Antigua
Semana Santa in Antigua Guatemala: What to Know Before You Go
Why Antigua's Semana Santa is world-famous
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the week leading up to Easter Sunday, and Antigua Guatemala's celebrations are considered among the most elaborate anywhere in the world. The date moves every year with the Christian calendar, usually falling somewhere in March or April - always check the current year's dates before you book.
The alfombras (carpets)
The signature sight is the alfombras - intricate carpets stretching across entire cobblestone streets, made from dyed sawdust, flower petals, pine needles and fruit. Families and neighborhoods often work through the night to finish them, only for a procession to walk directly over the top a few hours later. Wander the streets early morning to catch them freshly finished, before the crowds and the processions arrive.
The processions
Massive wooden floats called andas - some depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ, weighing well over a ton - are carried through the streets on the shoulders of dozens to over a hundred purple-robed carriers known as cucuruchos. Brass bands, incense, and slow, deliberate footwork make these processions as much a feat of endurance as a spectacle.
Good Friday is the peak
Viernes Santo (Good Friday) draws the largest crowds and the most elaborate carpets and processions of the week, including some that run from early morning well into the night. If you can only be in Antigua for one day of Semana Santa, this is it - but expect the streets to be genuinely packed.
Plan accommodation early
Antigua fills up months in advance for Semana Santa - it's one of the most in-demand weeks of the year for a very small town. If this is on your calendar, lock in a place to stay as early as you can rather than waiting until a few weeks out.
Where to stay
Our Central King Loft and Antigua Three-Bedroom House both sit inside walking distance of the historic center, where most of the main processions and carpets pass through - book direct and message us on WhatsApp with any questions about timing your trip around Holy Week.
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Antigua Guatemala - A loft and a house in the heart of colonial Antigua.
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