The Best Day Trips From Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is a picture-perfect tourist town that enchants visitors, but there’s also plenty to see in the surrounding area. Here are some of the best day trips to take during your visit.

Hobbitenango

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Set in the mountains above Antigua is this hobbit-themed restaurant and boutique hotel. It’s a great place to pop up to for lunch, and you can digest your food on a hike around one of the local trails afterwards. You can even stay the night if you decide you like the place that much.

El Zur mountain bike park

Head to Old Town Outfitters in Antigua to book a trip to this mountain bike park. The expert guides from the shop are the only ones that have access to the 25 kilometers of pristine single track routes that descend the slopes of a local volcano.

Pacaya volcano

If you want to get up close and personal with a volcano but you don’t have time for a trip to Acatenango, head to Pacaya. It’s an easy day activity from Antigua and you can climb the slopes on foot or on horseback.

Chichicastenango market

The traditional markets of Chichicastenango are found in Quiche province to the northeast of Antigua. You’ll have to get up early to make this a day trip, but the drive takes you through some spectacular scenery. Stock up on souvenirs before you come back!

ATV tours in the Panchoy Valley

Book a tour with one of the various operators in Antigua and take off on an ATV to explore the surrounding valley. You will visit seven villages in all, getting a flavor of traditional life, and then stop off at the viewpoint of Cerro de la Cruz for great pictures of Antigua spread out below you.

Iximche

The Mayan ruins of Iximche are found just an hour away from Antigua, outside the town of Tecpan. The Kaqchikel Maya might have abandoned the site in 1524, but it has been revealing its secrets ever since. Ask your guide about the evidence of human sacrifice that has been found at the site.

Zip-lining

Just outside town lies Finca Filadelfia, home to a company called Antigua Canopy Tours that has built a series of zip-lines through the finca. You can zip around quickly, or spend some time on the observation platforms spotting birds and other animals that inhabit the estate.