15 BEST Day Trips From Antigua, Guatemala In 2023
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Looking for the best day trips from Antigua Guatemala? Whilst Antigua has plenty to do within the city, it’s also a great base for some of the best Guatemalan day trips.
The following list includes day trips from Antigua of all kinds. From hiking active volcanoes, and visiting the Guatemalan version of Hobbiton to birdwatching and nature trails, there is something for everyone. Most of the day trips listed below can be done individually, but some need a guided tour.
Whatever you choose to do with your time in Antigua, you will have an amazing time. We spent just under a month in Antigua in 2023; then fell more and more in love with it, extending our stay three times!
So, let’s discuss the best day trips from Antigua and make sure you have a memorable trip in this undeniably beautiful part of Guatemala.
🇬🇹 Other Guatemala posts:
- 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala: The Perfect Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit Guatemala: Complete Guide
- Is Guatemala Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice
- 2 Weeks In Guatemala: Perfect Itinerary
15 Best Day Trips From Antigua, Guatemala
1. Pacaya Volcano
🚌 Guided tour: Pacaya Hike
⏰ Duration: 6-7 hours
🌎 Highlights: hiking Pacaya Volcano and roasting marshmallows in the lava fields!
Known as the ‘easier’ volcano hike in Antigua, Pacaya can be done as a half-day trip, either at sunrise or sunset. It can also be experienced as part of an overnight camping trip.
Our half-day trip with OX Expeditions involved hiking to the best volcanic viewpoints through cloud forests and over lava fields, and even roasting marshmallows from the heat of the volcano!
If you’re looking to do the Pacaya hike, I recommend booking with OX Expeditions. They are one of the best volcano hiking companies in Antigua, and offer the best day trips from Antigua to hike Pacaya!
Related post: Pacaya Volcano Hike Difficulty | Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Is Best?
2. Acatenango Volcano
🚌 Guided tour: Acatenango Hike
⏰ Duration: 15 – 36 hours
🌎 Highlights: hiking an active volcano!
Hiking up to a 4,000m (!!) summit, Acatenango is an epic, adventurous and once-in-a-lifetime experience which is not for the faint-hearted. It’s tough, gruelling and at times; relentless. But being close to the active and thunderous ‘fire volcano’ Fuego, is worth every struggle.
Acatenango reaches 13,000ft above sea level, whilst its twin Fuego hits just 12,300 ft. Fuego volcano aka Volcán de Fuego / Chi’gag (“Volcano of Fire”), is an active stratovolcano 16 kilometres west of Antigua, Guatemala.
Acatenango is famous for being constantly active at a low level, with small gas and ash eruptions happening every 15 to 20 minutes, which you can observe up close.
Book your volcano hike with OX Expeditions. They are one of the best volcano hiking companies in Antigua and offer both day or overnight trips for Acatenango.
Related post: Acatenango Volcano Hike Difficulty | Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Is Best?
3. Lake Atitlan
🚌 Guided tour: Lake Atitlan day tour
⏰ Duration: 10 hours
🌎 Highlights: visiting the Mayan villages Panajachel, San Juan, San Pedro, and Santiago around Lake Atitlan.
Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlan) is one of the most popular places to stay when backpacking Guatemala. But if you haven’t got the time to stay for a few days, it can be visited as a day trip from Antigua.
Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in all of Central America and is located in the Guatemalan Highlands. It was formed as a result of volcanic activity and tectonic movements, and now has one of the greatest spiritual significances in the country.
You can either visit Lake Atitlan independently in your own hire car, via a shared shuttle, or through a guided tour. The roads between Antigua and the lake aren’t great, so unless you’re an extremely confident driver, I recommend taking a shuttle, taxi or guided tour!
➡ Travelling to Lake Atitlan? Check out my full post on how to travel around the lake via a lancha and visit all of the beautiful lakeside towns!
Related post: Free Cerveza Hostel Review: Lake Atitlan | Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: How Do Lanchas Work?
4. Hobbitenango
🚌 Guided tour: Hobbitenango Day Tour
⏰ Duration: 8-10 hours
🌎 Highlights: incredible scenery, Lord of the Rings-style accommodation, and being high enough to walk through the clouds!
The Hobbitenango site in Guatemala was inspired by the Lord of the Rings movie set. It was created by two local Guatemalans who have a love for comic books and eco-friendly accommodations.
