Antigua, guatemala

We´ve been living in Costa Rica for almost two years and now that we are on this part of the world is the perfect time to start exploring more of Central and South America. Some of the top cities on our bucket list are: The Inka trail hike up to Machu Pichu in Perú, Buenos Aires and Mendoza in Argentina, Chile, Medellín, and Cartagena in Colombia. So our travel goal of 2019 is to visit at least 2 new cities in the area. This time around we were looking for a weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday so Antigua made perfect sense since it´s a short flight from home (2 hrs) and it has been on my list for years.Antigua is a small city surrounded by Volcanoes in the southern part of Guatemala. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque Architecture. Picture colorful houses, cobblestone streets, quaint vibe, boutique hotels, and fantastic food. Antigua is fairly close to the main airport at about 45 min drive so it´s very convenient. If you have more days in Antigua I would add the following sites: 

• Lago Atitlán: beautiful lake surrounded by volcanoes. (2 hrs from Antigua)
• Hike on any of these volcanoes or the three of them: Acatenandgo, Fuego and Pacaya.

Antigua Tips:

• I´ll recommend taking an uber or taxi from the airport, there are many shared shuttle services but I don´t think is worth the hassle of having to stop at multiple hotels. Uber was around $30.
• The first question on everybody´s mind: is it safe? Yes! We walked at nighttime and never felt unsafe. 
• Bring cash so you can shop at the local artisans market, their textiles are to die for. 
• Don´t expect big chain hotels since this is a preserved historic city so be open for boutique hotels. B&B and Airbnb inside a colonial house

Where to Stay: 
We rented an Airbnb that had the most amazing breakfast included but the room was not good at all... so I won´t link it here but there are many cool options to chose from. 

• Casa Santo Domingo is an old Convent, with pristine gardens and interiors. This is the most popular upscale hotel in Antigua. If you don´t stay here (like us) you can visit the property, see the museums and eat at one of its restaurants. 
• Palacio de Doña Leonor: very good location and has a gorgeous courtyard. 
• El Convento Boutique Hotel: great option if you are looking for a luxury retreat.
• Hotel Cirilo has a wonderful pool for those sunny afternoons and won´t break the bank
• Pensativo House Hotel: this house is sooo beautiful! This is one is on my list for the next time we visit.

Things do Do: 
This is one of those cities that doesn´t really require a fixed itinerary because of the small and quaint vibe plus you´ll want to have some leisure time to walk around the streets, stop for a cafe or people watch. Here are the main attractions:

• Santa Catalina´s Arch: if you want to avoid the crowds plan on arriving before 8 am. This is Antigua most iconic landmark.
• Cerro de la Cruz: on a sunny day hike up the hill for amazing views of Antigua and the Volcan de Agua. Don´t go on a cloudy day like we did because the view is not so great.
• Iglesia de la Merced
• San Jose Cathedral Ruins: visit the catacombs and marvel at its majestic domes. 
• Artisan Market- Mercado de Artesanías: endless hallways filled with textiles and leather products. Really liked it. 
• Plaza Mayor: right in the city center and a good spot for people watching.
• Hotel Casa Santo Domingo: beautiful interior gardens, good restaurant, and museums.
• La Casa del Ron: come here for the Zacapa rum tasting. Really cool experience.
• Iglesia de San Francisco

Where to eat:

The most important part of the trip if you ask me! I rather stay in a budget hotel and "invest" the savings on our meals hahaha.

• Quiltro: Marvelous! Chilean chef makes an amazing 7-course journey with local ingredients. Beautiful wine pairing and outstanding quality! It´s a small restaurant so reservations are a must.
• La Esquina Food Market: simply WOW! interior designer paradise! There are many food options to choose from and the cocktails were divine.
• Meson Panza Verde: very romantic scene for dinner and good food.
• Fridas: Delicious Mexican food close to Santa Catalina´s arch.
• Bistrot Cinq: right in the City center with uncomplicated French food.
• Palacio Restaurant: located in Palacio Dona Leonor hotel, really cool atmosphere and upscale menu.
• El Refectorio: located inside Casa Santo Domingo, delicious breakfast and lunch.