mp413

Hi there, I will unexpectedly be in Guatemala for 2 weeks including part of Holy Week (Semana Santa). I have been reading up and it sounds like Good Friday is the biggest day of the celebrations, but unfortunately that's the day I will have to fly out! No way around it.

For those who know the process well, can you tell me whether I might still get to see some of the floral carpets on Thursday? I hear that's the day they put them together. Will I need to stay up all night?

I'm also wondering whether I should expect problems or serious delays getting to the airport that morning (Friday April 2 around 7am).

Thanks for the advice!

mp413

Jeff_Costa_Rica

The biggest and grandest procession is on Good Friday, but there are smaller processions that go on all week, so you're not missing out other times in the week. (You would miss out on the floral carpets, although you might see them being assembled.) I like the Palm Sunday procession, and Thursday into Friday, I remember stuff going on almost all night. I think about 3 a.m., this troop of people dressed like Roman soldiers rides through the streets "looking for Jesus."

Two concerns though:

1) Will you be staying in Antigua? Many hotels impose minimum lengths of stay that week. You can't necessarily breeze into town on Thursday night and check out Friday morning. They also raise their rates a lot that week. You need to reserve way in advance too.

2) By Thursday night, all the streets in the center of town will be closed to traffic. Where would you be? Would you have your own vehicle? Where would you park it? How would you get out of town? Would a taxi or shuttle take you to the airport? How would they get to you to pick you up?

mp413

Thanks Jeff, most helpful, you point out a lot important points. I had heard that one needs to book months in advance for Holy Week but I have done a couple of searches today and found plenty of availbility and no minimum stay requirements so I'm not so worried about that. I am more worried about what you say about all the streets being closed. I will be relying on taxi/shuttle to get to the airport. So do people generally go on foot in the center? (I gather it's quite small.)

I'm glad to hear I might catch some part of the festivities overnight on Thursday, though it will make for a rough Friday!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I'm glad you could find availability. Tourism is down this year, as it is everywhere, so that's probably the reason this year is different.

The center of town is small and walkable, 10 blocks by 10 blocks.

mp413

Hi Jeff, so would people in my situation (= departing morning of Good Friday from central Antigua) stay in the center and walk with their bags to outside the center? After reading your post I did some searches and read somewhere that the road connecting Antigua with the airport might actually be closed. That makes me nervous! As sad as it would be, should I plan to not stay in Antigua Thurs. night and stay by the airport?

thanks!

Jeff_Costa_Rica

That's a good question. I don't know the answer to it. You'd almost need to ask someone in Antigua what goes on as with transportation that morning. Perhaps a place where you were thinking of staying would know.

mp413

Thanks Jeff, I checked with the homestay company I'm going through, and they told me that while it is more complicated getting out of Antigua on the morning of Good Friday, it is possible. They said worst case scenario I might have to walk a couple of blocks, and they recommended that I leave Antigua at 3am to catch my 6:30am flight (!).

For anyone else who is curious, they said much the same as Jeff - that I will see plenty of processions and floral carpets in the days leading up to Good Friday, so I can fly out on Friday without feeling like I missed everything.

thanks!

Sailhiker

Regarding getting to the airport early in the morning, I would recommend that you contact Mr. Sergio Barrios. We just came back from 2 weeks in Antigua, traveled around several days with the help of the most trustworthy travel service and driver that I’ve ever encountered in the many different rural countries. The manager is Sergio Barrios, (tele.(502) 7831 1581; cell (502) 5675 3532; [email protected]) He got us effortlessly to early morning air departures on several occasions. He is a lifelong resident of Antigua, and familiar with all aspects of tourism there.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Glad to hear it will work out for you, mp413.

This isn't your situation, but for anyone who travels to Guatemala this time of year, Antigua has very nice processions each Sunday during Lent too. They're not quite as big as Holy Week, and they don't have the floral carpets, but they're impressive. If your schedule doesn't permit you to go for Holy Week, you can still partake in the weeks before.

mp413

Sailhiker, thanks for the contact - can you give me an idea what he charges?