That cuts a 5-hour trip down to 2.5 (those extra hours can really come in handy when you're broken up about leaving the place). day4-5: Tikal and Flores, overnight bus to GC. This is a personal preference. Some travelers choose to travel first to Antigua, and then to Lake Atitlan area, some of them travel there directly. If you are planning on visiting one of the nearby villages, you can take a boat trip using one of the public boats from each villages dock. 1. Its also a bit riskier with your bags and luggage, but not impossible. Catherina did a wonderful job planning a week in Guatemala with an itinerary that was customiz", Traveled to Guatemala as a family in April, 2023, "Catherina put together a great trip for us and was very responsive to our feedback and worked super hard to give us a unique trip within budget. Looking for a cheap and reliable shuttle to Lake Atitlan from Antigua?Check out our recommended shuttle bus agency here! We hope our guide has helped you figure out your transport to Lake Atitlan from Antigua! For those that are unfamiliar with chicken buses, they are old refurbished school buses from the United States. Its crystal clear waters make it one of Guatemala's most visited tourist attractions! To be honest, a rental car to Lake Atitln might not be the best option, but it sure is when you want to explore the rest of Guatemala. 6x Reasons Youll Wish You Went. Check the next section to see where the main backpacker hotels are located around Lake Atitlan. Flying out to Cyprus just made sense! Im not a big traveler so I just went with knowing what I was told. For safety reasons, its best not to drive after dark. How to Antigua from Lake Atitlan. Getting to Antigua from Lake Atitlan. The shared transfer is around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Travel time: 1 hour to Antigua, 2.5 to 3 hours to Chichicastenango, 1.5 to 2 hours to Lake Atitlan. But if you dont, then no, its not as touristy! Plus, driving in another country can be a fun way to add spice to your trip. From the beginning Eduardo was amazing in answering all of my questions and planning the trip the way we wa", Traveled to Guatemala as a family in June, 2023, "La atencin el cuidado de cada una de las personas que hicieron posible un tour maravilloso para mi hermana y para mi fue genial con personas geniales cada G", "Chris was incredibly attentive and insightful when it came to planning the perfect trip for us! Looking for some travel insurance for Guatemala?Check out our recommendation here! Luckily, you are spoiled with some dramatic views as you approach Lake Atitlan. The most comfortable and convenient way to get from Antigua to Lake Atitln is by private transfer. best attractions Lake Atitln has to offer. One of the people on our shared shuttle almost (maybe he did but I didnt want to look) puked from the drive. You can also rent a car and drive yourself, but as always, parking is tricky, and if you want to explore other areas on the lake you will have to find a place to park in Panajachel and jump on a boat. Its important to note: The journey from Antigua to Panajachel is much easier for people that are sensitive to motion sickness. Follow me on social media here! Theyre small but hold around 25 people and cost 2.50/$3 per one-way journey. Private Shuttle While more expensive, private shuttles are available from many of the same companies. The Rebuli bus line has direct buses to Panajachel, Lake Atitlns main hub, every day. If youre taking the Antigua to San Marcos La Laguna shuttle you have two journey options: one at 8 AM and the other one at 12.30 PM. It travels through Antigua with a 90 minute layover. Surprisingly, an Uber or hiring a taxi can sometimes be cheaper than a private shuttle, but the difficulty is finding a driver that will accept your offer. Looking for a car rental in Guatemala?Check out our recommended car rental company here! I honestly didnt expect it be so fantastic. A newsletter for digital nomads! 3x Easy Ways To From Antigua To Lake Atitlan: Transportation Options, 1. Tip: If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure you get what you need for some relive because the winding roads wont definitely help. The going rate for a private transfer is 700-800Q from Antigua. Make sure you read carefully whats included before making the purchase. Verification: Travel time is 3 hours, and cost is $95 total. From Panajachel, you can easily take a boat trip or private taxi to any of the other lake villages, such as San Marcos or San Pedro. When it comes to the type of shuttle buses used, they are typically full-sized passenger vans that can accommodate around 15 people, much better than the public transportation (chicken bus) in Guatemala which has over a hundred passengers at once. On your way to Lake Atitln, youll drive through the winding mountain roads of the central highlands. Personally, we prefer booking online as we can see all our options and there is no other reliable company that does this than GuateGo. Landeau Chocolate Lisbon: The Best Cake In The World? Yes, you can swim in Lake Atitlan, but some areas are safer than others. Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Amazon Rainforest), 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala: The Perfect Itinerary, 2. We dont recommend arriving at night if you cant get a direct shuttle to your specific town. The main transport hub for Lake Atitln is Panajachel, around two hours drive from Antigua. Need an easy way to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala? Ordering an Uber from Antigua to Lake Atitlan is probably the easiest option on this list, however. Make sure you book your tours, places to stay, and airport transfers ahead of time to ensure availability! As I mentioned, shuttles in Guatemala are full of other backpackers and tourists. Dont even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. However, this changes often, so be sure to check on this website, your hostel or with a local travel agent! If you dont plan to stay in the area and would only like to take a day trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan, the best way to make the most of your time is to join a tour! In 2018, we realized we could take our work with usanywhere in the world. You can simply book via WhatsApp as late as the day before your travels and pay in cash. The Antigua to Santiago Atitlan shuttle journey is the longest, taking around 6 hours. How to Get Around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala? Thank you! From the beautiful blue waters, the small town feels and vibrant culture all around the lake towns, Lake Atitlan must be included in your Guatemala itinerary! Hence the nickname. We booked a private driver to pick my mom up from the airport to Lake Atitlan and it cost us $120 USD for the day. We came from San Cristobal de las Casas to Lake Atitlan and we got dropped off at 9pm in Panajachel. and NEEDS to be on your Guatemala travel itinerary. If, Read More How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide 2023Continue, Looking for the best ways to get from Flores to Tikal? It will still take three to three and a half hours under normal traffic conditions. How about this: day 1: Monja Blanca bus from GC to Coban and minibus to Lanquin, Lanquin caves (bat caves) at dusk. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. Hello there! Expect personal travel stories, backpacking tips + the latest travel inspiration! This means you shouldnt take the afternoon shuttle service. Perhaps the easiest and most popular to get to Lake Atitlan is by bus (not to be confused by the local chicken buses). Uber is widely used throughout Antigua whenever we got lazy to walk across the city, we took an Uber and it costs us less than $2 USD to get around Antigua, Guatemala. If youre backpacking Lake Atitlan, cooking your own meals and staying in shared dorms, you can knock this down to 15-20 per night on accommodation, and 10-20 per day on food and activities. Jennie Wanders is part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. So, if youre staying in Lake Atitlan for the first time, I recommend the following accommodations: There are so many amazing hostels to choose from in Antigua that its hard to pick the best one! How much is the shuttle from Antigua to Lake Atitlan? Category Lake Atitlan Updated on March 27, 2022. Hooray! Getting to Lake Atitlan is fairly easy and youll be immediately bewitched. There are different villages scattered around the lake, most of which are only accessible by lancha(small boats) or helicopter. Transportation Services. This will take a longer amount of time, but of course, you get the adventure of being mixed in with the locals on a second-hand converted USA school bus! Thats why its so common for people to just use Uber to also get to Lake Atitlan. Knowing that whatever happens, from medical emergencies to lost bags, canceled flights, theft, and more, your bills are taken care of. But of course, most backpackers (like us!) Things to Do at Lake Atitln. If yourebackpacking Guatemala,the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Antigua and Lake Atitlan is by shuttle. There is one bus that leaves from the main bus station near the market in Antigua at 7 am and goes directly to Panajachel. Shuttle Bus. cant afford this, so we stick to the hostels. Located to the northwest of Antigua, Lake Atitlan is one of the most sought-after destinations in Guatemala. Our favourite hostel on Lake Atitlan was Free Cerveza (a full review coming soon). If youre looking for the easiest, most convenient and smoothest way to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan, keep reading! Although the idea of riding in the back of an old American school bus all the way from Antigua to Lake Atitln might be an appealing one, the reality is that youll be in for a long, hot, cramped, and bumpy ride. Today, we slow travel full-time, run our business from our laptops and embrace life one adventure at a time. Best Pubs in Putney: A Locals Guide (2023), How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide 2023, Flores To Tikal: EVERYTHING You Need To Know In 2023, Scafell Pike From Langdale: Everything You Need To Know (2023), Best Hostel In Copenhagen: Steel House (Review 2023), Semuc Champey From Antigua: Step-By-Step Guide 2023. PRIVATE SHUTTLE ANTIGUA - LAKE ATITLAN or Vice-versa. STAYING IN SAN PEDRO, SANTA CRUZ OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON LAKE ATITLAN? Bottom Line: Take The Easy Journey From Antigua To Lake Atitlan Frequently Asked Questions - How to Get From Antigua to Lake Atitlan However, keep in mind that Guatemala is full of winding mountain roads and aggressive drivers that dont exactly adhere to the rules. People buy them for cheap in the United States and drive them all the way to Guatemala to be used for public transport. You can also take a shuttle to San Marcos or San Pedro on the other side of the lake. We stayed in a few different locations around the lake, and whilst we liked our Airbnb in Panajachel, it was so far away from the lake that it didnt feel like we were there. So, lets find out the best ways to travel from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. It is safe, and efficient, and only costs about $25 to $35. Many people will recommend their trusted drivers and some drivers will also respond directly to your post.