Posada del Angel

Posada del Angel is an intimate hotel in a world-class cultural destination, La Antigua Guatemala. Located on a cobblestone quiet street, a few blocks from the main plaza, Posada del Angel occupies an original Spanish colonial casona where everything happens behind closed doors, only for guests who stay in its seven rooms around a central patio, a small lap pool, a romantic garden and a dramatic roof terrace overlooking Volcán de Agua.

Posada del Angel is traditional and elegant: each of the seven rooms is unique and has been designed with a color palette inspired by the famous wall textures all over La Antigua. Beds are covered with Mayan textiles made on backstap looms using the finest cottons and traditional indigenous techniques. Carved wood sculptures, hand hammered copper, ceramic and metal pieces, flowers and candles, are all part of a warm reddish atmosphere that gets transformed into the most romantic setting after sun dawn.

Posada del Angel's toiletries have been designed by a local alchemist who created a signature scent 'Semana Santa' with varying intensities of frankincense, orange, myrrh, clove and cinnamon. All products use the best quality local ingredients such as raw honey from San Cristobal el Alto, Sacatepéquez; coconut oil produced in Belize; palm oil produced in Guatemala; cocoa butter from Guatemala; local beeswax and essential oils.

Posada del Angel's Dinnerware has been exclusively designed inspired by engravings from the ruins of Capuchina's monastery in rust color reminiscent of the passage of time and its patinas.

Posada del Angel serves locally designed breakfast menus which include freshly squeezed juices, tropical fruits, eggs for all tastes seasoned with the typical chile Chiltepe, a local chili sauce, refried beans and home made tortillas, three elements that define Guatemalan cuisine.

THE ROSE SUITE

Home to Former President Bill Clinton, this suite with a king sized bed features an original wooden floor, fine antiques and a wood burning fireplace in the bedroom and bathroom, an extra sized jacuzzi and a private terrace with a view of the 3 world famous volcanoes.

THE MARY SUE SUITE

This exotic suite is decorated with a unique 4 post antique queen bed, hardwood floor and a wood burning fire place next to a cozy living room. The marble and wood bathroom offers a Jacuzzi and is integrated to an outdoor private patio.

THE BLUE JR SUITE

Elegantly decorated in blue hand-woven Guatemalan fabrics, the Blue Room is one of our most wanted rooms, with a king bed featuring a wood burning fireplace and a bathroom which brings up the rustic, colonial style of the Posada.

THE GREEN JR SUITE

With a relaxing and romantic pool view, a 4 post antique queen sized bed and a wood burning fire place, this room it’s the favorite for honeymooners and lovers of all ages. The room is beautifully decorated with a rustic set of Guatemalan furniture.

THE BIRD ROOM

With a lovely view of the garden and a king bed, the bird room is one in which you will have the ultimate relaxing time next to the wood burning fireplace. The bathroom is elegantly decorated with beige and reddish tiles.

THE YELLOW ROOM

Features a pool side view, a choice of two twin beds or a king sized bed, a wood burning fireplace, and a bathroom designed to fit the room’s personality.

THE MAYAN ROOM

With a queen bed, offers exceptional coziness, a peculiar decoration with antique Mayan prints and an original wooden floor. Its spacious bathroom is decorated with elegant and rustic accents that go along with the hand woven and Guatemalan fabrics.

All rooms and facilities are not suitable for children.

The gateway to Guatemala, Antigua is the perfect place to start or end your Guatemalan trip, after a visit to the famous Tikal ruins. Three to five days is the ideal time to spend in Antigua; wandering the streets, climbing the volcanoes, soaking up the traditions and brushing up on your Spanish. Out of all the Latin American countries, Guatemala has the most surprises and unknown places to discover. Here are some suggestions for things to do in and around charming Antigua.

Explore the Streets on your own or a Walking Tour
Guatemala is one of the world’s best coffee producers so trying an espresso is a must do in Antigua. Colorful and ancient doorways open up to stunning courtyards with boutique shops and cafes waiting to offer you the perfect coffee. Spend the morning freely wandering the cobblestoned streets, stumbling across chocolate shops, antique stores, local designer shops and much more.

