Hobbitenango in Guatemala: Why You Should Visit

If you are a pretty big Lord of the Rings fan, then you might already know about this extremely cool place right outside Antigua in Guatemala. Located up in the hills, only a 20-minute drive from downtown Antigua is Hobbitenango. A magical area that is one of the closest replicas of the Shire. If New Zealand is too far for you, then Guatemala will have to be on your bucket list. Come here and enjoy a day of relaxation (possibly the day after hiking Acatenango or Pacaya Volcano) by transporting your imagination to a fairytale.

There are plenty of things to do here in Hobbitenango but you might ask if is it really worth it. In this guide, I will explain everything from the prices to all of the different ways of getting here, and the activities that are located inside the park. This is an eco-friendly park and just coming to support something the whole family will like is nice to do.

Hobbitenango Prices

There are some outdated blogs out on the web on this subject as well as what comes with the entry ticket. If you want the most up-to-date information then you can always check out their official website. Every day the ticket value is Q50 for an adult and Q30 for children ages 4-10. Below are all of the things that come with the entrance fee to Hobbitenango:

• A ride from the Entrance where you pay to the Entrance of the park & back
• Access to all of the games (archery, ax-throwing, swing, putt-putt, & other fair games)
• 12 different viewpoints
• Different restaurants, cafes, and bars
• Different trails
• Unlimited access each day to the massive 12,000 meters of mountains
• Take Instagram photos on the famous Hobbitenango Hand

These are all of the regular amenities that come with the day pass. During the weekends they have an all-you-can-eat buffet. If you decide to pay for this, it will also include entrance to the park and all of the activities listed above. Below are the prices according to the part of the day you choose to go:

• Breakfast (8 am – 12 pm): Q129 for adults & Q59 for children (ages 4-11)
• Lunch (12:30 pm – 5 pm): Q169 for adults & Q69 for children (ages 4-11)

How to get to Hobbitenango

If you decide you want to visit Hobbitenango, there are many different ways to reach these magical hills. We decided to take an uber there and an uber back. It is a 20+ minute drive from Antigua (depending on where you are), so sometimes it may be hard to find a ride back if choosing this option. We had to wait 15 minutes for our uber back but it saved us some money in the process. Below I will explain all of the different methods of transport to and from Hobbitnenago.

• Shuttle Schedule: There is a shuttle that will take you from Antigua to the beginning part of the park. This shuttle leaves from the Hobbitnenago Oficia (located near Cerro de la Cruz) and costs 85Q. It was sold out for us when we went to check but it’s a good option if you’re solo because it takes you there and back.
• Uber: This is the option we took. By far the cheapest option, it is very easy to catch an uber wherever you are in Antigua. It cost us Q35 each way.
• Taxi: My suggestion if you want to take a taxi is to take an uber there and then a taxi down. I have read that sometimes there is no taxi at the top but there was when we went. We left when the park closed so this could have been why. If you leave earlier, ask an employee and they will help you call a taxi.
• Getting Back to Antigua: As I said above, getting back wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. If you stay until the end, the line is super long for the truck to take you back down. So we decided to make the 15 minutes walk back down which saved us some time for finding a ride home.

Other Activities in Guatemala You Would Love:

• Learning Spanish at Lake Atitlan
• 11 Amazing Hikes on Lake Atitlan
• Visit a Beach Paradise at El Paredon
• Visit the Tikal Pyramids
• Cliff Jumping into Lake Atitlan
• Take a Tour Through Semuc Champey

What to do While Waiting for the Shuttle

If you decided to take the shuttle from the Hobbitenango Oficina, then sometimes you may have to wait a little bit for the next shuttle. The shuttle schedule is below:

Departures from Antigua:

• 8:00 am
• 10:00 am
• 12:00 pm
• 2:00 pm
• 4:00 pm

Departures from Hobbitenango:

• 9:00 am
• 11:00 am
• 1:00 pm
• 3:00 pm
• 5:00 pm

Cerro de La Cruz Hike in Antigua, Guatemala

As you can see above, if you show up at an awkward time to the office you could be waiting a couple of hours. This is a perfect time frame to go and look at the famous Cerro de La Cruz lookout over Antigua. It is not a strenuous hike at all and offers amazing views over the city as well as Volcan Agua. You can either have some drinks at the office or I would highly suggest doing this “hike”.

My Suggested Hiking Gear

Below is a list of some of my favorite hiking/travel gear I bring everywhere. Everything below is something I currently use and never leave my house without.

