Guatemala is world-renowned for its high-altitude coffee, thanks to its volcanic soil and ideal climate. The rich, full-bodied flavors make it one of the top coffee-producing regions in the world. Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture and rich coffee culture dating back to the 18th century.
If you’re in Antigua, Guatemala and love adventure, this ATV coffee tour, by Simoon Tours, is a must. You’ll get to drive through scenic roads, visit a local coffee farm, learn about the coffee-making process, and taste some of the most delicious Guatemalan chocolate and coffee—including a unique chocolate and coffee infused tea!
This tour was an incredible mix of thrill, culture, and flavor, and in this post, I’ll take you through every stop of the journey.
First stop: cerro de la cruz – a stunning viewpoint 🤩
After gearing up, we hit the road on our ATVs. Our first stop was 📍Cerro de la Cruz, one of the best viewpoints in Antigua. From here, you can see the entire colonial city framed by the Agua volcano. Standing at this breathtaking spot, you truly appreciate the history and beauty of Antigua’s checkerboard layout. Seeing the city from this vantage point was an incredible start to our adventure.
Once you get to the parking lot, the guide will pay for parking and will lead you to the viewpoint. While walking to the viewpoint, you’ll see shops with food and handmade items being sold, a perfect place to pick up a small souvenir or try some local treats. Once at the top, the tour guide will give you a history lesson about the region and explain how the city evolved throughout the years. You will have 15 minutes to explore the area and take in the view before meeting back with your group at the ATV parking spot.
⚠️ Caution: The walk back to the parking lot is quite steep, and if you’re visiting Antigua as soon as you land in Guatemala, the altitude might affect you. Take your time and pace yourself to avoid feeling lightheaded or fatigued.
After soaking in the view, we hopped back on our ATVs and continued our journey to the coffee farm, Finca la Azotea.
Second stop: the coffee farm – fina la azotea 👩🏽🌾
Once we left the cobblestone streets of Antigua behind, the ride became smoother. Our next stop was a local coffee farm, where we got to experience something unexpected—handmade chocolate tasting!
Did you know that most commercial chocolate is highly processed? Here, we got to try real handmade chocolate, and the difference was night and day.
The flavors were richer, deeper, and more natural. One of my favorites treats that I purchased there was the pineapple covered in chocolate—the sweetness of the pineapple balanced out the dark chocolate perfectly.
After indulging in the rich flavors of locally made chocolate, it was time to learn about the fascinating journey of coffee—from bean to cup.
One of the most interesting facts I learned was that low-quality beans are often used for instant coffee, while high-quality beans go through this meticulous process to bring out their full flavor.
For those wanting to bring some Guatemalan coffee home, look for single-origin, shade-grown beans for the best taste.
The moment we’ve been waiting for…coffee ☕ tasting!
Finally, it was time to taste the freshly brewed coffee. The smell of the roasted beans was incredible, filling the air with rich, warm aromas. The tasting included three different blends, each with its own unique flavor profile. To cleanse our palates between tastings, we were given small amounts of sugar—a technique I found really interesting and effective in enhancing the next sip.
I particularly loved the medium roast coffee from Café Azotea. The beans are handpicked and the farm is Rainforest Alliance Certified, ensuring sustainable farming practices and high-quality production. This certification guarantees that the coffee is grown responsibly, supporting both the environment and the farmers.
One unexpected but delightful part of the tasting was the coffee jam. It had a rich, slightly sweet coffee essence that was absolutely delicious. I loved it so much that I bought a jar as a souvenir to take home!
From the thrilling ATV ride to the immersive coffee experience, this tour was absolutely unforgettable. I left with a newfound appreciation for Guatemalan coffee—and, of course, some delicious souvenirs!