SPEND FOUR DAYS IN GUATEMALA WITH ME

Quick destinations that don’t require long flights or a big shift in time zones are some of my favorites. For my 26th birthday this year, I knew that I wanted to get away without sacrificing too many PTO days. After some research, I set my sights on Antigua, Guatemala. Known for its hiking and volcanoes, as well as the picturesque nearby Lake Atitlán, I knew this was the perfect vacation. Add in only a 5-hr flight from NYC, and I was sold.

Keep reading for recommendations and what we did while in Antigua!

Cobblestone streets in the old town, with views of the mountains from every street.

Explore on Foot

Many visitors to Antigua tend to stay, eat and shop in the old town. With cobblestone streets, colorful homes and villas, it’s relatively tiny and can be largely explored on foot in one day. We did so on our first day, getting to know the shops and area around us. Most of the restaurants are in this district, so we found ourselves walking the city a lot, becoming quite familiar with the parks and attractions near us, like the Santa Catalina Arch. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1970’s, I found the architecture of the city, which is largely influenced by the colonial style, to be an interesting cross between this, and the innate desire of many warm climates, to accent with color and, most impressively, disregard the “rules” that dictate what most consider to be correct. Walking the streets of the old town offers a glimpse into the locals lives, and is one of my favorite ways to explore a new city and learn about its architecture, and by default, its people.

Approaching Santiago, a Mayan Village on the lake.

Tour Lake Atitlán

You’ve likely seen many posts revolving around Lake Atitlán, one of Guatemala’s most visited destinations. Inhabited on all sides by Mayan villages, the Lake is a must-visit! We sadly did not stay on the Lake (I highly recommend doing so, though) and instead hired a driver to pick us up from our hotel in Antigua. We drove to Panajachel, from there taking a boat across the Lake to one of the tiny villages, Santiago. Still home to many of Mayan descent, we met a few locals, stopped in a religious temple, and did some shopping, where i picked up beautiful ceramics made with Volanic ash, as well as earring produced from jade. Jade is one of Guatemala’s most produced stones, and you can practically find anywhere. Fe careful of fake jade - always ask vendors to scratch the stone before you purchase, as real jade won’t leave a mark.

The view from our balcony was perfect.

Stay at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo

I typically tend to stay in Airbnbs when I travel, but we knew we wanted to splurge a bit on this one. We chose Hotel Casa Santo Domingo after hearing pretty good recommendations from my friends sister, who had stayed there for a work trip. Part museum, spa and hotel, the stay was incredible - a gorgeous room with a balcony, a pool with views to the volcanoes and mountains - the grounds alone made you feel like you were walking in a fairy tale.

While Antigua has it’s share of hotels, I highly recommend staying here!

My favorite shop - we picked up pottery and jewelry made from volcanic ash.

Shopping (and bargaining)

We spent a good amount of time shopping in Antigua and in the villages we visited along the Lake. My favorite finds include the pottery and jewelry, along with little sisal baskets I picked up as gifts.

Tending to stay away from woven pieces, like the ponchos, blankets and linens, was a challenge - I felt compelled to purchase one, but couldn’t find one that I really liked. Many of the prints seemed pretty standard, and there was no one piece that struck my eye. When traveling, I often feel the urge to purchase something just because - but am finding that more meaningful pieces, like jewelry, that accent your everyday style, is more worth it in the long run.

Just a note: please bargain. Many of the locals expect this, even asking you before they tell you the price, to tell them how much you want to pay. Growing up, my mom frequently bargained when we shopped in the markets in Mumbai - I was always embarrassed, and thought “Mom, this is their livelihood.” Of course, it gets to a point where you must be respectful of one’s craft, but it’s truly a part of the culture.

We also explored Hobbitenango, the hobbit village/park with games and restaurant, that was cute and entertaining (you may know the giant hand that everyone is so fond of.)

Being 5000 ft above sea level, I was sleepy a majority of the trip - but that fit the vibe of the city, with most of our days planned only the night beforehand, if not that very same day. A perfect quick trip in my book <3