The easiest way to do this is to take a Lancha (small boat) to Pana from wherever you are on the lake. Duration: 3-4 hours minimum (traffic dependent) 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 I share my experiences, and provide tips and knowledge to make it possible for you too. Do you have any recommendations for arranging a shuttle? Reason three was because we were not starting at the airport where most tourist shuttles are based. Mobile ticket. When you get there, ask one of the drivers for Panajachel and they should be able to direct you to the proper bus! Explore Antiguan history, culture, and cuisine on this half-day chicken bus tour, ideal for travelers tight on time. Required fields are marked *. We did the transfer thing four times and rode four different chicken buses. Que honor poder leer su experiencia, nos llena el corazn saber que estamos haciendo lo que amamos de la manera correcta <3 The chicken bus to Lake Atitlan departs at Antiguas main bus station near the market (check location here). I wasnt sure until I arrived via chicken bus about 2 weeks ago. There are many options for renting a car in Antigua. Its a logical step between two beautiful and popular tourist destinations that doesnt span a terribly great distance. The best way to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan is by booking a shared van shuttle. Total cost is Q38.50 (2022) and takes about 3.5 hours. When on a public boat, you may have to wait a few extra minutes for the boat to fill up with people. You can go as far as a Panajachel (Lake Atitlan) for only 30Q ($4) from Antigua. I took a long chicken bus journey from my home in Antigua to my new home in Mazatenango, Guatemala aka the middle of nowhere. How to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan. Travelling by chicken bus, Panajachel to Antigua: On day 547 of my present travels, I travel by chicken bus from Panajachel to Antigua. Youre only cruising for 20 minutes, but youll get to enjoy unrivalled views as the sun sinks below the volcanoes and the lake lights up. Other nicknames make reference to the route the bus follows, for example chicken buses that run from Guatemala City to Antigua are often called la antiguea. Duration: 3h. Church of San Francisco (Iglesia de San Francisco) Tours & Tickets, Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) Tours & Tickets, La Merced Church (Iglesia de la Merced) Tours & Tickets, Antigua Central Park (Parque Central) Tours & Tickets, Antigua City Hall (Palacio del Ayuntamiento) Tours & Tickets, Casa Santo Domingo (Monasterio de Santo Domingo) Tours & Tickets, Santa Catalina Arch (Arco de Santa Catalina) Tours & Tickets, Palace of the Captains General (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales) Tours & Tickets, Museum of Colonial Art (Museo de Arte Colonial) Tours & Tickets, Las Capuchinas (Convento de Las Capuchinas) Tours & Tickets, Catedral de Santiago (Antigua Cathedral) Tours & Tickets, Jade Factory and Museum (Jade Maya) Tours & Tickets. Heres the story. Start time: Check availability. You get to see some of the surrounding towns and visit local shops and support small businesses! Tourist shuttles, schmorist shuttles. Diego is an amazing guide who knows his town well and shares his love of the artists and the people. By Due South Travels. It has extremely high crime rates, of both violent and petty crime. To get from the capital of Guatemala City to Lake Atitln, youll have to travel 77 miles (126 km), and the best way to make the journey is by car. The cheapest way from Antigua to Panajachel is by Chicken Bus for$6 USD and it will take 6-7 hours but you will have to transfer a few buses since there are no direct buses running anymore. Duration: <25 minutes (or half/full-day tour) By Rental Car. Now we can totally relax. We ran alongside the bus and my husband banged on its side. I do it full-time and this blog is to help you do it also! We arrived at the boat dock in just enough time to load our bags in a rickety boat before the rain hit. The distance fromAntigua to Panajachel is 77 kilometers. Duration: full day (or longer) By Private Taxi or Rideshare. Private and Luxury. According to the US Department of State, Guatemalas high murder rate is caused by four principal factors: an increase in drug trafficking; a growing prevalence of gang-related violence; a heavily armed civilian population; and a weak and incompetent police/judicial system. If you are staying in any of the other towns around the lake (Santa Cruz, San Pedro etc), you will need to take a lancha (boat) see more in the arriving in Lake Atitlan from Antigua section. There are a few blog posts and tips on travel sites, but we found that information to be vague and sometimes downright wrong. Duration: full day (or longer) By Private Taxi or Rideshare. We love giving you a wonderful experience and every day is our main goal. It was a blast and really cool to learn about the chicken buses and culture of the city. This turned out to be my most popular post of the 30 I did from Guatemala. On most of the buses my friend and I had two seats each to ourselves as the buses were never totally packed. This obviously works in reverse if you are travelling Antigua to lake Atitlan, its the same route. Guatemala has so much to discover, nature, culture, history, stories, architecture, art and we can continue on and on; we are here for you dear Monique, come back soon. You can also take the chicken bus, a public transportation option to reach Lake Atitlan for the lowest cost. Your email address will not be published. Guatemalans call the chicken bus in Spanish la camioneta, la burra, or el bus. Why? Antigua Guatemala is known to be a pretty safe city within the Latin American backpacker trail, and