Top Antigua Culture

Spend a day on the shores of Lake Atitlan with this private tour from Antigua. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you through the highlands, with stops at viewpoints along the way. You'll then take a group boat tour from the town of Panajachel to the Mayan villages of San Juan, San Pedro, and Santiago, heading back to Antigua at the end of the day.

Lake Atitlan is one of Guatemala’s most popular attractions—and for good reason. Surrounded by volcanoes, the ancient caldera lake is mesmerizing in its beauty, while the villages that line its shores are all unique and fascinating. Perfect for travelers who have limited time, this small-group day tour from Antigua is a great way to squeeze in the highlights of the lake while delving deeper into the colorful local culture.

Explore Antiguan history, culture, and cuisine on this half-day chicken bus tour, ideal for travelers tight on time. Cover more ground than you could on foot and visit unusual places many travelers overlook, such as the San Juan del Obispo Museum and Valhalla Experimental Station. Plus, enjoy access to communities that you likely couldn’t get if exploring independently.

Take a walking tour through Antigua without worrying about being corralled into shops by signing up for this tour. You'll visit and learn about the city's numerous historic landmarks and gain insight into the history of the area since pre-Colombian times. And if you do want to shop, your guide will take you to a shopping area after the tour is over.

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.

See Antigua from above on this half-day ATV discovery tour, where you’ll journey up into the mountains on a quest to get the best view for sunset. You’ll start at El Cerro de la Cruz, the popular lookout spot, before heading to a local eco-lodge and avocado plantation in a little village in the mountains. You’ll then journey onto Hobbitenango, where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world.

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.

Go beyond just sampling Guatemalan cuisine at Antigua’s restaurants and learn to cook it for yourself at a 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.

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.

Pacaya Volcano is one of the most active—and most popular—in all of Guatemala. Stationed some 8,000 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level, this destination is an ideal spot for travelers who want an easy hike, epic views, and some memorable stories. This tour allows you the comfort and ease of pre-arranged transportation to ensure you get the most out of your hike.

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.

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.

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.

Satisfy your appetite for Guatemalan street food during a private half-day tour during which you’ll sample several dishes from stalls and eateries that you might otherwise have missed. Plus, benefit from the undivided attention of your guide throughout to learn more about Guatemalan cuisine and culture than you would independently.

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.

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.

Explore the Guatemalan countryside just outside Antigua during this flexible-length tour offering a taste of small-village life. You’ll ascend to the indigenous town of Santa Maria de Jesus at the base of the ‘Volcan de Agua’ volcano. Then travel to the tiny village of El Hato to the local eco-resort Earth Lodge, where you can relax and take in the views of Antigua in the distance.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating Mayan culture with a guided tour of the Iximche archaeological site on this private day trip from Antigua. Built in 1465 as the capital of the Kaqchikel Maya, Iximche became the first Spanish capital of Guatemala. You'll uncover the turbulent history of this sacred site as you explore the ruins with your Mayan guide. If you’re lucky, you may even get to see a Mayan spiritual ceremony.

Benefit from the insights of your guide on a 3-hour walking tour of Antigua that delves into the city’s history and culture. See architectural landmarks, museums, and the Catedral de San Jose as your guide shares details about their importance and restoration. Bring your camera for great photo ops as you learn about Guatemala in history and today.

Experience one of the ancient world’s most incredible archaeological sites at Tikal, a celebrated Mayan city deep in the Guatemalan jungle, on this 17-hour trip by air from Antigua. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Guatemalan jungle on your flight to this UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mayan site, spending the day exploring this incredible city’s steep temples and beautiful plazas with the help of your guide. Your day trip from Antigua to Tikal also includes round-trip transportation from your Antigua hotel, lunch, and all entrance fees.

Explore Antigua's cobbled Old Town with a local guide on this private walking tour. You will learn many things about the rich history of the area while visiting churches, museums, convents and architectural sites. You will also have the opportunity to visit a craft market to buy local souvenirs along the way.

Get a more intimate glimpse into the colonial richness of Antigua’s culture on a private walking tour that offers a great introduction for first-time visitors. You’ll visit a diverse mix of cobblestone streets, colonial churches, vibrant markets and volcanic backdrops on this tour, which you can customize to cover the things that interest you the most. Plus, the short duration of this tour makes it ideal if you’re short on time.

This tour is the best way to enjoy your day, first we visit Guatemala City historical center, we will walk the central plaza, the central market, The Cathedral of San Jose, National Palace and the 6 avenue, after looking the amazing central plaza of Guatemala City we drive to Pacaya Volcano, this 1 hour and 30 minutes middle start just before the sunset, so we can climb with some day light to appreciate the fauna and flora of the region, once we arrive at the lava rivers we will stay there to see the sunset and all the lava that appear once the sun goes down, while there we will have a small dinner and some marshmallows roasted with the lava. After more than an hour there we start going back to the base camp and then back to your hotel.

Expand your Antigua holiday to include a visit to the ruins of Iximche on a half-day, small-group tour. Skip the stress of public buses and relax in round-trip transportation from your hotel. Enjoy a detailed tour around the ruins of the former Mayan civilization, including its two ball courts and ceremonial plazas, with ample opportunity to ask questions. Afterwards, take time to explore on your own, then unwind during the return journey.