Top Activities on the Ground in Antigua

Though challenging, summiting Acatenango Volcano is a must while in Antigua, Guatemala. Going as part of this guided tour not only ensures your safety during the hike, but also removes the hassle of worrying about meals and equipment for the trek. Just bring personal essentials, your sense of adventure, and a camera to capture the amazing sunrise overlooking fuming volcanoes in the Ring of Fire.

Enjoy caffeine and adrenaline in one tour on this excursion from Antigua. The eclectic tour is sure to please a variety of travelers. Climb on board your personal ATV and head to a local plantation, where you discover the coffee making process from seed to mug. After a hot cup of the local beverage, ride up to Cerro de la Cruz, which offers a spectacular view of the city and surrounding mountains.

Challenge yourself by climbing the Acatenango volcano. Your experienced bilingual guide will lead you on a roughly 6-hour climb, passing through cornfields and a cloud forest before reaching the ashy volcanic landscape. Acatenango is inactive but grants incredible views of Fuego, an active volcano nearby. Enjoy a picnic at the top before descending. Climbers are encouraged to bring good shoes, a fleece, raincoat, sunglasses, and sunblock.

In a city surrounded by volcanoes, adventure is hard to resist. Give into your sense of adventure on this tour around the outskirts of Antigua on an ATV, motorcycle, or scooter; take your pick of vehicle and choose to drive it yourself or ride in the back seat. Visit the mountains around Antigua, a local Mayan village, the famous El Cerro de la Cruz, and an organic farm with a full view of the valley below.

This mountain biking tour from Antigua offers an intimate look at small-scale coffee production. After an intermediate ride through the beautiful countryside, tour a coffee farm with a co-op member and visit their home to learn how beans are traditionally flame-roasted and ground by hand. Tour ends with lunch with the family for an authentic travel experience that gets you in touch with everyday life in Guatemala.

Get off the tourist trail in Lake Atitlan as you enjoy fun, family-friendly activities and visits to local villages on this 10-hour trip from Antigua. Pick from among a range of high-energy activities like swimming, kayaking, hiking, cliff jumping or rock climbing. Or if you’re more content to watch, simply sit back and relax. You’ll also have time explore the small villages near the lake, including Santa Cruz, San Juan and San Pedro, many of which feel largely untouched by the modern world. This highly customizable trip includes all activities plus round-trip hotel transport.

Leave behind the cobbled streets of Antigua for the treetops of Lake Atitlan on this adventure-packed day trip. Kayak or paddle board around the famed waters of Lake Atitlan along with a guide before embarking on a hike through the countryside and a zipline adventure with incredible views of the surrounding nature. This tour includes round-trip transfer from Antigua and a guide, keeping the adventure to the natural world.

Get up close and personal with a Guatemalan volcano during this 7-hour Pacaya Volcano hike, one of the country’s most active. Travel through volcanic vegetation and surreal landscapes on your way to the top, enjoying impressive views of three nearby volcanic peaks, including Agua, Fuego and Acatenango at the summit. Your trip from Antigua to the volcano also includes round-trip transportation from your hotel and a guide.

Enjoy the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation on this 9-hour day trip, ascending Pacaya Volcano and then soaking your muscles at Kawilal Hot Springs. Scale the 8,300-foot (2,500-meter) heights of Pacaya, one of the most active volcanoes in Guatemala. At the top you’ll be able to peer down into the boiling lava of the crater and feel the earth’s rumble. Descend back down from the summit to enjoy an included lunch and soak in the thermal waters of Kawilal Hot Springs, including 12 soaking pools, 25 steam baths and 3 hydrotherapy baths. Your Pacaya day trip also includes entrance fees, a guide and round-trip hotel transport.

Experience the scenic surroundings of Antigua with this half-day mountain bike tour. Learn about the dramatic history of sites like Ciudad Vieja, once capital of Guatemala before it was hit by a mudslide from the crater of a nearby volcano in 1541. Visit picturesque ruins and a macadamia farm. Ride to Santiago Zamora and San Antonio Aguas Calientes, two towns known for their colorful textile production.

