Things to See & Do – Antigua

1. Acatenango Hike – See erupting Volcano

You read that right! See a live erupting volcano right before your eyes. The best part is this eruption is not a once in a lifetime phenomena, it happens every 20-40mins. So what’s the catch?… Well you will need to trek 6 hours up Volcan Acatenango till you reach base camp and get views of the spectacular sight.

Once you reach base camp you will even have the option to hike to Volcan Fuego itself and feel the ground shake below you as it erupts. Don’t worry you will still be a safe distance away from the lava.

The best months to go are Dec-Mar as it is not rainy season and there is high visibility. This tour can be booked from almost any hostel you stay at or tour agent around the city of Antigua.

3. Pacaya Volcano Hike

See lava and roast marshmallows on Volcanic heat when you climb Pacaya Volcano. This is a relatively short 1-2 hour hike that’s recommended to take in the morning (6AM) rather than afternoon (2PM) due to higher likelihood of clouds and lack of visibility in the afternoon.

You’ll start in Antigua and take a short ride to the foothill of the volcano to start your ascent. It’s recommended to wear hiking attire and suitable shoes as the terrain is quite rocky and uneven. Once you reach a certain part of the volcano the tour guide will whip out some marshmallows and sticks for you to roast above the volcanic heat.

Pacaya Volcano is a highly active volcano so if you’re lucky there’s also a fair chance you’ll see some of that bright orange flowing lava.

This hike costs roughly Q125 ($25AUD) and can be booked from your hostel or tour agent in the city. 

 Where to stay – Antigua

1. Tropicana Hostel

A nice and social hostel centrally located in Antigua to a lot of bars & restaurants. It comes with it’s own pool and deck bar, restaurant with backpacker prices and rooftop terrace with views of Volcan Fuego and Acatenango.

Booking of Acatenango Hike + many others also available from the hostel.

Book Tropicana at HostelWorld 

Clubs & Bars – Antigua

1. Ulew Cocktail Bar

Cool, speakeasy cocktail bar with a unique concept where bartenders take requests and try customise the cocktails to your liking and creativity.

The bar is located within the Antigua Brewing Company premises and the entrance to the bar is through a secret door within a red London phone booth.

The average price of a cocktail here is about $8USD

Save location here

Transport – Antigua

When it comes to places to visit after Antigua I would suggest 2 main options:

1. Lake Atitlan – Head west to a relaxing, scenic area resting on a lake with a backdrop of lush green volcanic mountains. It’s a perfect place to soak up the nature and landscapes of the country as well as offering plently water activities on the lake. 

2. Lanquin (Semuc Champay) – Head east to Lanquin, a town in the middle of no where to see the crystal blue cascading waters of Semuc Champay. 

If you would like to reach these cities here are my suggestions:

To Lake Atitlan

1. Shuttle

Shuttle service can be found through your accommodation or tour agencies and is a safe, quick, and cost-effective mode of transportation from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. The shared shuttle service between Antigua and Lake Atitlán typically costs about $20 USD or Q150 one-way and takes approximately 2-3 hours.

2. Chicken Bus

A far more economical option is to jump on the public transport system “Chicken Bus” which costs you around $3-5USD and takes 3 – 3.5hrs.

If you don’t know, the Chicken Bus is the tourist nickname for the public transportation buses in Guatemala. They are repurposed, repainted, and pimped out old US school buses. 

To Lanquin (Semuc Champey)

1. Shuttle

Shuttle service can be booked at your accommodation or tour agencies. The shuttle from Antigua to Lanquin will pick you up at 8am and arrive in Lanquin at approximately 4pm.

The shared shuttle service between Antigua and Lanquin typically costs about $32 USD or Q250 one-way and takes approximately 8-10 hours.

2. Chicken Bus

The Chicken Bus option to Lanquin is certainly cheaper but alot more complicated in this instance. Nevertheless, this is how it’s done:

1. From Antigua you must get a bus to Coban in Guatemala City to continue your journey to Lanquin.

2. From Coban, you switch buses and jump a bus to Lanquin.

3. Once you reach Lanquin and get off at the petrol station and can travel from Lanquin to Semuc Champey via a 4×4 you can pre-arrange with your hostel/accommodation.