Hobbitenango sits at 7800ft above sea level, so you can expect to be walking through the clouds when visiting. It has a mini hotel (complete with hobbit rooms), a restaurant, carnival games, mini golf, and of course, epic LOTR style photo opportunities!
You can either do this as part of a guided tour, visit Hobbitenango by yourself with a hire car, take an Uber or the shuttle from Antigua town centre.
Related post: 2 Weeks in Guatemala | Is Guatemala Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
5. Chichicastenango and Panajachel
🚌 Guided tour: Chichicastenango and Panajachel
⏰ Duration: 10 hours
🌎 Highlights: visiting authentic towns around Lake Atitlan, with beautiful views of the lake
An amazing day trip from Antigua is a tour to both Chichicastenango and Panajachel. Two towns in Guatemala that are full of life, culture and history, located near the beautiful Lake Atitlan.
During a day trip to the villages, you will visit the town of Chichicastenango and shop in its open-air market, take a stroll down Santander Street in Panajachel and learn about the history of Lake Atitlans ‘capital’ and main town. And of course, you’ll be able to see some of the most beautiful views of Lago De Atitlan.
You can either do this as part of a guided tour, or visit the villages by yourself with a hire car. ➡ Check car hire prices in Guatemala now!
Visiting Antigua during the month of September? Check out the Guatemala Independence Day festivities!
6. ATV tour of the surrounding mountains
🚌 Guided tour: Sunset ATV Tour | ATV Coffee Tour
⏰ Duration: 3-5 hours
🌎 Highlights: driving an ATV around Antigua, visiting a coffee plantation and driving to scenic viewpoints to overlook the city. Some ATV tours also include a trip to Hobbitenango!
There are many ATV tours that you can do around Antigua. This is one of the best ways to see more of the city and to head into the surrounding mountains, coffee plantations and villages. On most ATV trips, you will also drive up to the most scenic viewpoint in the city; Cerro de la Cruz.
Related post: Best Things To Do In Antigua In 3 Days
7. Iximche Pyramids
🚌 Guided tour: Iximche Pyramids Tour
⏰ Duration: 10-11 hours
🌎 Highlights: discovering the 15th-century Mayan city of Iximche, the colorful culture and bustling markets of Chichicastenango, walk around the archeological site
One of the most underrated things to do in Guatemala is to take a trip to the Iximche Pyramids. Visiting the ancient ruins is an interesting and fascinating way to delve into the history of the Mayan Culture, and it makes a great day trip from Antigua.
Located in the Western Highlands, you’ll walk around a site made from the ruins of temples, pyramids and plazas. It’s especially good if you don’t have time to make a trip to the Tikal ruins.
You can either do this as part of a guided tour, or visit the pyramids by yourself with a hire car. ➡ Check car hire prices in Guatemala now!
8. Ciudad Vieja
🚌 Guided tour: Ciudad Vieja Local Schools Tour
⏰ Duration: 3-4 hours
🌎 Highlights: immersing yourself in Guatemalan culture by boarding the local ‘chicken buses’ and visiting some local schools, touring a chicken bus factory and seeing the colourful streets of Ciudad Vieja.
Ciudad Vieja is a colourful town just outside of Antigua. If you fancy doing something different, a trip to Ciudad Vieja should be on the cards.
Ciudad Vieja was once the capital city of Guatemala, but a catastrophic natural disaster meant the locals and survivors had to move on. The ‘new’ Ciudad Vieja is now a bustling city that you can visit and admire for its colonial buildings and architecture.
You can either do this as part of a guided tour, or visit Ciudad Vieja by yourself with a hire car. ➡ Check car hire prices in Guatemala now!
9. Los Tarrales Natural Reserve
🚌 Guided tour: Hiking and Birding Day Tour
⏰ Duration: 8-10 hours
🌎 Highlights: birdwatching, spotting wildlife such as deer, coatis, squirrels, monkeys and if you’re lucky, pumas!
Los Tarrales is a 1,300-hectare private reserve near to Lake Atitlan. It can be visited as a day trip from Antigua, or you can stay in the village of San Lucas overnight. It’s the perfect tour for those who want to re-connect with nature, participate in bird watching and visit some traditional Mayan Villages.
You can either do this as part of a guided tour, or visit Los Tarrales by yourself with a hire car. ➡ Check car hire prices in Guatemala now!
10. Altamira Nature Park
🚌 Guided tour: Altamira Day Trip
⏰ Duration: 7-8 hours
🌎 Highlights: climbing on the gigantic wooden structures overlooking the mountains and surrounding volcanoes!
