All Antigua Tours & Excursions in 2026 - page 15

This was hands down the best experience of my entire trip to Guatemala. Our tour guide went above and beyond, taking us out of the typical tourist circuit and into her own neighborhood, and a few others, where we got to enjoy truly authentic street cuisine. This wasn’t a curated, watered-down version of local food. This was the real thing. What surprised me most was how much I learned along the way. Our guide was so knowledgeable and engaging that I walked away with more history and cultural insight than I did from a dedicated walking tour of Antigua. She clearly has a deep love for her city and it showed in every stop we made. And the food? That’s what I’ll be talking about for months. Every bite was memorable and I’m so glad I said yes to trying everything. My only regret is not having enough time to book a cooking class with this company — because if this tour is any indication, everything they offer is top tier. You can just tell they genuinely care about the experience they’re creating for visitors. Do not pass this up. Go hungry, stay curious, and try every single thing they put in front of you.

The experience was truly unforgettable. I highly recommend not missing the morning hike to the summit. It made the entire trek so worth it. The views were incredible and it was so special to see the sunrise while also seeing an active volcano erupt. A couple of things I will mention: 1) This hike is extremely challenging. I hike fairly often in the US and would consider myself to be in good shape. This hike was on a whole different level. It is amazing but it is very steep the entire way up, which made the altitude even more challenging. I didn’t think the altitude was a huge factor but I would definitely bring Tylenol or another over the counter pain medication. I had a little headache, which the Tylenol helped out with quite a bit. 2) Bring lots of water. This hike is no joke and it is very hot, especially at the bottom. The website suggested a certain amount of water, but I would air on the side of bringing more than was recommended. I went through roughly 8 liters and was fine, but definitely could have used more. 3) Bring a few extra layers. I brought a puffer jacket and a rain jacket as well as a pair of pants that were more water/wind resistant. I also had gloves. When packing my bag, I was considering not bringing these items because they were big, but they were completely necessary. It gets really cold and windy at night and at the summit. The cabin we stayed in was great, as it protected us from the wind, but it was still cold. 4) Bring lots of Quetzales (roughly 500). There are no shops that take credit card once you get close to the trailhead. There are many opportunities to buy snacks/drinks along the way up but they are cash only and more expensive than what you’d expect to pay in Antigua. Additionally, it costs 100Q to get into the park once you’re there (cash only). If you want to do the extra fuego hike, it costs 250Q extra (cash only). So it’s best to have some extra money in case of any emergency. 5) Bring toilet paper. There are toilets but they are definitely quite rough. There is no toilet paper unless you bring or buy your own at the very base of the trail. I didn’t use the bathroom but it’s best to have in case of an emergency. 6) Leave some extra space in your pack to also carry your lunch and dinner. The tour company does provide lunch and dinner on the first day of the trek, but you do need to carry it up the mountain. I had to consolidate a few things to fit it. 7) The weather changes extremely quickly. You may have bad visibility one minute, but the following minute, it’s perfect. However, the weather and visibility seemed to be best in the morning barring any rainstorms. It’s very worth it to wake up early to see the sunrise for the best chance at getting a clear view of the volcano. 8) As mentioned above, the hike is really challenging and you do get very dirty/sweaty over the two days you’re trekking. I’d recommend splurging a little bit if you can on the night after the hike back down. I was staying in a shared dorm room to save a few bucks, but it would have been really nice to have my own space to unpack and organize my dirty/clean clothes. (This is minor, but just a personal recommendation). 9) The guides are very helpful, but don’t expect very much historical information about the mountains or the volcanoes/ the people that lived there. It’s not that kind of tour. The guides are mostly there to chaperone your trip up to the huts at the top. It would come in handy to know more Spanish to learn more from the guides. They spoke good English, but it would have helped if I spoke more Spanish.

We had an amazing experience hiking Acatenango with CA Travelers! Everything was very well organized from start to finish. Marvin, along with all of the local guides and porters, were incredibly helpful throughout the entire hike — always providing clear instructions, support, and making sure we had everything we needed along the way. The food provided was great, and the housing accommodations were phenomenal — it honestly felt like glamping while being surrounded by incredible volcano views. The setup made the experience much more comfortable and enjoyable after a long hike. They had sold out of the backpacks we needed to rent, but they quickly helped us find a rental shop in town that was easy to get to and pickup from, which we really appreciated. I also really appreciated learning that the money paid to the porters goes directly toward supporting them, their families, and the local communities. It made the experience feel even more meaningful knowing tourism is helping provide opportunities locally. Overall, everything went very smoothly, and seeing an active volcano up close was truly the experience of a lifetime. Highly recommend CA Travelers for anyone planning this hike in Guatemala!

I went into this cooking class expecting to learn specific recipes (a teaspoon of this, a half cup of that), but what I actually took away was far more valuable. I learned how much Guatemalans value food and meals as deeply shared experiences. In that sense, it was one of the most insightful and memorable lessons of our entire vacation.There were 12 of us “students,” and the chef was brilliant connecting with each of us. With his warm personality, humor, and perfectly timed pours of wine, he turned the evening into a lively, festive gathering. We all became his sous chefs around a large, beautifully arranged prep table filled with ingredients for an appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert. Everyone pitched in with prep tasks—mine included chopping vegetables and then making the fresh tortilla dough. (Somehow the chef sensed I’d been experimenting passionately with pizza dough at home for months—talk about a magical touch!)The real highlight was the group dynamic. Complete strangers quickly felt like old friends. We laughed, talked nonstop, and connected in a way that only happens when people are cooking, eating, and sharing wine together.The evening was pure joy from start to finish. I may not have walked away with new technical cooking skills, but I gained a genuine appreciation for the Guatemalan approach to food as something communal and celebratory. Easily the most entertaining and heartfelt 4 hours we spent on any excursion. Highly recommended!

Amazing tour, amazing guide. Experience was excellent. Felt safe at all times under the excellent care of Lester and Julio. They were able to make the trip memorable whether you had ever driven an ATV or not. Would recommend this for anyone, including families. I look forward to more tours when I return to Antigua.

This chocolate-making experience in Antigua Guatemala was honestly one of the highlights of my trip! 🍫 The hosts were AMAZING—super friendly, funny, and you can tell they really love what they do. They made the whole experience feel fun and relaxed, not like a typical “tour.” You actually get hands-on with everything, from learning about the cacao to making your own chocolate, which made it way more memorable. I learned a lot without it ever feeling like a lesson. By the end, I had a whole new appreciation for chocolate (and yes, got to enjoy some too 😄). If you’re in Antigua, don’t even think twice—just book it. Totally worth it!

Must-see place! The tour operators allowed us to spend most of the time in the last village, Santiago Atitlán, where we stayed for about 2 hours. However, in San Juan La Laguna and San Pedro La Laguna, we only had around 25–30 minutes in each village. In my opinion, the first two villages were the most beautiful, with amazing artistic wall paintings. We didn’t have enough time to fully explore San Juan and San Pedro La Laguna. I would definitely recommend allocating more time to these two villages.

The hike to base camp is hard but totally worth it. Once we got to the base camp, the view was blocked by clouds but weather changes so fast and could see and hear the volcano. It is so impressive! The hike to Fuego is even harder and you will come back at night, but what an experience! It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I didn’t go to the summit in the morning because I was too tired. The service itself was incredible. Axel, Leo, Lily and 2 other local guides were very careful, kind and professional. Such a good team. We felt safe and cared for at all times. They cooked for us and organized everything so well. Definitely take the free gear they have to climb and rent hiking sticks. Oh, and loooots of dogs to pet on the way 😍 Muchas gracias, it will stick with me my whole life.