Where is antigua guatemala

One can turn a blind eye to poverty by simply shopping and dining in Antigua, but visitors can make a difference by sponsoring a child or family. Antigua is the most popular, though not the cheapest, place to learn Spanish in Guatemala.

Prices and hours vary, and can change depending on the season. Homestays for language students are also available as a cheaper and more culturally enriching living situation. The average homestay with a Guatemalan family costs Q for 7 nights in your own room with shared bath and meals per day except Sunday. It is well worth it to pay a little extra for your own bathroom or shower, and for maximum immersion into the local culture, search for a family who takes in only one or a few students at a time and local Guatemalan boarders.

Families often visit each other on Sundays, and no meals are available. If you are the only student in the home, you are often invited for family get-togethers, and it is quite a cultural experience.

As well, impromptu "classes" in conversational Spanish can often be had with the many shoeshines in Parque Central, if you choose not to have your shoe shined and pay them a few bucks instead. Your results may vary: their education and vocabulary can be very limited, as they are often native speakers of Mayan for whom Spanish is a second language. You can easily get a job as a waiter, waitress, bartender, or host in any of the many bars, restaurants and hotels in Antigua.

Usually they pay from Q a day plus tips. It is important to speak Spanish in most of these places, but you can slide by without it in some touristy spots, where most of the customers are foreigners. Also you can join in and volunteer at local non-profits. There are many local projects in education, health, and development that accept short and long-term volunteers.

An example would be Common Hope, and other local churches and charities. These organisations should be contacted ahead of time for availability and credentialing. When you change money at the bank, you will need your passport. Banks are open 7 days a week, and late: usually until Most of the time, a passport is not needed for changing U.

However, you are likely required to have a passport if you want to redeem traveler's checks. ATMs are also available. Antigua has cafes and restaurants for all tastes and budgets. The town is the most touristy place in Guatemala so you will find anything you are looking for including international fast food shops.

Be careful with where you eat. Facilities lacking in bathroom or bathroom cleanliness suggest a higher probability of food poisoning. Avoid cold salad, fresh vegetables, and undercooked meat. Street ice cream carts are common through the city and popular with the locals, but of are unknown safety for sensitive stomachs. Homestays with Antiguan families can be arranged through language schools or directly with the family in question. Because the families are prepaid, you can switch your school at any time and try a different school.

The homes are often on hilltops, so be prepared to encounter large black scorpions on the lit walls at night, when you are walking home late.

They are harmless unless you disturb them, but you might consider wearing shoes if they are abundant. Choose a home in the town to avoid climbing hills, and you will also get fewer mosquitoes. Families charge about Q for 7 days of bed, shared toilet, and 2 meals. Expect to pay about Q80 or Q more if you want to add lunch the main meal , or if you expect a private bathroom well worth it if you don't want to share with up to a dozen other boarders.

An advantage of a home stay for the Spanish language student is a chance for language immersion, as well as the cultural experience. The fewer students the family board, the better the experience.

Too many students prefer to speak in English to each other and destroy your "immersive" experience. Ask first how many people are in the home, and how many boarders there are. You might avoid a situation where, say, there's one sink and two toilets shared by 14 people, and there's no way to take a proper shower because so many people are using the hot water.

If you value cleanliness and convenience, book a room with private toilet and sink. Ask the house mother to explain how to get the switch to activate on the shower, or you might have to deal with a cold shower. Buy your own soap and shampoo, as the home might use the same soap for washing dishes and clothing as for bathing. The housing may be more basic than in a hotel with simple concrete block or adobe construction, shared bathroom, and small rooms.

Ask if there is a secure lock for your room, as the home is often shared with local boarders, and you do not always want to lug your camera and laptop everywhere you go. You must provide your own hand towels and bath towels. If you leave them in a common bathroom, don't be surprised if everyone uses them. Eating hours are often different, with dinner often served at or , so you might want to procure your own meals if you intend to go to bed early. Remember that dinner is simple: a few pieces of cold bread and perhaps very light soup.

For American-style dinners, go out and buy your own food at the restaurants. Fresh fruits and vegetables are not often served, so eat plenty of beans or bring along your own source of fiber. Some areas of Antigua are mosquito -free, but in other areas, they are found in abundance. As owners of homestay facilities often leave the door open while cleaning, a compact mosquito net or tent is necessary if you do not enjoy having mosquitoes buzzing around your face at night.

The post office oficina the correos is opposite the market in Alameda de Santa Lucia, between 4a and 5a Calle Poniente. As of Oct , no stamps are sold because the postal service is changing from a private to public owned business. They hope to reopen in There are many Internet cafes and long-distance phone shops in Antigua. Internet time costs GTQ per hour.

Internet shops often have video phones for Skype calls. Many phone shops use VOIP, and not all area codes will work: for instance, the phone shop downtown will not reach certain cell phones and certain newer area codes.

But just around the northwest corner is another shop that reached most U. Just ask as they will reluctantly point you to their competitor. Cellphones from the U. Some people ask their carrier to turn off the voice mail function to avoid charges for voice mail. Due to the presence of the "Tourist Police", Antigua is much safer than any other city in Guatemala: you're very unlikely to be mugged or robbed here, at least during the daytime.

The beauty of this city lies in each of its details. Those who visit it are amazed by its historical attractions, and ancient temples and monasteries that are part of its legacy. After having experienced several earthquakes, has remained detained in time and is admired for its cobblestone streets, colonial houses, civil monuments, legends and traditions. The city is also rich in handicrafts such as traditional weavings, ceramics, silver and gold products, ceramics, metallic products, typical sweets and gastronomy.

Antigua is located 40 kilometers from the center of the capital city. Town of La Palma. Isla del Coco National Park. Pilgrimage to the most important religious sites of Guatemala and El Salvador on this tour.

Discover historic churches, cathedrals, and sanctuaries. Get to know Guatemala and Costa Rica in depth on this tour through its main tourist attractions, both cultural and natural.

Central America Get to know the places, spaces, and monuments that make up Central America. However, its exquisite baroque facade, though intact, hides behind it a building in ruins.

But the most beautiful religious building from among the many in Antigua is without doubt the La Merced Church with its yellow facade, so reminiscent of the sun. To the left of the church, we conclude with the grand finale, through the ruins of the monastery and its central court flanked by a fountain in the form of a water lily.

All you need to do is climb the monastery stairs which lead to the upper floor, or for the more ambitious travellers, they can go to the Cerro de la Cruz , to the North of the city. Gazing down on the panorama of the former capital of Guatemala is an experience like none other.

This will be our last impression of a colourful and luminous city, full of history. In Antigua, your senses feel more alive and heightened than anywhere else. A fascinating and unforgettable step in the melting pot that is Central America. Join us on board a cruise through Central America and discover this Guatemalan city, designated as a Unesco world heritage site.

Take a stroll through Antigua. Get inspired. Reading time : 3 min. Discovering the baroque treasure of Central America Antigua Guatemala is a must-visit destination in Central America; it is a city that very vividly harks back to the Spanish era, and is also a sobering reminder of the power of mother nature.