If You Wanted To Visit Guatamala During Semana Santa...

A real crowd pleaser
Antigua's Semana Santa processions are not for those who dislike crowds. The city's tiny streets are crammed with visitors trying to get a good view of the procession. Incense is so heavy it becomes a smoky, gray wall. Traffic is gridlocked and parking lots are jammed. Hotels jack up their prices, and many require minimum stays of four days or more. But for the hardy, Semana Santa is a spectacle. The tradition, which originated in Spain, is celebrated in cities throughout Guatemala. But no place else does it with the passion and devotion of the Antiguans.
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Where to eat
Popular La Fonda Calle Real has three Old Town locations and serves Guatemalan favorites, with flavorful sauces over chicken, beef and pork. Entrees from $7-$15. 3a Calle Poniente, No. 7, Antigua; 011-502-7832-0507, http://www.lafondacallereal.com.
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Where to stay
For Holy Week visits, make plans by December to ensure a choice of hotels. Mesón de María, a small, year-old boutique hotel in Old Town, is well located and handsomely decorated with typical Guatemalan furnishings. It has a rooftop solarium. Doubles from $75; 3a Calle Poniente, No. 8, Antigua; 011-502-783-26069, http://www.hotelmesondemaria.com. Another Old Town favorite is Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, which has attractively landscaped grounds, an excellent restaurant, a museum and a pool. Doubles from $115. 3a Calle Oriente No. 28 A, Antigua; 011-502-7820-1222, http://www.casasantodomingo.com.gt. Guatemalan hotel bills include a 22% tax.
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Getting there
From LAX, Lacsa and United airlines fly nonstop to Guatemala City. Mexicana offers direct flights (stop, no change of planes). American, Continental and Mexicana offer connecting flights (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $345.
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http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-guatemala9apr09