You do not have to go back through Antigua: a direct shuttle leaves Panajachel at 07:30 for Lanquín, the village beside Semuc Champey, and there is an overnight run from San Pedro La Laguna at 19:45. The sellers’ own published journey times run from 9.5 to 12 hours. The day-shuttle figures were read on 24 September 2026; Adrenalina’s San Pedro overnight booking product was rechecked on 23 October 2026.
Quick summary
- By day from Panajachel: 07:30, USD$40-50, three sellers; AtitlanTour publishes 9.5 hours, Adrenalina 12 hours.
- Overnight from San Pedro La Laguna: Adrenalina, 19:45, 10 hours, USD 55; Guatemala Transportation lists USD$52.
- Also from Chichicastenango: 09:20, USD$40-45.
- Where you land: Adrenalina’s overnight product lists the bus station next to Hotel El Recreo in Lanquín and serves only hotels in the village centre.
- Back to the lake: 08:00 from Lanquín, USD$40-50.
The day shuttle from Panajachel
| Seller | Departs | Fare | Journey time (as published) | Pick-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AtitlanTour | 07:30 | USD$40 | 9.5 hrs (“Ruta Maya”) | Not published |
| Guatemala Transportation | 07:30 | USD$45 | Not published | Not published |
| Adrenalina Tours | 07:30, daily | USD 50 | 12 hours | Your hotel |
AtitlanTour and Guatemala Transportation both sell theirs as direct; Guatemala Transportation names its product Panajachel to Cobán, Lanquín and Semuc Champey, so it passes Cobán. Adrenalina’s 12 hours against AtitlanTour’s 9.5 for the same 07:30 departure is the gap to plan around: count on the longer figure.
Chichicastenango to Semuc Champey / Lanquín
From Chichicastenango the same sellers list a 09:20 departure to Cobán and Lanquín: AtitlanTour USD$40, Guatemala Transportation USD$45.
The overnight from San Pedro La Laguna
| Adrenalina Tours | Guatemala Transportation | |
|---|---|---|
| Departs | 19:45, daily | Time not published |
| Fare | USD 55 per person | USD$52 |
| Journey | 10 hours | Not published |
| Pick-up | Parking San Pedro La Laguna (operator’s map) | Not published |
| Drop-off | Bus station next to Hotel El Recreo, Lanquín | Not published |
Why take it. The overnight saves a hotel night and puts you in Lanquín in the morning. The trade-off is sleeping, or not, in a shuttle seat, and arriving at the bus station next to Hotel El Recreo rather than at your lodge.
Where you actually end up
The sellers name the destination Lanquín / Semuc Champey, but Adrenalina’s drop-off is in Lanquín village, not at the pools. It says it serves hotels in the centre of Lanquín only and does not pick up or drop off at the lodges near Semuc Champey, so if you are staying out there, arrange the last stretch with your lodge. For the caves in the village itself, see Lanquín caves and the Lanquín town page.
Coming back to the lake
| Seller | Departs | Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AtitlanTour | Lanquín 08:00 | USD$40 | Sold as DIRECT to Panajachel; also DIRECT to Chichicastenango, USD$40 |
| AtitlanTour | Cobán 09:30 | USD$38 | DIRECT to Panajachel |
| Adrenalina Tours | Lanquín 08:00 / Cobán 10:00 | USD 50 | Lanquín pick-up at the bus station next to hotel El Recreo; Cobán at McDonald’s Plaza Magdalena; drop-off at the Shell station at the entrance to Panajachel |
| Adrenalina Tours | Lanquín 08:00 | USD 50 | To San Pedro La Laguna, near the public dock, 11 hours |
| Guatemala Transportation | Cobán 10:00 | USD$45 | To Chichicastenango or Panajachel |
Semuc Champey / Lanquín to Lake Atitlán
Utopia Eco Hotel lists a return from Lanquín to Panajachel, Lake Atitlán, leaving at 8 am for Q350 ($44 USD), dependent on bookings (read 25 October 2026). This adds a booking-dependent offer to the seller departures above.
Paying and booking
- Adrenalina asks for bookings 48 hours ahead.
- Guatemala Transportation quotes its dollars at Q8, AtitlanTour at Q7.8 (Q8 elsewhere on the same page); check today’s quetzal rate before paying in quetzales.
Other ways to Semuc
- From Antigua: the 08:00 through-shuttles and the overnight are on Antigua to Semuc Champey.
- From Guatemala City: the 09:00-09:40 day shuttles and the 23:45/23:50 night shuttles are on Guatemala City to Lanquín; the Monja Blanca bus is on Guatemala City to Cobán.
- On to Petén afterwards: Lanquín and Cobán to Flores.
- The lake itself: Lake Atitlán lancha routes for getting to Panajachel or San Pedro in time.
What is not published
- Pick-up points for AtitlanTour and Guatemala Transportation in Panajachel, and their drop-off points in Lanquín.
- A departure time for Guatemala Transportation’s San Pedro overnight.
- Availability for your travel date on Adrenalina’s overnight; its booking product lists USD 55 (checked 23 October 2026).
- A public bus from the lake to Lanquín, from any operator we read.
Starting from Xela or Huehuetenango? The western-highlands shuttles to Lanquín, and the return, are on Xela to Lanquín and Semuc Champey.
Sources
Guatemala Transportation shuttle schedule, read 24 September 2026
AtitlanTour shuttle schedule, read 24 September 2026
Adrenalina Tours: shuttles from Panajachel and shuttles from Lanquín, read 24 September 2026
AtitlanTour shuttle schedule, read 25 October 2026
Guatemala Transportation shuttle schedule, read 25 October 2026
Utopia Eco Hotel transport information, read 25 October 2026
