Comments on: Antigua, Guatemala: historic marvel or tourist trap? https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/ Sharing the world with you Wed, 13 Apr 2011 05:26:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30748 Andy Jarosz Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:39:51 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30748 Glad to hear Xela getting so much love here - will write up our stay there shortly (we celebrated New Year in Xela). Antigua is certainly prettier but then it's a lot more crowded as a result. Funny you mention the English Rich - in six weeks around Central America Antigua was one place where we did encounter far more locals who could speak English than anywhere else. Glad to hear Xela getting so much love here – will write up our stay there shortly (we celebrated New Year in Xela). Antigua is certainly prettier but then it’s a lot more crowded as a result. Funny you mention the English Rich – in six weeks around Central America Antigua was one place where we did encounter far more locals who could speak English than anywhere else.

]]> By: Rich Polanco https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30740 Rich Polanco Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:34:47 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30740 I agree, Antigua is a photographer's dream! It is a great city to visit and even to stay for a while. Relatively close to the international airport, all the international and local food you'd want to try, and enough expats around to get by speaking only English. For the real Guatemala, head 4 hours north to Xela. Better (cheaper too) Spanish-language schools and tons of short and long term volunteer opportunities available. There's actually a rivalry between the two cities, so choose sides carefully ;) I agree, Antigua is a photographer’s dream!

It is a great city to visit and even to stay for a while. Relatively close to the international airport, all the international and local food you’d want to try, and enough expats around to get by speaking only English.

For the real Guatemala, head 4 hours north to Xela. Better (cheaper too) Spanish-language schools and tons of short and long term volunteer opportunities available.

There’s actually a rivalry between the two cities, so choose sides carefully ;)

]]> By: Jasmine https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30365 Jasmine Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:48:41 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30365 Wow I didn't know it got more visitors than anywhere in Central America! Even more than Costa Rica? Antigua is pretty but I preferred grungier Xela. Wow I didn’t know it got more visitors than anywhere in Central America! Even more than Costa Rica? Antigua is pretty but I preferred grungier Xela.

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30309 Andy Jarosz Fri, 11 Feb 2011 19:27:33 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30309 Thanks for the comments guys. I'm not sure where the tour groups have come from - we were there just after Christmas so it was peak season. But in some parts of town it felt like a cruise ship had just docked and spilled out its human cargo (ok, a small one). Agree that Guatemala is a beautiful country full of warm and welcoming people, and that Antigua is only a tiny part of the attractions that Guatemala has to offer. Will be writing about our other stops through the country in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the comments guys. I’m not sure where the tour groups have come from – we were there just after Christmas so it was peak season. But in some parts of town it felt like a cruise ship had just docked and spilled out its human cargo (ok, a small one).

Agree that Guatemala is a beautiful country full of warm and welcoming people, and that Antigua is only a tiny part of the attractions that Guatemala has to offer. Will be writing about our other stops through the country in the next couple of weeks.

]]> By: Linguist-in-Waiting https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30306 Linguist-in-Waiting Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:51:39 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30306 Ah, I almost went there for this winter (I went to Mexico instead). Antigua was a planned destination, although I was more planning on caving in other parts of the country. Hopefully in the next few years this will become a reality. Great pictures! Ah, I almost went there for this winter (I went to Mexico instead). Antigua was a planned destination, although I was more planning on caving in other parts of the country. Hopefully in the next few years this will become a reality. Great pictures!

]]> By: helen https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30303 helen Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:04:46 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30303 I visited Antigua in 2000 and thought it was lovely, although even then it was more geared to tourism that other areas of the country, however this was mainly backpackers. Whilst I'm sure the increased tourist traffic will have an impact, the city is beautiful & I would still think well worth a visit. But do not make the mistake of coming all the way to Guatemala without visiting other sites/areas....it is a fantastic colourful country with wonderful people. I visited Antigua in 2000 and thought it was lovely, although even then it was more geared to tourism that other areas of the country, however this was mainly backpackers. Whilst I’m sure the increased tourist traffic will have an impact, the city is beautiful & I would still think well worth a visit. But do not make the mistake of coming all the way to Guatemala without visiting other sites/areas….it is a fantastic colourful country with wonderful people.

]]> By: Mary Jane https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30302 Mary Jane Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:00:12 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30302 My comment is similar to an earlier one. In the mid 1990's we spent about two months in Antigua studying Spanish. Don't recall tourist groups. It was mostly backpackers. This article and, especially the images, brings back many good memories. We took weekend trips from Antigua to other parts of Guatemala and we experienced Santa Semana in Antigua...truly authentic, dramatic, photogenic. Getting up before dawn on Good Friday to watch families create carpets of flowers on those cobblestone streets is highly recommended. My comment is similar to an earlier one. In the mid 1990′s we spent about two months in Antigua studying Spanish. Don’t recall tourist groups. It was mostly backpackers. This article and, especially the images, brings back many good memories.

We took weekend trips from Antigua to other parts of Guatemala and we experienced Santa Semana in Antigua…truly authentic, dramatic, photogenic. Getting up before dawn on Good Friday to watch families create carpets of flowers on those cobblestone streets is highly recommended.

]]> By: cpowell https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30266 cpowell Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:20:05 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30266 La Antigua is a masterpiece. I spent several days there this time last year. A photographer's dream. You didn't mention the food, which is fantastic. Small cafes and gourmet restaurants...and even an Irish pub. But, going to Guatemala just for Antigua, would be a mistake. The Mayan ruins at Tikal are the real show!!! La Antigua is a masterpiece. I spent several days there this time last year. A photographer’s dream. You didn’t mention the food, which is fantastic. Small cafes and gourmet restaurants…and even an Irish pub. But, going to Guatemala just for Antigua, would be a mistake. The Mayan ruins at Tikal are the real show!!!

]]> By: Elle https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30265 Elle Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:26:14 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30265 Great article and nice accompanying pictures! I've had Antigua on my radar for awhile now. I like the allure of a city at the base of a volcano. Guatemala looks like a gorgeous country. Can't wait to explore it. Great article and nice accompanying pictures! I’ve had Antigua on my radar for awhile now. I like the allure of a city at the base of a volcano. Guatemala looks like a gorgeous country. Can’t wait to explore it.

]]> By: Nicolas De Corte https://www.501places.com/2011/02/antigua-guatemala-historic-marvel-or-tourist-trap/#comment-30261 Nicolas De Corte Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:25:52 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=4692#comment-30261 A couple of years ago I have taken Spanish classes in Antigua, and I've stayed in the city for about three weeks. I must say I don't recall large tourist groups. There were a lot of backpackers and the occasionally "luxury" traveler, but times may have changed. The city is indeed more focussed on tourism than the rest of Guatemala, which is quite normal as it is a very pretty city with an interesting historical background. Also a lot of businessmen and expats working in Guatemala city spend their nights in Antigua. A couple of years ago I have taken Spanish classes in Antigua, and I’ve stayed in the city for about three weeks. I must say I don’t recall large tourist groups. There were a lot of backpackers and the occasionally “luxury” traveler, but times may have changed.
The city is indeed more focussed on tourism than the rest of Guatemala, which is quite normal as it is a very pretty city with an interesting historical background. Also a lot of businessmen and expats working in Guatemala city spend their nights in Antigua.

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