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Looking for the best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala? We’ve got you covered!
Antigua is incredibly charming and full of outdoor adventure, there’s a reason it draws in so many travelers! We fell in love with this city and have been back multiple times. Antigua has something for everyone, whether you want to climb a volcano or take a relaxing cooking class.
If you’re trying to plan your perfect travel itinerary, keep reading! I put together the top 10 things to do in Antigua, including a variety of activities. Hopefully, you can squeeze in more than just one of Antigua’s best activities, trust me you’ll want to do them all!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite Activity

Don’t have time to read the full article?
Our personal FAVORITE thing to do in Antigua is this overnight hike of the Acatenango Volcano. This is a total bucket-list activity where you can see the Fuego Volcano erupt! Check out the 200+ 5-star reviews and book this tour here.
Tip: This is a popular activity – reserve your spot now and get FREE cancellation 24 hours before you take off.
Things to do in Antigua
1. Acatenango Volcano hike

Hiking up Acatenango Volcano is at the top of our list and there’s a good reason for that. It was an epic adventure we’ll always remember, and I’m sure it will be one of the first experiences you tell your friends and family about!
Just to get the confusion out of the way, Acatenango is a dormant volcano, in fact, it hasn’t erupted since 1972. However, the real attraction will be Fuego Volcano, which is active, and you can spot the eruptions at a distance every 15 to 30 minutes. At the top of Acatenango (3,976 meters/13,044 feet), you will find the best views of Fuego Volcano (3,763 meters/12,350 feet). This is not an easy trail, but it’s not as hard as they say.
We decided to split up the hike over two days, which is the most popular option. The best way to tackle this hike is by booking this overnight hiking tour!
It’s an 18-kilometer (11-mile) hike that isn’t easy to do in a day. Plus, spending a night on the volcano was seriously the coolest. Watching Fuego erupt at night is so much better than during the day. When the sun is out, you’ll only see smoke from Fuego, but at night, you can see the lava!
It’s only $99 USD, and it includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the 2-day hike. Warm clothing, backpacks, and sleeping bags are also included.
The tour involves that incredible experience of camping up the side of Acatenango Volcano (how many people can say they camped on a volcano?!) with an epic view of Fuego erupting. That night you’ll sleep before an early wake-up call to finally summit Acatenango for an even better view. Then it’s all the way back to the van. It’s a tiring 48 hours, but so worth it!
The whole experience will take your breath away (in more than one way!). If you are visiting the city of Antigua, you simply can’t miss one of the best views in Central America and the world.
2. Join a walking tour of the city

Antigua is a small city, and it’s quite easy to walk, not to mention the many hiking trails through the mountains and volcanos surrounding the city. However, if you enjoy learning about the history of the place you are visiting and literally leaving your footprints on it, I recommend joining a walking tour.
A local guide will take you on this three-hour walking tour of the city, visiting the main landmarks and telling you all about Antigua’s history. We passed by the Santa Catalina Arch, the stunning Iglesia de La Merced, a jade factory, and more! You will learn about all the volcanos and earthquakes throughout the city’s history and all the major events since the city’s birth in the 16th Century. We were surprised at how much we learned on this tour!
It’s only $35 USD and it’s the best way to know your way around Antigua. Our guide gave us a list of the best restaurants and bars in town and also recommended the Acatenango Overnight hike (see activity #1), which we were hesitant to take, but it ended up being one of the best experiences of our lives.
Book this tour with over 350 glowing reviews here!
3. Go on a food tour

For us, food is the heart of any city, so we couldn’t leave Antigua, Guatemala without taking a food tour. Knowing their flavors, textures, and influences helped us better understand the place and its people. And to be completely honest, their gastronomy was a surprise to us (a good one)!
Their Mayan and Spanish influences make Guatemalan food very rich. But knowing what to order (especially in a different language) can be a bit challenging. They do have a wide variety of unknown ingredients, especially for us non-Latinos. That’s why we decided to take this Antigua Foodie Tour.
While it’s not particularly cheap at $125 USD per person, it is absolutely worth it! This is almost like a private food tour as they only accept small groups, and you get to eat in different restaurants. We got to sample about 10 different dishes – so we were stuffed by the end! But it was so fun going to the local restaurants and meeting the owners, whose whole life revolves around this incredible food.
The tour lasts about 3 hours and includes water, but no sodas or alcoholic beverages. You will also get a super tasty dessert by the end! The tour takes off from a central meeting point in the town square. Be sure to come hungry!
Reserve this tour now and pay later when you book it here!
4. Hike Pacaya Volcano

