The Makers' Retreat · Magpie Fibers
A Closer Look
6 days, one unforgettable colonial town. Here's a closer look at where we're headed.
Antigua, Guatemala
MAY 26 - MAY 31 2027
01Where We're Staying
All 5 Nights · Antigua's Historic District
Hotel Camino Real
A contemporary property built around lush gardens, just four blocks from Antigua's Central Park — the Cathedral and main plaza are about a six-minute walk away. Rooms come with air conditioning, WiFi, and a private bathroom; the property also has a restaurant, spa treatments, a fitness center, and a hot tub for downtime between excursions. It's the kind of home base that puts you in walking distance of everything — cobblestone streets, colonial ruins, and the market — without giving up comfort at the end of the day.
02What We're Doing
Day 2
Culture Day
Culture Day
Guided Antigua Walking Tour
A local guide who's spent years showing visitors around leads us through Antigua's colorful cobblestone streets — colonial architecture, hidden gems, and a stop at some of the city's famous ruins along the way.
Day 2
Culinary
Culinary
Evening Cooking Class
A private cooking class with a local chef — traditional Guatemalan recipes and techniques, prepared from scratch, then enjoyed together as a group.
Day 3
Craft
Craft
Private Weaving Class
Traditional backstrap-loom techniques taught by local artisans — the patterns, colors, and meaning woven into every piece, one of Guatemala's most storied traditions.
Day 4
Free Day
Free Day
Choose Your Own Adventure
A full day open for side quests, rest, or exploring further afield — see Side Quests below for the leading options.
Day 5
Ancestral
Ancestral
Cacao Class & Farewell Dinner
A private, ancestral-style class on the history of cacao in Mayan and Guatemalan culture — hands-on chocolate-making, then tasting. In the evening, a farewell dinner together to close out the trip.
03Side Quests
Antigua is a small city with a big personality — cobblestone streets, some of the best coffee on earth, a market that spills color for blocks, and volcanoes on every horizon. We can't fit it all into one trip, so we haven't tried. Instead, we've built in real, unhurried time on Day 4 for you to go find what speaks to you. Textiles, food, coffee, hiking, all of the above — Antigua has something for you. Consider this a starting point, not a checklist.
Market Day · Thu & Sun Only
Chichicastenango Market
One of Latin America's most famous markets, open only Thursdays and Sundays — a sprawling, centuries-old trading ground for Maya communities from across the highlands. Hand-woven textiles, carved masks, flowers, and pottery, plus the Iglesia de Santo Tomás and its famous stepped entrance.
⏱ Full day, ~3 hrs each way
Museum
Casa Santo Domingo Museum
A former 16th-century convent turned hotel-museum complex — six small museums under one roof, from colonial religious art and pre-Columbian archaeology to liturgical silver and an old Guatemalan pharmacy, all wrapped around excavated ruins and a courtyard fountain.
⏱ 1–2 hrs
Farm & Café
Caoba Farms
A 45-acre organic farm just outside the historic center, supplying many of Antigua's best restaurants. Wander the fields, say hello to the pony and ducks, and grab a table at the farm café — catch the Saturday farmers market if the timing works out.
⏱ Half day or less
Viewpoint & Restaurant
Cerro San Cristobal
A hilltop restaurant and organic farm just south of town with some of the best panoramic views of the Antigua valley — worth the trip for the view alone, even better with a plate of their seafood or wood-fired pizza in hand.
⏱ Half day or less
Coffee Tour
Coffee Tours — De La Gente & La Azotea
De La Gente runs community-based tours led by the small-scale farming families themselves — walk the fields, learn the process, and drink coffee at a producer's home. La Azotea, a working 150-year-old coffee farm turned cultural center, adds a coffee museum, a Mayan music museum, and chocolate-making on top of the plantation tour.
⏱ ~4 hrs (De La Gente)
Market
Mercado Municipal
Antigua's own central market, a few blocks from the main plaza — produce, meats, spices, textiles, handicrafts, and a food court serving pepián, tamales, and more. Busiest (and best) Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays; go in the morning for the freshest stalls.
⏱ 1–2 hrs
Eco-Park
Hobbitenango
Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like — a hobbit-themed mountain park about 25 minutes outside Antigua, with hobbit-hole casitas, more than a dozen viewpoints, and sweeping views of four volcanoes. Equal parts silly and stunning.
⏱ Half day
Recommended · Adventure
Pacaya Volcano Hike
One of Guatemala's most active volcanoes and one of the most accessible — a guided hike with views over the highlands, with time to roast marshmallows over volcanic vents on a good day.
⏱ ~6–7 hrs round trip, pickup to drop-off
Viewpoint
El Cerro de la Cruz
Antigua's classic viewpoint — a short 15-minute climb up shaded steps just outside downtown, with a sweeping view of the city and, on a clear day, Volcán de Fuego doing its thing in the distance. Best at sunrise or sunset; plan to be back down before dark.
⏱ 1 hr or less
Alternate · Scenic
Lake Atitlán Day Trip
A volcanic lake ringed by Maya villages, about 2.5–3 hours each way, often called one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Best for early risers — a full 7am–7pm day.
⏱ Full day, ~12 hrs door to door
Side quests are optional and booked independently — not included in the retreat price. Eve will share local operator contacts and recommendations before the group travels. Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlán are full-day commitments and only make sense if they line up with the free day; everything else here is a half-day or less and easy to combine.
04About Antigua & Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a UNESCO World Heritage colonial city in the highlands, ringed by three volcanoes — Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango — about 45 minutes from Guatemala City. Cobblestone streets, pastel colonial facades, and some of the best-preserved Spanish Baroque architecture in the Americas make it one of Central America's most beloved small cities.
Weather
Late May sits right at the start of the rainy season — highs in the mid-70s°F, lows around 60°F, with afternoon showers becoming more common as the month goes on. Mornings tend to be clear; pack a light rain layer.
Entry Requirements
US passport holders don't need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for the full length of your trip — most airlines also enforce a 6-month-validity rule at check-in, so plan accordingly. No arrival card needed; immigration may ask for a return/onward ticket.
Getting There
Fly into La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City. Antigua is less than 25 miles away, but allow 1–3 hours for the transfer depending on traffic — winding roads and Antigua's own cobblestone streets add time. Share your flight details once booked so we can coordinate arrivals.
Money
The Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) is the local currency. USD is accepted at hotels and many tourist businesses, but markets and smaller vendors expect quetzales — and change often comes back in local currency at a so-so rate. ATMs are easy to find in Antigua; cards can carry a surcharge, so cash is often the better call for day-to-day spending.
Connectivity
WiFi is available at the hotel and throughout Antigua. Most major US carriers offer international plans covering Guatemala. Guatemala uses standard US-style outlets, so no adapter needed.
Language
Spanish is the official language, though tourist businesses in Antigua are used to English-speaking visitors. A few basic phrases go a long way — and it's a great excuse to practice before the trip.
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