Antigua, Guatemala
Guatemala has been on the top of my list for over three years now, & I was WAY too excited to land in Guatemala city. I landed in the airport around 11:30am, it was dark & Guatemala city was loud & energetic. I couldn't wait to get to my (hopefully) quiet Guatemalan home. At that point I was exhausted & craving stillness & solitude. Traveling really takes a lot out of you. As I approached Antigua (meaning ancient) one of the oldest cities in Central America, I started to notice a shift of energy. The chaos of the city started to rest & we descended down a winding road into what looked like a little Italy. Cobblestone streets, winding staircases, & rolling volcanoes filled with hot steaming smoke, surrounded me. This is where I've been called to for some time now, & it already feels like home.
We took a toll before arriving at my Guatemalan villa, as the cab driver got lost twice. The streets in Antigua are hard to spot at night time, everything is very hidden & mysterious. The beauty is in the history of this place & the people that inhabit it. When I finally arrived I was so pleasantly surprised at the serenity of my home, the space I had (3 bedrooms) & breath-taking volcano view. It was better than I could have ever imagined.
Antigua is somewhere I would recommend you to travel if you are looking to go back in time & dive into the history of Guatemala. This place is a super cute & small city that has everything you need to be happy. Antigua has a gym, dance studios, yoga studios, grocery stores, vegan restaurants, cute cafes, lots of hostels, farmers markets, & authentic Guatemalan flavour.
Recommendations for traveling to Antigua:
The streets are very narrow & old so you might want to invest in some good walking shoes.
If you come during Holy Week it's going to be very busy & loud.
Make sure to pay in Qixels.
It’s cheaper to buy your produce from local markets & farmer markets than grocery stores.
This place is super transient so it can be hard to find a solid community (Lake Atitlan is better for that)
If you're going to do a photoshoot I recommend in the early morning when no one is out.
If you’re fit & into hiking, climb a volcano, it's so worth it!
