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I grew up listening to the ominous music of the Lord of The Rings soundtrack from my bed as my parents watched the trilogy yet again. They were obsessed, and I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for all things Middle Earth.
When I discovered there was a Lord of The Rings-themed park in Antigua, I knew I had to visit!
Hobbitenango is an eco-park/restaurant/hotel in the hills outside Antigua. With sweeping views of Antigua’s three volcanoes, Agua, Acatenango and Fuego, and the lush Panchoy Valley, it’s the perfect escape from the city. You can breathe in fresh mountain air, do some Middle Earth-themed activities and snap some pics at the famous hand statue.
I was worried it might be a little kitschy, but it was actually so much fun and was one of our favourite days in the city. It’s super affordable, not too far away, and can easily be visited in a half-day from Antigua.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Hobbitenango Guatemala.
What is Hobbitenango?
Part eco-park, part restaurant, part hotel, Hobbitenango is a Lord of the Rings-themed wonderland just outside Antigua.
The park was the vision of some local LOTR fans who wanted somewhere to escape city life and enjoy the incredible vistas of Antigua’s volcanoes and the Panchoy Valley.
It’s since become one of the most popular attractions in all of Guatemala and one of the top things to do in Antigua.
Building the park was a labour of love, and once you visit, you’ll understand why. The Vuelta Grande area where the park is located is incredibly steep, and the park has literally been built into the side of a mountain.
To this day, access is via an insanely steep road only accessible by 4×4, and they managed to build the park and get all the building materials up there. Crazy!
I first thought the name was a play on Hobbiton (the OG Hobbit town in New Zealand) and Acatenango (one of the volcanoes you can see from the park), which would have been cool.
But ‘tenango’ actually means ‘the place of’, and you’ll notice it in a lot of Guatemalan city names, like Quetzaltenango, Chichicastenango etc. Hobbitenango is place of the Hobbits.
Hobbitenango is a fun day trip from Antigua and is a great place to enjoy the incredible green landscapes and views, breathe in the fresh mountain air and have some good old-fashioned FUN.
How far is Hobbitenango from Antigua Guatemala?
Hobbitenango is located about 20 minutes drive from Antigua. It’s located in the Vuelta Grande/El Hato area in the steep hills north of the city.
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How to get to Hobbitenango from Antigua
Hobbitenango is quite easy to get to, however, it can be a bit trickier to get back to Antigua, so you need to consider both ways when planning your journey.
There are several ways you can get to Hobbitenango:
- 🚐 Hobbitenango shuttle: there is an official shuttle that departs from the Hobbitenango office in Antigua city centre at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm. It costs $16 USD per person (they charge in USD online weird! About 115Q) for a return trip and entrance to the park. You need to book your shuttle in advance and arrive at the office 30 minutes before the departure. The shuttles return from Hobbitenango at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. This is the most reliable option, and usually the most affordable. It means you won’t get caught out when you want to go back to the city.
- 🚗 Uber: Uber is readily available in Antigua and we easily got a driver for 50Q. Although, Brayden did have to get out at one point and push the very tiny, manual car up a particularly steep hill! The problem with Uber is that you are very unlikely to get one on the way back. Unless you connect with a driver dropping someone off, you can rule out using Uber to get back to Antigua.
- 🚕 Tuk-tuk or taxi: there are taxis and tuk-tuks all over Antigua city centre. The tuk-tuks don’t usually like driving up to Hobbitenango because it’s so steep, and I wouldn’t take a taxi if you could order an Uber. However, this is the most likely way to get back down to the city if you didn’t book the shuttle. We couldn’t get an Uber and found a row of local taxis who have cottoned on to this and tried to charge a ridiculous price. We first got quoted 200Q, I think we got it down to 120Q from memory, and thankfully we had met two other girls who also needed to go back to the city, so we split it with them.
I wish we had just booked the shuttle with Hobbitenago and saved the hassle! It’s the most cost-effective and easiest way.
No matter how you get to Hobbitenango, you will get dropped off in their car park. The final stretch to reach the official entrance is up an insanely steep road, accessible by 4×4 only.
Your entrance ticket includes a 4×4 ride up the final stretch to the park, so don’t attempt to walk it! When you get out of your Uber/taxi/car, there are staff there to greet you, you’ll buy your ticket and they’ll show you to the truck. They leave every 15 – 20 minutes or so.
When you leave the park, you’ll do the same. Wait near the main entrance for a 4×4 truck to take you down to the car park. From there you can take the shuttle or try and find an Uber or taxi.
🏍️ There is one other way you can visit Hobbitenango – on an ATV tour! There are tons of different tours around Antigua, but there are two in particular that include a visit to Hobbitenango and give you around 60 – 90 minutes at the park. The ATV Mountain Adventure or the ATV Sunset Tour.
Opening hours
Hobbitenango is open 7 days a week from 8:00 am. It closes at 6:00 pm on Monday – Friday and stays open until 8:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s best to go early in the morning as the sky is more likely to be clear and you can see the volcanoes. The clouds usually roll in mid-morning.
