Coffee Being Sun Dried

11 Best Coffee Tours Antigua Guatemala Has to Offer

Are you looking for the best coffee tours Antigua Guatemala has to offer? If so, you’re in luck! In this post, I’ll cover all of the best coffee tours available in Guatemala’s colonial city to help you explore the amazing world of caffeine.

***This page contains affiliate links, so if you book a tour through those links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more in my disclaimer.***

*This post was written by Val McArthur, a special guest writer, former barista, and coffee aficionado who grew up in Guatemala.*

Don’t have time to read the whole post? Skip straight to the good stuff and book the Antigua ATV Tour. You’ll get the full experience, from coffee plantation to barista magic.

Or jump to the Quick Guides section for a review of my top three picks.

Quick Guide: Top Coffee Tours Antigua

Why take a coffee tour in Antigua?

Guatemala is renowned for its gourmet coffee. In fact, it is one of the top ten coffee exporters in the world. And Antigua is one of Guatemala’s premier coffee-growing regions!

Taking a tour here is something any visiting coffee aficionado should take advantage of!

Still not convinced? This has been my experience: I love Guatemalan coffee and thoroughly enjoy drinking as much of it as I possibly can, but learning about the process makes me appreciate my cup of Joe even more.

I’m positive that you, too, can benefit from the wealth of knowledge available about Guatemalan coffee production!

11 Best Coffee Tours Antigua Guatemala Has to Offer

With lots of different coffee tours, Antigua Guatemala has something for any kind of traveler. Whether you’re interested in exploring coffee farms, biking the countryside before drinking a cup of coffee, or a cultural deep-dive, there are coffee tours on this list for you!

Read on to discover my top picks for Antigua coffee tours.

1. Antigua ATV Coffee Tour *Top Adrenaline*

Man in a coffee field in Antigua Guatemala
Coffee Tour Antigua Guatemala by Julio Deras Voiy on Unsplash

Ready for adrenaline on top of caffeine jitters? If so, this multi-stop Antigua ATV coffee tour in Guatemala could be a perfect choice! Hop on your four-wheel rig and roar across cobbled and paved streets to the nearby city of Jocotenango.

After a fifteen-minute joy ride, you’ll reach La Azotea coffee plantation. This is a prime spot to see coffee production on a property with beautiful grounds.

The coffee tour lasts an hour, but as a bonus, you can visit a music museum on the farm as well! 

Ready to ride? Hop back on the ATVs and head to one of Antigua’s well-known landmarks “El Cerro de la Cruz.” This “Hill of the Cross” is an iconic lookout offering panoramas of the colonial city and volcanoes.

We really enjoyed riding through the streets and hills of Antigua on this tour. Further, our guide (Gio … I believe) was very knowledgeable and made the ride fun. The coffee tour was incredibly informative and I certainly appreciate my daily cup of joe a lot more. I’d recommend booking again!

KATHERINE (READ more reviews)

Coffee and a bird’s eye view of the city of Antigua, Guatemala! Sounds like a great day.

Antigua ATV Coffee Tour At a Glance

  • Price: approximately $50
  • Maximum group size:  15 people 
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • What’s included: coffee/tea, all fees, and taxes
  • Meeting point: 6a Avenida Norte 60

3. Rural Farm Coffee Tour Antigua Guatemala *Sustainable Tourism*

Man on Guatemala Coffee Farm
Man on Guatemala Coffee Farm by Jeff McArthur © Jeff McArthur

Want to see a small business in action? This rural coffee farm tour teaches you all about small-scale Guatemala Antigua coffee bean production. 

Learn why most coffee in the area is shade grown! Taste what a coffee cherry is like fresh off the tree. Best of all, you’re learning from a local farmer who has grown up in the trade.

Incredibly interesting history and production, both our guide and the expert joining us did an amazing job with explaining everything and letting us try and taste anything we wanted to. Very immersive experience!

Astalinn (Read more reviews)

You also get to learn about the history and architecture of the Spanish colonial period.

Note: Other guests recommend bringing a curious mind as well as your hiking shoes for a “trip up the hill.”

