Being an artist myself and living on the Rio, I LOVE Antigua! The cooler climate makes evenings wonderful to explore the town to dine and visit shops.

Antigua Guatemala means the "old city of Guatemala". It was founded on March 10, 1543. and served as Spanish colonial capital of Central America. The conquistadores named the city La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala ("The Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Santiago of the Knights of Guatemala"), in honor of their patron saint, Santiago, or St. James.

In 1773, it suffered two severe earthquakes, which destroyed much of the town. The Spanish Crown ordered the city rebuilt at a safer location, where what is now Guatemala City, the modern capital of Guatemala. In 1776 the badly damaged city was ordered abandoned, although not everyone left.

Three large volcanoes dominate the horizon around Antigua. The most commanding, to the south of the city, is the Volcán de Agua or "Volcano of Water", some 3766 meters high. It is so named because the crater atop it was formerly filled with water. Shortly after the Spanish conquest of Guatemala, the first capital was on a site part way up this mountain, which was destroyed by a flood and mudslide when an earthquake let loose the water from the crater, and the city of Guatemala was moved down the valley to the current Antigua. The original site is a village now known as "Ciudad Vieja".

To the west of the city are a pair of peaks, Acatenango, long inactive, some 3976 meters high, and the Volcán de Fuego or "Volcano of Fire", some 3763 meters high. "Fuego" is famous for being almost constantly active at a low level. Smoke issues from its top daily, but larger eruptions are rare.

Key Information:

Tour duration: Spend 1 day with hotel and guided tour of the city, cathedral, museums, art gallerys and more! Bring good walking shoes, you will need them.
Meals: Options to incredible cuisine can be offered, but the choice is yours.
Accomodationss: Once again, options to various places can be offered for you to choose from, but the choice is yours.
Transportation: Provided to and from the city.
Tour Customizable: of course!
Cost per person: $130 U.S. per person