18 Awesome Day Trips from Antigua Guatemala

If you’re looking for some fun day trips from Antigua Guatemala, look no further!

I spent over six weeks here with my family on our Pan American road trip, exploring both the town of Antigua and day trips around the area.

And since this whole website exists to help families plan their travels, I can’t keep all my research to myself.

While most of the day trips can be reached in less than an hour by car, a few are further afield. So you can choose how much time you want to spend traveling vs sightseeing on your day trip.

In this blog post, I will share our top picks for the best family-friendly day trips from Antigua Guatemala. Whether you’re looking for adventure, culture, or history, we’ve got something for everyone!

Day Trips from Antigua Guatemala for Families

There are plenty of day trips from Antigua Guatemala that are perfect for families. If you’re looking for something active, you can go hiking to one of the nearby volcanoes or explore the jungle on an ATV tour.

For something a bit more relaxed you can visit Lake Atitlan, go wine-tasting, or take a leisurely stroll through a coffee farm.

1. El Hato/Hobbitenango

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 8 km
☑️ Travel Time: 20 minutes

This small town is just a 20-minute drive up into the mountains outside Antigua. It’s best known for Hobbitenango, a (loosely) Lord of the Rings-themed eco-park with tasty food and a variety of nature-based activities.

From sampling locally brewed beer to enjoying a mini-golf course with handmade mallets, it’s truly a unique experience. We spent an entire day there and loved it!

2. Jocotenango

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 3 km
☑️ Travel Time: 10 minutes
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday; 10 am – 6 pm Saturday & Sunday
☑️ Entry Fee: 20Q adults, 10Q kids Monday to Friday; Free on Weekends

The biggest draw of this municipality just outside Antigua is its coffee farms. La Azotea is the most popular.

You can tour it, learning about the coffee-making process from start to finish before enjoying a delicious cup of joe in their on-site cafe.

They also have some interesting cultural museums you can tour as well as a shop to buy their coffee products.

3. San Antonio Aguas Calientes

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 9 km
☑️ Travel Time: 25 minutes

Just under a 30-minute drive from Antigua is this traditional Maya town which is home to the country’s most important textile markets.

The town is well known for its weavers. Maya women in the area use a backstrap loom to weave traditional patterns.

You can find all sorts of beautiful handmade textiles here, from colorful scarves to intricate embroidery. Guatemalan textiles are renowned for their intricate designs and vibrant colors.

The history of Guatemalan textiles is long and rich, dating back to the pre-Columbian era when the Maya people were skilled in creating colorful cloths and fabrics from cotton and other natural materials.

After the arrival of the Spanish colonists, Guatemalan textiles continued to evolve, incorporating new techniques and styles. But it has retained its colorful patterns and high-quality finishes.

4. Ciudad Vieja

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 6 km
☑️ Travel Time: 20 minutes

This is one of the best day trips from Antigua Guatemala for history buffs. Ciudad Vieja was the country’s first capital, and it’s full of beautiful colonial architecture.

Be sure to visit the Iglesia de la Merced, one of the most iconic buildings in all of Guatemala.

There are plenty of things to do in Ciudad Vieja, including visiting its many churches and museums. Other must-visit churches include the Iglesia de San Francisco and the Iglesia de Santo Domingo.

If you’re interested in history, be sure to visit the Museo de Arte Colonial, which is home to a large collection of colonial art. There’s also the Museo de Historia Natural, which showcases Guatemala’s natural history.

5. Santa Catarina Barahona

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 9 km
☑️ Travel Time: 25 minutes

This tiny town doesn’t have any real tourist-oriented businesses or major tourist attractions. In fact, unless you’re trying to get there you might just miss it!

It’s worth the effort, though, because you can arrange various cultural experiences through Small Change 4 Big Change. Keep in mind that these aren’t tours.

Instead, they are intentional and customized visits with locals who are willing to teach you weaving, cooking, Spanish, or other skills.

6. Iximche Ruins

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 55 km
☑️ Travel Time: 80 minutes
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 4 pm daily
☑️ Entry Fee: 50Q

Just over an hour outside of Antigua Guatemala are the ruins of Iximche, a pre-Columbian Maya city that was once an important political and economic center.

The site includes a number of impressive temples and pyramids, as well as a museum with artifacts from the excavations.

The Iximche Ruins are a set of pre-Columbian Maya temples and pyramids located just outside of Antigua Guatemala.

It was once an important political and economic center, and is now open to the public as a museum with artifacts from the excavations.

👉 I recommend this tour because it provides round trip transportation to the ruins as well as a brief tour of Antigua.

The ruins include a number of impressive temples, the most notable of which is the Temple of the Sun. This temple is topped by a large stone pyramid, and is surrounded by a number of smaller temples.

7. Lake Atitlan

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 76 km
☑️ Travel Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most beautiful places in all of Guatemala. The lake is surrounded by volcanoes, and there are a number of small towns located along its shores.

