4 days in Antigua, Guatemala
4 Things to do with kids in Antigua, Guatemala
Looking for things to do with kids in Antigua Guatemala? Here’s what we did.
In 2023, we packed up the family and headed to Guatemala for a month. Part of our plan was to enrol in Spanish lessons in the Lake Atitlan area. We arrived at La Aurora International airport in Guatemala City on a Wednesday night but classes didn’t start until Monday. This provided us a few days to spend in Antigua before making our way to San Pedro, where our Spanish school was located.
Since this is not our first time in Antigua, a few days was fine, but this is a place that is certainly worth spending some time in. Antigua is a UNESCO heritage site, and there is lots to do to keep a family busy.
IN THE CITY
If you are visiting for the first time, regardless of how long you are staying, you will want to spend at least a few hours wandering through the town exploring. Meandering through the cobblestone streets, popping into shops and galleries, sitting in Parque Central, or photographing the churches, ruins and architecture. There is plenty to see. If you have kids in tow, you will probably want to break up the walking with some activities. There are some good options available.
Casa Del Jade Museum and Store (4a Calle Oriente #10)
Free, 15-30 minutes
We stopped into Casa del Jade, which calls itself a museum, but is more of a museum wrapped around a store. That said, it is pretty informative, and there are some nice displays. We especially liked the Mayan calendar kiosk. After looking up your birthday, you can find your Mayan spirit companion and see jewelry with the accompanying symbols engraved into jade. The staff were knowledgeable, and we did not feel pressured into buying anything. There is another similar company in Antigua called Jade Maya, but we didn’t visit them both.
Chocomuseo Chocolate Making Workshops (4a Calle Oriente #8 (main square)
Mini workshop US$15
2 hour workshop US$20 (under 12, US$25 adults)
Similarly, you will find more than one Mayan chocolate ‘factory’. Combining both an educational component and a storefront, you can buy a variety of Artisanal chocolate products and paraphernalia. We walked through both Ek Chuah and Choco Museo, both of which are structured similarly with a storefront and an area where workshops are run. The chocolate-making workshops require pre-booking, so you may need to register in advance if this is something that interests you.
Chocolate Antigua, San Juan del Obispo
Free, 15-30 minutes
We decided to visit the very similar Chocolate Antigua in neighbouring San Juan del Obispo. This operation does not offer workshops but they take you on what feels like more of an authentic tour and demonstrate the process with a couple of women actually separating cocoa beans from the husks. The staff explain the process, and after the short tour you are able to peruse the different products.
Bonus: we used this opportunity to take a short ride on a Chicken Bus. You may have seen these flamboyantly decorated, chrome plates school busses driving through town. They don’t inspire much confidence, and most reviews will warn readers of the risks and perils associated with these buses. Since San Juan del Obispo is only about a 10 minute ride from Antigua, and is completely flat with no cliffs to careen off of, this was a short and safe opportunity for us to ride on the famous Chicken Bus for a mere Q3 each.
Hiking Volcano Pacaya
If you are looking for more structure, or perhaps longer excursions, here are more things to do in Antigua, Guatemala.
Volcano Pacaya Hike
6 hours, Q120 per person for transport, Q100 entrance fee (which includes a guide)
Antigua is surrounded by mountains. We hiked up the popular Volcano Pacaya. This active volcano continues to smoulder, and the lava flows that were created after the 2021 eruption are still warm enough for roasting marshmallows.
Pacaya is about an hour and a half drive from Antigua proper, and most tour companies offer an early (6am) departure and a later (2pm) departure. We were in Antigua during rain season, so we went early and only caught a little rain near the end of our 3 hour hike. This may factor into your decision about what time you want to start your hike. Whichever you choose, Pacaya is a medium difficulty hike. It is not very technical, but the altitude makes it a little tougher on your lungs. Our girls, who were 8 and 10 at the time did it without any issue. The total distance is just over 7km start to finish. There are locals along the trail who will offer you a ride on horseback starting at Q200. We heard a few people on our hike negotiate down to nearly half the starting price as we got closer to the summit.
SOAK UP THE CITY
If none of these things to do in Antigua strike a chord with you, there are cooking classes where you can learn to make various Guatemalan meals. Art studios and galleries offer painting lessons for both kids and adults. If you prefer dance, register for one-on-one salsa, bachata or merengue lessons in studios scattered around the city. Sergio, at Salsa Y Mas (6a Avenida Sud and 6a Calle Poniente) offered a free one hour lesson once a week. Looking for something less active? There are markets and restaurants throughout the city full of artisanal crafts, traditional woven blankets, clothes and jewelry. When you’re done exploring, sitting in Parque Central, listening to musicians play the mirimba is a great way to wind down the day. We spent 3 days here, and could have easily stretched this time out into a week.
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