For the full story of our two days there, coffee farms, chocolate workshops and all, I've written that up separately as 48 hours in Antigua. Most of the same spots make this shortlist too, Santa Catalina Arch, Fat Cat Coffee House, Ta'cool tacos, Luna de Miel crepes, Café Café, the wonderfully odd Café No Sé, Restaurante Fridas, the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, Ek Chuah chocolate workshop, the Finca Filadelfia coffee tour, Iglesia de la Merced, the Jade Museum, Parque Central and the cathedral ruins, and Mercado de Artesanías El Carmen. Same brilliant list, so I won't repeat myself on all of it here.

What's actually new in this one is Acatenango, the volcano hike that doesn't make it into the day-by-day because we did it after these 48 hours were up. It's one of the most famous volcano hikes in Central America, and for good reason. You climb above the clouds, usually camp overnight on the side of the volcano, and spend the night watching the volcano opposite, Fuego, literally erupt in front of you. Lava, smoke, and rumbles you can feel in your chest.

Silhouetted hikers watching sunset from Acatenango volcano campsite, Guatemala

Camped on the side of Acatenango, waiting for Fuego to put on a show.

It's a genuinely tough hike, no sugar coating it, an early wake up, steep, dusty and relentless, especially if you're carrying your own bags. But the views, the experience, and the fact you're sleeping next to an active volcano make it a proper once in a lifetime moment. Bring layers. Tour companies vary a fair bit, so it's worth checking three things before you book, what the food is like, what the sleeping setup is (floor, mattress or cabin bed all exist), and whether they carry your big bag up for you, because otherwise you'll be the one lugging five litres of water up a mountain without expecting it.

One more thing worth flagging that doesn't get its own section in the day-by-day, the Jade Museum's sister spot, La Casa del Jade, has some genuinely striking pieces, carved green jade masks that were once buried with the dead to guide them into the afterlife. Worth the extra few minutes even if you've already done the main museum.

Carved green jade masks on display at La Casa del Jade, Antigua, Guatemala

Jade masks at La Casa del Jade, once buried with the dead to guide them into the afterlife.

Everything else on this list, the arch, the coffee, the chocolate, the ruins, is exactly as good as I made it sound in the full write-up. Antigua rewards a couple of unhurried days, and if you've got the legs for it, add Acatenango on top.

Volcano peak silhouette at sunset near Antigua, Guatemala

Worth the early wake up and the sore legs.