Planning a trip to Antigua, Guatemala
Getting There
By Plane
The nearest airport to Antigua is La Aurora International Airport (tel. 502/2332-6086; airport code GUA) in Guatemala City. Since Antigua is so close to Guatemala City, many visitors book their first and last nights -- and often a few more -- in Antigua. Once you've made it through Customs, you can be settled into your hotel in Antigua in less than an hour, if you don't hit too much traffic.
Getting into Town from the Airport
By Shuttle -- The most common way to get to and from Antigua is on a minivan shuttle. Several companies operate regular minivan shuttles between Antigua and most major tourist destinations, including the airport, downtown Guatemala City, Lake Atitlán, and Chichicastenango. If you're coming to Antigua directly from the airport, you'll find several kiosks for these shuttles after clearing Customs. All charge between Q75 and Q90 ($10-$12/£5-£6) per person, and will leave as soon as they are full, which shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
If you're already in Guatemala City, or arriving from any other destination, ask your hotel or any tour agency about booking a shuttle to Antigua. Alternately, you can book directly with Atitrans (tel. 502/7832-3371; www.atitrans.com).
Rates between Antigua and other popular destinations run around Q90 to Q113 ($12-$15/£6-£7.50) for Panajachel; Q135 to Q150 ($18-$20/£9-£10) for Chichicastenango; and Q300 to Q375 ($40-$50/£20-£25) for Flores/Tikal.
By Taxi -- A taxi is the fastest, safest, and easiest way to get from the airport or Guatemala City to Antigua. A taxi should cost between Q188 and Q300 ($25-$40/£13-£20). Expect to pay the higher rate, maybe even a little more, after dark.
By Bus -- Buses from Guatemala City to Antigua leave from the El Trebol intersection in Zona 8. Buses leave every 15 minutes or so, usually as they fill up, between 5am and 9pm. The fare is Q10 ($1.35/70p) for the 1-hour ride. The main bus terminal in Antigua is at the end of 4a Calle Poniente, next to the Municipal Market. Buses leaving Antigua for Guatemala City follow roughly the same schedule. Safety is a serious concern on these buses, and I recommend you take a taxi or shuttle.
By Car -- The best route to Antigua from Guatemala City is to take the Calzada Roosevelt out of town. The Calzada Roosevelt heads northwest out of Guatemala City, through Zona 11 (passing right in front of the Tikal Futura Hotel), before turning into the Pan-American Highway (CA-1). Take this and exit at San Lucas. From here you'll take the well-paved, windy highway (RN10) into Antigua. The ride takes about 40 to 45 minutes with no traffic.
Visitor Information
The Guatemala Tourism Commission, INGUAT, 4a Calle between 4a and 5a avenidas, inside "Casa El Jaulon" (tel. 502/7832-0763; www.visitguatemala.com), has a helpful bilingual staff, and offers regional brochures, basic maps, and a score of hotel and tour fliers. The office is open Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm.
Local travel agencies and hotel tour desks are another good source of information. There are numerous travel agencies all over town. Some of the best include Lax Travel Antigua ★, 3a Calle Poniente, #12 (tel. 502/7832-1621); Sin Fronteras ★, 5a Av. Norte, #15A (tel. 502/7720-4400; www.sinfront.com); Rainbow Travel Center, 7a Av. Sur, #8 (tel. 502/7832-4202; www.rainbowtravelcenter.com); and Via Venture, 2a Calle Oriente, #22 (tel. 502/7832-2509; www.viaventure.com).
If you need assistance, dial Asistur (tel. 1500) toll-free from any phone in Guatemala. Asistur has bilingual operators who can answer questions or put you in direct contact with the appropriate authorities in the case of an emergency. You can also contact the tourism police (tel. 502/7832-7290), which has its 24-hour office on 4a Avenida Norte on the side of the Palacio del Ayuntamiento.
