What Things To Do Outdoors Around Antigua

Guatemala has been close to the end-pinnacle of my Latin America bucket list for years. While I’ve lived in Costa Rica, and visited a number of other Latin American international locations, there’s constantly been something about the subculture and panorama of Guatemala that’s stood out. And there’s no Central American town that I’ve desired to go to greater than Antigua. In Antigua, there’s a contrast of Mayan tradition, colonial records, lush woodland, and towering volcanoes surrounding the metropolis that you received’t find some other place. 

I sought out to discover my current experience in Guatemala a pair of weeks in the past. I just fly through an allegiant airlines reservations to reach these places very conveniently.

And with my digicam, hiking boots, and a little bit of Spanish to get by way of, I hit the streets and notable exterior of Antigua. Below, see a few of my favoured things to do outside in Antigua from my current experience in Guatemala.

Take a walking tour

Seeing a town through the foot is frequently the first thing I do upon arriving at a brand new vacation spot. And there’s no Latin American city I’d suggest greater for a strolling excursion than Antigua. That’s due to the fact Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, characterized with the aid of cobblestone streets and properly-preserved Spanish Baroque structure that may be seen everywhere you switch.

My local manual, Cesar Chill, and I spent my first afternoon on foot up and down the cobblestone streets of Antigua. We first stopped at Arco de Santa Catalina, one in all Antigua’s most iconic landmarks, characterized by using a brilliant yellow seventeenth-century arch, hovering above the cobblestone streets, and with Agua Volcano towering over it inside the distance. Other historic landmarks protected La Merced, which is a baroque church from the mid-1700s, Parque Central (Central Plaza), and Palacio de Los Capitanes Generales.

Fittingly, we ended at ChocoMuseo, a chocolate museum wherein you could learn about the records of chocolate in Guatemala or even sample it earlier than buying any variety of chocolate products. Finally, for those cocktail and rum connoisseurs, don’t pass over La Casa del Ron (The House of Rum), specializing in rum cocktails and drams of Guatemala’s famous rum, Ron Zacapa.

Take biking tour of Antigua

While I don’t forget a walking excursion of Antigua a ought to, equally essential is a biking excursion of the villages and a number of the unique places past the primary thoroughfare of Antigua. Cesar and I commenced at Old Town Outfitters, where we rented a couple of mountain bikes earlier than beginning a direction he put together.

We first biked through Antigua to San Pedro las Huertas, in which we visited a stunning historical church that dated returned centuries. From here we continued to San Juan del Obispo, touring one of Guatemala’s first church buildings and the previous residence of Guatemala’s first bishop, Francisco Marroquín. Just around the nook were multiple winemakers, producing wine from nearby fruit, as well as a boutique chocolate maker, Chocolate del Obispo. Naturally, I walked away with a couple of huge portions of chocolate, the cardamom and vanilla chocolate bars.

Finally, we ended our bike tour at Finca del Pilar, which is a component farm, a network of trekking trails, a natural pool, and a hummingbird sanctuary. It becomes one of the coolest, most notable places I’ve ever visited and become the proper give up to our motorbike excursion.

Hike Pacaya Volcano

One of the most specific things approximately Antigua’s landscape is that it’s surrounded by using volcanoes, consisting of Fuego, Acatenango, and Agua. However, one of the quality volcanoes to hike in Guatemala is just out of the doors of Antigua, called Pacaya (8,373′). Here you can hike through the jungle, over volcanic rocks, and within sight of molten lava simply under Pacaya’s top. You’re required to have a hiking guide, but you’ll be satisfied you probably did, learning insider information along with the manner and coming across a few tricks, too, like roasting marshmallows over lava rocks. Our guide, Augusto, had hiked Pacaya several thousand instances and turned into a countless source of stories. If you’re now not up for trekking up, or if you’re travelling with youngsters, you could trip horseback up the volcano. Not to say that the perspectives of Acatenango and Fuego volcanos are pretty stellar.

Take a dip 

While I myself visited a thermal pool after hiking Pacaya Volcano. In reality, suggest this whether doing something adventurous or now not. Located about 20 miles from Antigua is Santa Teresita, which is a thermal water inn and spa, and one of the maximum exciting spas I’ve visited. Here you’ll locate thermal circuit remedy, steam saunas, and LEED-NC gold-certified warm springs.

But if you do one thing, I suggest the thermal circuit, which consists of immersing yourself in thermal water of various temperatures for quick durations of time. The benefits of this include advanced movement, muscle relaxation, and strain elimination. What more may want to you ask for? If you’re no longer staying at the lodge itself, I’d endorse spending as a minimum a half of day here. Santa Teresita even has a restaurant too.

Otherwise, to your personal self-guided spa enjoy, I advocate staying within the coronary heart of Antigua at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, where I stayed for two nights. Formerly a monastery, Casa Santo Domingo is a part hotel, museum, and spa. Among the spa’s bells and whistles are indoor/outside rest areas, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, moist and dry saunas, and rooms for some of one-of-a-kind spa remedies, consisting of reflexology, deep tissue, Mayan, and Thai massages. It turned into one of the nicest, most unique motels I’ve ever stayed at.

Visit Cerro de la Cruz

For an out of doors pastime of the extra gentle adventure type, then I advise hiking Cerro de la Cruz. But don’t fear; this isn’t trekking through the jungle or over volcanic rocks. Cerro de Los Angeles Cruz is a short 20-minute stroll uphill on a paved course, ending with one of the maximum beautiful perspectives of Antigua, perched excessive above the city, and with a glimpse of Fuego, Acatenango, and Agua. If you’re searching out that iconic overlook, look no further. While that is a light hike, since it’s on the pavement, you could easily do it with casual footwear.

Conclusion

As you can see above I mentioned one fo the best places around Antigua. And what things to do outdoors around here. So, if you are planning to visit over there or have a planned trip. Then, pack your bags and get a delta airlines reservations for a better start of your journey wisely.