🇬🇹 Antigua,
Guatemala
#785
Nomad Score
6.5
Coords
28.4204111, -14.0130914
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ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Antigua, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala |
| 👥 Population | 46,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average 40-60 Mbps (Fiber available up to 200 Mbps in specialized rentals) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | 1 USD ≈ 7.80 GTQ (Guatemalan Quetzal) |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Not drinkable; use EcoFiltro or bottled 'Agua Pura' (approx. 20 GTQ per 5-gallon jug) |
| 🔌 Power | 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B (Same as USA/Canada) |
| 📶 SIM Card | Tigo or Claro; 10GB data package for 30 days costs approx. 150 GTQ ($19) |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | BAC Credomatic and Banco Industrial (BI) are most reliable for international cards; Revolut works at 5B ATMs |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Colonial-style houses, boutique hotels, and garden lofts via Airbnb and Antigua Rentals |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Moderate; cards accepted in upscale restaurants, but cash is essential for markets and small shops |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb, Selina Antigua, and local Facebook groups like 'Antigua Guatemala Rentals' |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | Hostel Antigueno (approx. $15/night) or Maya Papaya (approx. $22/night) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Central Park (Parque Central) area and North toward the Arch of Santa Catalina |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Barrio de las Capuchinas (quieter) or San Bartolomé Becerra for lower long-term rates |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | Impact Hub Antigua (Calle del Desengaño #2) - Day pass approx. $15, Monthly $160 |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | Artista de Café (5ta Calle Poniente #22) - Excellent Wi-Fi and quiet atmosphere |
| 💼 Networking Events | Tuesday Night Meetups at Impact Hub or 'Expats in Antigua' mixers at Antigua Brewing Co. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Pub Quizzes at Snug Pub or Salsa dancing nights at Las Palmas |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Uber (very active and safe) or Indriver |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Simoon (6ta Calle Poniente) - $15-$25 per day for scooters |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Monterrico (Black sand volcanic beach, 2.5 hours away via shuttle) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | TAG Airlines (Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | Avianca, United, and Delta (Flying into GUA - La Aurora International) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | CA-1 (Pan-American Highway) connecting to Guatemala City (approx. 1-2 hours depending on traffic) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Terminal de Buses Municipal (The 'Chicken Bus' terminal near the market) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | No digital passes; urban 'Chicken Buses' cost 5-10 GTQ cash per trip |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Shuttles to Lake Atitlán (approx. $25) or Lanquin/Semuc Champey (approx. $45) |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Hospital Privado Hermano Pedro (Calle de los Pasos #17) |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Shakti Shala (2da Avenida Sur #4) - $12 per drop-in class |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Antigua Fitness Club (Calle del Espíritu Santo #46) - Approx. $45/month |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Lavandería El Centro (6ta Calle Poniente) - Approx. 6 GTQ per pound for wash/dry/fold |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | PedidosYa |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Pepián (spicy meat stew) at La Cuevita de los Urquizú |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Samsara (7ma Avenida Sur) - Creative plant-based dishes |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Luna de Miel (Crepes) and Doña María Gordillo (traditional candy) |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Mercado Municipal (The local market) for fresh produce and staples |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Kemik.gt or GuatemalaDigital.com |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | La Torre App or Supermercado La Bodegona website |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | 5ta Avenida Norte (The Arch street) and surrounding blocks |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | Antigua Brewing Company (4ta Calle Poniente #30) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | Tabacos y Vinos (under the Arch) - self-serve wine by the glass |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Plaza de San Sebastián on weekend evenings |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Frida's (Mexican) or Kombu Ramen Shop |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Santa Catalina Arch and Cerro de la Cruz (Viewpoint) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Casa Santo Domingo (Hotel/Museum complex with colonial art) |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Convent of Capuchinas and San Francisco El Grande |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Antigua Guatemala Cathedral (Catedral de San José) |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Semana Santa (Holy Week) - world-famous sawdust carpets and processions |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | The central 8x8 grid of cobblestone streets (UNESCO World Heritage Site) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Cultura Antigua and various pop-up stages at Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Nim Po’t (Textile market on 5th Ave) and Mercado de Artesanías |
| 🎼 Music Scene | Live jazz at Kafka or Marimba music in Central Park |
| 🎨 Street Art | Found primarily in the outskirts and nearby towns like Pastores |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | La Tortilla Cooking School (approx. $40 for a 3-course class) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | La Antigua Galería de Arte (4ta Calle Oriente #15) |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | Palacio de los Capitanes Generales |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Traditional backstrap weaving demonstrations in Mayan villages like San Antonio Aguas Calientes |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Finca El Pilar (Hiking and hummingbirds) - 15 mins away |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Acatenango Volcano (Overnight hike for Fuego volcano views) - approx. $80-100 tour |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | The path to San Juan del Obispo for a suburban uphill walk/ride |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Hobbitenango (Eco-park with 'Hobbit' style houses) at 2,400 meters altitude |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Finca Filadelfia Coffee Resort & Tours |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Base camps on Volcano Acatenango tours |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | DHL (4ta Calle) or Cargo Expreso for national shipping |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | iFix Antigua (Apple specialist) or various electronics shops near the Market |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | Ojala Hostel (Common area) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | Spanish Academy Sevilla or Antigüeña Spanish Academy (approx. $150/week for 20 hours) |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | La Cooperación Española library (free access, quiet courtyard) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Centro Cultural Cooperación Española |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | Limited; mostly private setups or internet cafes like El Tecolote |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Mostly found in Guatemala City (Zone 10); Antigua restricts large casinos |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $3,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $128,000 in colonial ruins/renovations) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $1,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $72,000 in Jocotenango or Ciudad Vieja) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $2,900 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $174,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $1,600 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $96,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. $2,700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $216,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. $1,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $120,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 25% on net income or 7% on gross income |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 5% |
| 🏦 Tax System | Territorial (Only income earned within Guatemala is taxed) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 7% (simplified regime) or 25% (standard regime) |
| 🧾 VAT | 12% (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | None |
| 🏠 Property Tax | IUSI (Impuesto Único Sobre Inmuebles) ranges from 0.2% to 0.9% annually |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 3% for second and subsequent sales; 12% (VAT) for first sale |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | Yes; 0% tax on foreign-sourced income under the territorial tax system |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING ANTIGUA