Antigua Walking Tour Half Day

As its name implies (Antigua means “old” in Spanish), Antigua is a historic city. It was the capital of Guatemala until an earthquake destroyed much of the city in 1773 and the capital was moved to Guatemala City. Even so, many historic structures still stand here today. Antigua was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

This tour includes visits to the main attractions of Antigua. You’ll stroll around the central plaza to get a sense for the pace of life here. On the north side of the plaza is the Palacio de Ayuntamiento, which was once the town hall but now houses municipal offices and a museum. You’ll also see the large Catedral de Santiago, which dominates the eastern side of the plaza. The cathedral was originally built in 1545 but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1583 and rebuilt in 1670. You’ll also visit the churches of San Francisco and La Merced.

Your group will visit the Santa Catalina Archway, one of the most iconic structures in Antigua. The archway was originally part of a convent founded in 1609. Nowadays its one of the city’s most photographed sites—the archway frames the Agua Volcano and is surrounded by old buildings and cobblestone streets.

This tour also allows you to visit the Casa Santo Domingo Museum and the Jade Museum, both of which house an extraordinary array of archeological items.

This tour lasts three hours. Tour participants should be capable of walking for this amount of time.