Serene, civilized Antigua, located 28 miles
west of Guatemala City, this former capital of Guatemala is the most beautiful city in the entire Maya world. For starters, there is the vast legacy of stunning, 16th Century, Spanish-style architecture. Antigua's compact size and population of around 35,000 is another factor - walking the almost traffic free cobbled streets with it's numerous churches and parks gives the city a very peaceful and relaxing feel.
The setting is also spectacular - Antigua is located in a beautiful, highland valley where the hills are thick with pine trees and even cloud forest on the upper slopes, interspersed with coffee plantations and small milpas (cornfields). Even higher above the tree line, are three giant volcanoes - Volcan de Agua, which destroyed the city in 1773 and a little further away are two other volcanoes - Acatenango and the always smoking, sometimes erupting, Fuego.
Enhancing the cosmopolitan atmosphere, hundreds of foreigners from all over the world have been seduced by Antigua's charm and temperate climate and have settled in Antigua to run European and North American-style restaurants, cafés and bars.
Many visitors come to to learn Spanish,
since there are plenty of schools to choose from. Others come to Antigua to experience the sensation of traveling back in time by visiting ruins and museums. And still others just come to relax and enjoy the vibrant cultural life that Antigua has to offer.
The nightlife in Antigua is also very active. Many bars, pubs and discotheques are open late every night, including Sunday.
Antigua’s temperate, climate and friendly inhabitants welcome visitors
and Antigua has all the required services you would expect. Besides a wide
range of hotels, restaurant and cafés from budget to upscale, there are also a number of banks, numerous specialty shops, Internet cafés, art galleries, open-air markets and
over 70 Spanish-language schools to choose from.
Things to Do Around Antigua ....
The variety of activities are boundless
in Guatemala and Antigua offers the perfect central location to visit many of the countries popular attractions. A visit to Antigua can also
be as simple as a relaxing stroll through the Main Plaza and wandering down cobblestone streets, while taking in the fascinating sights and colors of this vibrant culture and enjoying some of the most sophisticated dining, shopping, art galleries and markets in Central America.
Tour Antigua
The churches of Antigua are very important and beautiful. The many churches, ruins and monasteries, casualties of the 1773 earthquake, and majestic volcanoes looming all around, contributed to UNESCO declaring Antigua a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Visit the Central Plaza with the Cathedral and the Palace of the Captains, the ruins of the Convent Capuchinas, La Merced Church, the Arch of Santa Catalina, Santo Domingo, Santa Clara, and San Francisco and and many other historical monuments, each with their own interesting history.
There is much to do outside Antigua too, from visiting Macadamia and Coffee farms, to exploring the nearby small towns, to volcano climbing and eco-tourism.
Centro La Azotea
Just outside Antigua you will find the impressive Centro La Azotea. One half of this center contains a museum, Casa K'ojom (House of Music), which has a
wealth of musical recordings, instruments and information about Maya musical traditions. Next door is an organic coffee finca, which offers guided tours of the plantation.
Visit the Maya God Maximon at San Andres Itzapa
Tour the village of San Andres Itzapa to visit the Maya God Maximon and have a Maya Ritual performed in your honor.
Day or Overnight Trip to Panajachel and Lake Atitlan
Travel through the Maya highlands to the stunning Lake Atitlan with its three surrounding volcanoes.
From Panajachel, boat across the lake to the surrounding lakeside villages where the Maya inhabitants still hold strong to their beliefs, rituals and traditional dress.
Day or Overnight Trip to Chichicastenango
Travel
through the Maya highlands to the town of Chichicastenango and experience this world famous market. Wade your way through this huge market that covers much of the town. If you timing is right you will be able to witness Maya Rituals in progress at the church or at the nearby cemetery or hilltop altar site.
Volcán Pacaya Active Pacaya Volcano first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago, and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala. After being dormant for a century, it erupted violently in 1965, and has been erupting continuously since. This popular attraction is easily accessible from Antigua and is a 2-3 hours hike, depending on fitness.
Climbing Antigua's Volcanoes
The thee spectacular volcanic peaks near to Antigua, Volcán de Agua, Volcán de Fuego and Volcán Acatenago can all be climbed, offering unrivalled views of the surrounding Landscape.
The easiest of the three is Volcán de Agua (3,763 meters/12,345 ft). From the starting point, in the nearby Maya village of Santa María de Jesús, the hike takes 4-6 hours up and 2-4 down.
The adjacent Fuego (3,763 meters/12,345 ft) and Acatenango (3,976 meters/13.045 ft) volcanoes are a much more serious challenge and Fuego should only be attempted if you are an experienced hiker and conditions are favorable.
Where to Stay in Antigua ....
Hotel Aurora lies in the very heart of Antigua. For more than 75 years, travelers thirsty for history, adventure, and camaraderie have called this hotel home because of the feelings it invokes. The hotel has a very friendly, family-style atmosphere and is furnished with pieces that are typical to the area and era.
The Cloister, originally a 16th century cloister, provides a rare opportunity to visit a colonial home. Built in the classic Spanish style with rooms arranged around a central garden courtyard, it is comfortably furnished, with private baths and fireplaces in all seven bedrooms and wireless internet available.
Posada La Merced is located one block from the scenic La Merced Church. Posada La Merced is a Spanish-colonial style hotel open year-round. The posada offers 23 affordable, comfortable and convenient rooms including singles, doubles, triples with private or shared bath, suites and an apartment. The hotel can accommodate a wide range of visitors.
Many visitors come to to learn Spanish, 
The variety of activities are boundless 
Centro La Azotea
The easiest of the three is Volcán de Agua (3,763 meters/12,345 ft). From the starting point, in the nearby Maya village of Santa María de Jesús, the hike takes 4-6 hours up and 2-4 down.
