Flights to Antigua

From the airport

Shared tourist shuttles and private transfers run from La Aurora to Antigua throughout the day, and many hotels can arrange a pick-up. Evening traffic leaving Guatemala City can add time to the journey. Antigua itself is compact, and its grid of cobbled streets is easiest to explore on foot, so wear comfortable shoes. Pavements are narrow and uneven in places, and many streets are lined with small shops, galleries and cafés in restored colonial houses.

Arches, churches and ruins

Antigua's colonial centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Santa Catalina Arch, with its clock tower, once let cloistered nuns cross the street unseen, and it frames a view of Volcán de Agua. La Merced church has an ornate yellow and white Baroque facade, while the roofless ruins of the cathedral and the Capuchinas convent show the damage left by earthquakes in 1773. The Parque Central, lined with arcades, is the place to start.

Markets, food and festivals

The main market sells fruit, flowers and textiles, and the handicraft stalls nearby are good for woven goods and jade. Local cafés serve coffee grown on the surrounding volcanic slopes, and several farms offer tours. During Holy Week, processions walk over carpets of coloured sawdust and flowers laid on the streets. For a view across the city, climb the steps to the Cerro de la Cruz.

Day trips and timing

Guided hikes up Pacaya volcano leave from Antigua, and an overnight climb of Acatenango offers views of Fuego erupting nearby. Lake Atitlán is around two and a half to three hours away by shuttle. The dry season, from November to April, brings sunny days of around 25°C and cool nights, while afternoon showers are common from May to October.

Planning a trip to Antigua? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll arrange flights to Guatemala City for you.