Antigua ATV tour: chocolate, jade and mountain villages
You ride the ATV yourself through four indigenous towns, not just watch them pass.
An ATV tour from Antigua that takes you up to the base of Volcán de Agua in the highland town of Santa Maria de Jesus, then down through San Juan del Obispo, San Pedro de las Huertas and back to Antigua, with stops at a chocolate factory, jade workshop, wine store and local restaurant. You drive your own ATV (or ride as a passenger), see chocolate being made, watch jade being carved into jewelry, and taste regional food and drinks. Children from age 7 are welcome; a valid driver's license is required to operate an ATV.
5h
Step-by-step itinerary
Antigua ATV Cultural Adventure
- Travel to base of Volcan de Agua
- Visit Santa Maria de Jesus market
- Tour Chocolateria Antigua factory
- Visit local wine store
- Visit handcrafted jade factory
- Taste local food and drinks
The Experience
The ride climbs to Santa Maria de Jesus at over 2,070 meters above sea level, an indigenous town where you stop at the local market in the town square. The altitude and the switchback road are the point — you are not being driven through the highlands, you are riding through them, which changes what you notice and how long the moment stays with you.
On the way back down to Antigua, the tour stops at three working sites. At Chocolateria Antigua in San Juan del Obispo, you watch the chocolate-making process and taste different flavors they produce. Next door is Vinieria Los Lobos, a local wine store where you can look around. Then comes San Pedro de las Huertas and a handcrafted jade factory, where artisans show you how raw stone becomes fine jewelry — the kind of detail-work that takes years to learn.
The final stop is a local restaurant where you taste regional food and drinks. The whole tour runs five hours. You need a valid driver's license to operate an ATV; if you don't have one or prefer not to ride, you can book as a passenger, though at least one adult in your group must book as a driver. Children from age 7 can come along, but they must be accompanied by an adult. The tour runs in all weather, so dress for mountain conditions.
What’s included
- ATV or motorcycle with fuel and parking included.
- a live guide in English or Spanish.
- the chocolate factory demonstration and samples.
- entry to the jade workshop.
- a meal stop at a local restaurant where you can order food and drinks to purchase.
Operated by Simoon Rentals & Tours Panajachel
Is this one for you?If you have a driver's license and want to move through the highlands under your own control rather than sit in a vehicle, this tour puts you on the ATV — the stops at the chocolate factory, jade workshop and market are the same for everyone, but the ride itself is yours to feel. Passengers without a license can come along, but someone in the group has to drive.
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Top questions
Can I ride the ATV myself, or do I have to be a passenger?
You can ride your own ATV if you have a valid driver's license and book as a driver. If you prefer to ride as a passenger, at least one adult in your group must book a driver rate — you cannot book a passenger-only reservation.
What is Santa Maria de Jesus like when we get there?
Santa Maria de Jesus is an indigenous highland town at over 2,070 meters above sea level, near the base of Volcán de Agua. You stop at the local market in the town square to walk around and see what the community trades and grows.
Do we actually see chocolate being made at the factory?
Yes. At Chocolateria Antigua in San Juan del Obispo, you get a short demonstration of the chocolate-making process and taste samples of their different chocolate flavors.
What happens at the jade factory?
At the handcrafted jade factory in San Pedro de las Huertas, you see artisans at work and learn how they carve raw stone into fine jewelry.
Are children allowed on this tour?
Children from age 7 are welcome, but they must be accompanied by an adult at all times. A child rate applies only when the child is sharing an ATV with two paying adults.
What should I bring or wear?
The tour climbs to 2,070 meters and operates in all weather, so dress in layers and bring rain gear if needed. You will need a valid driver's license if you plan to operate an ATV. The tour includes the vehicle, fuel and parking; food and drinks are available to purchase at the stops.
Antigua ATV tour: chocolate, jade and mountain villages
5h · EN · ES
from US$ 59 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.9277 reviews
