When to Go

A distinct division between dry (November to April) and rainy (May to October) seasons makes winter and spring months the ideal time to be in Antigua. This is also prime time for Antigua's many religious observances, the most famous of which is Semana Santa (March or April). Holy Week brings a series of daylong vigils, processions, and reenactments of Christ's last days in Jerusalem. You'll see Roman centurions charging through the streets on horseback, boulevards carpeted with colored sawdust and flowers, and immense hand-carried floats winding their way through throngs of onlookers. Make reservations months in advance if you plan to be here for Semana Santa.

Antigua's tourist population increases dramatically on weekends, as Guatemala City residents escape from the capital to their favorite destination. The city fits nicely into the beginning or end of your Guatemala trip. Its proximity to the capital's La Aurora International Airport makes it a good first or last place to visit.