Hobbitenango is much busier on the weekends as it’s a very popular attraction with locals. The plus side is they offer a buffet breakfast and lunch, and they have a market and live music. However, you’ll probably have to line up for attractions like the swing and hand statue.
We visited mid-week in the morning and felt like we had the park to ourselves for a few hours.
Entry cost
The entry to Hobbitentango is 55Q for adults and 40Q for children aged 4 – 10 years. Under 4 years is free.
It’s amazing value because pretty much everything inside the park is included! All the activities and attractions are included as part of your ticket. The only extra thing you have to pay for is any food and drinks you’d like and transport.
On the weekends, Hobbitenango offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch buffet. Your buffet cost includes your entry fee:
- 🍳 Breakfast buffet inc. entry (8:00 am – 12:00 pm)
- Adults: 179Q
- Children: 99Q
- 🍝 Lunch buffet inc. entry (12:30 pm – 5:00 pm)
- Adults: 229Q
- Children: 109Q
Attractions at Hobbitenango
Tree swing
As soon as we arrived we made a beeline for the big swing, as this was the activity we were most excited for!
This isn’t a high-adrenaline theme park, so the swing isn’t that big, but it was surprisingly thrilling and I definitely squealed as the platform dropped out from under me!
The views over the volcano and valley as you’re swinging back and forth are incredible and it was a nice little rush to start the day.
Hobbitenango hand statue
The famous Guatemala hand statue that you have no doubt seen photos of on Instagram is located at Hobbitenango!
A stone sculpture of a troll’s hand, sometimes called the Hobbitenago Hand or El Mano Gigante Hobbitenango, is the icon of the park.
Dripping with vines and moss, jutting out off the edge of a small cliff with expansive views over the volcanoes and Panchoy Valley, it does make for a great photo opp.
You’ll most likely have to line up though, as everyone has the same idea. There was even a staff member stationed at the hand, managing the queue and taking photos for people. Madness.
Axe throwing and archery
This was a fun little area near the market stalls where you could throw axes like the dwarves, or try your hand at archery like the elves.
As someone with very poor eyesight and very bad coordination, I was slightly fearful for those around me but it was a lot of fun!
Mini golf
There is a mini golf course spread all around the hillside. You can grab a ball and some putters from the front counter and work your way around the course.
Surprisingly I beat Brayden!
Hobbit houses
There are four public hobbit houses scattered around the grounds. With their round doors and low roofs, we couldn’t help but imagine Bilbo Baggins in his house in The Shire.
The houses have some seats inside, they’re not actual houses or rooms (although there are hobbit houses you can stay in). They’re just a place to rest, take photos, and enjoy the views.
Other lookouts and photo spots
There are so many other lookout points and photo props scattered around the park. You’ll find a map when you arrive, so just wander around and tick off all the sites.
Nature trails
At the back of the property, there are some short trails through the forest if you want to explore a bit further.
Amenities at Hobbitenango
In addition to all the attractions and activities, Hobbitenango has several restaurants, a bar and a cafe/bakery.
We planned to have lunch there, but the food was pretty pricey so we just shared one dish. We got the lasagne which was really tasty, but not very big for the cost. I’d save your lunch for one of the many amazing restaurants in Antigua.
There are bathrooms at the entrance and another set near the bistro.
Staying at Hobbitenango
If one day isn’t enough and you really want to live out your Middle Earth fantasy, you can spend the night at Hobbitenango in a Hobbit house.
There are three little Hobbit houses available. They’re all eco-friendly and have been built entirely with natural materials. They all have incredible floor-to-ceiling glass windows, so you can wake up to the volcanoes, as well as a cosy fireplace to snuggle around at night.
You get to enjoy the park when the day trippers have left, and I believe the restaurant remains open for guests for dinner. Coffee is delivered to your room in the morning and you can enjoy breakfast before the masses arrive.
It’s not as luxurious as some of the boutique stays in Antigua, but it’s so unique and the views and peaceful natural surroundings are worth it.
🧙🏻♂️ Book your stay at Hobbitenango here
Planning a trip to Antigua
If you’re planning a trip to Antigua, don’t forget to check out our Antigua Guatemala travel guide. It covers all the important info you need to know about the city, like getting there, getting around and other handy tips to get your bearings.
OUR ANTIGUA TRAVEL GUIDES ⛪️☕️🌋
Is Hobbitenango Guatemala worth it?
When you travel, there’s a lot of history, culture, sightseeing and other serious stuff. Sometimes you just need a day of fun where you don’t have to use your brain or learn anything.
Hobbitenango was that day for us, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you’re wondering if Hobbitenango Guatemala is worth visiting, my answer is definitely! Whether you love the Lord of The Rings or not, it’s a fun attraction and a nice way to soak up the stunning environment and views outside of Antigua.
It’s a pretty affordable day out, just 115Q per person for entry and return transport from the city and you get a lot of bang for your buck inside the park.
You only need half a day to explore all the sights in the park, so you can easily be back in Antigua for lunch at one of the many amazing restaurants, and squeeze in some more sightseeing.
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