We really love to hike and see amazing views from every place we visit. If you enjoy hikes too, Antigua is the right place to come. There are some pretty great trails to the volcanos surrounding the city, and the one most people take is the hike to Pacaya Volcano.
We did this 6-hour adventure tour that only cost us $35 USD. It includes transportation to and from your hotel as well as an expert guide who speaks English and knows so much about the volcano.
Keep in mind that you’ll be walking for several hours over warm soil, so be sure to bring the right footwear. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy this adventure. Once you are at the top, there’s actually a spot to roast marshmallows with volcanic heat, which was a wild and fun experience.
While hiking a volcano sure sounds daunting, we thought this hike was pretty average. Not overly challenging, but not too easy either. You can opt to rent a horse if you need some assistance too and you’ll be required to pay the entrance fee upon arrival, so bring some cash!
Check out the hundreds of positive reviews and book this volcano hike here!
5. Sunset ATV tour

ATVing is one of our favorite things to do when we travel, and if we find a tour, we never hesitate to take it. This Antigua ATV Sunset Tour is $65 USD per person and will take you into the mountains stopping by some great lookout points and ending up in Hobbitenango to catch the sunset.
The road isn’t hard at all and even if you’ve never driven an ATV, you’ll be able to finish the tour without any trouble. We had two guides, and both were very professional and friendly. They shared a lot of information about the volcanos and the history of the city, something we always enjoy when we are traveling.
I loved the views of the city from above with that magnificent volcano always in the background! We took the best pictures of the entire trip on this tour.
This tour is popular – book it in advance here and get FREE cancellation options.
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
6. Take a cooking class

If you took the food tour mentioned earlier and loved everything you tried, take your experience to the next level! This authentic Guatemala cooking class was so much fun and a great way to dive into Guatemalan culture.
You don’t hear much about Guatemalan food, but I assure you it’s delicious. You will notice right away the Mayan heritage (like in some Mexican food) and their ways of seasoning different meats will remind you of Spanish food. We learned all about it from our teacher, who was exceptionally hospitable and a skilled chef.
Our class lasted for 4 hours, in which we picked our dishes from a menu and started cooking. We loved having the option of what we could cook, so we could make our favorite dishes. This also easily caters to vegetarians!
After we prepared our meal, we sat on the rooftop terrace and overlooked the city as we dined! It was an experience to remember. We thought this tour was a great price at $90 USD as it included transportation, our cooking ingredients, snacks, alcoholic drinks, our local chef, and a yummy meal at the end.
Check availability and reserve this cooking class here.
7. Learn how to make chocolate at the ChocoMuseo

Chocolate is such a big deal in Guatemala, that you wouldn’t want to miss the chance to learn how to make it. Head to the ChocoMuseum to learn all about the history of chocolate in Guatemala and also dive into the workshop too!
This Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop is only $33 USD and you’ll get to see the entire process and participate. In the end, you’ll get to take home a chocolate bar made entirely by you. The chocolate drinks are included and they are amazing!
There is also a cute little marketplace where you can buy all kinds of crafts and chocolate with pretty exotic ingredients like chile. Located near Parque Central, this is a nice place to spend a couple of hours one afternoon with your friends and family, especially if you are a chocolate lover!
Check out the 200+ 5-star reviews and secure your spot here!
8. Head to Lake Atitlan

If you’re looking for a captivating, alluring, and breathtaking place to visit while in Antigua, Guatemala, then Lake Atitlan is where you should be heading. This is a body of water inside a volcano crater and it’s surrounded by green mountains.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala, located about 2.5 hours from Antigua. Just looking at one picture will be enough for you to add this to your itinerary and plan all the things you want to do in Lake Atitlan!
If you just have one day to explore Lake Atitlan, I recommend taking this private full day tour from Antigua. While I hope you get more time to explore this beautiful area, one day will suffice if you’re on a time crunch!
The guide will pick you up from your hotel in Antigua and hit the road toward the lake. Luckily, they break up the journey by stopping at scenic viewpoints and local markets along the way, so the drive doesn’t feel as long as it is!
Once you get there, you’ll be taken on a boat tour by the lake. There are some seriously cute villages and tourist towns around the lake, so I love that you get a chance to explore Panajachel, San Juan, San Pedro, and Santiago. That’s a lot in one day!
The price of this tour depends on group size, starting att $120 USD per person for 2 people, and getting cheaper with a bigger group. It includes the guide, transportation, and the boat ride, but doesn’t include any food, so bring cash! You’ll probably want to pick up some souvenirs here too, there are a lot of handicrafts along the way.
Book this tour in advance to secure your spot, before it sells out!
9. Coffee tour

