Travel tips · Antigua · Guatemala
Antigua travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Francisco, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Antigua mixes a Catholic colonial town with the Kaqchikel Maya villages around it, whose residents come in to sell textiles and produce. Religious life is visible all year, peaking during Lent and Holy Week, when brotherhoods carry heavy floats through the streets. Guatemalans are courteous and greetings matter.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish
- Currency
- GTQ
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use agua pura from refill jugs or bottles, which most…
- Emergency
- 110 (police), 122 (fire and ambulance), 1500 (tourist assistance)
Things to know
- Say 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' when entering a shop or approaching anyone with a question.
- Ask before photographing people, especially Maya women and children in traditional dress; some expect a small payment.
- Do not walk on the sawdust carpets (alfombras) during Holy Week until the procession has passed over them.
- Dress modestly inside churches and keep quiet during services.
- Bargaining is normal at handicraft stalls but keep it friendly; it is not done for food or in shops with fixed prices.
- Eat the main meal at lunchtime in comedores, where set menus cost a fraction of restaurant dinners.
Tipping
About 10% is customary in sit-down restaurants; check whether 'propina' or a service charge is already on the bill. Tip guides and shuttle drivers on tours if you are happy with the service.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Agua pura | Purified drinking water |
| Con permiso | Excuse me (to pass) |
What to wear
Bring layers: days can be warm but mornings and evenings at 1,500 m are cool, especially from November to February. Sturdy shoes help on the uneven cobbles, and warm clothing is essential for volcano hikes.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Do not drink tap water; use agua pura from refill jugs or bottles, which most hotels provide.
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 122 (fire and ambulance), 1500 (tourist assistance)
- Phone and internet
- Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and cafés; local SIM cards from the main mobile networks are inexpensive and give good coverage in town.
- Time zone
- America/Guatemala
Antigua's centre is well patrolled by tourist police, but pickpocketing happens in the market and on chicken buses. Walk viewpoint trails and quiet streets in daylight and in company, and hike volcanoes only with established guides.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Guatemala's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Antigua?
About 10% is customary in sit-down restaurants; check whether 'propina' or a service charge is already on the bill. Tip guides and shuttle drivers on tours if you are happy with the service.
+Can you drink the tap water in Antigua?
Do not drink tap water; use agua pura from refill jugs or bottles, which most hotels provide.
+What plugs are used in Antigua?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Antigua?
Spanish.