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Visiting Guatemala’s Hobbitenango: Bizarre and Beautiful

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On my recent trip to Guatemala, my daughter and I visited Hobbitenango, a Lord of the Rings themed attraction in the mountains above Antigua. In 2019, on a trip to New Zealand, we visited Hobbiton, the OG set of the movies. How would this experience compare?

Getting to Hobbitenango

Hobbitenango is a 20-minute drive north of Antigua, Guatemala. I read on various online forums that many Uber drivers are unwilling to drive people there due to the somewhat treacherous roads. So, we purchased shuttle tickets online for transportation to Hobbitenango.We booked the first shuttle of the day at 8:00 a.m.

The Hobbitenango office was just a few blocks from our hotel in Antigua and easy to find. We checked in and waited for the shuttle to arrive.

A round wooden sign mounted on a white wall, featuring the silhouette of a wizard's hat and face in gold. The text on the sign reads "Hobbitenango Oficina" in a stylized font. The sign is bordered with metal studs.

After waiting a few minutes, we boarded this open-air truck for the ride.

A white pickup truck with an open back is parked on a cobblestone street. The back of the truck has a canopy and bench seating. A person is leaning into the back of the truck. The background features a white building with wooden roof tiles and decorative wrought iron window bars. Another white vehicle is parked nearby.

The road was steep, and towards the top it was very narrow with just two paved tracks for tires. We all had to hold on to the bars to keep ourselves from jostling around.

Exploring Hobbitenango

After arriving at Hobbitenango, we had about 2 1/2 hours to explore before the return shuttle to Antigua. Our first impression was that it’s beautiful!

Hobbitenango

We passed by some Hobbit houses. Apparently, a few of them are hotels rooms you can rent.

A small, round-door house built into a hillside, resembling a hobbit home. The door is red with a circular design, surrounded by lush greenery and flowers. The roof is covered with grass and plants. A stone path leads to the entrance, and the background features a cloudy sky and distant mountains.

Lovely gardens:

A scenic landscape featuring a cobblestone path leading through a grassy area with pink flowering plants on the right. In the background, there are mountains partially covered by clouds under a blue sky. A wooden archway and rustic structures are visible, adding to the natural and serene atmosphere.

But the absolute best thing about Hobbitenango was the view out to the volcanos. The clouds were low in the morning, which added to the mystical vibe.

A scenic view of a mountainous landscape with a sign reading "Hobbitenango" hanging from a wooden arch. In the foreground, there is a rustic fence and a patio area with wooden chairs and potted plants. The background features lush greenery, a building with a green roof, and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

We wandered around and found the hand:

A large sculpture of a hand extends outward, appearing to emerge from the landscape. It is covered in moss or a similar green texture. The background features a scenic view of mountains partially obscured by clouds, with lush greenery in the foreground. The sky is mostly cloudy with patches of blue.

When we arrived at the hand, there was nobody else there except an employee who took our photo. Later in the morning, there was a line of people waiting their turn.

Two people are standing on a large, sculpted hand platform that appears to be part of a scenic overlook. The hand is covered in greenery and moss, with long, hanging plants draping from the edge. They are surrounded by a cloudy sky and a lush, mountainous landscape in the background. Both individuals have their arms outstretched, enjoying the view.

We continued exploring the trails, stopping at various swings and viewpoints:

A wooden swing hangs from an archway adorned with green leaves and pink flowers. The archway has the word "Hobbitenango" on it. In the background, there is a scenic view of mountains partially covered by clouds, under a blue sky. The foreground features a stone path and grassy area.

A large circular floral arch made of intertwined branches and adorned with cascading flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white is set against a scenic backdrop of mountains and clouds. A small wooden stool is placed in front of the arch on a wooden platform. The sky is partly cloudy, adding to the serene and picturesque setting.

Lucky for us, we saw a nearby volcano letting off some steam!

A volcanic mountain peak is partially obscured by clouds, with a plume of smoke rising from the summit against a blue sky.

Towards the top of the park, we took some photos with Gandalf. We had to purchase something from the snack stand to get that photo opp.

a woman standing next to a person in a garment

Hobbitenango had a restaurant along with several snack stands and shops.

The image shows an outdoor dining area with colorful wooden tables and chairs. The wall features a large, vibrant mural depicting a rustic kitchen scene with an oven, shelves of food, and various kitchen items. The area is covered by a green metal roof, and there are hanging plants and lights. In the background, a couple of people are standing near a counter.

We were done exploring after about 2 hours, so we ended our time there eating the local sweet bread rolls while we waited for our shuttle back to Antigua.

Overall Thoughts

My daughter and I enjoyed our morning at Hobbitenango. This attraction wasn’t around the last time I was in Guatemala, so it was fun to explore. Is it bizarre that there’s a Lord of the Rings attraction in Guatemala? Perhaps. Is it comparable to the OG Hobbiton in New Zealand? No, not really. However, the volcano views were spectacular, and I would have enjoyed going there regardless of the park’s theme.

 

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

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