Antigua, recent information

Hi, Has anyone been on a tour to Antigua recently? We are interested in a HAL guided tour or HAL, Antigua on your own tour. Any comments, suggestions? Thanks, CC posters.

Hi, Has anyone been on a tour to Antigua recently? We are interested in a HAL guided tour or HAL, Antigua on your own tour. Any comments, suggestions? Thanks, CC posters.

This is not that recent (October 2007) but was a HAL guided tour to Antigua

I presume they are still offering this one or something similar. I really enjoyed it. Antigua is a fair way from the port so we felt it was one of those rare places where taking a ship's tour was the best option. Back then this was my first cruise so I was far less savvy about taking independent tours. If I were to be in that position again I would thoroughly research other options, although I might still go with the ship if the price differential was not too great.

That lunch at Casa Santo Domingo was very good but on cruises you are not exactly short of food so I wouldn't be too bothered about dropping that in exchange for seeing a bit more or something else.

All the best

Tony

We were in Antigua the first week of January and did Adventure Antigua's Eco Tour ("eli's eco tour"- Eli is no longer the guide).

It was an amazing day- the water was gorgeous, the boat ride was fun (and kind of adventorous near the end), the swimming fantastic, the hiking great fun, the guides were informative. This trip had everything we wanted, plus lunch, which was very yummy. There is some rum punch, but only at the end- not a booze cruise!

I think I'd actually take it a second time it was that good. They pick you up at the port, and said they have never missed a ship. (We think it's possible 2 people got left after being over 10 minutes late for the pick up, but it's also possible they canceled. You don't pay ahead of time though, just a small deposit- and the pick up was WELL after both ships in port had docked. Not like at the same time where lines to get off would have been long. This company knows what they are doing!)

I'm talking about Antigua Guatemala. I think my post was confusing as many people must have thought I meant the island in the Caribbean. However I did post on the Guatemala board. Sorry for all the confusion. Anybody have comments on Antigua, Guatemala????? Thanks CC!

I'm talking about Antigua Guatemala. I think my post was confusing as many people must have thought I meant the island in the Caribbean. However I did post on the Guatemala board. Sorry for all the confusion. Anybody have comments on Antigua, Guatemala????? Thanks CC!

I just spend about a month in Antigua (guate) doing humanitarian work. So I can't say as far as a tour to take, although this is not a spot you can really get to from Puerto Barrios (castillo) or Puerto Quetzal easily by yourself so a ship tour would be in order. If you have any questions about places to go in town while you're there please reach out. It really is one of the loveliest old cities in Central America, great old churches, markets, and Volcan Agua is about as impressive a volcano you'll see. Enjoy!

I just spend about a month in Antigua (guate) doing humanitarian work. So I can't say as far as a tour to take, although this is not a spot you can really get to from Puerto Barrios (castillo) or Puerto Quetzal easily by yourself so a ship tour would be in order. If you have any questions about places to go in town while you're there please reach out. It really is one of the loveliest old cities in Central America, great old churches, markets, and Volcan Agua is about as impressive a volcano you'll see. Enjoy!

Thanks. Where would you recommend for local food for lunch in the city center.

Hi, Has anyone been on a tour to Antigua recently? We are interested in a HAL guided tour or HAL, Antigua on your own tour. Any comments, suggestions? Thanks, CC posters.

We did a HAL cruise and did the Antigua on your own trip, you get quite a bit of information from your guide on the coach, there are local guides offering tours for about $10 but it is not a huge place and we did it on our own. You do get prestered by traders but they are not aggressive and accept a simple "no thank you".

Thanks, Gillypop. What were the highlights in Antigua in your opinion? If we wanted a guide, did they meet the bus or was there a specific area to find them? Did you eat in a restaurant? Any info is greatly appreciated as we try to plan our day.

We will be on the Rotterdam on a Panama Canal transit that stops here. We will be doing either a fully escorted or transportation only tour of Antiqua. Once off the bus, how do you find a good guide. I am sure they will find us but how do we find a competent one?

Thanks. Where would you recommend for local food for lunch in the city center.

There are a million great restaurants in Antigua. Cafe Condezza is right on the main square and is very tastey, especially for breakfast. Mono Loco is also right on the square, kinda on the gringo side but good food and highspeed cheap internet. Don Luis is up the street on the left hand side of the big white church in the middle square, good local authentic, cheap. I eat there almost every morning when in town. Dozens of street vendors if you are feeling adventurous. I have eaten the street food here many times and never had a GI issue. Have a blast.

We will be on the Rotterdam on a Panama Canal transit that stops here. We will be doing either a fully escorted or transportation only tour of Antiqua. Once off the bus, how do you find a good guide. I am sure they will find us but how do we find a competent one?

If you feel comfortable with it, you really don't need a guide. They have very good maps, and it's such an old city is is all layed out in blocks so it's very easy to get around and nothing is a very far walk.

As far as a guide goes, if you do get one I would see if there are ones available that the tour recomends. Otherwise, every Jose Shmo will be saying they are a 'master guide' and just walk you around to their buddies' shops to try to sell you stuff.