Pro Tip: Unless you’re really pressed for time, don’t do this as a day trip from Antigua Guatemala. Try to spend at least two nights here to really enjoy it.

The lakeside town of San Pedro La Laguna is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of Guatemala’s natural beauty. It’s located on the shores of Lake Atitlan, surrounded by volcanoes.

There are plenty of tour operators offering day trips from Antigua Guatemala that include boat rides, hiking, and visits to nearby Maya towns. However, not all of them accept kids.

👉 This one-day tour accepts kids of all ages, including infants.

8. Mixco Viejo Ruins

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 82 km
☑️ Travel Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 4 pm daily
☑️ Entry Fee: 50Q

These ruins are located just outside the city of Mixco, about an hour’s drive from Antigua Guatemala.

The site includes a number of well-preserved temples and pyramids, as well as a museum with artifacts from the excavations.

It’s most notable for its grand staircase, which is one of the best-preserved examples of Maya architecture in Guatemala. All the stairs sort of remind me of Teotihuacan.

👉 This tour includes a kid-friendly visit to the ruins as well as a stop at a local market for handicraft shopping!

In addition, the ruins were first excavated in the 1970s. A museum was built on-site to showcase the artifacts from the excavations. They’re really cool!

9. Zunil

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 174 km
☑️ Travel Time: 3 hours, 35 minutes

This small town is located in the highlands of Guatemala, about two hours from Antigua Guatemala. It’s known for its traditional textiles, and you can find a number of shops selling colorful scarves, blankets, and other handmade items.

In addition to the textile market, you can also visit some lovely hot springs. The Fuentes Georginas hot springs are a great way to relax after spending some time shopping!

Because Zunil is a bit further from Antigua than some of the other day trips on this list, you may want to spend a night or two exploring Quetzaltenango as well. It’s called Xela by most locals.

10. Lake Amatitlan

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 40 km
☑️ Travel Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Not to be confused with Lake Atitlan, this beautiful volcanic lake is located just outside the city of Amatitlan, just over an hour’s drive from Antigua Guatemala. It’s a popular spot for swimming, boating, hiking, fishing, and bird watching.

Pro Tip: You can also explore the ruins of a fortress on the edge of the lake!

The lake is also surrounded by lush vegetation, making it a great place to explore. There are also several villages located around the lake, which offer a glimpse into traditional Guatemalan life.

In addition, tour operators offer day trips from Antigua Guatemala that include boat rides and visits to nearby Maya towns.

11. Chichicastenango

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 106 km
☑️ Travel Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

This is one of the most popular day trips from Antigua Guatemala, and for good reason. Chichicastenango is home to a vibrant indigenous market. It’s one of the best places in Guatemala to buy traditional textiles.

Another must-see attraction is the San Antonio church, which is known for its intricate carvings and colorful murals. You can also take a hike up to the nearby volcano or enjoy a guided tour of the town’s ancient ruins.

👉 This tour provides goes from anywhere in Antigua to the market while this tour goes to both the market and to Lake Atitlan.

Whatever you choose to do, be sure to enjoy the unique culture and friendly people of Chichicastenango!

12. Guatemala City

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 37 km
☑️ Travel Time: 65 minutes

While it’s not technically a day trip, Guatemala City is worth mentioning as it’s the country’s capital and largest city. It’s located about an hour from Antigua Guatemala, and there’s plenty to see and do.

Be sure to visit the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography, as well as the National Palace.

Our favorite places were the Children’s Museum, Loops Family Entertainment Center, and the Zoologico La Aurora.

Little Man loved the huge map of Guatemala City and found our apartment on it. He also learned to roller skate at Loops!

We don’t normally recommend zoos because animal care can be subpar. However, the large exhibit sizes in Guatemala City’s zoo rivaled other world-class zoos we’ve seen!

13. San Miguel Duenas

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 11 km
☑️ Travel Time: 25 minutes

This is a good day trip from Antigua Guatemala for those interested in learning about unique farming products, other than coffee. San Miguel Duenas is home to Valhalla Macademia nut farm!

The farm has a cafe on-site, where you can try macadamia-flavored coffee, ice cream, and even beer. We talk more about it here.

14. San Miguel Escobar

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 6 km
☑️ Travel Time: 15 minutes

Another nonprofit organization, De la Gente, does a great job of blending agrotourism with cultural exchange. They offer San Miguel Escobar tours focused on the farming community as well as its coffee and peanut products.

You can see how they make peanut butter and there is even a cooking class focused on making pepian, a traditional dish with a delightfully nutty sauce with sesame seeds.

15. San Lorenzo el Cubo

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 7.5 km
☑️ Travel Time: 20 minutes

A non-government organization (NGO) called Ninos de Guatemala offers a worry doll-making workshop to help provide quality education to local children.

Guatemalan worry dolls are believed to have originated from the country of Guatemala. These dolls are small figurines made of thread and cloth that are used to help relieve stress and anxiety.

According to legend, if you tell your worries to a worry doll, it will take them away and solve them for you.

