Top Activities on the Ground in Antigua

Step onto the cobblestone-clad streets of colonial Antigua for this flexible-length walking tour. Stroll the streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as you visit top landmarks like the ‘Ayuntamiento’ (City Hall Palace), Palace of the Captain’s General, the main cathedral, and Santo Domingo, a well-known hotel and cultural center. A final stop at a local jade factory provides additional insight into Guatemala’s Mayan culture.

Experience Antigua’s surrounding areas by motorcycle, scooter, or ATV. This half-day tour takes you to several villages on the outskirts of Antigua, including Ciudad Vieja, Guatemala’s first capital. Visit a textile market and an indigenous village at the foot of the Agua Volcano. Enjoy a short hike, hammock time, and panoramic views from a lookout point over Antigua.

This tour, by Due South Travels, is a 2+ hour guided walking tour of Antigua, one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Our local guide will give you tons of great information, including the history of the city and its architecture, the geography, culture, and religion of historical and modern day Guatemala. During the tour we will visit and discuss Antigua's significant landmarks. We will talk about the volcanoes and earthquakes Guatemala has experienced, the Mayan ethnic groups, the Spanish invasion, and modern day life here. We are different from the four hour walking tours offered in town because we don't take you shopping (too much pressure!), however, our local guides would love to bring you AFTER the tour if you'd like a thorough explanation of jade or if you're interested in bargaining for some beautiful handicrafts. You'll also receive plenty of other suggestions for things to do in and around town.

Travel between Antigua and the Guatemala City Airport in comfort, without the stress of looking for a taxi, by booking a private transfer service. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Antigua and take you to the airport in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle for just you and your party.

Go beyond just sampling Guatemalan cuisine at Antigua’s restaurants and learn to cook it for yourself at a private cooking class. Visit a cooking school in Jocotenango village, and learn to make typical Guatemalan food, choosing from assorted dishes and picking up local cooking tips as you work. Then, savor your creations with your hosts on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Agua Volcano or in a colonial-style dining room.

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.

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 tour will take you to 3 mountain tops with incredible views of the city, valley, and volcanoes near and around Antigua. Our first stop is ¨El Cerro de la Cruz ¨ Antigua’s famous lookout point known as ¨The Cross¨. After getting a close-up aerial view of the colonial city, we head up towards our Second stop,¨Earth Lodge¨. This is an Avocado plantation and ECO-lodge found in the mountain village of El Hato. We will have some time for a drink and snacks, relax on the hammocks, or take a short hike on the nature trail of the plantation. After visiting this marvelous place we will hop on a pick up truck towards our final stop ¨Hobbitenango¨. This is a lord of the rings themed Eco-Park where we catch the Sunset and are able to enjoy some food, drinks, and games. Here we will go up the hill and sightsee, enjoy great views and various activities in this enchanted little forest. Once, finished we will head back down the mountain towards our ATVs and back down to Antigua.

Get a short introduction to the Spanish-colonial charm of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during this 3-hour morning tour from Guatemala City. This atmospheric city was the country’s capital for more than 200 years, creating a wealth of historic architecture and gorgeous scenery for you to discover during your walking tour. Tread on Antigua’s cobblestone streets as you explore sites like the Cathedral of Santiago, Central Park and the city's iconic Arch of Santa Catalina. Your Antigua visit includes a guide and round-trip hotel transport (except during Holy Week in April).

Learn how to prepare chocolate desserts in the country that does it best during a 2-hour workshop at the ChocoMuseum in Antigua. Learn all about the chocolate making process from cacao bean to candy bar. Afterwards, with the help of an instructor, prepare your own creations. Take home 120g of your handmade desserts to share with friends or, more likely, devour all on your own.

Journey from Antigua to explore the fascinating market at Chichicastenango plus the town of Panjachel, along the shores of Lake Atitlán, on this 9-hour day trip. Take time to browse the ceramics and woodcrafts at the famous open-air market of Chichicastenango before visiting the city’s religious structures, Iglesia de Santo Tomas and Calvary Church. Then head to Panjachel, where you’ll take in views of Lake Atitlán as you explore the town’s main thoroughfare, Santander Street. Your trip also includes a guide and round-trip transportation from your hotel in Antigua.

Visit several Antigua highlights in one convenient walking tour, ideal for first-time visitors or those with limited time in the region. There’s no need to worry about getting lost or overlooking lesser-known spots, as your guide will escort you from point to point, providing context for each attraction along the way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Achieve panoramic views without having to break too much of a sweat on a full-day hiking tour of the Pacaya Volcano in Antigua. Trekking in a small group limited to 15 people means that you’ll have more control over the walking pace, while heading to the top of the volcano at sunset increases your chances of capturing the best views. Plus, this excursion is suitable for families with children.

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.

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!