A patchwork grid of charming passageways and cobbled streets that’s peppered with looming remnants of Spanish colonialism forms the heart of magnificent Antigua Guatemala; a UNESCO-attested city encompassed by soaring volcanic calderas draped in mist, endless seas of verdant coffee plantations and the looming mountains of Mesoamerica.
With so many must see historical and cultural sites crammed into the centre here, it may be a good idea to ask your Antigua Guatemala tour guide for a walking route around the old town that radiates outwards from the Parque Central, encompassing the exquisite Cathedral de Santiago, the old el Palacio, the various Spanish archways and the beautiful Iglesia La Merced. Then, why not hit the acclaimed Casa Santo Domingo, where it’s possible to enjoy a chilled cerveza in the heart of a classic colonial reliquary.
And let’s not forget the ever-present peaks of Fuego, Acatenango and Pacaya standing ominously on the horizon; veritable meccas for hikers and intrepid types looking to wind their way to the very roof of Central America.