21 Best Sights in Antigua, Guatemala

The only remnant of the once-enormous Convent of St. Catherine is this beautiful orange-yellow arch that spans 5 Avenida Norte, a street locals call Calle del Arco. The convent was founded in 1613 with only four nuns, but by 1693 its growing numbers forced it to expand across the street. The arch was built to allow the sisters to pass from one side to the other unseen. The structure today serves as the iconic symbol of the city.

This is the place to come for background information on the rainbow of textiles you'll see when you head out to the highlands. Exhibits present the utilitarian "how it's made" facts, delve into the cultural meaning of the patterns, and show how designs differ from region to region. Prices tend to be higher in the museum gift shop than other places around the country. It's near the central market, several blocks from the city center; call if you need transportation.

K'ojom means "music" in various Mayan languages, and Casa K'ojom---one of the three museums that make up Centro Cultural La Azotea---highlights the musical traditions of Guatemala's vastly diverse indigenous population. An interesting 15-minute documentary film is a good introduction for the newcomer touring the collection of musical instruments and other artifacts. A gift shop sells locally made crafts, simple instruments, and recordings of Guatemalan music.

A short loop through this beautifully restored colonial mansion takes you through courtyards and several rooms containing decorative objects, including original oil paintings, fine ceramic dishes, and other artifacts that have been in the house since its original construction in 1636. An English-speaking guide is usually available. Tours must be arranged at least one day in advance with a minimum of five people. Specify that you want an English-speaking guide if you need one

Upon your first peek inside, you may wonder why the cathedral of Central America's preeminent colonial city seems so small. That's because what you see is one of only two remaining chapels in what was once the city's main house of worship. The lovely white cathedral (Santiago Apóstol) was completed in 1680 but destroyed in an earthquake less than 100 years later. Out back are the stark but magnificent ruins of the original cathedral—well worth a look for the nominal admission price. (Enter around the side on 5 Calle Oriente to visit the ruins.) Although restoration is underway, there are no plans to reopen the old cathedral as a house of worship. Today's smaller church (San José) is technically not a cathedral, but instead a parish church, part of the Archdiocese of Guatemala City. It holds an honorary catedral designation in deference to Antigua's onetime role as capital of Central America.

Three modest museums---Casa K’ojom; Museo del Café (temporarily closed); and Rincón de Sacatepéquez (not worth visiting)---make up this cultural center in the village of Jocotenango just outside Antigua. The center also offers horseback riding around the farm on Tuesday and Thursday by advance arrangement. Minivan shuttles (Q5, round-trip) leave hourly from the south side of the Parque Central. Taxis from Antigua run Q20 to Q25.

The view from this hillside perch north of the city, with its cross in the foreground, city rooftops and Volcán Agua in the background, is Antigua's best-known postcard vista. In person, the view is even better.

Only visit during the hours of 8 am and 5 pm when a police officer is stationed here.

Plan on a 45-minute walk one way, bring a bottle of water, and wear sunscreen and a brimmed hat.

Antigua's largest convent was built by Capuchin nuns, whose number had swelled because they, unlike other sisterhoods, did not require young women to pay dowries to undertake the religious life. They constructed the mammoth structure in 1736, just a decade after the first of their order arrived from Madrid. The convent was abandoned after the earthquake of 1773, even though damage to the structure was relatively light. In the 1940s the convent was restored and opened to the public. The ruins, which are quite well preserved, include several lovely courtyards and gardens, the former bathing halls, and a round tower lined with the nuns' cells—two of which illustrate cloistered life with rather eerie mannequins. Climb to the roof for a memorable view of the surrounding landscape. The building now houses the offices of the Consejo Nacional para la Protección de La Antigua Guatemala, the national council charged with preservation and restoration of the city. At this writing, a museum is under construction in the convent's interior, slated to open in late 2010. It will house colonial artifacts collected by the council.

Shortly after it was founded in 1699, the Convent of St. Clare grew to be a rather elaborate complex housing nearly 50 nuns. When it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1717, the sisters quickly rebuilt it. It was struck by violent tremors again in 1773, and the site was finally abandoned. The remaining arches and courtyards make a pleasant place to roam. Keep an eye out for hidden passages and underground rooms. Across the street is Parque La Unión, where, interestingly, you'll see several public washbasins where women do laundry.

The estate has been family-owned and run since 1870. Coffee tours are offered daily at 9 and 11 am and 2 pm, and take you from cultivating and harvesting to roasting and tasting. If you have a group of two to five people, a two-hour Latte Art Session—by prior reservation only—guides you through the preparation of a variety of latte beverages, a great knowledge-souvenir to impress the folks back home.

