Guatemala’s transport network is more layered than most countries: Pullman buses (long-distance), tourist shuttles (foreign-traveler comfort), chicken bus (cheapest), lanchas (Atitlán lake), Uber/InDrive (cities only), Transmetro BRT (Guatemala City), tuk-tuks (intra-town), and domestic flights. This hub covers every major route with current 2026 prices, schedules, and practical tips from someone who’s actually traveled these routes — not from a guidebook written 5 years ago.
Quick reference: Tourist shuttles for comfort ($10-50). Chicken buses for budget (Q5-50). Pullman/Litegua for long distance (Q60-200). Uber in cities only. Lancha boats for Atitlán. Domestic flights for Tikal.
Routes from Antigua
Antigua is the most-asked-about transport hub. Six key routes:
- Antigua to Guatemala City — shuttle, Uber, chicken bus options
- Antigua to Lake Atitlán (Panajachel) — 3hr shuttle, $25-35
- Antigua to Monterrico (Pacific beach) — 2hr shuttle, $20-30
- Antigua to Quetzaltenango (Xela) — 3hr shuttle, $25-40
- Antigua to Semuc Champey — 9hr shuttle, $50-80
- Guatemala City Airport (GUA) → Antigua — first leg most visitors do
Routes from Guatemala City
- GUA to Flores / Tikal — overnight bus or 1hr flight
- GUA to Cobán — 5-hour route to Alta Verapaz
- GUA to Quetzaltenango (Xela) — 4-hour highland route
- GUA to Río Dulce — Caribbean side approach
- GUA to Puerto Barrios — Atlantic port + Livingston gateway
- GUA to Esquipulas — Cristo Negro pilgrimage route
- Guatemala City Airport Transfers — overview of all GUA arrival options
International Routes
- Guatemala to Copán (Honduras) — Mayan ruins cross-border
Lake Atitlán Lancha Network
Different system entirely — boat-based, no Uber, no buses around the lake.
- Lake Atitlán Lancha Routes — full schedule + town-to-town
- Panajachel to San Pedro — most popular route
- Panajachel to San Marcos — hippie town hop
Transport Type Guides
If you need to understand a specific mode of transport:
- Uber in Guatemala — works in GUA + Antigua, NOT lake or smaller towns
- Chicken Bus Guide — the cheapest option; safety + how it works
- Transmetro Guide — Guatemala City’s BRT system, Q1/ride
- Buses Guatemala — Pullman + first-class company comparison
Quick mode comparison
| Mode | Cost (typical trip) | Comfort | Speed | Where it works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist shuttle | $10-50 USD | High | Medium | Tourist routes only |
| Pullman bus (Litegua, Pullmantur) | Q60-200 | High | Fast | Long-distance highways |
| Chicken bus (camioneta) | Q5-50 | Low | Slow | Everywhere |
| Uber / InDrive | Q30-200 | High | Fast | GUA + Antigua only |
| Tuk-tuk | Q5-30 | Low | Slow | Within towns |
| Lancha (Atitlán) | Q15-300 | Low-Med | Med | Lake only |
| Domestic flight | $80-200 USD | High | Very fast | GUA-Flores route |
Travel safety
- Daytime is safer than night for all modes — schedule long-distance trips so you arrive before dark
- Chicken bus pickpockets are real — keep cross-body bag in front, valuables out of sight
- Don’t show high-value tech (laptops, expensive phones) in chicken buses or rural Pullman
- At GUA airport — only use authorized taxis or pre-booked shuttles, never random offers in the parking lot
- Lake Atitlán night lanchas stop around 6 PM — plan your travel to arrive at your final town before sunset
What this hub does NOT cover
- Domestic flights schedules — see /flights/ for current data
- Renting a car — covered briefly in route guides where relevant
- Vehicle import (bringing your US car) — see /vehicle-import/
Related
- Cost of Living Guatemala — transport costs in monthly budget context
- Antigua Guatemala hub — most-asked transport origin
- Guatemala City zones — for context on where you’re arriving/departing
- Live exchange rate — convert quetzal prices
All prices verified April 2026. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.
