Fun Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala with Kids
Antigua, Guatemala is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top destinations in Central America.
Known for its cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, and rich history, it seemed like the perfect destination to visit with kids.
As a Spanish and Education major in college, many of my former classmates and professors have recommended Antigua for their Spanish schools. Thanks to their recommendations, I figured it would also be a great place to practice my Spanish!
We visited Antigua as part of a 10-day trip to Guatemala. You can find my family-friendly Guatemala itinerary here!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Planning Your Trip to Antigua, Guatemala
Getting There
The closest airport to Antigua is La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City (GUA).
Antigua is only 45 minutes from the airport, but you can expect the drive to take longer with traffic.
We hired a private shuttle to transfer us to and from the airport. We arranged for a driver through our Airbnb in Lake Atitlán. The company is called Relaxicab, and we had a great experience with our driver, Carlos. We ended up canceling our scheduled drive back to the airport that I had booked through DayTrip so we could us Carlos again after he drove us from the airport to Lake Atitlan, and again from Lake Atitlan to Antigua.
Where to Stay
We were a group of 8 during our visit to Antigua with 2 grandparents, 2 parents, and 4 kids.
I searched extensively for hotels that accommodate groups of 4 so we could divide ourselves into 2 groups, but struggled to find an option we liked for a reasonable price.
We ended up choosing an Airbnb with a private pool that was about a 10-minute walk from the city center.
If you prefer hotels to vacation rentals, I would recommend checking out El Convento Boutique Hotel, which has incredible reviews and looks like such a unique stay!
Best Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala with Kids
We had 2 and a half days to explore Antiqua, Guatemala, and we were able to fit a lot into our time there!
Visit the Main Square
The main plaza in Antigua is called Parque Central (or Central Park) and is a great place to hang out and let kids run around. This popular spot in the heart of the old town is lined with street vendors, benches in the shade, and both locals and tourists enjoying their day.
There's also a beautiful fountain at the center of the square called La Fuente de las Sirenas.
We passed by the square several times each day, and it was the perfect spot to rest after a lot of walking. We also loved letting the kids play for a bit here while the adults decided what we wanted to do next.
See the Views from Cerro de la Cruz
This was one thing on our list of things we wanted to do while we were in Antigua that we didn't end up doing.
Cerro de la Cruz, or Hill of the Cross, is a viewpoint overlooking the city of Antigua set against the backdrop of a volcano. It's a popular spot to visit in Antigua, and many people choose to hike up to the top.
For safety, however, I have read that it is better to take a tuk-tuk to the top. This was our plan until we found out how much the tuk tuk drivers were charging. After taking several tuk-tuks at a very affordable price in Lake Atitlán, we felt the price was a little steep for us, so we decided to opt out of this experience.
Take a Chocolate Making Class
One of the kids' favorite things to do in Antigua was a chocolate-making class at ChocoMuseo. ChocoMuseo is located along the main plaza, so it's very easy to find.
We scheduled the Mini Chocolate Workshop for the last evening of our visit to Antigua. You can book your class ahead of time on the website.
The Mini Workshop lasts about an hour, and everyone gets to make their own chocolate bar with the toppings of their choice. While the chocolate bars are hardening in the freezer, you learn about the chocolate-making process in Guatemala and try out some of the steps for yourself.
The workshop leader was very engaging and made sure each of the kids felt involved.
The shop has plenty of chocolate treats for purchase, as well as ice cream, which we enjoyed outside on a warm evening in Guatemala overlooking Parque Central.
Visit the Markets
We spent hours walking around Antigua with the kids looking for souvenirs. There are vendors all around the city, but some of the main spots you can find textiles, hats, souvenirs, art, and more are in the main plaza, in the Mercadito, and around Parque La Merced.
The Mercadito was our favorite spot, and the entrance is located to the west of the main plaza across 5ta Avenida. This handicraft market is so colorful with a variety of booths to choose from. Just be aware that vendors will try to get your attention and bargain with you, so be polite but firm.
Parque La Merced is a large plaza just past the Santa Catalina Arch in front of the yellow church (Iglesia de La Merced). I saw lots of great art around this area, but didn't end up buying anything because I kept getting distracted by my kids.
Take Pictures by the Santa Catalina Arch
The Santa Catalina Arch is the iconic yellow arch you see in all of the photos of Antigua. It's one of the best places to go for photos. Early morning is the best time of day to go to avoid the crowds.