Guatemalan coffee is world-renowned, and a coffee tour is a great way to learn more about their agriculture and coffee beans. This Coffee & Macadamia Fincas Tour was not only a great way to learn about the business, but we also got to go experience the countryside just outside of Antigua. Spoiler alert: it’s beautiful!
We visited a sustainable coffee plantation, and also a macadamia nut plantation. These weren’t giant farms, so we loved getting to see the local farm life and how immersed coffee is in Guatemalan culture. We learned about the whole process, from growing the beans to roasting, and also about the long standing history.
Plus, you’ll get your caffeine fix with a chance to taste the excellent finished product. As a coffee lover myself, this was a really cool activity as I got to try one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had.
This tour is $60 USD and included hotel pick-up and a personal guide, who was very knowledgeable and kind. You do have to pay for entrance to the farm, so double-check the cost with the tour before you go!
Reserve this tour now and get flexible payment and cancellation options.
10. Go horseback riding

For a unique half-day activity in Antigua, Guatemala, go horseback riding on this private tour at a Guatemalan ranch.
You’ll visit a private ranch with 22 horses (and babies!) that run free on 20 acres surrounded by trees, flowers, and volcanoes. You’ll get to visit the ranch house, horseback ride through the trails, walk around organic gardens, and last but definitely not least, enjoy a BBQ with wine at the end of your visit.
The ranch and gardens are gorgeous, the horseback riding is so much fun and educational, and the food is incredibly good. This was a 5/5 experience, which I would repeat in a heartbeat!
The price of this 6-hour horseback riding tour starts at $235 USD per person and while it might sound a bit expensive, I highly recommend it!
Reserve this tour now and pay later when you book online here!
Where to Stay in Antigua, Guatemala

Now that you know all the amazing experiences Antigua has to offer, you’re going to want to stay in the city for at least a few days. The good news is that there are plenty of accommodations to choose from.
Whether this is a stop on a larger tour around Central America for you and you want to save money at a more budget-friendly hotel or if comfort and style are top of the list, there are some nice hotels in the mid to higher price range too.
These are a few of our favorite places to stay in Antigua:
Luxury – $$$
Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo isn’t only a destination that’s one of the best places to see in Antigua, it’s also one of the best places to stay! It’s a luxurious 5-star experience with a stellar pool, beautiful garden area, spa, and museums all onsite. This former convent feels like you’re staying in a piece of history. The rooms range from $250 to $400USD and include rooms with fireplaces, scenic views, and options for cozy suites.
Check availability and book this stay on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
Feel like you’re staying in an art gallery at this stunning boutique hotel. Hotel y Arte Antigua has a great location that’s within walking distance to lots of local restaurants and many of the sights like Parque Central and Convento Santa Clara. The rooms are big and SO colorful with art and decor. The staff members are really attentive and helpful too. Rooms here are around $90 USD per night.
Budget – $
Only a 3-minute walk from the famous Santa Catalina Arch, the Selina Antigua is centrally located for easy access to explore the city. There are also bike rentals available here along with a swimming pool and a nice garden to relax in. If you don’t mind sharing a dorm-style room, you can pay as little as $15 USD per night. If sharing isn’t for you, there are private rooms more in the $60 USD per night range.
Get your room on Booking.com or Hostelworld.com.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!

As you plan your getaway to Central America, don’t forget a stop in Antigua, Guatemala. This city has a wonderful historic feel to it that you’ll pick up on the moment you set foot on its streets. Once you’re here, the food, the people, and the incredible experiences (like camping on a volcano!) will leave you with memories to last a lifetime!
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to check out our other Central America blogs. We’ve traveled all over the world and love sharing our tips, favorite places, and best travel stories with people. I’ll leave a few related blogs below to help further your travel planning!
5 Best Panama Canal Tours: Which One to Choose
10 Things to Know Before Visiting the Masaya Volcano
5 BEST Tikal Tours to Explore the Ancient Site: Which One to Choose