Sight guide · Antigua · Guatemala
Visiting Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins
Opposite the ruined façade of the Santa Clara convent, Tanque La Unión is a long colonial wash-house of stone basins under arches where some residents still do laundry, beside a small park with palm trees.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Francisco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins is a historic site in San Francisco and El Calvario, Antigua. Allow 30 minutes; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- San Francisco and El Calvario
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, history, photo spot and off the beaten path
- Best months
- May and October–November
About Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins
Opposite the ruined façade of the Santa Clara convent, Tanque La Unión is a long colonial wash-house of stone basins under arches where some residents still do laundry, beside a small park with palm trees. It is a free, local corner of town that most visitors pass only briefly.
Tip: Come in the morning on a market day, when women wash clothes at the basins and the park is busiest with local families.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 30 minutes.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: San Francisco and El Calvario, residential southeast, the Hermano Pedro shrine and the Alameda del Calvario.
Best time to visit Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- May: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- October: 23°C (73°F) highs, about 16 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- November: 23°C (73°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Antigua has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Antigua itinerary visits Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins on day 3, together with Iglesia de San Francisco and La Recolección ruins.
- No. 9 of the 14 sights in our Antigua things-to-do list.
- Day 3 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Antigua.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Antigua.
Near Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins
Also in San Francisco and El Calvario, so you can walk between them:
- Iglesia de San Francisco — 1 hour, low cost
If you like Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins
- Parque Central — Centro around Parque Central, 30–60 minutes
- Antigua Cathedral — Centro around Parque Central, 45 minutes
- Santa Catalina Arch — La Merced and Calle del Arco, 20 minutes
- Iglesia de La Merced — La Merced and Calle del Arco, 45 minutes
Staying near Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins
Stay in San Francisco and El Calvario ($$) to walk here: residential southeast, the Hermano Pedro shrine and the Alameda del Calvario. All areas to stay in Antigua.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins?
Plan 30 minutes. With Iglesia de San Francisco nearby, it fits a half-day in San Francisco and El Calvario.
+Is Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins?
May and October–November, the quietest of the good months. Come in the morning on a market day, when women wash clothes at the basins and the park is busiest with local families.
+Do I need to book Tanque La Unión and Santa Clara ruins in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.