Take a walk back in time as you explore the idyllic Mayan villages, ancient rituals and gorgeous scenery of Lake Atitlan on this strenuous day-long hike on the Upper Mayan Trail. Interact with the local Cakchiquel and Tzutujil Mayan tribes, visiting the town of Santa Cruz la Laguna and tracing a path along a steep path used by the tribes for centuries. You’ll also have the chance to observe the rituals of local shamans and visit the second largest market in the country. Your hike also includes round-trip hotel transport from Antigua.

Hike through dried lava fields, green forests, and coffee and banana plantations en route to a scenic vista point on Pacaya Volcano on this tour from Antigua. Going as part of this guided tour not only ensures your safety during the hike, but also covers logistics like transportation, entrance fees, and lunch so you can just lace up your boots and enjoy the scenery.

Our Luxury Horse Experience is like none other as it is on private ranch that was never open to the public. We have a gentle herd of 22 horses that were born and raised here, run free (with their babies) Come to ride our 1.5 hour trail through the jungle, magnificent volcano views (all 3) , local agriculture and in the clouds, we end facing Volcano Fuego,. (8000ft. ASLevel) 2-3 wranglers (guides) on the trail. For non-riders you may be a guest of the ranch and experience the horses and the property, We have an antique Rustic ranch house that is a true "Campo" style of Guatemala, complete with open fire grill and stalls inside. We offer wine & cheese and a BBQ lunch, a horse will probably join you in the courtyard. Riders & Non Riders may tour our organic garden, walk to the top of the property to see the magnifcent views and 400 species of trees, orchids and succulents. This is a true cultural experience for Horse & Nature lovers, Photographers,Romantic Getaways like none other.

Pacaya, one of Guatemala’s youngest volcanoes, offers hikers a unique glance into the geologic center of the earth on this 8-hour small-group tour. A relatively easy climb of 1.5 hours brings you to the fertile shelf just below the cinder cone called “la Meseta.” From here you get an awesome view of recent lava flows. You will explore these lava fields, and as the smoking crater looms above, the environment quickly changes to resemble that of an extraterrestrial setting. Enjoy a freshly prepared lunch while gazing at the views before you make your way back down. Tour includes private transport, all entry fees, all guide fees, a fresh lunch, and a 1st aid trained bilingual guide.

On this private tour, you will hike up Finca El Pilar near Antigua, accompanied by a private hiking guide. The mountain you will climb is only a 10-minute drive from the city of Antigua, yet you will find yourself hiking through a beautiful cloud forest. Throughout the experience you will see exceptional natural beauty and amazing views. At the top (or as far as you wish to go since this is a private experience), you will enjoy a picnic-style lunch. We will arrange transportation to and from the starting point of the hike. Guide and entrance fees are also included. This is a great day trip from Antigua for those who enjoy being active and spending time in nature.

Climbing the Pacaya Volcano is a must for many travelers but arriving early is essential and getting there alone can be time-consuming. Skip public transit and save your strength for the hike during this private excursion which includes round-trip transportation. Plus, learn more about the volcano than travelers who tackle the climb alone, thanks to your personal guide.

We will shuttle 30 minutes outside Antigua through the town of Parramos and the small village of Chirijuyu to meet our trailhead. From there we begin an introductory climb followed by a 3km jeep track descent through coffee and avocado plantations. We will ride smooth trails through agricultural operations and then cross the rustic town of San Andres Itzapa. From there we will start our second climb (4km) up through the town on paved and cobble stoned roads before entering a pine forest at 1900m (6,400ft). Crossing a small ravine will bring us to a smooth descent and fast singletrack through pine trees. This will exit into the plains of Parramos crossing fields of corn, fruit, beans and greenhouses as you wind along agricultural singletrack. The final descent follows 500+ year old trails that have been eroded into tunnels of tight twisty fun. Exit in the town of Pastores and cycle the gradual paved downhill back to Antigua!

You will live and enjoy the experience to hike an active volcano in Guatemala and share with local people. Have a full day of adventure in the Pacaya Volcano to admire the beautiful landscape and delight yourself in an outdoor space surrounded by local vegetation.

