Antigua Itinerary (5 Days): Full Day-by-day Breakdown

Antigua Itinerary (5 Days): Full Day-by-day Breakdown

Whilst Antigua is not the official capital of Guatemala, this UNESCO Heritage city, with its cobbled streets and colourful architecture, is certainly the cultural capital. With a fascinating history; welcoming people; incredible food, and adventure on the doorstep, there are so many amazing things to do in Antigua! This 5-Day Antigua itinerary will help you unpick this charming colonial city to ensure you make the most of your visit.

Antigua Itinerary in short

• Day 1: Walking Tour of Antigua and Cerro de la Cruz Viewpoint
• Day 2: Visit Hobbitenango
• Day 3: Acatenango Volcano Hike (Ascent)
• Day 4: Acatenango Volcano Hike (Descent) and Culinary Highlights
• Day 5: Cooking Class

Antigua Itinerary in Full

How many days do you need in Antigua, Guatemala?

Antigua is a must-see destination on any Guatemala itinerary. The minimum number of days I would recommend staying in Antigua is 3 days. This will give you a feel for the culture, allow you to get a taste of the amazing food on offer, and explore the surrounding nature.

If you are doing the Acatenango overnight hike, I would recommend a minimum of 4 days in Antigua as the extra day of hiking exhausts you. If time constraints aren’t an issue, the perfect amount of time to explore Antigua during a backpacking trip would be 5 days.

Antigua is one of the few places in Central America where I could imagine myself staying for a far longer period of time. For this reason, it is a base for many digital nomads, slow travellers, and people learning Spanish.

5-Day Antigua Itinerary

Day 1: Explore the city

Walking Tour

On your arrival in Antigua, drop your bags off at your accommodation and get outside!

The perfect way to start your Antigua adventure is to explore the city on foot. This will give you a sense of what Antigua has to offer and help you with your sense of direction for the next few days (hopefully).

You can wander around independently or join a walking tour. Personally, I like to take my time, take photos with my camera and follow wherever my nose leads me. Whereas walking tours provide you with information on Antigua’s history, local recommendations, and a well-planned route.

There are plenty of interesting streets and landmarks in Antigua, but some of the key attractions to look out for are:

• Santa Catalina Arch: Antigua’s iconic landmark dating back to the 1600s.
• Iglesia de la Merced: A yellow Catholic church built in 1767 covered in ornate decoration.
• Parque Central (Central Park): The hub of Antigua with benches, fountains, and ice cream. Watch out for pigeons!
• Santuario San Francisco el Grande: Remains of a large religious complex and home to a shrine of Santo Hermano Pedro.
• Tanque La Union: A bright yellow landmark where Guatemalans washed their clothes during colonial times.
• Artisan Market: A market full of colourful handicrafts including artwork, jewelry, knives, and clothing.
• Ruins: There are lots more ruins scattered around Antigua due to the earthquakes that previously damaged buildings.

Cerro de la Cruz

Cerro de la Cruz, which translates to ‘Hill of the Cross’ is a viewpoint that provides the best views over the city.

Located in the north of Antigua, it takes less than 30 minutes to walk up there from Central Park. You will need to climb the small steps to the top. Once there, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the city with an incredible backdrop of Volcan de Agua.

NOTE: When I was there in 2023, construction work on Cerro de la Cruz was taking place. Unfortunately, this meant that much of the viewpoint was cordoned off so you couldn’t get there.

Day 2: Day trip to Hobbitenango

This Hobbit-inspired eco-park is a unique day out for anyone that enjoys the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.

Whilst it’s not the most authentically Guatemalan activity around, nor is it the actual Shire film set in New Zealand, it is a pleasant way to spend a day in the mountains!

NOTE: It’s better to visit Hobbitenango on a sunny day as the views add to the experience!

The best way to get to Hobbitenango is with an Uber. From the city centre it should cost approximately 50GTQ. It will drop you off near the entrance, then it’s a short uphill walk to the ticket office.

