First founded in the early sixteenth century by victorious Spanish conquistadores, Antigua soon became an administrative center for the Spanish Empire, overseeing all of Central America as well as the Chiapas region in what is now southern Mexico.

The city is located in a gorgeous valley surrounded by three volcanoes: Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. Unfortunately for the citizens of Antigua, this beautiful location also makes the area very prone to devastating earthquakes and the city was destroyed on several occasions, notably in 1717 and 1773, and the capital was moved to its present location at Guatemala City.

Antigua has worked hard to retain its colonial identity and heritage. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1979, and local ordinances make it impossible for stores or restaurants to use neon or garish signs or obstruct anyone’s view of the marvelous colonial architecture. Even the McDonald’s is low-key and almost invisible without its trademark bright colors.


When to Go
If you’re going to be in Guatemala for Semana Santa, or holy week, be sure to visit Antigua. Remember to make your reservations ahead of time, however, as the hotels fill up quickly. The streets are full of processions and picturesque carpets of colored sawdust of an incredibly intricate nature. Summer - June through August - is the other peak tourist season in Antigua.

Getting to Antigua
Buses leave regularly from Guatemala City (1.5 hours by bus). Alternatively, tour companies regularly run vans from Copan, Honduras and Tikal.