Altamira is a great day trip from Antigua that can be paired with Hobbitenango. It’s an ecological park with large wooden structures of giants – and it looks as if it’s straight out of a movie set! It’s a great place to take photos, enjoy the scenery and be a kid again!
You can either do this as part of a guided tour, or visit Altamira Nature Park by yourself with a hire car. ➡ Check car hire prices in Guatemala now!
11. Monterrico Beach
🚌 Guided tour: Monterrico Beach Tour
⏰ Duration: 10 hours
🌎 Highlights: black sand beaches, birdwatching, sugar cane fields and views of the surrounding volcanoes
Monterrico is a black sand beach around 2 hours from Antigua Guatemala. It’s the perfect day trip for those wanting to escape the bustle of the city and sunbathe, swim in the ocean and experience one of Guatemala’s prettiest beaches.
Want to stay on Monterrico Beach for a few nights? Stay in Cabo Tortuga Bungalows and get the shuttle there from Antigua.
12. Guatemala City
🚌 Guided tour: Guatemala City Tour
⏰ Duration: 10 hours
🌎 Highlights: tours of both Guatemala City and Antigua
Whilst Guatemala City isn’t normally on a backpacking route, it’s a unique day out for those wanting to experience the capital city.
If you’re worried about safety in Guatemala City (always check the Gov.uk site for updated information), I recommend taking a guided tour. This way you’ll always have someone to show you the safe (and not-so-safe areas) when visiting.
Want to stay in Guatemala City for a few nights? Stay in Hostel Los Lagos, and get the shuttle across from Antigua.
Need to book a transfer from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua? Check out the dates and prices for the shared shuttle here!
13. El Paredon Beach
🚌 Guided tour: Surfing Day Trip To El Paredon
⏰ Duration: 10 hours
🌎 Highlights: Board rental, access to a beachfront pool, surfing lessons and round-trip transport
El Paredon is known for being the best surfing beach in Guatemala. If you’re not planning on staying in El Paredon whilst backpacking in Guatemala, taking this 10-hour day trip is a great way to see some of the Guatemalan coast.
Want to stay in El Paredon for a few nights? Stay in Mellow Hostel, and get the shuttle down from Antigua. It’s a sleepy beach town, but it’s worth staying overnight if you have a few days spare!
14. Ancient Tikal Ruins
🚌 Guided tour: Tikal Round Trip With Flights
⏰ Duration: 17 hours
🌎 Highlights: Visiting the Tikal Mayan Ruins, with round-trip flights included
Now this really is a luxury option when looking at day trips from Antigua Guatemala, but if you’re short on time whilst backpacking Guatemala, it’s absolutely worth it. Tikal was one of our favourite experiences whilst in Guatemala, and it’s one that shouldn’t be missed (even if you’re not a big history fan).
Driving to Tikal from Antigua will take over 11 hours, so it’s not doable as a day trip on land. If you want to experience Tikal in a day from Antigua, you will need to fly. The best option for making sure your day is as successful as possible is by booking a guided tour.
If you’re contemplating whether the trip to Tikal is worth it or not, check out my detailed opinion on visiting Tikal here.
15. Copan, Honduras
🚌 Guided tour: Copan Day Trip From Antigua
⏰ Duration: 14 hours
🌎 Highlights: Visiting the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Mayan Empire’s Yax Kuk Mo dynasty, Copán’s Great Plaza, Acropolis, stelae and ball court, exploration of underground tunnels.
Whilst you might not think about visiting a different country for a day trip from Antigua, it is possible! If you have the budget to spare, a tour of the Copan Ruins in the neighbouring country of Honduras is one of the best days out from Antigua.
I wouldn’t recommend doing this without a guided tour unless you have the luxury of time and can stay overnight in Honduras. If you’d like a round-trip day trip, this is the best tour to book.
Bucket list tours in Antigua, Guatemala
If you’re looking for some bucket-list experiences, check out some of the following bucket-list tours and day trips from Antigua Guatemala!
