Antigua: Guatemala's Sustainable Tourism Capital
Nestled in a den of volcanoes a stone’s throw away from Lake Atitlán sits Antigua, Guatemala. Coffee-loving travelers, avocado fans, and intrepid volcano climbers alike converge in this former capital city –– a sleepy town rooted in rich Mayan history, steeped in charming architecture, and inspired to protect the flourishing natural landscape surrounding it.
Antigua, so named after locals opted for a simpler version of its earlier title: “La Antigua Guatemala,” this town of fewer than 50,000 residents has become a staple of Guatemalan tourism.
With charming architecture –– Renaissance-inspired cobblestone streets dotted with decorative stucco buildings of the Barroco antigüeno tradition –– and lively sights sounds and smells, from the street vendors’ sizzling pupusas (think tortillas with fresh with cheese and pork cracklins), vibrant embroidered huipiles (traditional textile blouses) sported by Antiguan men and women, and markets teeming with fresh produce and traditional wares, smatterings of Guatemalan culture can be found around every corner.
Most travelers have heard of this candy-colored Central American hideaway for its famed Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations, sultry salsa scene, and even its UNESCO World Heritage site designation.
But underneath the iconic photo ops of the sunshine-soaked Arco de Santa Catalina is a commitment to making Antigua a more environmentally conscious and sustainable tourist destination. In February of 2019, Antigua became a plastic-free city, with a ban on single-use items like bags, straws, and utensils made from products that are harmful to the environment. The relatively new law applies to vendors as varied as large chains, artisan products, and food trucks, with creative biodegradable alternatives like paper straws popping up around the area. This move makes Antigua only the third of 240 municipalities in Guatemala with commitments with a sweeping prohibition on plastic.
Beyond this ban, the Municipality of Antigua has also partnered with the United Nations’ World Tourism Organization to found a Sustainable Tourism Observatory. This body will periodically be collecting data and scientific evidence on the effects of tourism on the city. Guatemala joins 25 other countries in assessing the economic, environmental, and social impacts of tourism to inform more sustainable development in the future.
Antigua is part of a greater Ibero-American strategy that considers tourism the key to a better economic and environmental impact in the region.
As part of this movement, Antigua has also promoted more environmentally friendly transportation, such as walking through the streets to experience and appreciate its beauty slowly, and without carbon emissions. With the campaign #CaminemosAntigua or “Let’s Walk Antigua,” residents and visitors alike are encouraged to capture the sights, sounds, and smells of this historic locale on foot.
Stroll down the Calle de Santa Lucía, saunter through Mercado del Carmen, or scale Volcán Acatenango, but wherever you go in and around Antigua –– leave only your footprints.