The only good thing about Easter in the UK is the double bank holiday, right? Well, in Antigua (that's Guatemala, not the Caribbean), Easter gets cranked up a notch – there's a procession, candlelit vigils and, er, lots of men wearing pointy purple hats. Mix Mayan and Catholic influences and the small town comes alive over Easter week to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Being surrounded by the beautiful Guatemalan hills doesn't hurt, either.
You don't have to recover from Semana Santa overload in a lodge overlooking the stunning Lake Atitlan and its dramatic volcanoes, but it sure does help. Laguna Lodge, set right on the lake, is a proper eco bolthole with private terraces on the shores of the water and lampshades made of corn. Come for a sundowner at the aptly-named Lava Bar, and stay for the famed breakfast the morning after.
Parque Central is both the spiritual and geographical heart of the city. Slated as one of the most beautiful town squares in the Central American country, it's a place for the beautiful people of Antigua to hang out, eat, drink and party. Come during the day, when vendors flog their wares along the tree-lined avenues, and stay into the evening for marimba bands and summer beats.