Getting Around
On Foot -- Antigua is walkable, and cars and taxis are unnecessary to explore the colonial core of the city. The entire downtown section of Antigua, which is where most tourist attractions are, extends less than 10 blocks in any direction from the Plaza Mayor. However, watch your step: Several hundred years and a few serious earthquakes have made Antigua's streets and sidewalks rather treacherous in spots. It's very easy to twist an ankle, trip, or fall if you're not careful. Bring comfortable, flat walking shoes or sneakers. Also, sidewalks tend to be narrow, forcing you frequently to walk in the street; keep an eye out for cars and motorcycles.
By Taxi -- Taxis and tuk tuks are plentiful in Antigua. A ride anywhere in the city should cost between Q20 and Q30 ($2.65-$4/£1.35-£2). Most of the taxis in Antigua use meters, but if the one you get into doesn't, be sure to negotiate a firm price beforehand. If you need to call a cab, ask your hotel, or try Taxis Antigua (tel. 502/7832-2360).
By Car -- While you won't need a car to explore Antigua, you may want one for a trip to Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlán, or other nearby towns. In Antigua, try Tabarini, 6a Av. Sur, #22 (tel. 502/7832-8107; www.tabarini.com).
City Layout
Antigua is laid out in a simple grid, with the Plaza Mayor, or Parque Central (Central Park), at its center. Avenidas (avenues) run north-south, and calles (streets) run east-west. North of Plaza Mayor, the avenidas carry the suffix norte; south of Plaza Mayor they are followed by the suffix sur. Directions on calles east of Plaza Mayor are indicated by the suffix oriente; while those to the west are poniente. Unlike most cities in Guatemala, Antigua doesn't use the Zona system; instead each individual building is numbered.
Three main volcanoes are visible from various points in Antigua and can help you stay oriented. The solitary Volcán de Agua is almost due south of the city. A bit more to the southwest are Volcán Acatenango and Volcán Fuego. The latter is quite active, and you can often see a long plume of smoke rising from its crater. To the north of the city is the Cerro de la Cruz, a high hilltop with a large Catholic cross atop it.
Fast Facts
American Express -- In Guatemala, Clark Tours (tel. 502/2412-4700; www.clarktours.com.gt) is the official representative of American Express Travel Services. Their main offices are in Guatemala City at Clark Plaza, 7a Av. 14-76, Zona 9. They also have desks at the downtown Westin and Marriott hotels.
Babysitters -- Hotels offering regular, dependable babysitting service are few and far between. If you'll need a babysitter, make sure that your hotel offers this service, and be sure to ask whether the babysitters are bilingual. In many cases, they are not. This is usually not a problem with infants and toddlers, but it can cause problems with older children. Babysitters charge between Q15 and Q45 ($2-$6/£1.05-£3.15) per hour.
Banks -- Many banks have branches right on the Plaza Mayor or within a 2-block radius, including Banquetzal, 4a Calle Poniente and 5a Avenida Norte (tel. 502/7832-1111); Banco Industrial, 5a Av. Sur, #4 (tel. 502/2420-3000); and Bancafé, 4a Calle Poniente, #1A (tel. 502/7832-4876). All of these have ATMs, will change money, and make cash advances against a credit card.
Bookstores -- There are several good bookstores in Antigua. The best one for tourists is La Casa del Conde, 5a Av. Norte, #4 (tel. 502/7832-3322), located in a small shopping complex on the west side of the Plaza Mayor. Also try Librería del Pensativo , Calle del Arco, #29 (tel. 502/7832-0729) for literature; or Rainbow Café and Bookstore, 7a Av. Sur, #8 (tel. 502/7832-1919).
Currency Exchange -- All banks will exchange money for a nominal service charge. Almost all of the hotels, restaurants, and shops in Antigua will also accept U.S. dollars and euros, though many give less than advantageous exchange rates.
Dentists -- Try Clínicas Ovalle, 2a Av. Norte, #3 (tel. 502/7832-0275); call your embassy, which should have a list of recommended dentists; or ask at your hotel.
Doctors -- Contact your embassy for information on doctors in both Antigua and Guatemala City, or ask your hotel for a recommendation. Also, see "Hospitals."
