How to get from Guatemala City to Antigua

Antigua is a popular travel destination but cannot be accessed by plane.  These are the best ways to get from Guatemala City to Antigua. 

Traveling from Guatemala City to Antigua

There are no commercial flights available from Guatemala City to Antigua, and Guatemala does not have a train system.  The only way to get from Guatemala City to Antigua is by driving. 

The distance from Guatemala City to Antigua is very close at 40 km (25 miles) but there are no interstates available.  Instead you’ll find winding highways with heavy traffic, that often have a lane blocked causing major congestion. 

The travel time from the Guatemala City airport can take anywhere from 1-2 hours depending on traffic. During busier hours of the day it can take an hour just to get outside of Guatemala City.  

How to get to Antigua from Guatemala City? 

There are four main ways to drive to Antigua

1. Rental car
2. Taxi/Uber
3. Shuttle 
4. Chicken bus

Driving a Rental Car to Antigua

I cannot express enough that you should never rent a car in Guatemala. This single handedly ruined our trip to Guatemala.  Why Renting A Car in Guatemala City is the Best Way to Ruin a Vacation. It’s not worth the stress or initial cost savings over a shuttle. 

Antigua is close enough to Guatemala City you can find other quick and cheap transportation. Also, hotel parking is not standard in Antigua so you will likely have to drive around to find street parking. You can walk just about everywhere, so a car is not even needed.

Guatemala City to Antigua by Taxi or Uber

From Guatemala City or the Guatemala airport, you can get an airport taxi or an Uber to take you to Antigua.  Uber is active in the capital, so as long as you can find a willing driver this is a great way to get between cities.  The best part of this option is that your ride will be billed directly to your credit card so no need to worry about having cash available.  Make sure you have a travel card without foreign transaction fees tied to your account. 

The Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners

An Uber one way will cost around $40-50 USD, but may be more during busier hours.  

Uber is not as active in Antigua as it is in Guatemala City.  If you are unable to find an Uber, you can organize a private taxi through your hotel.  Prepare to pay in cash when booking a taxi from Antigua. 

If you need to go directly from Antigua to Guatemala City airport an Uber or taxi will be your most direct and fastest option. 

Shuttle to Antigua from Guatemala City

There are a few different shuttle bus options to get from Guatemala City to Antigua.  You can book a seat (or seats) through a transportation company such as Guatego, or book private shuttle services. Here you can book a shuttle from Guatemala airport to Antigua. 

Shared shuttles from Guatemala City to Antigua

Through a service like Guatego, they have options through different vendors.  You will be put on a shuttle with a small number of other passengers.  Things to consider when booking these:

• Shuttle buses are often not direct and either switch vehicles part way or make stops. 
• The drive time is 1.5-2 hours (compared to 1-2 hours via taxi)
• The shuttles leave at designated times which provides less flexibility in your travel schedule
• The shuttles have specific pick up and drop off locations and may not take you directly to your hotel
• These are a good low cost solution starting at around $20 per person

Private shuttle

Private transfers are going to be one of the most expensive options for transportation between cities. The offset of this is that like a taxi they offer more flexibility on pick up and drop off locations and times.  

If you have a larger party, a private shuttle van becomes a more economical solution as you do not pay per person, but for the full vehicle. 

Expect to pay $50-75 or more for a private shuttle from Guatemala City to Antigua or Antigua to Guatemala City. 

Chicken buses

Chicken buses are easy to spot throughout Guatemala.  They are American school buses that have been painted in bright colors and patterns.  This is the cheapest and most interesting way to travel around Central America, and the way most locals travel in Guatemala. The chicken bus will typically cost less than $5 each way. 

Things to keep in mind when traveling by chicken bus:

• The buses can get very crowded with people, imagine riding the bus or subway during rush hour before covid
• These are school buses, so there are no individual seats, only bench seats
• You will not have air conditioning 
• Larger bags and luggage get stowed on top of the bus.  So in the rainy season they will be exposed outside for anywhere from 1-2 hours (or more).  If you can wrap your bags in plastic ahead of time, plan to do so
• Smaller bags can be stored in the compartments above the seats
• You may need to transfer buses
• This is the least safe travel option as the buses are known to have pickpockets

You will need to then walk or get a Tuk Tuk from the bus drop point to your hotel. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Additional posts on Guatemala

• A Genuine Review of the Hotel Villa Santa Catarina
• Views and Vibes: The Best Antigua Guatemala Bars
• How to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan
• Why Renting A Car in Guatemala City is the Best Way to Ruin a Vacation
• The Best Things to do in Antigua Guatemala
• For an exciting adventure, try a Lake Atitlan zipline

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