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Walking in the streets of Antigua Guatemala

You can still feel the calm and peaceful ambience of a place not so transformed by the last generations. Pure air, a constant view of the three volcanoes that surround the city and gracious people that still salute and wish you a nice day as you pass by. Antigua Guatemala has been protected by a national law for the conservation of the world´s historical cities and has more than 40 authentic buildings from the colonial times. Today, as you walk in Antigua Guatemala you can find a lot of little businesses selling handicrafted textile and wood ornaments mostly made by artisans of town and other rural areas of Guatemala. Also enough Hotels, Restaurants, Bars and Spa treatments all over town. Sidewalks can get a little hard to walk so you have to bring comfortable shoes and maybe a cane. Cobblestone streets look beautiful and most of the fachades still conserve the authentic architecture.

Antigua Guatemala as a travel hub

Antigua Guatemala is located 45 minutes from the International Airport and is very easy to get there in a shuttle, taxi or car. Car rentals are available at the airport as you arrive or can be booked through the internet when you plan your trip. Other places to visit in Guatemala may include the most touristic areas: Lake Atitlan, Peten and the Mayan Ruins, Verapaz and the natural Jungle, the Pacific and other beautiful areas. Antigua Guatemala is where most of the tour operators that can take you places in the country have offices and can be accesible through the Hotels or in an easy walk in Town. You have to be the most careful possible to pick a trustable or recommended service so you can prevent any inconvinience.

One Minute History Lesson

In their quest for a place to settle, the Spanish colonizers had to battle the Maya locals several times. They did not found a good place until 1543 where a city was originally founded with the name of "Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala" now Antigua Guatemala. The population grew Antique Art and Architecutal greatness has been preserved in town. It is said that the European Baroque styles did not reach this area until the late 1600´s and the mixture with maya ingigenous art is exposed in religious painting and church fachade sculptures. Through the 1800´s and 1900´s the city had very few population. Coffee farmers from Germany and other foreign areas installed coffee plantations in the surrounding of town, due to the good altitude and climate that the area provided. In 1976 a new earthquake hit the country and Antigua Guatemala suffered a lot. The United Nations then decided to declare the city as World Heritage Site and helped form a Conservation Program to help the city stay authentic.

How to Exchange money in Antigua Guatemala

The most used foreign currency is the United States Dollar. To exchange US Dollars to Quetzales you have to go to a bank. There is no kiosks or exchange houses. Almost all bank agencies Antigua Guatemala are very little and located near the Central Park.
BAC (Banco de America Central):
Only $100 USD or more and charge a 12 Quetzales comission for each money exchange transaction.
Banco Reformador:
Only from Monday to Friday. Go first to customer service, they give you a paper and then go to the bank clerk. Saturdays only account holders.
GyT Continental Bank:
Only foreigners with your passport. Local residents have to deposit the dollars in personal account in order to exchange it.