Antigua

Antigua is the stuff of dreams. An ancient city surrounded by steaming volcanoes shrouded in mysterious fog, it has a surreal air about it, a land of magic and legends. This is the perfect place to visit if you want to explore nature as well as the history of ancient cultures while working on your Spanish. What’s more, Antigua is the best spot in the country if you’ve got a yearning to discover volcanoes, as the city lies in a valley framed on all sides by these magnificent natural structures. Some of them are active, which is bound to add thrill to this already exciting destination. Antigua – like all of Guatemala – is more than reasonable in prices for tourists, so most of the visitors are the backpack-toting kind. Whether you are or not, Antigua will set your heart alight like a volcano, that much is certain.

Culture

The beauty of Antigua, a city, rising from the fog between volcanoes, is one that strikes you immediately. The erstwhile capital of Guatemala looks like a postcard: gorgeous architecture in a most glorious natural setting; it’s easy to see why this city is a UNESCO heritage site. A small town, Antigua still offers a lot to do, so that spending a more extended period here will be worth it, whether you’ve come to one of the famous language schools or are here to discover the ancient mystical land of the Mayan people. The history of Antigua is layered and complex, which in itself warrants a closer look, which must be one reason why this is Guatemala’s most visited destination.

Food

Chocolate and coffee — these two would ordinarily be enough to send most people’s hearts into a flutter, though the food and drink of Antigua are, of course, so much more than just that. Antigua may not be a sprawling metropolis littered with options, but the culinary pleasures to be found here make up for that: you need only cross the central square lined with jacarandas and head to the primary market’s food court to try typically Guatemalan variations on tacos and pupusas and wash it down with a local beer to understand. Speaking of beer, you can grab a free one at Cafe No Se if you buy a book in the store next door to it. If you’re inclined to go a step further, walk through the refrigerator door and have a shot or two of their famous mezcal in the dedicated bar downstairs. At the same time, the American owner tells you the strange and hilarious story of how this hole-in-the-wall dive came to be.

Entertainment

After you’re done brushing up on your Spanish, you can learn another iconic Guatemalan activity in Antigua: salsa dancing. Like language schools, places to learn the basics of this dance abound all over the city and can get you ready for the weekend in no time. For more down-to-earth ways to have fun, Easter is an excellent time to come to town for Semana Santa, where festivities last an entire week. Since Antigua is both small and attractive, there is a varied cast of transplants from all over the world that you won’t take long to recognize around town and befriend at one of the bars, which is guaranteed to make your stay even more enjoyable.