Adventure2 days, 1 night
Celebrations · Flower carpets, incense and centuries-old processions
Experience Holy Week in Antigua, one of the most moving religious festivals in the Americas, with insider access, perfectly timed viewpoints and a hotel booked well in advance.
The experience
For the weeks of Lent, and above all during Holy Week, Antigua turns into a stage for an extraordinary tradition. Huge carved floats called andas carry images of Christ and the Virgin through the cobbled streets. Hundreds of cucuruchos in purple, and later black, carry them on their shoulders, swaying to funeral marches while incense fills the air.
Before each procession, families and brotherhoods spend the night making alfombras. These are carpets of dyed sawdust, flowers, pine needles and fruit, laid by hand across the streets, only to be walked over and swept away within hours. Watching one being made, and then the procession crossing it, is unforgettable.
Antigua sells out months ahead for Holy Week. Your specialist secures a hotel close to the action, maps out the processions you most want to see, and arranges a private guide who explains the faith, history and symbolism. They can also introduce you to a family making their carpet.
Best for: Culture seekersBest for: PhotographersBest for: Once-in-a-lifetime travellers
What's included
- Hotel booking in central Antigua, secured well in advance
- Private guide for key processions and the stories behind them
- Personalised procession schedule with recommended viewpoints
- An evening visit to watch an alfombra being made, where possible
- Tasting of seasonal Lenten foods such as molletes and torrejas
- Private airport transfers
Good to know
- Dates change every year with Easter, usually falling in March or April. Processions also run on Lenten Sundays beforehand.
- Crowds are very large on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. We plan around them so you are never stuck.
- Book as early as possible, ideally 9–12 months ahead, for the best hotels.
- Never step on an alfombra before the procession has passed.
Where: Antigua
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