Rural Farm Coffee Tour Antigua Guatemala At a Glance

  • Price: From $30
  • Maximum group size: 15 people
  • Duration: 2 to 3 hours 
  • What’s included: guided tour of a coffee farm & downtown
  • Meeting point: San Pedro Las Huertas

3. Coffee Tour in Sacatepequez with Tasting

Guatemala Coffee with latte art
Latte Art by Val McArthur

Go to Sacatepequez for a tour with a tasting! Live a day in the life of a coffee farmer, and learn about each step of the coffee process. With ten steps before the beans are even ready to roast, there is a lot to learn!

It doesn’t stop with the “green beans” either. Move right along and learn about the roasting and brewing stages. 

Finish the tour learning how to make a well-balanced cup of coffee, then drink coffee grown and roasted by locals. From sprout to cup, discover the life cycle of a coffee bean. 

Excellent tour with Baudilio. His knowledge of the coffee journey from harvesting to tasting is amazing! We did a tour of the farm, and then back to his house to learn more about coffee processing, roasting and tasting! Baudilio was so friendly and answered all my questions. The tour was so interesting. The coffee tasted so good, with such differences between brewing techniques. Amazing tour and well recommended!

Barry (read more reviews)

Awesome!

Coffee Tour in Sacatepequez with Tasting At a Glance

  • Price: From $45
  • Maximum group size: 15 people
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • What’s included: Transportation, entrance to the plantation, guide, coffee tasting
  • Meeting point: hotel pickup 

4. Sip’n Cycle Coffee & Mountain Bike Tour

Traditional Coffee Roasting on a Comal
Traditional Coffee Roasting on a Clay Comal Marissa Eric on Unsplash

What better way to explore a coffee farm than on a mountain bike? Deemed an intermediate ride, this Sip’n Cycle Coffee & Mountain Bike Tour is good for all but the most beginner bike riders.

This fun excursion gives a unique on-the-ground experience of the beautiful Guatemalan countryside. Cycle past idyllic farms and take in the surrounding volcanoes. Arrive at the farm and get shown around by a local co-op member. Learn how to flame-roast and hand-grind coffee beans after being shown the growing process. 

Enjoy some of the best coffee in Antigua, Guatemala brewed by your own hands! Finish the day with a family-style meal of traditional Guatemalan food.

Amazing experience! Bike riding through Antigua was beautiful and the visit to see how coffee was made with lunch with a local family was great too. Highly recommend. Good people.

nicole (read more reviews)

This tour is a perfect choice if you want to support small-scale farmers and get to know some locals!

Sip’n Cycle Coffee & Mountain Bike Tour At a Glance

  • Price: $122
  • Maximum group size: 15 people
  • Duration: 4 to 5 hours
  • What’s included: bottled water, lunch, activities, local guides, all equipment needed, coffee, tea
  • Meeting point: Old Town Outfitters, starting time: 9:00 am

5. Coffee and Gastronomic Bike Tour in Antigua

Red Coffee Cherry on Tree by Jeff McArthur
Red Coffee Cherry on Tree © Jeff McArthur

Kick off this Coffee and Gastronomic Bike Tour in Antigua by pedaling among coffee plants beneath the dappled light of shade trees. Next, take a break at the Azotea Coffee Museum, where you’ll learn more about how coffee is produced.

Hop back on your bike for a brief ride to the village of San Felipe de Jesus. Here, you’ll learn about the local handicrafts and sample traditional Guatemalan candies.

Pedal back to Antigua, with a quick stop at the Antigua Brewing Company.

This tour far exceeded my expectations. Our guide gave us an educational experience that went beyond typical tourist attractions. We learned a lot about coffee, cacao, and the incredible people who make Guatemala, Guatemala. Cannot recommend this experience enough.

Jessica F. (Read more reviews)

Coffee and Gastronomic Bike Tour At A Glance

  • Price: From $34
  • Maximum group size: 9 people
  • Duration: approximately 4.5 hours
  • What’s included: Use of a bicycle, bottled water, coffee/tea, soda, snack
  • Meeting point: CA Traveler Office, 2a Calle Poniente 25, Antigua Guatemala 03001, Guatemala

6. Coffee Finca & Macadamia Farm Combo Tour

Val McArthur on a Coffee Farm Tour in Antigua Guatemala
Val McArthur on a Coffee Farm Tour in Antigua Guatemala

This two-for-one Coffee Finca & Macadamia combo tour from Antigua Guatemala is an awesome choice for curious minds! Tour both a coffee and a macadamia nut farm. Even better, both plantations are sustainable and eco-friendly!