As we get closer to some of Fuego’s drainages/ravines, you will see deposits of loose rock and volcanic debris. During the rainy season, and depending on the intensity of the rainfall, these deposits can form fast moving mudflows of a sort of slowing moving wet concrete, called lahars. Cotzumalguapa’s inhabitants developed an original artistic style seen in monumental sculptures and small objects. Although its ancient structures are buried beneath layers of material produced by volcanic eruptions, you will see part of its monumental sculpture in the venues visited on this trip. Archaeological excavations have enlightened about its cultural importance. Foreign appropriation, housing construction, and agrocommercial ventures are threats to this site, although recent appreciation of this legacy and has started to produce positive results.

This daytrip provides roundtrip transport from Antigua, accommodating those of you with tight schedules, and providing the opportunity to experience the splendor of Lake Atitlan. Kayaking and hiking activities are both moderate in difficulty and carried out on a relaxed schedule so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the marvelous views and tranquil vibe of Lake Atitlan. A hearty lunch at an excellent restaurant tops off the trip before the ride back home.

The El Zur mountain bike park is a private reserve with over 25 kms. of flowing, rolling, blow your mind purpose built single-track bliss. Need I say more? The only of its kind here in Guatemala, and we have exclusive access to it! Unless you are a land owner there or with Old Town you wont be dropping in on any of these trails! We joined up with some friends of ours who own a mega swath of our resident Volcan de Agua and hand built as much trail as we could. The top of the trail network is at 8,500 ft., which we’ll climb via 4×4 shuttle and the drop in to the beginning of an awesome ride!

This is the ideal day-tour for those who love culture and nature. We will leave Antigua at 6 in the morning and drive for 1:50hrs to visit the beautiful Los Tarrales Natural Reserve. This 1,300-hectare private reserve is located right at Atitlan´s volcano slope. In its extension, experts have counted more than 350 species of birds reside. During our morning visit, you will also enjoy miles of trails with coffee bushes, ornamental plants, jungle and water springs. For lunchtime, we will visit the charming Mayan Village of San Lucas Toliman. Before to take our shuttle back to Antigua, don´t forget to interact with the locals right at lake Atitlan´s shore and check out their products and handicrafts. This activity has been designed to amaze and fulfill the expectations of travelers looking for re-encountering nature. From amateur/nature lovers to avid birders.

Our group meets at Old Town Outfitters Shop in Antigua at 14:00hrs – where drinking water, bathroom facilities and retail outdoor equipment are available for hikers. Our drive to the trailhead is just over 1-hour in private transport from Antigua to the Park Office. As our group moves up one of the myriad of trails on the mountain, your Old Town guide will direct the group toward active surface or sub-surface lava flows near the summit. He will then decide where to make camp for the evening, and arrange the group’s campsite close to one of Pacaya’s many beautiful vistas. A freshly prepared dinner will be readied for the group. Hot coffee and tea will keep your group warm after sundown, and after a good night’s rest in tents and bags views of surrounding highland volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango will greet campers at first light. After breakfast our group will break camp and have a relaxed descent of Pacaya’s slopes as we move down to the trailhead.

 Ride directly from our shop in Antigua  Ride double track and single track through varied terrains and agricultural areas  Great views back to Antigua, Volcan de Fuego and Acatenango  Return all the way to Antigua by mountain bike We’ll bike from Antigua on cobblestone and dirt roads towards Volcan Agua and San Juan del Obispo. We’ll then bike ~45min up on trails and continue cross-country through the agricultural fields of corn, peas, the citrus nísperos, coffee and avocado trees. Traversing our way across the lower sections of Volcan de Agua will give you great views back to Antigua and the rest of the valley. We then make our way to the downhill section that brings up back to civilization, popping back out in San Pedro las Huertas. From San Pedro we’ll cruise all the way back to Antigua. Trip starts at 8:00AM or 1:00PM Elevation Profile (feet)  Distance: 10 miles (16.5 kms)  Ascent: 1,442 feet (439 mtrs)  Decent: 1,442 feet (439 mtrs)  Tour Duration: ~2.5-3 hours