La Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua) is a city in Guatemala. It was the colonial Spanish capital of Central America, a World Heritage site, and the most popular amongst tourists.

Located just 30 miles (45km) West of Guatemala City, you can get here in 45min from La Aurora Airport. Transportation by bus is cheap compared to taxis or shuttles, but would take longer time.Antigua is very small and you can walk anywhere you want to go to.

The whole city is full of historic buildings, monuments, fountains and ruins. This city was founded by the Spanish in the XVII Century, and it follows the traditional design of a Main Plaza surrounded by Government and Catholic Church buildings. You'll find worthy to visit La Catedral, el Palacio de los Gobernadores, Convento de Capuchinas, Convento de Santa Clara, el Arco de Santa Catarina, Iglesia La Merced and the Handcrafts Market.

Antigua is the most popular - though not the cheapest - place to learn Spanish in Guatamela. There are more than 100 Spanish schools to choose from.

For those who like hiking, two trips near Antigua are highly recommended: Hiking up the active volcano Pacaya and/or the dormant Acatenango .

1. Going up Pacaya is quite easy and you will find dozens of travel agents who will be very happy to sell you tickets for a Pacaya-trip that normally costs between seven and nine USD - depending on your bartering-skills. This includes a bus-shuttle to and from Pacaya. Pacaya is an active volcano and you get to go right to the craters edge. And yes, people do fall in occasionally! The hike is not rtoo hard except for the last 100 meters or so that go over very loose rocks. Generally though, even unfit people of all ages can do this hike that takes approx. 1,5 hours up and 45 minutes down the mountain.

2. Going up Acatenango is an entirely different cup of tea: This hike takes you from Antigua (1.500 meters) all the way to 3.976 meters (13,044 feet) in one day. I.e.: You need to be fit, carry gear and have to take precautions against Altitude Sickness . Most people who do this trip spend the night on the mountain though some go up an down within a day. Currently there are two outfits in Antigua who offer trips up Acatenango. If you haev the gear though you can safely do the trip by yourself since there is only one way up.

Unfortunately people going up the dormat volcano Agua are being robbed quite frequently. So this hike can not be recommended.

Due to the presence of the "Tourist Police" Antigua is much safer than any other city in Guatemala. However, the tourist police is only present within the city. During daytime your risk of getting robbed in Antigua is very small. However, if you leave the tourist-areas of if you walk the streets at night, there is a considerable risk. This is especially true during the time when the night and the morning shift of the police change guard.

Almost all bars and restaurants will be happy to call you a taxi that will not cost more than 10 Q to drive you home. Asking the barstaff to call the taxi for you, instead of looking for one yourself, can be a good idea since they tend to know the drivers they are calling.

If you plan to visit sights like "La Cruz" outside town, make sure you go with an officer of the tourist police who accompany tourists there at least once a day.