🌋 Hiking Pacaya or Acatenango Volcano ➡ check prices and availability here
☕️ Coffee tour in the mountains ➡ check prices and availability here
🚤 Lake Atitlan cruise and sightseeing tour ➡ check prices and availability here
🍫 Bean-to-bar chocolate making workshop ➡ check prices and availability here
🚶🏼♂️Informational walking tour of Antigua ➡ check prices and availability here
🇬🇹 Chichicastenango and Iximche Pyramids ➡ check prices and availability here
Related post: Best Things To Do In Antigua In 3 Days | Guatemala Independence Day: September
Where to stay in Antigua Guatemala
There are so many amazing hostels to choose from in Antigua that it’s hard to pick the best one! However, after staying in some myself, and talking to other backpackers, we’ve found these are the most popular choices.
Remember: things change quickly when it comes to hostels! Make sure you always read the reviews first.
- Somos: a social hostel with amazing rooftop views
- Hostel Antigueno: another social hostel with a large communal garden
- The Purpose Hostel: beautiful rooftop views of all 3 volcanos
- Barbara’s Boutique Hostel: the most expensive hostel in Antigua, but also one of the most luxurious!
- Casi Casa: a ‘home away from home‘ kind of hostel with comfy beds, a roof terrace and homemade breakfast
- Tropicana: best for solo travellers wanting to party in Antigua!
Did you know I have a whole post dedicated to helping you backpack Guatemala? From routes, itineraries, what to do, where to eat, what not to miss and everything in between! It’s a one-stop backpacking Guatemala guide – don’t forget to check it out!
Day Trips From Antigua, Guatemala: FAQs
1. How many days do you need in Antigua Guatemala?
Ideally, you will have enough time on your trip to spend at least 3-5 days in Antigua. I highly recommend 3 days at a minimum. There is so much to do, see and explore in Antigua, and it’s a city you will most likely fall in love with. You will not want to leave, trust me!
Related post: Best Things To Do In Antigua In 3 Days
2. Can you do a day trip to Lake Atitlan from Antigua?
Yes, it is possible to do a day trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. If you only have one day, I recommend leaving Antigua early (between 6am-7am) to make the most of your trip to the lake. If your budget allows, it’s best to book a guided tour to ensure you don’t miss anything!
➡️ View all Lake Atitlan guided tours here.
3. Where do I go after Antigua?
Antigua may be at the start or the end of your Guatemalan trip. If you’re unsure about where to go next, I’ve listed some of the most popular options below.
🇬🇹 Lake Atitlan: If you’re staying in Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is just a 2-hour drive away. ➡ Full Antigua to Lake Atitlan guide here.
🇬🇹 El Paredon: Some backpackers go to the coast after Antigua, especially if you’d like to spend time surfing. You can book shuttles from Antigua to El Paredon easily in town or online here.
🇬🇹 Semuc Champey: If you’re travelling north, there are plenty of shuttles that run from Antigua to Lanquin for Semuc Champey. ➡ Full Antigua to Semuc Champey guide here.
✈️ Fly out of the country from Guatemala City airport. If you would like to fly to a different country, Guatemala City is a short 60-minute drive from Antigua. You can also save time on a shuttle and fly direct from Guatemala City > Flores.
🇸🇻 El Salvador: backpacking Central America? The most popular option is to travel south and head to Santa Ana in El Salvador. 🫣 Not sure about visiting El Salvador? Check out my honest opinion on safety here!
🇭🇳 Honduras: we had some friends who went directly from Antigua to Honduras. Again, shuttles can be easily booked from the city centre in Antigua or pre-booked online here.
🇧🇿 Belize: Whilst it will take a while to get from Antigua to Belize, it can be done over 2 days. I do recommend stopping off in Flores, first though, otherwise that’s a hectic few days of travel! Your first stop from Guatemala in Belize will be San Ignacio.
4. Is Antigua Guatemala worth it?
Yes, yes and yes again! Antigua is one of the most beautiful parts of Guatemala. With its cobbled streets surrounded by volcanoes, colourful flowers lining the streets, bustling markets, modern restaurants and bars, a variety of cosy coffee shops and an abundance of things to do – it is an unmissable place to visit in Guatemala.
Plus, it has some of the best coffee in the country. You can’t ask for much more, right?! If I’m honest, we even preferred Antigua to Lake Atitlan! 🫣
Related post: Best Things To Do In Antigua In 3 Days | Is Guatemala Safe for Solo Female Travellers?
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Day Trips From Antigua, Guatemala: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best day trips from Antigua, Guatemala. When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
🇬🇹 Where to next?
- 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala: The Perfect Itinerary
- Best Time to Visit Guatemala: Complete Guide
- Backpacking Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide + ROUTES
- Guatemala Independence Day: Everything You Need To Know!
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
