago Sacatepequez and Sumpango are hard to beat, with their joint annual Festival of the Giant Kite (Feria del Barrilete Gigante) each November being quite a spectacle.