Not only do you see the best Guatemala Antigua coffee beans getting produced, you also get to explore a beautiful coffee plantation called La Azotea. 

Next, you’ll get to visit the Valhalla Experimental Station. This Macadamia Farm is sure to be intriguing. Eat yummy macadamias, learn about the production process, and try some macadamia beauty products. Fun!

Really interesting tour learning about not only coffee and macadamia nut production but rural life, Guatemala as a whole and multiple other things. The driver stopped whenever we wanted photographs, anticipated our wishes and even added things outside of the itinerary. I really enjoyed the side excursion to Aliotenango which was totally off the tourist map

samantha (Read more reviews)

Note: The admissions cost to the coffee plantation and Valhalla experimental station are not included in the tour price so you’ll need to bring additional cash for that. 

Coffee Finca & Macadamia Farm Combo Tour At a Glance

  • Price: From $60
  • Maximum group size: 8 people
  • Duration: approximately 4 hours
  • What’s included: private transportation, a professional guide
  • Meeting point: Hotel Pick Up offered

7. Coffee Beverage-Making Techniques Workshop

Antigua Coffee Tour and Brewing Workshop
Coffee Brewing by Manuel Adana on Unsplash

Want to learn how to brew a delicious cup of coffee every time? I definitely do! This hands-on beverage-making technique workshop at an Antigua Guatemala coffee shop sounds amazing.

During the workshop, you’ll learn how to make the best cup of coffee in a variety of brew methods. It’s ideal for any coffee aficionado who wants to learn more about the intricacies of brewing! 

You’ll get a step-by-step guide and demonstration in V60, Chemex, Tornado, and Origami brewing methods. Not only do you get to drink the fruits of your labor that day, but any day you choose in the future thanks to your new knowledge!

Great experience! Very informative presentation with a really friendly guide. Everything was explained patiently. 10/10 would recommend

Sanchit (Read more reviews)

Coffee Beverage-Making Techniques Workshop At a Glance

  • Price: From $43
  • Maximum group size: 8 travelers
  • Duration: 1.5 hours
  • What’s included: equipment, explanation by a professional barista, 400 grams of specialty coffee
  • Meeting point: hotel pickup
  • Start time: 9:00 am

8. Coffee Plantation and Antigua City Combo *Best for Cruise Ship Travelers*

Coffee Processing equipment by Jeff McArthur
Coffee Processing equipment © Jeff McArthur

If you’re dropping into Guatemala during a cruise, this Combo Plantation and Antigua City Tour is a perfect choice! It leaves from Puerto Quetzal and includes a bunch of fabulous stops! 

During this tour, you’ll visit the Centro Cultural La Azotea, a cultural center that has three separate museums! Coffee is first on the docket of course! You’ll head out to the farm to see the plants growing and learn lots of interesting facts about them.

After visiting the coffee plantation, you can learn even more about coffee in the coffee museum.

Billy was our tour guide and Billy our driver. They were wonderful, and very informative!! We had a great tour and highly recommend them, very knowledgeable!! Thanks for a wonderful tour of your Country.

The Seattle Group (read more Reviews)

As added bonuses, check out the Mayan Music Museum to learn about ancestral instruments, and the Rincon de Sacatepéquez Museum to learn about traditional Guatemalan attire. Definitely come prepared to learn a lot!

Next, visit downtown Antigua Guatemala with a pass through the Cathedral and the Palace of the Lords. End with a delicious lunch. Talk about a day out!

Coffee Plantation and Antigua City Combo At a Glance

  • Price: From $101.54
  • Maximum group size: 8 people
  • Duration: 6 hours
  • What’s included: snacks, bottled water, all fees and taxes
  • Meeting point: Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, start time at 9:00 am.

9. Villages And Plantations Around Antigua Guatemala *Multi-Stop*

yellow coffee cherries on a tree.
Coffee Cherries © Jeff McArthur

This Villages And Plantations Around Antigua Guatemala Tours has four stops! It’s a marvelous way to see a lot in one jam-packed tour.

