Antigua Guatemala: Half-Day Walking Tour
ID: GYG50684-68942
Category:
Country: Spain
Duration:
03:00 hours
Description
Explore the well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture of Antigua Guatemala on a half-day walking tour, and learn its colonial history from a bilingual Spanish/English-speaking guide.
Experience a city where time has stood still on a half-day walking tour of Antigua Guatemala, once the third largest city in Spanish colonial America.
For 200 years, Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just "Antigua" or "La Antigua") was the capital of Guatemala, but today it's a peaceful place of cobblestone streets, majestic churches and monasteries and partially restored architecture.
Visit La Merced Church of Guatemalan and see its ultra-baroque style. This temple has two bell towers and on its facade in the upper part, is a sculpture of San Pedro Nolasco, founder of the Mercedarian Order. Proceed to the Santa Catalina Arch, built in 1694 as part of a convent first established in 1609. Hear how the arch served as a bridge connecting the convent with the gardens on the other side of the street.
Go to Central Park in the heart of the city, surrounded by the traditional grid pattern that was frequently used in Spanish urban planning in the colonies. Admire the monuments surrounding the park, such as the Palace of the Captain Generals, City Hall, the Church of San José (formerly the Cathedral of Guatemala), the Archbishop’s Palace and the Portal of Commerce (Bakers’ Portal). Look at the Mermaid´s Fountain, built by the Count of Gomera in memory of the story of a king whose daughters gave birth but did not want to nurse their children.
Continue walking to visit the La Unión tank, which is one of the most representative laundries in this city (historically, only the big houses had a proper laundry facilities). Benefit from drop off at your hotel in Antigua Guatemala at the end of the tour.
Highlights
- Explore the colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua Guatemala
- See typical Spanish-Baroque buildings in the historical city center
- Get spectacular views of the Volcan de Agua in the central highlands of Guatemala
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• A minimum of 2 adult passengers is required for the tour to run; if the minimum size is not reached, the tour is subject to cancellation and all tickets are refunded or rescheduled
• During holy week ( April 17 – 21, 2019) there is no hotel pickup, you will be requested to wait at a meeting point for pickup
• Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the tour start time
• Tours include bilingual guide (English and Spanish)
• It is recommended that you bring walking shoes, hat, sunglasses, and a camera
• Please contact local provider if you need a guide in any other language. French, German and Italian-speaking guides are available, subject to additional costs and guide availability.
• For groups of 10 persons or more, please contact the local provider to arrange
All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
You are required to bring and wear a mask
You must fill out a travel information form
You will receive a mandatory temperature check
Please meet in the Gray Line Guatemala office.
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 48 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 48 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
