Travelling to Guatemala? Good for you, it’s an incredible country, and I’m sure you will have an amazing time here! The locals are super friendly, there are amazing hikes and nature, and due to its small size it’s also not too difficult to travel around Guatemala.
But you might have heard that Guatemala City, unfortunately, isn’t the safest city, so you might want to just move on right away if you fly into Guatemala City.
Lots of people move on to one of the towns around lake Atitlán or Antigua right away. Lake Atitlán is one of the most beautiful places, not only in Guatemala, but probably in the whole of Central America. It’s a popular destination for all travellers to include in their Guatemala itinerary, so check out how to travel from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán!
But first things first ✨
📱Looking for mobile data? How about getting a Guatemalan E-SIM instead? Saves you time, and it’s so much more convenient. You will have internet the minute you land in the country, so it’s a lot safer as you can call an Uber from the airport or keep track of your location. Starting from just $4.5!
Travel by shuttle bus from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán
Travelling by shuttle bus is the most common option for travellers to travel between Guatemala City and Lake Atitlán. The trip will take you roughly about 5–6 hours, depending on the traffic. Costs for this trip are around $40 per person. Most likely, they will be able to pick you up directly from your accommodation, so you don’t need to travel around within Guatemala City. So, it’s also a safe way to travel as a solo female traveller in Guatemala.
I stayed at Hostal Villa Toscana in Guatemala City for a night, as I arrived late in the evening, and took the shuttle to Lake Atitlán the following morning. They picked me up directly from the hotel, so it felt very safe. The hotel itself was also in a gated area, and you could only enter by passing a checkpoint, where the driver had to call the hotel.
You can book all your transportation within Guatemala on GuateGo, which is the website I used for my trip as well. For onward travel from the lake, you can also book transportation at any of the travel agencies.
If you are arriving late in Guatemala City, I would recommend staying the night in Guatemala City and then continuing your onward travels in the morning. This way, you don’t need to travel at night and don’t need to risk being out and about in Guatemala City once it’s dark.
Travel by Uber or private transfer from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán
The drive from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán can take you about 3–4 hours. Uber is available in Guatemala City but not in the towns around the lake, which could make it difficult finding a ride that will take you all the way there. So, just to be sure, it’s better to book a private transfer beforehand instead. This could cost you about $175, but it’s a good option if you are travelling with multiple people. Book your private transfer here.
Travel by Chicken Bus from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán
If you want to travel like the locals do, then you can also take a chicken bus from Guatemala to Lake Atitlán. These chicken buses are old school buses, that have been painted in many colours. You can find these all throughout Central America.
Travelling from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán by chicken bus is the cheapest option. However, it is also the least safe option. The buses can get very crowded and let passengers on and off the bus at lots of different places, which means that there is a chance of pickpocketing. You most likely also need to switch buses along the way, which will add some additional time to your trip.
Personally, I have not travelled by chicken bus in Guatemala, so I don’t know how expensive the trip would be. But if you are looking to travel like a local, then the chicken bus would be your best option. I would just recommend to travel during the day.
Make sure to check out the beautiful nature reserve in Panajachel, Lake Atitlán!
Onward travel once you arrive at Lake Atitlán
All the transportation options will drop you off in Panajachel, which is the biggest town around Lake Atitlán. Everything in Panajachel is walkable, so you can just walk to your accommodation, or alternately travel by Tuk Tuk. However, not all travellers will want to stay in Panajachel.
There are many other places to visit around the lake, such as San Pedro la Laguna or San Marco. However, driving there would take a long time as there a many mountains in the area. So instead of driving, you can travel from Panajachel by taxi boat.
From where you get dropped off in Panajachel it is just a short walk to the pier and that is where the taxi boats are leaving from. There are no set times, and they just leave whenever they are full. It is super easy to find the right boat as they will ask you where you are going and point you to the correct boat.
Where to stay in Lake Atitlán or Guatemala City?
I’ve stayed both in Panajachel and San Pedro La Laguna, here are the places I stayed at:
🏘️ Panajachel: Dreamboat Hostel. Nice location, great restaurant on site. Would stay here again.
🌊Santa Cruz La Laguna: Free Cerveza Hostel. Beautiful location right by the lake, nice area to hang out at and communal dinners to socialise.
🇬🇹 Guatemala City: Hostal Villa Toscana. Stayed here for a night. Super close to the airport, so great if you arrive late in Guatemala City.
More Guatemala Transportation resources
- How to travel from Guatemala City to Antigua
- How to take the night bus from Guatemala City to Flores
And that concludes how to travel from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. Let me know if you have any questions.
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