Antigua Guatemala & Guatemala City Full Day Tour

Two cities, two centuries: Casa Santo Domingo's baroque ruins, the Santa Catalina Arch, and Guatemala City's monuments in one day

A guided full-day tour departing Guatemala City that covers the colonial landmarks of Antigua Guatemala (Casa Santo Domingo, Cerro de la Cruz, La Merced Church, Santa Catalina Arch, and the Central Park), then returns to Guatemala City to tour Avenida Reforma, Yurrita Church, and Plaza de la Constitución. A certified guide leads the route in English or Spanish. Private transportation, water and hotel pickup are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Casa Santo Domingo30m
2. Hill of the Cross20m
3. La Merced Church10m
4. Santa Catalina Arch10m
5. Central Park Antigua15m
6. Avenida Reforma15m
7. Yurrita Church20m
8. Constitution Square30m

Explore Antigua and Guatemala City

• Pick up from hotel lobby
• Travel to Antigua Guatemala
• Visit Casa Santo Domingo monastery
• View city from Hill of the Cross
• See La Merced Church
• Visit Santa Catalina Arch
• Walk through Central Park Antigua
• See Antigua Cathedral ruins
• Return to Guatemala City for lunch break
• Explore Americas Avenue monuments and plazas
• Visit Obelisco and Reforma Avenue
• See Yurrita Church facade
• Visit Plaza de la Constitución
• Free time at Ciudad Cayalá
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and a drive to Antigua Guatemala, where the day centers on the city's colonial core. Casa Santo Domingo, the largest monastery in Antigua, stands as baroque ruins from the 1773 earthquake. Its ancient walls and tile corridors preserve what was once one of the Americas' most important convents, founded in 1538. From there, Cerro de la Cruz offers a hilltop view across Antigua and its three volcanoes. La Merced Church, an 18th-century yellow baroque structure surrounded by gardens and cafes, leads to the Santa Catalina Arch: the symbol on most postcards of the city, built in 1693 by the Santa Catarina Mártir Convent. The Central Park (Plaza Central) sits two blocks away, ringed by the first national palace, the first cathedral, and a fountain at its center.

After Antigua, you return to Guatemala City for lunch on your own, then continue to the capital's historic districts. Avenida Reforma and Avenida Las Américas carry monuments and sculptures honoring figures from across the Americas: Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross; Mexican leaders Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Benito Juárez; and Miguel Ángel Asturias, the 1967 Nobel Prize winner in Literature. Yurrita Church, known for its distinctive facade, and Plaza de la Constitución at the city center (where the metropolitan cathedral and national palace frame a central fountain) close the route. A stop at Ciudad Cayalá, the city's most exclusive shopping and leisure zone, gives free time before the return to your hotel.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• a certified tour guide in English or Spanish.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Guat2do Travel Experiences

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a guide explaining both Antigua's colonial landmarks and Guatemala City's modern sites in one day, rather than splitting them across separate trips.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Casa Santo Domingo and why does it matter on this tour?

Casa Santo Domingo is the largest monastery in Antigua Guatemala, founded in 1538 by the Dominicans and partially destroyed in the 1773 earthquake. The surviving baroque ruins (ancient walls, brick archways, and tile corridors) preserve the architecture and history of one of the Americas' most important convents. Part of it now houses Antigua's only five-star hotel.

Can I see the Santa Catalina Arch and take photos there?

Yes. The Santa Catalina Arch, built in 1693, is the most famous landmark in Antigua and appears on most postcards of the city. The tour includes a stop at the arch on Arch Street, where you'll have time to photograph it.

How long is the full tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs 11 to 12 hours and includes private transportation, a certified guide in English or Spanish, hotel pickup and drop-off, and bottled water. Lunch is not included and you'll have a break to eat on your own in Guatemala City.

Does this tour visit Guatemala City's main historic sites?

Yes. The Guatemala City portion covers Avenida Reforma and Avenida Las Américas with their monuments and sculptures, Yurrita Church, and Plaza de la Constitución at the city center, where the metropolitan cathedral and national palace stand around a central fountain.