Having lived in two of the most gorgeous places in the world one of which is a Unisec World Heritage Site and the other holding the title for the largest natural free-standing arch formation in the world I feel I’m obligated to share my passion for these regions with everyone and from an insiders perspective.
Guatemala is one gem in Central America that is for the most part wildly undiscovered by tourists, a true hidden gem. Most people prefer Costa Rica and it is a long-standing joke here.
Antigua, Guatemala because of its Spanish-influenced architecture, churches, and ruins, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Having lived here going on four years I’ve truly fallen head over heels in love with all this amazing country has to offer and Antigua is now my forever home. I’m permanently here and have just purchased a cute colonial-style house and seriously couldn’t be happier! Having lived here for a bit now one of the most common questions I see people asking whether online or in town is how to get from La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City to Antigua and Lake Atitlán. And I’m here to lead you onto the path and into paradise!
Intro
La Aurora International Airport is the main airport in Guatemala City and almost everyone travels via this airport. You can exchange $30 or $40 dollars to Quetzal at the airport. The exchange rate varies of course but typically it is about $1 = 7.5 Q. The airport will not give you a good exchange so I wouldn’t advise switching more than that initially. Antigua is closer to the airport than the lake so I would recommend making your way to Antigua first and staying at least a few days here before heading to Lake Atitlán.
Antigua is about one hour from Guatemala City or 40 km. This timeframe is in the loosest sense of the word because depending on your transportation, the season, and traffic it can take much more time.
Available Transportation
There is Uber here in Guatemala. You also have the option of booking a shuttle, a taxi, or a private driver. If you are staying in a hotel or hostel in Antigua the hotel or hostel can arrange a shuttle or private driver for you to be picked up at the airport and I do recommend going through your hotel or hostel for this service.
Uber
Uber in Guatemala is really hit or miss. When you land in Guatemala City the airport does offer free wifi. You could use the free wifi to locate your driver via WhatsApp that you prearranged, you can meet your shuttle or you can use Wifi to download the Uber app and get set up and call an Uber. Uber is the cheapest option but the shuttle isn’t expensive. The option for the private driver will be the most expensive choice.
Some tips for taking an Uber from the City to Antigua would be that most Uber drivers do not know where or how far you are going on your trip when they initially accept the trip. Unfortunately, the Uber app doesn’t allow this information freely to the drivers until they reach a certain standard on the App. I know this to be a fact as of April 2023. My husband was an Uber driver here in Guatemala. With this being said sometimes the driver will accept the offer and show up and not be prepared to leave the city and does not want to drive to a different town. I imagine this rarely happens at the airport though considering most airport arrivals are traveling forth into other regions but it could happen.
I’ve never had a bad experience with a driver once inside an Uber here however for safety I wouldn’t recommend taking an Uber in the dark or in the extremely late hours from the airport in the city to Antigua just in case and especially if traveling alone.
A few other things that happen when taking Uber is that they will oftentimes try to ask you to pay more than what the app has told you is the charge. You are more likely to get an Uber if you’re paying in cash and not using your credit card, as people want the payment right away. It can also take a bit of time to get an acceptance on your ride. I’ve waited 5 minutes and I’ve also waited over an hour for someone to accept and give me a ride.
One other thing that I see often is the Uber driver will accept my ride and just park and wait and not come to collect me. What I’ve found is that they do this because when you are tired of waiting and canceling you will pay a small cancellation fee and they collect that fee without having to do anything, waste gas, or otherwise. It is a little workaround that I’ve come to know. In response, I typically wait a bit and select the cancel button a few times without actually going through with the cancel, and on the third or fourth try Uber will ask me if I want a different ride without paying any fees in which case I say yes.
Antigua
When taking a shuttle they will make other stops and it can take longer to get to your destination. A shuttle is about $19 USD or 200 Q one way per person. An Uber will probably be about 200 Q and that is for up to 4 persons. Taxi and private drivers charge more than Uber. I would honestly recommend booking a shuttle through your hotel or hostel and making your way to Antigua that way.
TIP: Although I don’t recommend taking an Uber late at night from the city I do not see any problems leaving the city overnight with a private driver or shuttle. If leaving at night from the airport you won’t encounter traffic which will be a huge relief and save time. If leaving late I would notify your hotel or hostel of a late check-in because Antigua generally closes early. On a personal note, I have driven my own car alone at night from the city to Antigua and it’s perfectly safe. (This isn’t Mexico for goodness sake!)
Once in Antigua, I know you will hike volcanos, eat in lovely cafes, walk the cobblestones, maybe book a day trip to the beach, and take in all of the amazing ruins that are right downtown. You can also get around Antigua by walking or by Tuk Tuk, which is a small motorized taxi in town. After a few days of exploring you are ready to visit Lake Atitlán!
Heading to Lake Atitlán from Antigua
Guatemala is home to Lake Atitlán, the deepest lake in Central America. It is surrounded by volcanoes giving this region breathtaking views and it is filled with a rich culture.
Traveling from Antigua to Lake Atitlán takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes and a bit longer if you’re using a shuttle service or there is traffic. It is 87 km and a very mountainous path. Expect a lot of turns, corners, and potholes. Private transfer one way can run you $100 USD, a taxi $50 USD, or a shuttle $25 USD per person. I would recommend again using a shuttle service that your hotel or hostel arranged.
Most shuttle services will drop you off at Tsanjuyu Public Dock in Panajachel. At that point, if you are not staying in Panajachel and need to get to San Pedro or San Marcos you would take a ferry boat. There are ferry boat services at the dock. The ferry service only runs from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.
Once in Lake Atitlán enjoy the vibe of each small community, take in the surrounding nature, the lake volcanic views, and kayaking or paddle-boarding.
The Ferry Service
The ferry from Panajachel to San Pedro La Laguna takes about 50 minutes and is about 25 Q for tourists. Getting from Panajachel to San Marcos La Laguna is also about 25 Q. You can also take a ferry to any of the village towns around Lake Atitlán including Panajachel, San Pedro, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, Santiago Atitlán, and Jaibalito. You can take ferry boats to each and catch Tuk Tuks around each village.
Departure
On your way out if you’re not deciding to stay forever like so many of us, you will again want to book your shuttle through your hostel or hotel back to Guatemala City and to the airport. Give yourself 3 hours at the airport prior to your flight departing to go through checkpoints and security. Also, count on traffic unless it is very early or late.
The trip from Lake Atitlán to Guatemala City is about 3 hours and is 120 km. It is about $25 per person one way for the shuttle service.
Happy Guatemala Travels!
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