If you’re traveling to Antigua, Guatemala you’ll want to check out the epic views of Volcan de Agua at Cerro de La Cruz. This was one of my favorite activities that we did when visiting this history rich Guatemalan town.
During my trip we were able to find a local company who rented us ATVs in Antigua to ride up to the view point. Not only did we visit Cerro de La Cruz but they took us all over the Antiguan countryside.
Looking to kick your adventure level up a notch when visiting Antigua’s best viewpoint? In this post we’ll highlight everything you should know before visiting Cerro de La Cruz including where to reserve an ATV!
Once you’re done here be sure to check out my full length video guide highlighting this and other fun activities to do in Antigua!
Disclaimer: this website uses affiliate links which may allow me to earn a commission when used at no additional cost to you.
What to expect at Cerro de La Cruz?
If you park near the Santiago de los Caballeros statue and walk down you’re looking at about half a mile (0.8 km) of walking down and back to the view point.
While you don’t need hiking boots or anything like that be mindful that the path down to cross is fairly steep and given the elevation of this region it might take your breath away on the way back up!
The path leading down to the view point is well marked with wooden hand rails that zig zag all the way down.
When we visited the area wasn’t overly crowded but this is a popular place for locals to hang out so don’t expect to have the area to yourself.
The views of Antigua from Cerro de La Cruz are truly breathtaking and it’s no wonder everyone you speak to will suggest you come here during your trip.
If you have the flexibility try to visit on a clear day so you can get the best views of Volcan de Agua which towers over the city. Most of the time there will be at least some clouds hovering around the volcanos peak.
Our journey up to Cerro de La Cruz was done on ATVs. We rented our ATVs from a local company called Simoon Rentals as part of their sunset tour.
To be clear – even though we booked the sunset tour, the Cerro de La Cruz portion occurred during the middle of the day.
Not only did Simoon Rentals take us up to Cerro de La Cruz but we also rode the ATVs over to Hobbitenango. It was at Hobbitenango Guatemala that we took in the sunset that evening.
Just be mindful that by the time you’re riding back to town on this tour the temperature will have cooled off quite a bit and you’ll be at much higher elevations. I’d recommend packing an extra layer and even gloves on cooler nights to keep warm.
All of these factors combined with the open air experience of riding an ATV can make your trip home at night quite chilly!
If you’re just planning to hit Cerro de La Cruz and head back to town after you only need to budget about 30 minutes of travel time plus however long you plan to stay at the cross taking in the spectacular views.
While I felt perfectly safe the entire time just make sure you’re comfortable with the prospect of riding ATVs on local roads which will also be home to cars and motorcycles.
Riding ATVs through the Antiguan countryside was an incredible experience and one of my favorite activities we did on our trip. And that’s saying a lot when we spent a morning hiking Pacaya Volcano and an evening cooking with Cuscun on a locals rooftop.
I have videos available on my YouTube channel covering the Pacaya Volcano hike, what to expect when cooking with Cuscun and a guide to the best things to do in Antigua Guatemala. Be sure to check some of those resources out when you’re finished here!
Where is Cerro de La Cruz located?
One major draw of Cerro de La Cruz is its proximity to the city center of Antigua. By car or ATV you should be able to reach the 'hill of the cross' in under 15 minutes.
If you still need accommodations for your trip, you can check out deals on Antigua hotels here.
This proximity makes a visit to Cerro de La Cruz easy to fit into even the tightest of itineraries!
If you're trying to locate Cerro de La Cruz on a map locate the Antigua city center and look north.
A landmark that will help you locate parking for this area is the Santiago de los Caballeros statue. Park nearby and walk down to the cross and overlook area.
How long should I plan on spending here?
The roundtrip travel time by vehicle from central Antigua should be under 30 minutes.
Depending on where you park it will take you another 10 minutes to walk down to the viewing area. I'd budget at least 30 minutes to hang around the cross area and take photos.
If you're planning to come for sunset, sunrise or to have lunch here you'll want to consider budgeting more time.
When is the best time of day to visit Cerro de La Cruz?
You can never go wrong visiting an area like this at sunrise or sunset.
If you have some flex in your schedule try to head up here when the skies are clear so you can get the best view of Volcan de Agua overlooking the city.
What is the best time of year to visit?
In general there isn't a bad time of year for visiting Cerro de La Cruz specifically. However, when it comes to Guatemala in general, most people recommend visiting during the dry season which runs from November to April.
Given Antigua's location near the equator and proximity of large bodies of water the temperature here is pleasant (or warm) for most of the year.
Many people recommend visiting Antigua for its world famous Easter festivities in April. When we visited in November they were hosting a massive flower festival in the town square on the last day of our trip.
While it was very cool to see the flower festival be mindful that the cobblestone roads here are not built for this type of tourism influx (mostly locals visiting from nearby Guatemala City).
There was a ton of traffic and crowds every where we turned. I would imagine the Easter celebration is even busier.
Many people who visit Antigua will also continue on to experience's Guatemala's most beautiful area, at Lake Atitlan. If you haven't heard of this place then I highly recommend you watch some Lake Atitlan video highlights from our trip.
Views of Lake Atitlan Guatemala from Casa Del Mundo
Once we wrapped up our time in Antigua we booked a shuttle to take us west to this beautiful volcanic lake. We stayed at La Casa Del Mundo for this leg of our trip, which is a hotel situated on Lake Atitlan that can only be accessed by boat.