Drugstores -- A drugstore or pharmacy is called a farmacia in Spanish. There are scores of farmacias around Antigua, and you can probably find one simply by walking around. Farmacia Fénix, 5a Calle Poniente, #11C (tel. 502/7832-0503), offers free delivery and has several outlets.
Emergencies -- Dial tel. 1500 from anywhere in Guatemala. This will connect you to Asistur, which will have a bilingual operator who can put you in contact with the police, fire department, or ambulance service.
Express Mail Services -- Many of the shops around Antigua offer courier shipping of your purchases. If you want to do it yourself, head to DHL, 6a Calle Poniente and 6a Avenida Sur (tel. 502/7832-3718; www.dhl.co).
Eyeglasses -- There are several ópticas (eyeglass stores) around Antigua, including Optica Santa Lucía, 5a Calle Poniente, #28 (tel. 502/7832-7945); and Centro Visual G&G, 5a Av. Sur, #20A (tel. 502/7832-9263), both of which have resident ophthalmologists.
Hospitals -- For tourists, the best hospital is Hospital Privado Hermano Pedro, Av. La Recolección, #4 (tel. 502/7832-1190), a modern 24-hour private hospital offering a wide range of services, including emergency and trauma units.
Internet Access -- There are a host of Internet cafes around Antigua, and a growing number of hotels are offering Wi-Fi. Roy.com, 4a Calle Oriente, #8 (tel. 502/7832-2990), has a couple of branches around town; or try Conexiones, 4a Calle Oriente, #14 (tel. 502/7832-3768; www.conexion.com); or The Funkey Monkey, 5a Av. Sur, #6 (tel. 502/7832-4195). Rates run Q3 to Q8 (40¢-$1.05/20p-55p) per hour.
Laundry & Dry Cleaning -- Most folks use their hotel's laundry service, but if your hotel can't do it or is too expensive, try Detalles Dry Cleaning & Lavandería, 6a Av. Norte, #38 (tel. 502/7832-5973), which has coin-operated machines as well as wash and fold options. Rainbow Laundry, 6a Av. Sur, #15 (tel. 502/7832-2745), offers pickup and drop-off service.
Maps -- The city map in this book should be just fine, but you can also ask your hotel or go to the Guatemalan Tourism Commission, INGUAT, 5a Calle and 4a Avenida Sur (tel. 502/7832-0763), to pick up a useful city map.
Photographic Needs -- There are a host of photo shops and 1-hour developing outfits in Antigua. If you have camera troubles, your chances of having any serious repair work are slim. Your best bet is Foto Angel, 5a Calle Poniente, #3B (tel. 502/7832-2919).
Police -- The main Antigua station is at the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales (tel. 502/7832-2266), right on Plaza Mayor. The tourism police (tel. 502/7832-0532 or 502/7832-0533) is a division of the larger police force with bilingual officers trained specifically to deal with tourists. Their office is just around the corner on 4a Avenida Norte, and is open 24 hours.
Post Office -- The main post office (tel. 502/7832-2164) is located at 4a Calle Poniente and Alameda Santa Lucía.
Restrooms Most hotels and restaurants will let travelers use their facilities, although they are happiest about providing the service to clients.
Safety -- Antigua is one of the safest cities in Guatemala, and has a strong police presence. Both regular police and specialized tourist police patrol the city, particularly around the central downtown core. The farther away from Plaza Mayor you venture, the greater your chances of encountering trouble. Be especially careful about hiking to the Cerro de la Cruz without a guide, large group, or tourist police escort. Practice common sense. Don't wear flashy jewelry or wave wads of cash around, be aware of your surroundings, and avoid any people and places that make you feel uncomfortable.
Useful Telephone Numbers -- For directory assistance, dial tel. 555-1524. To get an international outside line, dial tel. 00 before the country code. To make an international collect call, dial tel. 147-120. To make a local collect call, dial tel. 147-110. Most of the international phone companies have direct access numbers. If you have a calling plan, you can connect directly to AT&T (tel. 9999-190); MCI (tel. 9999-189); Sprint (tel. 9999-195); Bell Canada (tel. 9999-198); and British Telecom (tel. 9999-044).
Water -- Drink only bottled water in Antigua.