To get an early taste of the cuisine, head to Rincon Tipico for lunch. The cheap eat restaurant in Antigua serves up big plates of rice, beans and local vegetables with your choice of meat (or veggie options). The courtyard restaurant isn’t fancy but they do good local, tasty and cheap meals, ideal for those on a budget. Afterwards, join the Antigua walking tour to get a great orientation of the town and see some of the key Antigua attractions including the Arco de Santa Catalina, Church of San Francisco, Catedral de Santiago and Iglesia de La Merced.

Local Eats & Shopping

For a delicious mix of local, international and Latin American dishes, visit the food stalls at La Esquina Antigua. It’s ideal if traveling with a group or if you can’t decide what food you crave. Some may want to travel to Italy for a pasta while others may want a dish from neighboring country Mexico. The restaurant collective is next to the awesome Selina hostel in Antigua filled with friendly travelers and a wicked playground that is enjoyed by adults and kids alike. A tree-hanging bed, old school bus converted into a chilled zone and a slide into the pool are some of the fun accessories to this accommodation and great place to stay in Antigua.

Coffee and Photography
They say early birds get the worm and if you’d like the perfect picture of Antigua and the surrounding volcanoes, go out on an early morning self-guided photography tour – 7am is recommended. Being in a valley, Antigua often clouds over throughout the day, and so do the volcanoes. The AM is an ideal time for snapping that token shot of Arco de Santa Catalina with Volcano Acatenago in the background. Capturing Santa Catalina Arch is ranked on all top things to do lists of Antigua, so it’s gotta be done! Photographers will also be happy to know that the sun’s aspect at this time of day shines nicely on the mountains.

Because you’re up early head out on the morning coffee tour to see how the Guatemalans produce their famous coffee beans. It’s a great opportunity to see the local countryside as well and the tour includes some taste tests – definitely needed after the early alarm.

Chocolate Tasting
Continue the taste testing with a visit to the Chocolate Museum. Guatemala created chocolate so it’s a no brainer that sampling and understanding the process is another popular thing to do in Antigua. The Choco museum is right in the centre of town and is worth a visit.

Stroll & Supper
After all the taste tests, burn off the extra calories with a walk up to Cerro de la Cruz to watch the sunset. The vantage point is a highlight and popular thing to do in Antigua. You can’t miss this vantage point as it’s seen from most of the town and has a big cross at the top. The walk takes approximately 30 minutes for the centre of town. It’s a spectacular view anytime of the day but mesmerizing at sunset. Back in town head to your favorite restaurant – Taqueria Doña Lupita for cheap, delicious tacos, Pappys BBQ for American style barbeque, Rainbow Cafe for vegetarian options and Luna de Miel for incredible crepes. After dinner have a drink at the candle lit and super quaint wine bar, Cafe No Se or Frida’s for yummy Mexican cocktails.

Climb a volcano in Guatemala

Undoubtedly the best thing to do in Antigua and Guatemala is hike a volcano. The country has 37 volcanoes with many being accessible to visit, taking you close to flowing lava or erupting peaks. For those adrenaline junkies the most popular hike is to Acatenango, a stratovolcano that is one kilometer away from the very active Volcan de Fuego.

Hike to Acatenango Volcano.

The Acatenango hike starts early in the morning and is overnight. The first day is spent walking four to six hours to the base camp of Acatenango that sits at an altitude of 3,976m, the third tallest in Central America. The afternoon and evening is spent at base camp watching the magnificent Volcano Fuego erupts, spewing lava meters into the air and down the side of the volcano. It’s one sight and memory I’ll never forget and neither will you! The next morning the team wakes early to climb for 45 minutes to the summit of Acatenango for a spectacular sunrise and view of the surrounding volcanoes. After the sun has risen each group returns to base camp for a well-deserved breakfast before ascending the volcano and transferring back into Antigua.

If you’re short on time, or know you’ll be short on breath climbing Acatenango, the other option is to take a half day trip to hike up Volcan Pacaya. The tour will take you to the start of the track where you have a leisurely one hour walk (or donkey ride) to reach volcanic rock fields and fresh flowing lava. If you dare, the guides will assist you to melt a marshmallow over the hot lava – another epic Antigua activity to tick off your things to do in Antigua.