Despite opposition from the city council, which felt the town already had plenty of monasteries, La Recolección was inaugurated in 1717, the same year it was destroyed by an earthquake. Like many others, it was quickly rebuilt but shaken to the ground again in 1773. A stone arch still graces the church stairway, but the ceiling did not fare so well—it lies in huge jumbled blocks within the nave's crumbling walls. The 1976 earthquake inflicted further damage. The monastery is in better shape though, with spacious courtyards lined with low arches. Enter by a small path to the left of the church.

The Church of Our Lady of Mercy is one of Antigua's most eye-catching attractions, known for its fanciful yellow stucco facade that incorporates Mayan deities. The attached monastery, which has an immense stone fountain in the central courtyard, has excellent views of nearby volcanoes. The church was built in 1548, only to be destroyed by an earthquake in 1717. It was finally rebuilt in 1765, six years before a second massive earthquake forced the city to be abandoned. Architect Juan Luis de Dios Estrada wisely designed the church to be earthquake resistant. The squat shape, thick walls, and small, high windows are responsible for La Merced's surviving the 1773 quake with barely a crack. The church did suffer significant damage in the 1976 earthquake, but a massive restoration project reinforced the stone floor.

The smell of fresh fruits and vegetables will lead you to this unassuming market, the place where local residents come to shop for all manner of day-to-day goods. Women in colorful skirts sell huge piles of produce culled from their own gardens. Their husbands are usually nearby, chatting with friends or watching a soccer match.

Guatemala points with pride and reverence to its very own saint, Pedro de San José Betancur (1626–67), a native of the Canary Islands who came to Central America at age 31. Hermano Pedro (Brother Pedrof), as he was known, became a familiar sight on the streets of Antigua, ringing a bell and collecting alms for the poor and homeless long before the Salvation Army came up with the idea. He wasn't actually a priest—try as he might, he couldn't master the studies necessary for ordination—but Rome conferred the title of a new religious order, the Bethlehemites, on Pedro and his associates in recognition of their charity. His good works led many to dub him the "St. Francis of the Americas."

Pedro is often credited with originating the custom of the posada, the pre-Christmas procession seen throughout Latin America, in which townspeople reenact Mary and Joseph's search for a room at the inn.

Pope John Paul II canonized Pedro in 2002, and his tomb here at the San Francisco Monastery is an important landmark. Many miracles are ascribed to Hermano Pedro; according to tradition, a prayer and a gentle tap on his casket will send you help. His remains have since been moved to a more finely rendered receptacle to the left of the main altar. The remainder of the ruins, dating from 1579, house a small museum dedicated to Pedro's legacy. You can see his simple clothes and the knotted ropes he used for flagellation. The upper floor is worth a visit for the incredible views of the surrounding hinterland and volcanoes. Enter the ruins through a small path near the rear corner of the church.

Antigua's Museum of Colonial Art sits on the former site of the University of San Carlos, with its cloisters left largely intact through the shakier centuries. The museum holds a collection of mostly 17th-century religious paintings and statues commissioned by the Spanish. There's also a display of photographs of Semana Santa celebrations.

A multiyear restoration project (primarily reinforcement of the walls) is currently underway at the Palace of the Captains General, easily recognized by its 27 stately archways, and once the hub of Spanish colonial power in Central America. It now houses police and governmental agencies.

As in colonial times, the City Hall continues to serve as the seat of government. Today it also houses two museums, the Museo de Santiago (Museum of St. James) and Museo del Libro Antiguo (Museum of Antique Books). The former, which is housed in what was once the city jail, displays colonial art and artifacts; Central America's first printing press, dating from the late 17th century, is displayed in the latter, along with a collection of ancient manuscripts. Given the delicate nature of the collections in both museums, photography is forbidden.

Surrounded by old colonial buildings, this tree-lined square is the center of Antigua and one of Latin America's most pleasant central parks. Residents and travelers alike pass quiet afternoons on shady benches listening to the trickling Fuente de las Sirenas ("fountain of the sirens"), conversing with neighbors, and getting their shoes shined under the jacaranda trees. Flowering esquisúchil (borage) trees accent the park; locals refer to them as árboles de Hermano Pedro, the tree of Pedro de San José Betancur, Guatemala's own saint. Legend holds that the flowers have curative powers for all manner of ailments. A 2016 park refurbishment laid new flower beds and installed new benches, rails, and energy-efficient LED illumination. The park is a Wi-Fi hot spot.

The Casa Santo Domingo hotel complex features six small museums on its Museums Promenade: Colonial; Archaeology; Pre-Colombian Art and Modern Glass; Marco Augusto Quiroa and the Artist Halls, which has contemporary art; Pharmacy; and Silver There are also workshops where you can watch wax and ceramics being crafted. All are open to the public.

Valhalla offers daily macadamia tours from 8 am to 4:30 pm. Guests can sample and purchase macadamia nuts, chocolates and macadamia skin care products. Proceeds from tour fees and purchases fund a sustainability program that encompasses reforestation and provides employment to area farmers. An on-site café features macadamia-themed food including that farm’s yummy pancakes.