The entrance fee is 50GTQ which includes all of the activities within the fantasy park. We tried out axe-throwing, archery, and the massive swing!

With views over the surrounding mountains and volcanoes, it’s a great spot for taking some Instagrammable photos.

Price: 50Q
Duration: 2-3 hours
Time: 8am-6pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-8pm (Sat-Sun)

The visit to Hobbitenango won’t take a full day, so you have plenty of time to shop for supplies for the Acatenango hike the next day. Head to La Bodegona supermarket which should have everything you need (and is an experience in itself).

Alternatively, you could check out one of the many museums in Antigua or relax at your accommodation.

Enjoy a hearty and carb-filled dinner and an early night as it will be an early start for the volcano hike.

Day 3: Hike a Volcano

Guatemala is the home of volcanos, so it wouldn’t be an Antigua itinerary without including at least one volcano hike. You have two options:

• Option 1: Acatenango Volcano
• Option 2: Pacaya Volcano

Acatenango Volcano Hike

I will be brutally honest and say that the Acatenango hike is by far the better hike of the two, and potentially even the best hike in Central America. So if you are able to do it, you definitely should! As an overnight hike, reaching almost 4000m in elevation it’s not for the faint-hearted, nor inexperienced hikers, but it is worth it.

Most Acatenango tours will pick you up between 7am-8am. You will hike to base camp and spend the night on the volcano watching its neighbouring Fuego volcano erupt. You will hike down the following morning.

Price: 500Q
Duration: 1.5 days
Time: 07:00 start on the first day, 13:00 return on the second day

Check out my full post on hiking the Acatenango volcano.

Pacaya Volcano

If you’re not a keen hiker but still want beautiful views and to visit a volcano, Pacaya is a strong alternative.

Pacaya is one of Guatemala’s youngest volcanoes and the smallest of the volcanoes in the area. This makes it one of the most accessible to non-hikers. That being said, with over 400m of elevation it’s still a moderate hike.

NOTE: There is the option to ride horses up Pacaya Volcano if you are unable to or don’t want to walk.

The easiest way to visit is by booking a tour of the Pacaya Volcano, which includes a guide, park entrance fees (normally 100GTQ) and transport to the National Park. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in each direction from Antigua.

The total route is just over 5km and takes just over 2 hours to reach the ‘top’. Whilst you won’t summit the volcano, you will cover several viewpoints and you will get close enough for you to feel the warmth of the volcano.

One of the highlights of visiting Pacaya Volcano is the opportunity to roast marshmallows in a volcanic vent!

Price: 100Q park entrance
Duration: 6-7 hours

If you want to know more about hiking Pacaya Volcano, check out this post.

Day 4: Volcano Day 2

If you chose the Acatenango volcano hike, the day will start early. You will hike to the summit for sunrise, before setting off down the volcano. Depending on the pace of your group, you will return to Antigua 12:30-14:00. In other words, just in time for lunch!

Head to El Rincon Tipica, a traditional Guatemalan restaurant in the centre of town. Popular with both locals and tourists, the restaurant provides wholesome food in a rustic environment for a reasonable price.

Spend the rest of your day relaxing and enjoying one of the many rooftops around Antigua. It’ll be a great way to catch up on your calories and celebrate climbing a volcano!

Antigua Brewing Company is one of the most popular ones and even has views of Volcan de Fuego from their roof terrace. They specialise in craft beers, offer frozen cocktails, and offer a tasting menu.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can head down to Ulew Cocktail Bar downstairs. This is the best cocktail bar in Guatemala (maybe even in Central America). There’s no menu, you just describe your preferences, and they will prepare a drink for you!

Day 5: Take a Cooking Class

You’ve explored the delights of Antigua’s street food and restaurants, it’s now time to give it a go yourself!

Antigua is the best place for food in Guatemala, making a cooking class something that shouldn’t be missed from your Antigua itinerary!

Most tours begin with a tour of the local market in search of fresh produce. Here you will learn about all the ingredients used in typical Guatemalan cuisine. During this time, you will also learn about the history and culture of Antigua and Guatemala.

