Antigua: ATV Coffee Plantation Tour & Cerro de la Cruz View

Summary

ATV ride to Jocotenango coffee farm and hilltop Antigua view

You’ll hop on an ATV in Antigua and follow your guide out to La Azotea coffee plantation in Jocotenango for a hands-on tour (with plenty of tasting). After learning about every step of making Guatemalan coffee, you’ll ride up to Cerro de la Cruz for sweeping views over the city — it’s less tiring than climbing all those steps yourself.

What’s the experience like?

The engine started up with a little cough — honestly, I was nervous since I’d never driven an ATV in Guatemala before, but our guide Luis just grinned and told me not to overthink it. The ride out of Antigua only took about 15 minutes, winding through busy streets and into Jocotenango. Dust kicked up behind us and I caught whiffs of roasting corn from a roadside stand. By the time we pulled into La Azotea coffee plantation, my hands were buzzing (from nerves or the bike? maybe both).

Walking through the plantation with our local guide (he switched between Spanish and English so easily), I realized how little I knew about coffee — like how they sort the beans by hand, or that the air in one room smelled almost chocolatey. We tasted a cup right there; it was earthy and way less bitter than what I make at home. There was this moment when an older worker waved at us and smiled — his hands were stained dark from the beans. Felt like he’d done this forever.

Afterwards we wandered among the coffee plants for a bit — I tried to pronounce “catuai” properly and Luis laughed, probably because I butchered it. Then back on the ATVs for Cerro de la Cruz. The road up is steep but you skip all those stairs, which honestly felt like cheating but my legs thanked me. The view over Antigua’s rooftops is something else; clouds hung low over Agua volcano that day, and for a minute everyone just went quiet. I still think about that silence sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — ATV ride and coffee plantation tour

• Meet at office
• Ride ATV to La Azotea plantation
• Take bilingual coffee tour
• Walk around plantation with guide
• Ride ATV to El Cerro de la Cruz
• View colonial city from landmark
• Return to office by ATV

Top questions

How long does the Antigua ATV Coffee Tour last?

The main activities take around 2-3 hours including riding time, plantation tour, and Cerro de la Cruz stop.

Is pickup included for this ATV coffee tour?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; the tour starts from the operator's office in Antigua.

Do I need a driver’s license to join?

Yes, you must have a valid driver’s license to drive your own ATV during this tour.

Can youth drive their own ATV?

Youth with a valid driver’s license can drive their own ATV but must book as adults.

Are drinks included during the tour?

Yes, coffee or tea is included during your visit to La Azotea plantation.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to safety concerns with ATVs.

What is special about Cerro de la Cruz?

Cerro de la Cruz offers panoramic bird’s-eye views over colonial Antigua and nearby volcanoes.

How do you get to La Azotea plantation from Antigua?

You’ll ride ATVs with your guide from central Antigua to Jocotenango; it takes about 15 minutes.

What’s included

Your day includes an ATV ride from Antigua with all entry fees covered, a bilingual guided tour of La Azotea coffee plantation in Jocotenango with tastings of fresh local coffee or tea, plus time at Cerro de la Cruz for city views before returning to town together.