Things to Do in Antigua

Guatemala has a rich tradition of weaving using all-natural materials. Luna Zorro Studio is a luxury, handwoven textile boutique on the grounds of a 19th-century coffee farm. The shop offers private workshops with Maya artisans where you’ll learn to use plant-based dyes to color handwoven fabrics.

Guatemala is one of a handful of countries where you’ll find jadeite jade. It was sacred to the Maya and is rarer and more durable than the nephrite jade popular in Asia. Casa del Jade sells the finest jade jewelry. You can make a custom jade piece at their workshop! Xibalba Studio, known for its minimalist, modern jewelry made of jade and recycled metals, also has a stone carving workshop for $100/person.

Cacao has been central to Mesoamerican culture for thousands of years. At ChocoMuseo in the main square, you can learn how to make chocolate in their popular bean-to-bar workshop. Maya Cacao also offers chocolate-making workshops. You can sign up for a public or private class at their shop.

Explore the local cuisine with a cooking class – one of my favorite things to do in any country! You’ll learn about Guatemala’s best dishes, how to prepare them, and share a meal with other travelers on a rooftop terrace. There are vegetarian options, and they’ll prepare a vegetarian main with advance notice.

Guatemala has exceptional coffee produced in eight different regions of the country. If you’re interested in learning about the coffee-making process from bean to cup, you can visit a local coffee farm.

Hike the active Pacaya volcano or ascend on horseback. The 2 to 3-hour roundtrip hike is relatively moderate with steep inclines and loose rock and soil. The highlight is roasting marshmallows over lava!