About Guatemala

The city of Antigua Guatemala, locally known as Antigua or La Antigua, is the department capital of Sacatepequez, and is located 29 miles (40km) south of Guatemala City. It lies 1530 meters above sea level in the Panchoy Valley. Antigua was founded by the Spanish conquistadors in 1543 and it still preserves much of it’s original architecture, which was a reason why UNESCO declared it as a World Heritage Site in 1979. A huge earthquake destroyed the city in 1773. Around 1830 many of the old buildings were renovated.

Antigua, with a population of 41,000 inhabitants, is one of the most visited places in Guatemala for many reasons. It’s located in a valley and is surrounded by many green small hills and three volcanoes: Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. It’s preserved colonial buildings, parks and cobbled streets gives the city a very peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. You would be able to find here a large number of hotels, cafes and restaurants no matter what your budget is and the weather is simply wonderful almost all year round, so it’s a good place to experience what people in Guatemala call “the land of eternal spring”. Internet cafes and large distance calls are available all around the city, so communication is definitely not a problem here.

Many visitors come to Antigua to learn Spanish since there are plenty of schools to choose from, with the option of staying with a host family. Other people come to experience the sensation of traveling back in time visiting ruins and museums. And many others come to relax and enjoy the vibrant cultural life while enjoying music concerts, art exhibitions, theatre plays, movie projections, art festivals, etc.

The churches are very important and beautiful. Some of the best ones are La Merced, Capuchinas, Santo Domingo, Santa Clara, the Cathedral, and San Francisco. Each church has an interesting history.

The nightlife in Antigua is also very exciting. Many bars, pubs and discotheques are open every day including Sunday; going out to a bar can be a great place to share your experiences with people from all over the world visiting Guatemala. There is much to do outside Antigua too, from visiting Macadamia or Coffee farms, exploring the nearby small towns, to volcano climbing and eco-tourism.

If you come with friends, on a honeymoon or with your family and kids, Antigua will definitely give you a breathtaking experience that will leave you hoping to come back here again.

Antigua Guatemala has the best coffee in the world!!!!

Activities, hotels, restaurants and more from Antigua.