Traveling Through Guatemala by Shuttle: What You Should Know
I traveled over 1,450 KM through Guatemala.
From Guatemala City to Antigua to Lake Atitlan, back to Antigua to Semuc-Champey to Flores... finally crossing through Belize to Mexico: over 40 hours on shuttles taught me this
🚐Book in Advance
While you can book last minute (day before), to assure your preferred day and time, it is recommended to book at least 48 hours in advance. If booking less than 24 hours in advance, be sure you receive confirmation. Many pick-ups are early morning (between 4am and 8am) so you want to assure you have confirmation the day before so you can contact the provider if there are any issues.
Recommended providers:
Guatemala to Antigua ($24)
Antigua to Panajachel - Lake Atitlan ($25)
Antigua to Flores ($79)
Antigua to Lanquin - Semuc-Champey ($49)
Lanquin to Flores ($40)
Flores to Belize - Caye Caulker/San Pedro ($20/+)
💧Bring water & snacks
Some of the routes involve frequent stops for food, drinks and bathrooms and others don’t. My shuttles from Antigua to Lanquin and Lanquin to Flores had frequent stops at McDonalds’ and convenience stores which offered bathroom and food breaks. My route from Flores to Bacalar (over 10 hours) only made bathroom stops and one brief stop at a convenience store.
🚻Bathrooms
There are no bathrooms on board the shuttles.
While most of the shuttles make frequent stops (every 2-3 hrs) for bathrooms, this is not always the case and traffic can impact the time between stops.
🎒Luggage
Luggage is strapped to the top of the shuttle so be sure all your belongings are secure. Use a weatherproof cover if you have on.
You will likely need to lift your luggage up to the roof, and/or catch it coming down on arrival.
Be sure to take out anything you want to have with you for the duration of the ride, as you won’t be able to access it until arrival.
🤢If you get motion sickness
Prepare accordingly as the roads are bumpy, winding and up/down hill. I am fortunate I rarely get motion sickness, but some of these routes had even my stomach flip flopping.
😴Don’t anticipate sleeping
Even if you are a “can sleep anywhere” person, sleeping on the shuttles can be very difficult on the bumpy roads and when packed full
🕰️Get there early
If there is one pick up spot, arrive early to assure you are one of the first on board. The shuttles are often overfilled, and pull-down aisle seats are used.
If you have pick up from your hostel or hotel, be ready 15 minutes prior to the pick-up time. While it can be annoying waiting if you are one of the later stops, the shuttles can also come early - as I learned twice when my pickup arrived before I was at the reception.
⭐Pro tip
If your shuttle picks up at different locations, find out which is first and use that one to assure a more comfortable seat.
There is no sugar coating it, traveling through Guatemala by shuttle can be long and tedious. But, this method is safer and more efficient than the chicken buses and more cost effective than private transportation, making them the most used mode of transportation in Guatemala.
The routes between main points of interest can be long and windy, and the shuttles can be crowded, BUT it is absolutely worth it.
Using these tips and practicing your patience will make these transfers much easier and more comfortable.