Once back in the kitchen, it’s time to put your ingredients to good use! You will usually make one main dish, a few side dishes and a pudding (depending on the tour and options you select).

Typical dishes include pepian, chilaquilas de guisquil, tortilas de papa, rellenitos de platano, tortillas, and atol blanco.

Price: $40-$60 USD
Duration: 3 hours approx
Time: Depends on the provider
Recommendations: El Frijol Feliz or La Tortilla Cooking School

Buen provecho (bon appetit)!

Antigua Itinerary Mapped Out

How to use this Antigua Itinerary Map: Click on the icon in the top left of the map to reveal the list of locations. This list includes accommodation, food, drinks, and activities. Click on the icon in the top right of the map to view a larger version of the map.

What to do if you have more time in Antigua?

You will never run out of things to do in Antigua! Here are a few extra ideas for any extra days you have or to fill the gap if you decided against the 2-day Acatenango hike.

Chichistenango Market

Twice a week (Thursdays and Sundays), this mountain village in the Western Highlands turns into one of the world’s largest handicraft markets. Chichistenango Market comes alive with thousands of people travelling across Guatemala to be a part of it. Stalls pop up everywhere selling everything from vibrant textiles and fabrics or exquisite pottery and jewellery; to fresh produce and incense.

It’s an assault on all of your senses and an experience, unlike any other market in Guatemala. You can visit Chichi market as a day trip from Antigua or make it an overnight trip if you have more time.

Party at the abandoned pool

There is no nightlife in this scheduled Antigua itinerary, but that’s not to say there aren’t any amazing parties around! In fact, Antigua is the best place in Guatemala to party and dance, with a great music scene and plenty of bars and clubs.

One of the best though is at La Piscina, more commonly known as Antigua’s Abandoned Pool Party or rave. Every Saturday, buses, shuttles, and tuk-tuks head out from Lucky Rabbit at 1am to take you out of town. Though partying in an abandoned swimming pool may sound dodgy, it’s actually a well-run event with bouncers, card machines, and most importantly a kitted-out speaker for heavy electronic music. I don’t think there’s an official end time, but most people leave at around 5 or 6am, so don’t sign up to climb Acatenango the next day!

Visit ChocoMuseo and try a Chocolate-making course

Cacao has long been part of Central American (and Mayan) history, so why not embrace that with a visit to the ChocoMuseum. This totally isn’t an excuse to eat chocolate…

Anyway, there are plenty of chocolate-making workshops available in Antigua where you can learn about the history of cacao and get involved in making some of the best (or worst) chocolate you’ve ever tried.

Work your way through the cafes, bars and restaurants

Antigua has loads of fantastic restaurants and cafes, and I mean LOADS! If you’re planning on spending longer in Antigua, this gives you the opportunity to work your way through one of my favourite culinary cities in the world!

Even the fast food here is worth mentioning! Antigua is home to the most aesthetic McDonald’s, with an outdoor garden area overlooking the volcano! Can it get much better?

Check out this post on some of the best places to eat in Antigua.

Museums

Antigua has a lot of history. Some of the most popular museums include:

• Casa Santo Domingo Museum: 16th Century convent of Santo Domingo containing art, ceramics, and other artifacts. They have rebuilt trying to replicate what the building would’ve looked like
• Jade Museum
• Museum of Colonial Art
• ChocoMuseo

Where to go after Antigua?

From Antigua, you can travel almost anywhere else in the country easily. You could head south towards the beautiful beach town of El Paredon; west towards Lake Atitlan; or north into the jungle of Lanquin and Semuc Champey.

Or you could head to the airport in Guatemala City. From there you could fly to Flores, to complete your Guatemala trip.

If you’re not looking to explore more of Guatemala, there are land borders into both Honduras and El Salvador. The most popular stops from Antigua would be Santa Ana in El Salvador or Copan in Honduras.

Before you go

Thank you for reading my 5-day Antigua itinerary for Guatemala. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy travelling!