We arrived before 9 a.m. on our last full day in Antigua, and while there were a few people wandering around, we were easily able to get some family photos without too many people in the background.
The Arco de Santa Catalina is one of the most popular landmarks in Guatemala, so don't skip getting a photo there!
Try Guatemalan Cuisine
We are definitely not a foodie family, but I do like to try the local cuisine if I can. On our guided volcano tour (more on that in a bit), we asked our local guide for restaurant recommendations for authentic Guatemalan food, and he suggested La Fonda de la Calle Real.
Try the pepian de Pollo, one of my favorite dishes in Guatemala. The fresh tortillas were also a hit with the whole family!
This restaurant is a bit more on the fancy and expensive side, but kids are certainly welcome. Just promise them some McFlurries from the most beautiful McDonalds in the world if they try some of the amazing local food! (We are not above bribery in our family).
Stop at the Most Beautiful McDonalds in the World
Mcdonalds in Antigua is hardly a cultural experience, but it's fun to see how it's different from McDonalds in the United States. Plus, it's one of the most beautiful McDonalds locations in the world with a lush courtyard out back full of plants, fountains, and seating areas.
The kids especially loved the throwback Ronald McDonald and Grimace statues, along with the swingset in the shape of the golden arches!
We decided to visit this McDonalds for dessert after an authentic Guatemalan meal to let the kids run around for a bit. On a clear day you can even see volcano views from the courtyard!
Climb an Active Volcano
One of the most exciting things we did when we visited Antigua was taking a day trip to climb Pacaya Volcano. There are 3 active volcanoes near Antigua: Pacaya, Fuego, and Acatenango. Pacaya is said to be the easiest to hike with kids.
We booked a private guided tour since I had a hard time finding small group tours that accepted kids. We also had grandparents with us, so it was nice to be able to go at our own pace.
I found our certified tour guide, Diego Perez, in a Facebook group about Guatemala Travel, and he came highly recommended by several people in the group. You can find his information here. I contacted him via WhatsApp and arranged our tour over text.
The tour included private transportation to and from Pacaya for our group of 8, an expert guide to take us to the lava field and back, and a marshmallow roasting experience on top of the volcano. The price was $385 plus tips for our group of 8 including everything listed above.
You can certainly arrange your own transportation, pay the entrance fee to Pacaya National Park, and hike on your own, but I truly believe that seeing the volcano with a tour guide is the best way to do it, both for safety and education purposes.
The hike was quite difficult, and we ended up paying for horses fo the kids to ride to the top and back down since the incline was so steep. I'm happy we did it, and so proud of the kids for giving the hike a try before begging for horses.
The entire experience took about half a day. We left at 6:00 a.m. and we were back in Antigua by the early afternoon.
Acatenango Volcano hike is supposed to be amazing, but also much more difficult, so I would stick to Pacaya if you have kids, especially if you're not used to intense hikes. Some people even camp overnight on Acatenango to see Volcan de Fuego errupt. Maybe someday when the kids are older!
Other Things to Do in Guatemala with Kids
If you want to visit other destination in Guatemala after you spend time in Antigua, here are a few suggestions.
Visit Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan was one of the most unique travel experiences we've ever had. The best and safest way to get from city to city is by taking lancha speed boats across the lake.
Each town along Lake Atitlan has its own unique vibe and culture, and there are so many wonderful markets, restaurants, plazas, and experiences.
We took the entire family ziplining at Reserva Natural Atitlan, from our youngest child at age 4 to the grandparents in their 60s.
This is a beautiful destination to relax, shop, and have a little adventure.
You can read my whole blog post here!
Visit Tikal National Park
Tikal National Park was my personal favorite experience in Guatemala. We took a direct flight from Guatemala City to Flores and stayed at a luxury boutique hotel called Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel. (The grandparents left for home for this part of the trip, so our family of 6 stayed in connecting rooms at Las Lagunas).
We booked a private sunset tour of Tikal National Park through our hotel, and had the best experience seeing the ancient Mayan ruins, spider monkeys, toucans, parrots, and tarantulas, and watching the sunset from on top of a Mayan pyramid.
I still need to write up our experience here, so stay tuned for a blog post with all the details soon!
DON’T FORGET IT! PIN IT!
Emily Krause is a Wisconsin-based travel content creator who writes about exploring the world with kids.
On A Mom Explores you’ll find the best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
