Activities in Antigua
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Academia de Español Antigueña
A highly recommended school, only hiring experienced teachers. They can arrange volunteer work in hospitals for social workers, lab assistants and child care workers on request. Also supports an educational project in San Antonio Aguas Calientes.
reviewed
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Ravenscroft Riding Stables
Ravenscroft Riding Stables, 3km south of Antigua on the road to Santa María de Jesús, offers English-style riding, with scenic rides of three, four or five hours in the valleys and hills around Antigua. You need to be fairly fit. Reservations and information are available through the Hotel San Jorge. You can reach the stables on a bus bound for Santa María de Jesús.
reviewed
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Escuela de Español San José el Viejo
Professional, 30-teacher school with pool, superb gardens, tennis court and its own tasteful accommodations.
reviewed
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Volcano Ascents
All three volcanoes overlooking Antigua are tempting challenges but how close you can get to Fuego depends on recent levels of activity. In many ways the twin-peaked Acatenango, the highest of the three and overlooking Fuego, is the most exhilarating summit. For an active-volcano experience many people take tours to Pacaya (2552m), 25km southeast of Antigua (a 1½-hour drive).
In general the weather and the views on all the volcanoes are better in the morning. In the rainy season (May to October) thunderstorms are possible in the afternoon. Get reliable advice about safety before you climb, for example from the Inguat tourist office, or from your embassy in Guatemala City…
reviewed
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D
Antigua Tours
Elizabeth Bell, author of books on Antigua, leads three-hour cultural walking tours of the town (in English and/or Spanish) on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday. On Monday & Thursday, the tours are led by her colleague Roberto Spillari. Reservations are suggested and can be made through Antigua Tours which is inside the Casa Santo Domingo Hotel.
Bell's book, Antigua Guatemala: The City and Its Heritage, is well worth picking up at a bookstore: it describes all the city's important buildings and museums, and neatly encapsulates Antigua's history and fiestas. Writer Elizabeth Bell also gives a fascinating one-hour English-language slide show about Antigua called Behind …
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E
Old Town Outfitters
Professional and friendly outfit offering volcano ascents, guided walks and mountain bike tours. You can either do a volcano day trip or an overnight trip, camping up in the mountains. Try a guided half-day walk in the hills around Antigua, go to any summit in the country, or try a three-day trek through eastern Guatemala's Sierra de las Minas, with its cloud forests.
This outfit also rents out quality bikes with gloves, helmets and maps; offers a range of mountain-bike tours at all levels of difficulty, including the two-day Pedal & Paddle Tour, which includes kayaking and hiking at Lago de Atitlán; and it rents out and sells camping gear.
reviewed
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Guatemala Ventures/Mayan Bike Tours
This outfit offers volcano ascents and mountain bike tours. Volcano ascents take you to Agua, and for those a bit more adventurous they offer hike-and-bike tours to Pacaya volcano. They also offer some interesting cloud-forest, bird-watching and ridge-hiking options. You can rent out good mountain bikes here too (by the hour or by the day) and there are some tasty bike tours, from intermediate to expert levels, on offer.
This outfit also does bike-and-kayak trips to Lago de Atitlán and Monterrico (both two days). Another, lazier option is its trip up Cerro Alto in a minibus with a coast back down on mountain bike.
reviewed
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Ixchel Spanish School
Comfortable, welcoming school with enjoyable group activities and lush garden. Has information on more than 50 volunteer projects in the area, ranging from helping in hospitals and orphanages to working as an assistant teacher in a local school as well as construction work and reforestation projects.
reviewed
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Vision Travel & Information Services
Tours to places ranging from Tikal to local coffee fincas (plantations) are offered here, as are shuttle services and many guidebooks (including Lonely Planet titles) to buy or simply read on the spot. Also offers daily city walking tours, visiting a variety of convents, ruins and museums.
reviewed
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Centro Lingüístico De La Fuente
Offers volunteer positions as classroom assistants, hospital workers and in local orphanages. Supports local projects to fund an ambulance service in Antigua and provide school supplies to economically underprivileged schoolchildren in local villages.
reviewed
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Academia de Español Sevilla
This school has a good free activity program, and offers a shared student house as an accommodation option. Can arrange volunteer work in the local orphanage, home for the aged, hospitals and other community projects.
reviewed
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Antigua Cooking School
Antigua Cooking School offers classes in traditional Guatemalan cooking, preparing classics like corn tamales, subanik, pepian and chuchitos. Classes are available Tuesday through Saturday.
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Adventure Travel Center
Reputable and reliable service. Offers daily city walking tours, visiting a variety of convents, ruins and museums. Also does interesting tours of assorted villages and coffee or macadamia plantations.
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Probigua
A highly regarded, nonprofit school helping Guatemalan children by donating the school's profits to establish and maintain libraries in the many rural villages where there is no access to books.
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Casa de Lenguas Guatemala
Volunteer opportunities for social workers, teachers, health-care professionals and in environmental, nature and wildlife programs as well as construction of low-cost housing and classrooms.
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Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín
Antigua's oldest Spanish school, founded in 1971; run by a nonprofit foundation working to preserve Mayan languages and culture. Courses in some of these are also available.
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Academia de Español Tecún Umán
Organizes volunteer placement with Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro (a local hospital) and the project Familias de Esperanza (doing education and medical work).
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Ox Expeditions
Ox Expeditions are a new outfit offering rigorous climbing opportunities in the area. Part of its profits goes to local environmental projects.
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Adrenalina Tours
Specialists in the western Highlands; can arrange everything from tours and shuttles to domestic and international flights.
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La Salsa
Learn dancing here. This place comes highly recommended, both for teaching style and lack of 'sleaze factor.'
reviewed
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Chichicastenago and Panajachel Day Trip from Antigua
9 hours (Departs Antigua, Guatemala)
by Viator
Visit the towns of Panajachel and Chichicastenango on this day trip from Antigua. In Chichiscastenango, discover its main attraction, the local open-air market,…Not LP reviewed
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Tikal Day Trip by Air from Antigua with Lunch
10 hours (Departs Antigua, Guatemala)
by Viator
Discover the beauty and ancient history of the Mayan ruins of Tikal on this air tour from Antigua! Enjoy a scenic flight to Tikal and spend the day exploring th…Not LP reviewed
from USD$369.99 -
Antigua City Sightseeing Tour
8 hours (Departs Antigua, Guatemala)
by Viator
Discover the history and beauty of one of the oldest cities in the Americas on this day tour of Antigua! Visit the Museo del Jade (Jade Museum), La Merced Churc…Not LP reviewed
from USD$59.99 -
Copan and Quirigua Overnight Trip from Antigua
2 days (Departs Antigua, Guatemala)
by Viator
Take an overnight trip to Copan and Quirigua from Antigua and discover the beauty of these ancient ruins. After a scenic drive in a comfortable vehicle, spend y…Not LP reviewed
from USD$329.99 -
Iximché Ruins and Antigua City Tour
8 hours (Departs Antigua, Guatemala)
by Viator
Experience Guatemala’s mixture of Spanish and Mayan influences on this full-day tour of Iximché and Antigua. Learn about Mayan history from your knowledgeable g…Not LP reviewed
from USD$74.99