Start your day with a trip to San Juan del Obispo for insight into the Guatemalan drinking chocolate. (One of my favorite stops and extremely delicious).

Next, you’ll explore the Valhalla Macadamia Nut Farm where you might even have the option of a facial. Learning about the health benefits of macadamia oil and how these super hard nuts are processed is intriguing.

On the third stop, learn about the local weaving process at San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and try on the traditional clothes. (This is definitely worth doing! Although it isn’t coffee related, the typical clothing is beautiful).

Last but not least, you’ll visit La Azotea for a spectacular coffee plantation tour. While you’re there, you’ll learn about the process of growing and harvesting coffee beans. Guatemalan coffee is delicious, so this is bound to be a highlight!

Loved this tour! The artisanal demos and historic sites in the villages were so interesting, and we loved touring the macadamia farm and the coffee plantation! Nelson is an amazing tour guide with a wealth of knowledge of the area and its rich history. We highly recommend this tour!!

Joan (Read more reviews)

This is definitely one of the best Antigua Guatemala coffee tours you can find!

Villages And Plantations Around Antigua Guatemala

  • Price: From $60
  • Duration: 5 hours
  • What’s included: private transportation, bottled water, hotel pickup and dropoff
  • Meeting point: Hotel Pick Up

10. Coffee & Culture Tour – Antigua City & Coffee Farm

Antigua from Cerro de la Cruz by Rick McArthur
Antigua from Cerro de la Cruz by Rick McArthur

The Coffee and Culture tour starts with a visit to Cerro de la Cruz. This scenic hill looks out over the colonial city and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanoes. 

Did you know that coffee trees were originally brought to Guatemala by Jesuit priests in Antigua? It’s true! So it’s appropriate that your next stops will take you to some historic buildings.

Visit monasteries like the one that brought coffee to the country, churches with intricate artwork, and important monuments.

Enjoy a delicious lunch before beginning your coffee tour at a local coffee plantation. You get a full afternoon of coffee education. Hurray for caffeine!

We have had many-many tours in different places around the world and Gustavo is one of the best guides we have met so far. And the city itself- so beautiful and has such a good vibe (there is something special about this town)… Also, the coffee plantation visit was really interesting. I don’t drink coffee, but it still was worth to visit. They have chocolate “section” also and we had some amazing chocolate tea and rum!

Get Your Guide Traveler (see more reviews)

Don’t forget to try Antigua Guatemala coffee beans before heading home after a full day in this beautiful city!

Coffee & Culture Tour – Antigua City & Coffee Farm At a Glance

  • Price: From $72
  • Maximum group size: not specified
  • Duration: 9 hours 
  • What’s included: transportation, professional guide, entrance fees, taxes
  • Meeting point: hotel pick up in Guatemala City

11. Private Walking Tour in Antigua & Coffee Plantation Experience

Coffee Roasting Accessories
Coffee Roasting Accessories at a Coffee Farm, Antigua © Jeff McArthur

Explore Antigua and its surroundings for intriguing insight into the culture, history, and coffee scene in Guatemala. This Private Walking Tour & Coffee Plantation Experience is going to be awesome.

Kick off this tour from your hotel in Antigua or Guatemala City. You’ll start off with a fascinating step back into time at the Casa de Santo Domingo. It was built for Dominican monks in the 16th century and represents a key period in Guatemala’s colonial beginnings.

Next, you’ll explore three iconic Antigua sites: the Cerro de la Cruz, Iglesia la Merced, and the Santa Catalina Arch. At each stop you’ll learn the stories and even some secrets behind the buildings.

After a visit to the central park and a cool visit to a Jade factory, you’ll get to visit La Azotea. This is the part you’ve been waiting for: coffee extraordinaire. You’ll see the plantation, a 19th-century coffee mill, and an industrial coffee mill.

Walking Tour in Antigua & Coffee Plantation Experience At a Glance

  • Price: From $145
  • Maximum group size: your party only
  • Duration: 7-8 hours 
  • What’s included: transportation, professional guide, entrance fees, taxes, bottled water
  • Meeting point: hotel pick up in Guatemala City or Antigua Guatemala

Best Coffee Tours Antigua Guatemala: FAQs

If you have more questions after reading these FAQs, check out my guide to Guatemalan coffee. I cover everything you need to know about these amazing Central American beans.

