How to get around Guatemala

While Guatemala is a small country, do not underestimate travel times. Guatemala's transportation infrastructure doesn't include trains, so getting around typically involves buses, driving, or flying.

Depending on where you're trying to get to, there are various transportation options available. Common methods include tourist shuttles or public buses, which also depends on your comfort and budget. For example, driving from Antigua to Tikal in the northern part of the country takes 10 hours due to traffic, but flying only takes one hour.

Can you rent a car yourself and drive in Guatemala? Yes, but I don't recommended it. Poor road conditions and heavy traffic in some areas can significantly increase travel times and parking availability.

Tourist shuttles

Taking tourist shuttles is the most convenient, reliable, and safest way getting around Guatemala. Numerous companies offer shuttle services, often allowing same-day bookings. They are well organized, and even offer door-to-door pickups from hotels or hostels.

We booked a shared shuttle between Antigua and Panajachel, Lake Atitlan the night before and were fortunate enough to find two seats available for us. The ticket costs $20 USD per person, or 153 GTQ.

Public Transportation

If you’re traveling on a budget, public buses offer the best prices. While they may take double or triple the time compared to flying or hiring a private driver, they provide an authentic local travel experience. There are three types of buses: micros, colectivos (chicken buses), and pullmans.

• Micros are privately operated minibuses or vans serving local routes in cities and towns. They typically sit around 15 people but can accommodate more. They are known to stop in narrower streets, with fares ranging from 2.5-5 GTQ ($0.30 – $0.65 USD).

• Colectivos, or chicken buses, are brightly painted old American school buses repurposed for public transportation in Guatemala. They are so bright and colorful, you can’t miss them. They operate within cities and on longer routes outside the city, offering rides for 10-25 GTQ ($1.30 – $3.25 USD).

• Pullmans are used for long-distances between cities like Guatemala City and Flores, and even internationally to countries like Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. To my surprise, they are known to be  more comfortable than chicken buses, with fares ranging from 65-77 GTQ ($5 – $10 USD) for shorter routes; 77-154 GTQ ($10 – $20 USD) for medium distance routes, and 115-230 GTQ ($15 – $30 USD) for longer routes.

Uber + Private Taxi

The most convenient and comfortable way to get around Guatemala is by calling Ubers or hiring a private driver. Uber operates in the major cities like Guatemala City, Antigua, and sometimes even to Lake Atitlan.

Upon arriving at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City late at night, I called an Uber to my hotel, which was straightforward and only cost 44 GTQ ($5.75 USD).

The next morning, when planning to travel directly to Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City, I checked online for private shuttle prices. The cheapest options I found were 615 GTQ ($80 USD per person), with a minimum requirement of 2 people per shuttle, totaling 1,230 GTQ ($160 USD).

Considering this was pretty expensive, I knew I could find cheaper. So I checked Uber, and found an UberX available for 650 GTQ ($85 USD).

Booking on the same day made me a bit nervous about finding a driver to accept our last-minute ride. After getting two cancellations, Chris accepted our ride. Chris is also a private driver who offers trips to destinations like Lake Atitlan, Semuc Champey, and Flores from Guatemala City and Antigua. You can contact Chris via Whatsapp at +502 3921 8677.