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Essentials

πŸ™οΈ City Antigua is a historic city known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings and vibrant culture.
πŸ‘₯ Population Approximately 40,000
πŸ’» Internet Speed Average 25 Mbps, sometimes higher in coworking spaces.
πŸ’Έ Currency & Banking 1 USD β‰ˆ 7.80 GTQ; ATMs widely available, major cards accepted.
🚰 Tap Water Not drinkable; bottled water recommended.
πŸ”Œ Power 120V, 60Hz; Type A/B sockets.
πŸ“Ά SIM Card Providers include Tigo and Claro, with data plans starting around GTQ 50.
πŸ’³ Banking for Expats Popular banks include Banrural and Banco Industrial; mobile apps available.
πŸ›Œ Accommodation Options range from boutique hotels to hostels and rentals via Airbnb.
πŸ’³ Cashless Friendly Partially; cash is still commonly preferred for smaller transactions.
🏠 Short Term Rentals Available on Airbnb, prices from GTQ 250 per night.
πŸ›οΈ Budget Accommodation Hostel options include Casa Rinconada starting from GTQ 80 per night.
πŸ™οΈ Best Area to Stay for Tourists Centro Historico, near main attractions like La Merced Church.
πŸ™οΈ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads Around Parque Central; various coworking spaces nearby.

Working and Networking

🏒 Best Coworking Space Selina Antigua, offering flexible memberships and community events.
β˜• Best Cafe for Work Cafe Sky, known for good coffee and wifi.
πŸ’Ό Networking Events Monthly meetups organized through local expat groups on Facebook.
πŸ₯‚ Social Events for Expats Antigua Expat Meetup group, active monthly events.

Transportation

πŸš• Best Taxi/Ride App Uber operates in the area; local taxis are also available.
🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental Antigua Bicycles offers rentals; prices around GTQ 100 per day.
πŸ–οΈ Best Beach Nearby Monterrico Beach, approximately 2.5 hours drive from Antigua.
✈️ Top Regional Airline TAG Airlines for domestic travel.
✈️ Top International Airline Avianca and American Airlines serve the nearby airport.
πŸ›£οΈ Highway Access Accessible via CA-9 highway.
πŸš‰ Main Train/Transit Hub Local bus stations provide connections to nearby cities.
🚍 Public Transport Passes Buses are inexpensive, but passes are not commonly used.
✈️ Regional Travel Buses to Guatemala City express services run frequently.

Health and Wellness

πŸ₯ Best Hospital Hospital Hermano Pedro, offering emergency and basic services.
🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers Casa de la Alhambra, hosts regular yoga classes most days.
πŸ‹οΈ Gyms & Fitness Centers Balance Gym offers monthly memberships for GTQ 300.
🧺 Laundry Services Lavandería Antigua provides drop-off and pick-up services.

Food and Drink

πŸ“± Best Food Delivery App Rappi operates in Antigua for food and grocery delivery.
🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try Pepian, a traditional spicy meat stew.
🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options Café Condesa offers a good variety of options.
🍫 Best Dessert Spots Choco Museo serves delicious chocolate treats.
πŸ›’ Affordable Shopping Spots Mercado de Antigua, for local produce and meals.
πŸ›’ E-commerce/Online Store Amazon delivers to Guatemala with fees.
πŸ›’ Grocery Delivery Supermercado Paiz offers delivery services.
🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area Calle del Arco hosts a variety of bars for nightlife.
🍻 Local Brewery Cerveza Quezal, offering brewery tours.
🍷 Wine Bars El Mesón de las Flores specializing in local wines.
🍲 Street Food Stalls Calle del Arco has many vendors selling local snacks.
πŸ• Popular International Cuisine Restaurante Los Tres Tiempos for pizza and pasta.

Culture and Attractions

🎟️ Must-See Landmarks Santa Catalina Arch, La Merced Church, and Cerro de la Cruz.
πŸ›οΈ Museums & Art Venues Casa Santo Domingo offers cultural exhibitions.
🏰 Historical Sites Antigua Guatemala's colonial architecture throughout the city.
πŸ• Religious Sites Cathedral of San Jose, a key historical site.
πŸŽ‰ Annual Events Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations attract many visitors.
🎨 Cultural Districts Convento de las Capuchinas area known for history.
🎭 Theater Venues Teatro de la República features local productions.
πŸ›οΈ Local Markets El Mercado Central for authentic artisan goods.
🎼 Music Scene Live music events frequently held in local bars.
🎨 Street Art Visit the streets for vibrant murals around Antigua.
πŸ§‘β€πŸ³ Cooking Classes Casa de la Cultura offers classes in Guatemalan cuisine.
πŸ‘©β€πŸŽ¨ Art Galleries Arte Centro Graciela offers local and international art.
πŸ•°οΈ Historic Buildings La Merced Church and the ruins of the old cathedral.
🏴 Local Heritage Antigua Guatemala is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

πŸŒ… Nearby Nature Escapes Pacaya Volcano, popular for hiking and stunning views.
🏞️ National Parks Nearby Tikal National Park is a major natural attraction, though further away.
🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths Trails around the outskirts of Antigua for cycling and walking.
πŸŒ„ Scenic Viewpoints Cerro de la Cruz offers panoramic views of the city.
πŸ¦‰ Birdwatching Locations Birdwatching tours available around local coffee farms.
πŸ”₯ Bonfire-Friendly Spots Designated areas near local campsites for gatherings.

Other Services and Amenities

πŸ“¦ Parcel Delivery Service DHL and local courier services available.
πŸ› οΈ Tech Repair Services Local shops offer phone and laptop repairs at reasonable rates.
πŸ“ Table Tennis Spots Table Tennis available at some community centers.
πŸ§‘β€πŸ« Language Classes Many Spanish schools, such as La Casa de los Tres Mundos.
πŸ“š Libraries & Study Spots Casa de la Cultura and local cafes provide good study environments.
🏘️ Community Centers Centro Cultural La Azotea for cultural events.
πŸ•ΉοΈ Gaming Lounges Limited; local cafes may have some gaming setups.
🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls No major casinos; small venues for entertainment only.

Business

🏒 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. GTQ 8,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = GTQ 320,000)
🏒 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. GTQ 6,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = GTQ 240,000)
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. GTQ 7,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = GTQ 450,000)
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. GTQ 5,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = GTQ 330,000)
🏑 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. GTQ 7,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = GTQ 560,000)
🏑 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. GTQ 5,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = GTQ 400,000)
πŸ’Ό Corporate Tax 25% for businesses in Guatemala.
πŸ’΅ Dividend Withholding Tax 10% for dividends paid to foreign entities.
🏦 Tax System Guatemalan residents taxed on worldwide income.
πŸ“ˆ Highest Income Tax Bracket 30% on high-income earners.
🧾 VAT 12% standard VAT applicable.
🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules Yes, strictly enforce rules for foreign income.
🏠 Property Tax 2% annually on property value.
🏠 Property Transaction Tax 3% tax applies during property purchase.
πŸ’» Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads No specific tax incentives for nomads; standard rates apply.

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