Is Guatemala Antigua coffee good?

Cafe la Condesa, a popular Antigua Guatemala Coffee Shop
Cafe la Condesa, a popular Antigua Guatemala Coffee Shop

Yes! Guatemala Antigua coffee is well-known and delicious. It has a sweet full body and complex flavor profile and gets good reviews from coffee consumers globally. 

Almost all the beans grown in the region are high-quality Arabica beans. Definitely take advantage and buy local beans while visiting! 

Several of the best coffee shops Antigua Guatemala has to offer use 100% coffee grown in the region. 

Where does Guatemala grow coffee?

Coffee Flowers by Jeff McArthur
Coffee Flowers © Jeff McArthur

Guatemala has eight distinct coffee-growing regions, with distinct flavor profiles. The regions include Acatenango Valley, Antigua Coffee, Traditional Atitlan, Rainforest Coban, Fraijanes Plateau, Highland Huehue, New Oriente, and Volcanic San Marcos. 

It’s worth trying each region as they’re all unique. You might walk away with a few different favorites!

Best Coffee Tours Antigua Guatemala Has to Offer: Final Thoughts

Roasted Coffee by Jeff McArthur
Roasted Coffee © Jeff McArthur

No matter which Antigua Guatemala coffee tour you book, you’re bound to have an incredible time.

I love tramping around the farms, and trying fresh coffee cherries off the bush! Plus, drinking a cup after watching the whole process is cool.

While you can’t go wrong with any of the tours listed above (they truly are the best coffee tours Antigua Guatemala has to offer). I think ATV Coffee Tour sounds like an amazing way to explore the countryside. I’m definitely adding it to my Guatemala bucket list!

What about you? Which of these Antigua Guatemala coffee tours do you like the most?

Looking for more activities in the area? Discover more things to do in Antigua Guatemala. I recommend you go on a Pacaya Volcano hike from Antigua, or choose one of these mouthwatering Antigua food tours!

Heading further afield? The destinations page lets you search by Guatemalan department.

About the Author

Val McArthur - guest author

Val McArthur is a communications specialist currently living on the island of Maui. She grew up in Guatemala where she developed a taste for high-quality coffee, the outdoors, and multi-cultural experiences.

***GUATEMALA TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE***

Should I buy Guatemala travel insurance?
YES — Personally, I always travel with travel insurance because it gives me extra peace of mind. SafetyWing is an excellent travel insurance company that’s quite affordable. Plus, if you travel longterm, it’s a snap to renew on a month to month basis. You can keep renewing for up to a year and still pay the same deductible.

Where’s the best place for finding cheap flights to Guatemala?
When I purchase a ticket, I always search several different sites. Kayak and Expedia are great places to start running a search. Spirit is usually the cheapest carrier, but American Airlines and United also sometimes offer excellent deals.

What’s the best way to book my Guatemala accommodations?
I recommend booking.com for finding and booking hotels in Guatemala. For vacation rentals, I recommend VRBO.com — it offers beautiful and unique spots to stay.

What’s the best way to book Guatemala tours?
Viator is a great tour booking site with several excellent options available in Guatemala’s main tourist areas including Tikal, Atitlán, Antigua, and Acatenango. There’s a nice range of prices and options available.

Can you drink the water in Guatemala?
No – Don’t drink the tap water! Instead, buy purified water from any corner store or grocery store in Guatemala.

Be sure to brush your teeth with that water as well to avoid getting sick. And hydrated, especially when traveling to high elevations.

Do I need a visa for Guatemala?
Probably not — Visitors to Guatemala from “Category A” countries like the United States, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and most European countries are automatically given a 90-day tourist visa (in the form of a passport stamp) when entering Guatemala.

This visa is valid for Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador. At the end of 90 days, it can be renewed once at Guatemala’s Migración without leaving the country.

After 180 days, you will have to travel outside of Central America before returning. Check to see if you need a visa.

Will my phone work in Guatemala?
It’s possible, but check with your provider in advance to see if Guatemala is covered. If not, you can easily pick up a local SIM card.

There are essentially only two carriers in the country: TIGO and CLARO. Both have good coverage.

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