How to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan is a popular travel destination but is not accessible by plane.  These are the best ways to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan. 

Traveling from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán

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

The distance from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan is relatively short at 114 km (70 miles) but with the winding mountain roads, and travel through many small towns the journey can be very long. 

The travel time from the Guatemala City airport can take anywhere from 2.5-4 hours depending on traffic. During busier hours of the day it can take an hour just to get outside of Guatemala City as there are no real highways or interstates. 

How to get to Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City? 

There are four main ways to drive to Lake Atitlan

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

Driving a Rental Car from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan

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. 

The cities on the North/West side of the lake take even longer to get to and are faster to get to by boat.  You will also need to make sure that your hotel or vacation rental includes parking. 

Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan by Taxi or Uber

From Guatemala City or the Guatemala airport, you may be able to get an Uber to take you.  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 charged 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. 

• Read here for The Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners

A taxi one way will cost around $130-150 USD, and will take you directly to your hotel *IF* you are staying in Panajachel or nearby Santa Catarina Palopo.  Uber is not active in Lake Atitlan so you will be unable to get one from Atitlan to Guatemala city.  However, you can organize a private taxi through your hotel.  Prepare to pay in cash when booking a taxi from Lake Atitlan. 

If you need to go directly from Lake Atitlan to Guatemala City airport a taxi will be your most direct and fastest option. 

If you are staying in one of the cities around the lake such as San Marcos, San Juan or San Pedro,  you will need to take a boat from Panajachel as the drive takes another 1.5-2 hours. 

Shuttle to Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City

There are a few different shuttle bus options to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan.  You can book a seat (or seats) through a transportation company such as Guatego, or book a private shuttle service. 

Shared shuttle

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:

• These are often not direct and switch vehicles part way
• The drive time is 4.5-5 hours (versus 2.5-4 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
• These are a good low cost solution starting at around $40 per person

Shared shuttles will likely only drop you in or around Panajachel.  For other cities you will need to get a Tuk Tuk or take a boat around the lake. 

Private shuttle

Private shuttles 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 $200 or more for a private shuttle from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan. 

Taking a Chicken Bus from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan

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 Guatemala, and the way the locals do it. The chicken bus will typically cost less than $10 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 3-4 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

The buses will drop you in Panajachel and from there you will need to get transportation to your final destination. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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