Heading to Guatemala City for a family members wedding in July and I'm curious what things others in this group might have done in the area.

We'll stay a couple nights at the Westin Camino Real in Zone 10 and I'm considering doing a rum tasting that's within walking distance. Also may travel a little to a coffee plantation for a half day tour.

Any ideas that are just do's? My wife will be completing her Pediatric Residency in June so we'll have cause for celebration. We also have secured childcare for the entire week so it will be just my wife and I!

I lived in Guatemala City for seven years and think it's severely underrated. It's easily my favorite capital in Central America. Zone 4 is a great area for dinner and drinks. You can walk there from your hotel, but take an Uber or taxi at night. Paseo Cayala is another nice area to walk around, eat, and have drinks. It's about 15 minutes from you without traffic and has a great view overlooking the city.

Zone 1 (Centro Histrico) can also be fun, if that is your kind of thing. The main street, Sexta Avenida, has a lot of restaurants and shops. There is a hotel on the main street there with a good bar, although the name of the hotel escapes me.

If you can manage a trip to Antigua, I would definitely recommend it. An overnight stay would be ideal, but it also makes for an easy day trip (you can take an Uber or arrange with the hotel). I spent many weekends in Antigua when I lived there.

There's a coffee plantation next to Antigua in Jocotenango. I have never been on the tour, but I've been to the restaurant there several times. Jocotenango also has a nice market on the weekends.

If you have the time, then definitely try to make it to Lake Atitln. I think it is only really worth it if you have at least two nights there, though. Since you are only there for a week and must attend a wedding, you may be better off sticking to Guatemala City and Antigua.

Have fun! I miss Guatemala every day.

I'd highly recommend going to Antigua.

Thanks for the feedback so far everyone. We could definitely work some time in to head to Antigua. Just curious, what's the draw?

My wife and I are novice travelers and it makes me more comfortable when I have a plan in my mind before I go somewhere. Curious what there is worth doing in that area.

Antigua is just plain beautiful. You can do as much or as little as you want. You can take an excursion to hike a volcano, or just walk around town and see old churches. Walk up to the overview and get a nice view of the city. Have a nice lunch in an old villa. Get an excellent cup of coffee (not at Starbucks, though their Starbucks is worth a look inside...as is the McDonalds). Get an helado in parque central. Spend a few hours just chilling. It's worth visiting just to see how such an old city is still so well-preserved.

It's a colonial town--with cobblestone streets. It has a lot of charm. You could enjoy a cafe, stroll through the markets, visit a spa. If you feel uncomfortable staying the night, you could just go for the day. There are a lot of international tourists there--we were surprised to see all the backpackers there. We stayed at the Camino Real Antigua for a work conference, but we had a lovely dinner at the Casa Santo Domingo---https://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/ , but the website doesn't do it justice.

supermanrv said:

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It's a colonial town--with cobblestone streets. It has a lot of charm. You could enjoy a cafe, stroll through the markets, visit a spa. If you feel uncomfortable staying the night, you could just go for the day. There are a lot of international tourists there--we were surprised to see all the backpackers there. We stayed at the Camino Real Antigua for a work conference, but we had a lovely dinner at the Casa Santo Domingo---https://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/ , but the website doesn't do it justice.

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Back in my younger years I was one of those backpackers. Loved Antigua and Guatemala. Atitlan also.

Coolest place I went was Sumec Champey. Not sure of the distance from GC or how safe it is these days, but definitely recommend!