We chose Guatemala City to visit when looking for a destination for a long weekend that met the following criteria:
- We had not been before.
- Flights were both reasonable in price and did not require multiple hops.
- Warm weather
Guatemala City and neighboring Antigua ticked all of the boxes, and we were not disappointed. Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala, with several historical landmarks and cultural museums, is an excellent hub to start your trip to the country. Here are the highlights and must-see attractions that will make your visit unforgettable.
What stood out?
There were a few things that stood out on this trip.
American Fast Food Restaurants
As we drove down Avenue de Revolution on our way to Antigua, I was amazed at the number of American fast-food restaurants, especially McDonald’s. It was like driving around Orlando’s tourist zone. We saw nearly every brand you could think of.
McDonald’s Happy Meal
Fun fact: Happy Meal originated in Guatemala City. In 1974, the franchise owners realized they needed a smaller meal for children and tried numerous iterations. Later, McDonald’s corporate learned of this new successful addition and decided to roll it out globally. There are 110 McDonalds restaurants across the country. We did not learn about it until after we left, but one of the most unique McDonalds is in Antigua, which has interesting architecture due to the preservation rules.
Shortage of Guatemalan Restaurants
We had a challenge finding a true Guatemalan restaurant around our hotel. Our guide told us that most people either eat regional food or other dishes when they eat out since it is a luxury. We did have an amazing meal in Antigua. We ended up eating excellent Peruvian food and Tacos.
Coffee
I love good coffee, and I did know that Guatemala is a major producer with 8 growing regions from mountains to lowlands. Guatemala is the 9th largest exporter of coffee and the 4th largest Arabica beans from nearly 2 billion trees, with the US and Japan being its biggest importers. Most coffee comes from shaded coffee plants, which have helped prevent deforestation in other parts of the region. What I did not know that to help shade the coffee plants, farmers used avocado I was able to both try coffee from each region as well as bring back at least one bag from each.
Fun Fact: Coffee was imported into Antigua by the Jesuits, who used it as an ornamental bush in front of the monastery. This decorative plant contributed nearly $1 billion to Guatemala’s Agricultural GDP, second only to bananas.
Parque Central
Parque Central is the main square in central Guatemala City. On its sides are a few of the top historical sites, so you are pretty much guaranteed to visit.
Metropolitan Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral is Guatemala City’s main church. To get to it, you can use one of the local names: Cathedral Metropolitan Basilica of Santiago de Guatemala or Catedral Primada Metropolitana de Santiago. It is centrally located at the Parque Central in the city’s center. It is a large church incorporating baroque and classical elements and has withstood numerous large earthquakes. Damage by the devastating earthquakes of 1917 and 1976 has been repaired.
Compared to most cathedrals, this one is not as ornately decorated. In the front, 12 pillars contain the names of the thousands of people murdered during the counterinsurgency violence of their civil war.
National Palace
Popul Vuh Museum
Tours
We did the day city tour of Guatemala City, which was only about 3/4 of a day, and a day trip to Antigua with Guatemalan Adventures.
