Day trips · Antigua · Guatemala
6 best day trips from Antigua
Where to go when you want a day away from Antigua, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Antigua is Pacaya volcano (About 1.5 hours by shuttle). The closest option is San Antonio Aguas Calientes, about 8 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 6
- Closest
- San Antonio Aguas Calientes (8 km)
- Most popular
- Pacaya volcano
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacaya volcano | 45 km | About 1.5 hours by shuttle | Organised half-day tour with shuttle from Antigua | Families, First-timers |
| Acatenango overnight hike | 25 km | About 1 hour to the trailhead | Guided two-day tour with transport | Solo travellers, First-timers |
| Lake Atitlán | 110 km | About 2.5–3 hours by shuttle | Shared shuttle to Panajachel, then public boats | Culture, Couples, Quiet stays |
| Chichicastenango market | 105 km | About 2.5 hours by shuttle | Shared shuttle on market days | Culture, Shopping |
| Iximché | 70 km | About 1.5 hours by car | Car, tour or shuttle via Tecpán | Culture, Quiet stays |
| San Antonio Aguas Calientes | 8 km | About 20–30 minutes by car or bus | Chicken bus from the market terminal, tuk-tuk or tour | Culture, Shopping, Families |
The day trips
45 km · About 1.5 hours by shuttle
1.Pacaya volcano
Pacaya is an active volcano near Guatemala City with a guided trail of about 1.5–2 hours up through farmland and forest to black lava fields. Guides often toast marshmallows over hot vents, and horses can be hired for part of the climb. Tours leave early morning or early afternoon.
- Getting there
- Organised half-day tour with shuttle from Antigua
- Best for
- Families, First-timers
25 km · About 1 hour to the trailhead
2.Acatenango overnight hike
The steep climb up Acatenango to a camp at about 3,600 m takes five to six hours, rewarded by views of neighbouring Fuego erupting through the night. Many groups summit at dawn. It is demanding, cold and high, so go with an established guide and rent warm gear if needed.
- Getting there
- Guided two-day tour with transport
- Best for
- Solo travellers, First-timers
110 km · About 2.5–3 hours by shuttle
3.Lake Atitlán
A deep caldera lake surrounded by three volcanoes and Maya towns such as Santiago Atitlán, San Juan La Laguna and San Marcos, linked by small public boats from Panajachel. It is possible as a long day tour but far better with one or two nights.
- Getting there
- Shared shuttle to Panajachel, then public boats
- Best for
- Culture, Couples, Quiet stays
105 km · About 2.5 hours by shuttle
4.Chichicastenango market
On Thursdays and Sundays, Chichicastenango's streets fill with one of the largest markets in Central America, selling textiles, masks, produce and flowers. The steps of the Santo Tomás church are used for Maya rituals with copal incense.
- Getting there
- Shared shuttle on market days
- Best for
- Culture, Shopping
70 km · About 1.5 hours by car
5.Iximché
The ruins of the Kaqchikel Maya capital stand on a forested ridge near Tecpán, with plazas, ball courts and temple platforms, and a small museum. Maya ceremonies are still held at altars on site. It is often combined with the drive to Lake Atitlán.
- Getting there
- Car, tour or shuttle via Tecpán
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
8 km · About 20–30 minutes by car or bus
6.San Antonio Aguas Calientes
A Kaqchikel village known for intricate double-sided weaving, where women's cooperatives demonstrate the backstrap loom and sell textiles directly. The road passes Ciudad Vieja, the site of an earlier colonial capital.
- Getting there
- Chicken bus from the market terminal, tuk-tuk or tour
- Best for
- Culture, Shopping, Families
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Keep bags on your lap and valuables out of sight on chicken buses.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Antigua?
Pacaya volcano. Pacaya is an active volcano near Guatemala City with a guided trail of about 1.5–2 hours up through farmland and forest to black lava fields.
+How long does it take to get from Antigua to Pacaya volcano?
About 1.5 hours by shuttle — Organised half-day tour with shuttle from Antigua, about 45 km.
+How long does it take to get from Antigua to Acatenango overnight hike?
About 1 hour to the trailhead — Guided two-day tour with transport, about 25 km.