Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon
In the dim haze of a Guatemalan night, mere days before Easter, a quest for water unfolded like the plot of a short story. Imagine the quiet labyrinth of Antigua’s cobblestone streets, a handful of travelers, and me, drifting through the silence at 2 a.m.
Shops were closed, and vague directions to a 24-hour tienda led to nowhere. But then, a serendipitous encounter: Roberto and his family, in the midst of laying the groundwork for their Semana Santa alfombra (carpet), took us into their opulent home as if we were long-lost friends.
In a house more palace than dwelling, complete with a centuries-old chapel and views of Parque Central, we found not only water but an invitation into a local family’s Easter preparations—and their Sunday feast once the processions had passed.
It’s encounters like these that reveal the soul of a place, especially during an event as spiritually and culturally profound as Holy Week in Guatemala. From the resounding footsteps of processions to the ephemeral beauty of alfombras and the warmth of unexpected friendships, my Easter spent here was an eye-opening journey through customs that intertwine faith, community, tradition, and artistic expression.
Only with my new friends as local guides was I able to so thoroughly delve into the intricate tapestry of Guatemala’s Easter traditions.
Semana Santa in Antigua
Imagine the cobblestone streets of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage city, transformed into an intricate tapestry of vibrant alfombras, the scent of incense filling the air, and the somber tones of a live orchestra echoing through the streets.
In 2025, Semana Santa in Antigua will take place from April 13 to April 20, with major processions commencing on Palm Sunday, April 13.
Although my timing in Antigua was by chance as I backpacked Central America for three months, thousands of visitors intentionally flock to the city to witness the elaborate processions that traverse the streets.
The Easter week processions involve locals, referred to as cucuruchos, carrying large and heavy floats known as andas. Each anda throughout the week depicts scenes from the Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In terms of opportunities for a traveler to deeply access Guatemalan culture and traditions, you can’t miss the chance to be a part of these processions. You must arrive a few days earlier to actually watch locals construct the colorful alfombras with painstaking precision. You want to see this—for me, it was among the most fascinating things I saw during Semana Santa.
Given the influx of visitors during Semana Santa, it’s book accommodations several months in advance. And arrive early to processional routes so you can see the floats
Consider too that local shops sell purple robes that you can wear to blend in with the cucuruchos. While Semana Santa processions take place in other parts of Guatemala, Antigua the sheer scale and fervor of its celebrations make it the most logical place to learn about this Guatemalan Easter tradition firsthand.
Making of Alfombras
The making of alfombras is a tradition not exclusive to Antigua, but most celebrated there. If you can’t make it to Antigua, you can still witness this Easter tradition in other areas.
Families, friends, and neighbors across the country unite to craft these intricate “carpets” using colored sawdust, flowers, pine needles, and even fruits and vegetables or chocolate! They lay them out on the streets along the procession routes, and each design often reflects the individual artisan’s emotions, beliefs, or social commentaries.
Travelers, this is your call to action: Consider not just walking the alfombra-adorned streets but participating in the making of one. Many locals are happily welcome visitors into this cherished tradition—Roberto allowed me and my friends to be a part of making their alfombra—and it’s an unparalleled way to immerse yourself into the cultural fabric of the place.
The Dawn Processions
Picture the sun breaking over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the streets still resonant from last night’s festivities. Throughout Guatemala, particularly in towns like Chichicastenango and Flores, early morning processions are also an annual Easter week tradition.
These are less crowded but equally impassioned events, often culminating with special masses at the local churches. For travelers who prefer to avoid the throngs of Semana Santa in Antigua, these quieter affairs are a good option. This might be particularly important if you’re visiting primarily for the religious versus cultural experience.
Early risers, this one’s for you: the dawn processions usually start around 4 a.m., so it’s a marvelous way to start your day imbued with local tradition.
Visit to the Hill of the Cross
On Easter Sunday, many Guatemalans make a pilgrimage to local holy sites. One such site is the Hill of the Cross, Cerro de la Cruz in Antigua. The cross stands tall overlooking the city, and it becomes a place of prayer, reflection, and gathering on Easter Sunday.
A gentle hike or a short tuk-tuk ride takes you to this panoramic vantage point, offering sweeping views of Antigua and the surrounding volcanoes. For travelers, it’s a dual opportunity: to be part of a local tradition and to capture some of the most Instagrammable views of the city. Remember, however, to treat the place with the sanctity it deserves, especially on this holy day.
The Burning of Judas
After the intensity of the Semana Santa processions and the solemnity of Good Friday, Guatemalans often engage in La Quema de Judas, the Burning of Judas. Effigies of Judas Iscariot are handcrafted and then burned—or exploded with fireworks in some cases!—symbolizing the betrayal and its consequential purging from society.
It’s a trip to see this in person. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe, and in modern-day Guatemala it’s an Easter tradition some love.
Night Vigils
Night vigils, also known as velaciones, are a part of the Semana Santa traditions in many Latin American countries, including Guatemala. These vigils are quieter, more intimate gatherings compared to the public processions and alfombras.
They usually take place in churches, where altars are decorated lavishly with fruits, vegetables, and bread, symbolizing the Last Supper. Congregants gather to pray, contemplate, and participate in the religious rites. The atmosphere is often solemn, providing a space for personal reflection and piety. It’s a more subdued but deeply spiritual aspect of the celebrations and Guatemalan Easter traditions.
Semana Santa Markets
Don’t underestimate the markets that spring up during Semana Santa. While markets are a year-round phenomenon in Guatemala, the ones during Holy Week are unique. Vendors offer traditional crafts, garments, and yes—food, particularly seasonal treats that are crafted specially for this week.
Think of sweet breads in the shape of crosses, or a drink known as “Coco Horchata,” a coconut variation of the traditional horchata, often enjoyed during Holy Week. There are also seasonal Guatemalan desserts (many of which feature honey) like hojuelas guatemaltecas, molletes, sweet empanadas and more.
For travelers like me, who like a meaningful souvenir, these markets offer the perfect opportunity to take home something emblematic of Guatemala’s Easter traditions.
Throughout Semana Santa week, throughout the day before Easter, I went back to Roberto’s house several times to watch the construction of the carpet. On Easter Sunday, I returned in the afternoon for their Easter lunch.
The entire family was just as warm as the previous evening, and we were immediately given placemats and chairs pulled up close to the family, our chairs interwoven throughout the others seated at the long wooden table, thus ensuring we interact with others, not just default back to English with each other.
Lunch was amazing—the experience was one of those rare opportunities that you only get when you are actively engaging with your environment and those around you. My hostel was full of gringos the week of Semana Santa, and I enjoyed sharing the experience with them as we all jointly discovered the magic of Guatemala’s unique Easter traditions.
But the real joy was in that Guatemalan lunch looking out over Antigua’s Parque Central and the speculative glances and gentle questions of the Guatemalan family as I pulled together my Spanish and managed to communicate pretty well, while also learning a bit more about what Holy Week meant to the family.
The holiday had brought together Roberto’s cousins, daughters, brothers, and family from all over the country to share in the tradition of making of a Semana Santa carpet together, as well as the rest of the Semana Santa activities.
Guatemala Travel Guide
A guide to everything I learned while Guatemala for three months. From Antigua to Xela to Tika—and a lot in between—here’s where to go, my favorite places, and everything you should know before you visit Guatemala.