This tradition is thought to have originated from the ancient Mayan people, who believed that dolls had the power to ward off evil spirits.

It’s a wonderful little project that gets better thanks to having a pleasant cultural exchange with a local family. Kids will love this day trip from Antigua Guatemala!

16. Chateau deFay Winery

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 15 km
☑️ Travel Time: 35 minutes
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 5 pm Friday to Sunday
☑️ Entry Fee: Tour is 25Q

While this may not seem like the most kid-friendly day trip from Antigua Guatemala, we think it’s a great option for families. While they can’t drink the wine, kids may enjoy learning about how grapes are squished to make it.

The Chateau deFay Winery is an experimental vineyard that has been constructed to look like a French Chateau. It is just above Antigua on the slope of the Agua volcano.

The winery offers tours and tastings, and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Plus, they have a restaurant on site so while the adults enjoy some Guatemalan wine the kids can enjoy fresh pizza!

17. Pacaya Volcano

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 174 km
☑️ Travel Time: 3 hours, 35 minutes

Pacaya volcano is an active volcano located about 25 km (16 mi) from Antigua, Guatemala. It is a popular tourist attraction, with many families taking day trips from Antigua to the Pacaya volcano.

The volcano is one of the most active in Central America and has erupted over 25 times since 1565. The most recent eruption occurred in 2020.

The Pacaya volcano is the youngest in a group of three volcanoes that include Acatenango and Fuego.

👉 This tour is an excellent option for a family day trip from Antigua.

The hike to the top of the volcano is moderate difficulty, but it is worth it to see the amazing views from the summit.

At the top, you can roast marshmallows over the heat vents, which is a popular activity among tourists.

18. Luxury Option: Tikal Ruins

☑️ Distance from Antigua: 566 km
☑️ Travel Time: 11 hours driving or 55-minutes flying from Guatemala City

The Tikal ruins are some of the most impressive Maya ruins in Guatemala. They’re located in the jungle, about a 12-hour drive from Antigua.

This means that you can’t drive there for your day trip from Antigua Guatemala.

Instead, you need to take a taxi or Uber to the Guatemala City airport, then a 1-hour flight to Tikal.

You can tour the park for a few hours before flying back to Guatemala City and taking another Uber back to Antigua.

👉 The best way to do this in a single day is to hire a guided tour.

I’ll be honest, this is A LOT for a single-day trip from Antigua Guatemala. Tikal is amazing and you should absolutely go!

However, in my opinion, it really needs a minimum of one to two nights for you to see it and enjoy the area more effectively. I’d recommend you add this to a longer Guatemala itinerary instead of making it a day trip from Antigua Guatemala.

How to Choose Day Trips from Antigua Guatemala?

Now that you know a bit more about some of the best day trips from Antigua Guatemala, how do you choose which ones are right for your family?

Here are some tips to consider before booking a day trip from Antigua Guatemala:

☑️ Consider your interests. Are you interested in learning about coffee production? Visit one of the coffee farms! Are you interested in Maya ruins? Visit Iximche or Tikal!

☑️ Consider your time frame. How much time do you have in Antigua Guatemala? If you only have a day or two, pick one of the closer day trips like San Miguel Escobar or San Lorenzo el Cubo. You could even do two in one day!

If you have a week or more, you can afford to do one of the longer day trips from Antigua Guatemala, like Chichicastenango or Tikal.

☑️ Consider your budget. Some day trips from Antigua Guatemala are more expensive than others. For example, the Chateau deFay Winery tour includes a wine tasting, which can add up if you have a large family.

On the other hand, the Ninos de Guatemala day trip is very affordable and even includes a donation to the NGO.

☑️ Consider your transportation options. If you choose to rent a car during your travels in Guatemala, this is less of an issue because you can drive where ever you want to go.

👉 I recommend using Discover Cars for renting a car on your trip!

Some day trips, like San Miguel Duenas, are easy to get to by taxi or Uber. Others, like Tikal, require a bit more planning.

You’ll need to take a taxi or Uber to the Guatemala City airport, then fly to Flores (Tikal’s closest airport), and finally take a taxi from Flores to Tikal.

☑️ Consider your fitness level. Some day trips, like Iximche, involve a lot of walking. Others, like Chateau deFay, are very relaxed and you can take your time sipping wine and eating pizza.

☑️ Consider your kids’ ages and interests. Some day trips, like San Lorenzo el Cubo, are very kid-friendly with activities like worry doll making.

Others, like Tikal, are better suited for older kids who can handle a long day of travel.

Conclusion: Day Trips from Antigua Guatemala

These are just a few of the great day trips you can take from Antigua Guatemala. It makes a great base to stay during a visit to Guatemala.

There’s something for everyone in this fun town, so your biggest issue will be choosing which day trips you have to skip and save for a return trip.

So get out there and explore! And if you have any other suggestions, please contact us so we can add it to our list!

👉 While we have global health insurance for our day-to-day lives, we also elect travel insurance with SafetyWing for our spurts of fast travel adventure!