If you aren't familiar, be sure to check out some video highlights from our stay at Casa Del Mundo on my YouTube channel. It will also cover the best place on the lake for watching sunrise, along the Indian Nose (Rostro Maya) trail.
Is there a fee to enter Cerro de La Cruz?
There isn't an entrance fee for visiting Cerro de La Cruz. However, bring a few quetzal since cars or bikes will require a nominal parking fee. Simoon Rentals took care of this for us.
Do I need to book a guided tour to visit?
You can book local guides in town that will take you up to Cerro de La Cruz or longer day tours through the area that will usually include a stop here.
As I've mentioned throughout the post we booked an ATV tour of Antigua with Simoon Rentals.
It's costlier than making it up here by yourself but you certainly get what you pay for. We had such a fun time I would do it all over again next time I'm in Antigua!
Volcan de Agua can almost always be spotted with its iconic cloud halo
Sure, the views here are beautiful. But having a guide will add a personal touch to the experience and you'll learn way more than if you go it alone.
Other important things to know when visiting
You don't need any special gear or hiking boots for Cerro de La Cruz. But I'd avoid wearing nicer shoes here. The paths are primarily loose dirt. I could see the paths being muddy if it recently rained.
There are bathroom facilities located near the main road that enters into the Cerro de La Cruz area.
Like many bathrooms in Guatemala you'll need to pay a few quetzal to enter. Be sure to have some cash handy!
There's also decent cell phone service at Cerro de La Cruz. We didn't have any issues with cellular service in or around Antigua.
Just don't expect to get super fast data speeds!
Check out my Small Group Trip to Guatemala
Interested in traveling with Wes to Guatemala?
I'm super stoked to be offering small group trips that explore some of my favorite places in the land of volcanoes.
If you've always wanted to visit Guatemala, but weren't comfortable spending the time to research and plan it yourself, let me take care of the dirty work for you!
Taking in the views from Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala
Not only that, but you'll have a great guide (that's me!) to help ensure everything goes smoothly.
I've custom curated the itineraries to make sure we hit all of the best stuff, all you've got to do is show up and enjoy!
You can read the Guatemala Small Group Trip itinerary here to learn more.
Explore the best things to do in Antigua on YouTube
Check out these activities available in the area
Looking for more ways to fill out your trip itinerary? Be sure to check out the list of activities below from GetYourGuide.
Additional Travel Planning Resources
My Favorite Cheap Flight Hacks
Tired of paying full price for airfare? You're not alone.
Paying for flights is one of the biggest travel expenses and unless your destination is within driving distance, it's difficult to avoid.
But there are a number of useful hacks and tricks I've used over the years to ensure I pay the bare minimum when I fly and I've compiled all of them into a guide to help you save on airfare costs.
Hire Wes to Plan Your Next Trip
Need helping planning your next big adventure? Whether you need assistance finding the perfect hotel or are looking for a fully planned adventure itinerary, I'm here to help!
You can check out all of my travel advisor service offerings here.
Hiring me to plan your next trip is a great way to maximize your limited vacation time. Let me save you the hassle of trip planning while you benefit from my experience planning travels to over 25 different countries!
Explore Group Travel Opportunities
Interested in making new friends and traveling to bucket list destinations? Be sure to check out my upcoming group trip opportunities!
Not only will you have the opportunity to Travel with Wes to some of my favorite destinations, but all of the logistics will be taken care of. All you need to do is show up and enjoy.
My current trip offerings are outlined below. If you're interested in joining me on a future adventure, you can submit your interest for group travel here.
Learn More About Travel With Wes
If you're interested in learning about why I started this blog, head over to my about page. You'll learn all about my story, how I got into blogging and tips for using this travel blog.
Tips for Planning a Trip Abroad
Planning trips abroad can be tough. Especially if it's your first time or you're visiting a new country.
I've put together a guide that will help you work through all of the things you need to consider when planning a trip abroad.
Things like packing the proper outlet converter, seasonality of desired activities and making sure to have backups of all your important travel documents are just a few tips I'll cover in this guide.
Check out my YouTube Channel
If you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!
I publish highlights from all my adventures to my channel. It's a great way to find inspiration for your next trip and along the way I'll drop tons of useful tips to plan your visit to the destinations I cover.
Connect with me on Social Media
Social media is a great way to connect with me! You can use the links below to follow me on your favorite social platform:
- Follow me on Instagram
- Follow me on TikTok
- Join my page on Facebook
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel
- Follow me on Pinterest for travel inspiration
- Connect with my Fora Travel Advisor Page
- Shop Travel Gear on Amazon
I love hearing from readers, so drop a comment on a post or shoot me a DM with any travel related questions that you've got. I always respond!
Is it worth visiting Cerro de La Cruz?
We really enjoyed our visit and I’m not sure there’s a more iconic view in all of Antigua Guatemala than at Cerro de La Cruz.
This is a must hit for any traveler visiting. While you can make it up here on your own, I think there’s a lot of value to be enjoyed by hiring a local guide from town.
Want to travel with Wes? Check out my Guatemala small group trip here!
Given the relative proximity to town and since you can walk up here if need be, there’s really no excuse to miss out on this stop on your trip!
I hope this post covering the beautiful views at Cerro de La Cruz Antigua Guatemala covered all of the questions you had about visiting.