Are you on holiday in Guatemala and want to discover the local culture? Discover Antigua, Guatemala’s most colourful city.
Visiting Antigua in Guatemala is plunging into the heart of the tumultuous history of this country, which has experienced the Spanish conquest during the 16th century. This is the most visited city in the country, for a good reason: the whole center seems to be an open-air museum!
Visit Antigua: what to do and see?
Photo credit: Flickr – John Pavelka
Folding in the paved and colourful streets of the city centre is obviously one of the main activities during a stay in Antigua. Indeed, each façade is painted with a very bright color, ranging from yellow to turquoise blue. The city also houses many churches, more or less well renovated, but all with carefully carved facades. The most beautiful is the Merced Cathedral, located in the heart of the city.
A few steps away, you can admire the arch of Santa Catalina, a true emblem of Antigua! Among the other activities, the city also has several museums, including that of cocoa ( Guatemala is a major cocoa producer), and many craft shops and colorful markets.
Finally, it is also advisable to go to the Cerro de la Cruz, north of the city, to enjoy a sumptuous panorama of the ancient Guatemalan capital.
Visit the surroundings of Antigua
Photo credit: WikiMedia – Javier Ruata
But that’s not all! Antigua is also an excellent starting point to climb several of Guatemala’s most beautiful volcanoes. Indeed, the country has about thirty in its territory, three of which are currently active.
For this type of activity, there is more for all levels: the Pacaya volcano for beginners and the Acatenango for the most athletic. Indeed, the ascent of the first is done in just 2 hours, while it takes at least 5 hours to climb the second.
Finally, it is recommended to spend at least 2 or 3 nights in Antigua, to fully enjoy its atmosphere, but also to discover its numerous addresses of bars and restaurants, which make it one of the most lively cities in Guatemala!
Main photo credit: Pixabay – Vhcardenas
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