Semuc Champey

An absolute gem in Guatemala and if it wasn’t on your list before, you should certainly add it to the itinerary! Amongst the dense jungle far from civilisation you’ll find the beautiful, jaw-dropping waters of Semuc Champey. Excellent for swimming, instagram photos and overall bewilderment as it’s stunning beauty, this place was easily one of my favourite spots in Central America. Check out my Blog post below on a detailed Step-by-Step guide on how to visit Semuc Champey. 

Where to Stay – Semuc Champey

1. El Portal Hostel

Right next to the waters of Semuc Champey. It’s recommended to stay here the night before you visit as it’s only a 1 min walk away and you can wake up early to beat the tour group crowds and have the whole place to yourself for a few hours.

This is an eco-hostel which means it only has power from a generator between 6pm-10pm and no wifi with it’s own on-site restaurant and bar. 

This hostel is $11USD/night.

Transport – Lanquin (Semuc Champey)

Depending which direction you’re travelling your main options for following cities are:

1. Flores (East) – Head east to the town of Flores a small but pretty town on the lake that acts as a perfect gateway city to Tikal Ruins (Guatemala), Honduras & Belize.

2. Antigua (West) – Head west to Antigua and follow the above instructions in reverse. Recommended to take a shared shuttle service from Lanquin which can be booked from your hostel.

If you would like to reach these cities here are my suggestions:

To Flores

1. Shuttle

Highly recommended to take the shuttle service which can be booked through your accommodation. The shared shuttle service between Lanquin and Flores typically costs about $55 USD or Q430 one-way and takes approximately 5.5 hours.

Flores

Flores is a charming and colourful historic town with pastel-painted houses and cobblestone streets, it is commonly used as the gateway town to other cities and to visit the Ancient mayan ruins of Tikal. The hub of Flores is congregated on Isla de Flores (Flores Island), a small island sitting on the lake and connected to the main town by 1 road, this is where the majority of tourists stay and understandably so. This town was also the last Mayan town to fall to the Spanish Empire.

Where to Stay – Flores

1. Flores island

Right next to the waters of Semuc Champey. It’s recommended to stay here the night before you visit as it’s only a 1 min walk away and you can wake up early to beat the tour group crowds and have the whole place to yourself for a few hours.

This is an eco-hostel which means it only has power from a generator between 6pm-10pm and no wifi with it’s own on-site restaurant and bar. 

This hostel is $11USD/night.

Things to See & Do – Flores

1. Tikal – Ancient Mayan Ruins 

The main attraction of Flores is visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of the ancient ruins of Tikal! Explore the incredible pyramids, plazas and palaces of one of the greatest cities in the Mayan civilisation.

Be prepared for a large day, several hour day-trip as this ancient city spans over 100 square kms. 

Entrance to the park is Q150 ($20 USD) collected at the gate of the park. If you arrive before 6 am there is an extra Q100 fee to get in early for the sunrise tour.

The 3 best options to travel from Flores to Tikal are:

1. Book a Tour (1.5-hour drive | $90USD)

2. Shuttle Bus (2-hour drive | $30USD + $15USD w/guide)

3. Public Bus (2-hour drive | $5-7USD)

Transport – Flores

Depending which direction you’re travelling your main options for following cities are:

1. Belize City (East) – Head east to Belize City from which you have the option to stay or go to the port close by and catch a short boat ride to one of the beautiful islands of Belize. 

2. Lanquin (Semuc Champey) (West) – Head west to Lanquin and follow the above instructions in reverse. Recommended to take a shared shuttle service from Flores which can be booked from your hostel.

If you would like to reach these cities here are my suggestions:

To Belize City + Cay Caulker

1. Shuttle + Boat

If you’re looking to go from Flores all the way to Caye Caulker island in Belize then I would highly recommend booking with Getaway Travels in Flores. They will pick you up from the Bus stop (Yo amo Peten sign) in Flores and seamlessly transport you via shuttle from Flores to Belize city (including Border cross).

Then you will catch a $5USD taxi from the Belize City Bus station to the Port where you will obtain you ticket and venture on a 45min boat ride from Belzie City port to the island of Caye Caulker.

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