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This is an incredibly busy time of year in Antigua, Guatemala. With the season of lent upon us, there are numerous Catholic processionals that weave through the cobblestone streets from the many amazing cathedrals that are landmarks of this beautiful city. Visitors from all over the world make their way to this small town to watch these spectacular events. While these events take place in almost every city in Guatemala, Antigua is the most popular destination for travelers and Guatemalans alike.
While this is definitely a good thing for business in this tourist town, there are some negative drawbacks that have surfaced and now are facing city leaders. Each year during this season, Antigua collects a toll from people driving into the city. This toll is Q40-Q60 ($5-$7.50) to drive into the city of Antigua. The money collected helps maintain the city streets that are completely cobblestone throughout the city. The problem however comes with the means of collecting the toll.
The trip to Antigua is an amazing one when traveling from Guatemala City. I’ve often described it as driving to the top of a mountain and then driving straight off of the other side. The last 10 minutes feel as though you are driving straight down. As you near the bottom of the mountain and your grip begins to loosen on the steering wheel, you enter Antigua on a 2 lane road. This is the only road coming in from Guatemala city. During this time of year, officials stop traffic to collect the toll. Because there is no toll booths setup and traffic coming in is only one lane, the line to enter the city can stretch to be over 2km (1.5 miles) long.
Today’s Prensa Libre talks of residents who are upset with the noise and disruption caused so early in the morning as the traffic begins to line up. Vendors complain about having to pay the fee each time they enter the city. There is no pass that can be bought for multiple entries. Motorists complain of the long slow lines. Just this past week, more than 1200 cars were moved into the city for a processional. City leaders must deal with the reality that there is no real parking for these vehicles either. The already limited parking space of Antigua becomes more scarce as many streets are blocked for the processionals.
The thing to remember if you go is that you will encounter traffic. Arriving early is definitely recommended but plan to stay a while before the processionals begin. Once you arrive, plan to walk everywhere you go.
Hey now that I think about it, I need to write about the events in Antigua this time of year. If you’ve been to an Easter processional, let’s hear about it in the comments…and if you can testify to the traffic, let us know about that too!