• KEEN Durand II Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots: I finally upgraded my hiking boots in 2022 and these are fantastic. They have top-notch ankle support and are super durable.
• Petzl Tikka Headlamp: A headlamp for hiking is a must if you’re like me and love sunrise hikes. This is a great price for a quality headlamp and also has a good red light to not disturb others in the morning.
• Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks: I originally got these as a present but I had to buy more because these are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever tried on.
• Grayl GeoPress Water Filter Bottle: You will never have to rebuy plastic water bottles. This is the best water filtering device on the market. It is excellent for hikers and travelers alike.

Want to Spend the Night at Hobbitenago?

If you really want to get the full experience of visiting a replica of the Shire then staying the night might be a good option for you. All of these options are eco-friendly-oriented and really get you in the mood to spend the entire day at Hobbitenango. Below I will go over some of the popular options you can choose from.

Earth Lodge Guatemala

If you don’t necessarily care about staying in the actual park, then this is a trendy option. The Earth Lodge in Guatemala is located about a 7-10 minute drive from Hobbitenango and is a cheap alternative. The hotel offers a sauna, has a continental breakfast, and some rooms come with their own patio.

Hobbitenango Casitas

These little homes in the hills are very famous among couples and families alike. The homes are built right into the side of the mountain and are inside Hobbitenango park. There are 3 different-sized ones currently that are better for different circumstances. Be sure to book in advance though because these are extremely popular! You can book them here. These houses are in the mid-$100 range.

• Casita del Sueño: These are best for couples
• Casita del Nido: Best for 2 couples or a small family
• La Cala Esmeralda: Largest w/ a terrace view

Activities in Hobbitenango

As mentioned earlier, there are some activities that come free with the price of admission. While it might seem like a decent amount of activities, each of these takes a very minimal amount of time. Take your time, stroll and enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately for us, it was an extremely misty/cloudy day in the mountains and we couldn’t see anything.

Archery & Ax-throwing

Probably the most fun activity on this list is archery and ax-throwing. Once you walk through the little market you will come across this area on your left. You will be asked to sign a piece of paper and choose which activity you want to do. Depending on which, you will get either three shots or three throws of the ax. There are seats behind the shooting area to watch your friend miss the bullseye every time.

Mini-golf

As you start to walk around the park, you will see six different putt-putt holes. These are spread around the entirety of Hobbitenango. We didn’t see anyone playing it while we were there but it seems as though it would be a fun way to see the entire park.

Hobbitenango Hand

The Hobbitenango hand is possibly more famous than the park itself. The day was not good for it at all because you could barely see in front of yourself. If you want to come to take some amazing photos, then I would suggest visiting here in the early morning. We didn’t arrive until around 1:30-2 in the afternoon. It is normally less foggy in the mornings.

Explore the Market

Once you come across the bridge and enter the main section of the park, take a right and you will be at the market. There are some neat little shops spread across the walkway and even some really good chocolate. We got some hot chocolate and I will say it was pretty good!

Tree Swing

This attraction also rivals the Hobbitenango hand. They hype it up a lot as one of the biggest swings in the world. Whether or not any of that is true, it sure is an adventure. If you have time then I highly suggest you try it out. It takes you over the mountains like you are swinging from the forest in the Shire.

Relax at the Restaurants/Cafes/Bars

When we arrived at Hobbitenango we were extremely hungry already. The first thing we did was go to one of the park’s restaurants and eat. I thoroughly enjoyed our experience and the meals. I had french fries with my meal and I will say it might have been some of the best I’ve had in my life. There are also some cool hobbit-themed cafes and bars at the main entrance of the park.

Other Things to do in Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala is a magical place that feels like a European city in Central America. The cobblestone streets and old buildings take you back in time. Everyone you meet is nice and the coffee is amazing. This country and especially this town should be on everyone’s list when traveling to Latin America. Below are a handful of activities that you can choose to do during your visit to this amazing country.

My Final Thoughts on Hobbitenango in Guatemala

Visiting Hobbitenango was an experience (especially as a Lord of the Rings fan) that I truly enjoyed. There might not seem like a lot to do but you can easily spend the whole day here. Our experience would have been 10x better if we were able to see the mountainside instead of a bunch of clouds and mist. All of the employees working here were super friendly and made the experience even better. Next time I come I will want to stay at one of the cool Hobbitenango Casitas. Overall, if you don’t have much time then I might suggest you not come. Three hours is perfect and that’s what we did (2-5) and that was on a cloudy day. The food was pricey but that’s how it always is around the world in amusement parks.

Thank you for reading my guide on Hobbitenango in Guatemala! I hope this helps you make your decision on if/when you should visit this magical place. It should be on every Lord of the Rings fan’s bucket list.