while this is true, that doesnt mean crime doesnt occur. I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Antigua. I am grateful well be here for a month. Bookings. Make sure you have a padlock on your bag and dont leave anything valuable in it. Chicken Bus (Direct) Multiple Chicken Buses; Direct Shuttle; All prices in Guatemalan Quetzales. keep enjoying and if we can be of further company will be an honor. It's a great way to see the area like a local. If you are backpacking in Guatemala, you are more than likely to travel between Lake Atitlan and Antigua at some point on your trip. Top activities in Antigua. The best way from Antigua to Panajachel is getting aprivate transfer, an Uber or a taxi and it will take 2 hours for around$100 USD up to 8 peopleespecially a great idea if you are traveling with someone or with too much luggage. If you ask for the buses to Panajachel, you will easily find this area. You can get for$135 USDyourHeymondoTravel Insurancewith Heymondo discount codevalid for 90 days. Lake Atitln (Spanish: Lago de Atitln, [atitlan]) is a lake in the Guatemalan Highlands of the Sierra Madre mountain range. David! Feel free to use our links for discounts. Bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. We would highly recommend! Chicken buses are what expats call public buses in Guatemala and they are one of the things that Guatemala is known for. Public bus (chicken bus) Private transfer Its important to note that all shuttles will stop in Panajachel for Lake Atitlan. Id heard so many negative stories about getting robbed, or lost, or delayed in these local buses. Just double check to make sure its the right bus. This is how we got from Guatemala City to San Pablo La Laguna a small Mayan village on Lake Atitlan. Our rental up the road from the village of San Marcos is a 20 minute walk on a road with some craters. Ride the Chicken Bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. 3 hours; Q30/36 per person Journey Duration: 3 4 hours. Its less crowded than taking a chicken bus. Once that turn was complete, the bus stopped, the conductor climbed up a back ladder, unhooked our bags and passed them down. (Note Uber does exist in Guatemala City, but I dont have a SIM card at the moment and cannot always rely on Wifi. At one of the transfer stops, the bus pulled away with our big bags still on the top! It takes you to Solola, a town perched high on the cliffs above Atitlan. Therefore, I highly recommend you give it a try. Friendly guide and driver. Unfortunately, hostels dont usually help as they want you to take their shuttle buses. This bus gets into some pretty high elevation, practically climbing a mountain. WebShared shuttle - between Antigua and Panajachel, Lake Atitlan. Ask these questions when you make the reservation. Go On a Day Tour to Lake Atitlan from Antigua. It was a harsh lesson, but one we learned from. 0. This is the best way to begin your time in Guatemala! This is an independent site for budget slow travel. Bookings. 4 early retirement steps to take right now, Best places to retire in the world on small budgets, 3 reasons to rent in retirement and travel the world, How to find the remote Yelapa waterfalls, Delhi, Dehradun, Mussoorie budget travel tips, Shocking loss of unlikely friend the indigenous Ati Chief, 6 ways Mexico changed me for the better, Learning with Gracie, living with grace, Varanasi cremations are intense experiences, That time we brought ELECTRICITY to an indigenous village, That time we brought WATER to an indigenous village, Cheap flights to Belgrade made us tourists, What an Isla Mujeres Vacation is like today, What it cost for 17 nights in the UAE the slow travel way, Commentary: 3 things that surprised me about the UAE, Free guide for budget slow travel in India, How we found summer airfare deals & Airbnb discounts. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Of course there are easier, and shorter, ways to make this journey. Recommended by 95% of travelers. We only paid for a taxi to the shore because we had no idea where it was and it was beginning to rain. Duration: <25 minutes (or half/full-day tour). He showed us around the villages outside of Antigua and shared the fascinating history of Guatemala. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Other nicknames make reference to the route the bus follows, for example chicken buses that run from Guatemala City to Antigua are often called la antiguea. This advice also works in reverse when travelling from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. Chicken buses, a boat, and tuk tuks to Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City budget travel, early retirement / By Ellen / April 16, 2017 One private taxi, four chicken buses, two tuk tuks, a boat, and an adventure to remember. Lake Atitlan: Mysterious, majestic, mortal, How to visit Mayan ruins at Tikal without a tour, Iximche: Powerful Mayan ruins often overlooked, Best places to retire in the world on social security, Iximche: Mayan ruins in Guatemala as powerful as Tikal, Supply run in the Philippines during a pandemic, New place, amazing views on mainland Malay to love, Free guide: Global health care (without insurance), Cheap progressive eyeglasses in the Philippines, How to find a surgeon in a foreign country. Our rental is not in San Marcos a tourist mecca for marketed with yoga retreats and holistic week getaways. As always, a very helpful and practical guide to getting where you want to go. But, as much as Ive harped on Tedly that we should lighten the load, I am so glad to have the coffee machine because our new rental only has a french press. In fact it added to the fun of the ride! Go On a Day Tour to Lake Atitlan from Antigua. First chicken bus of the trip is leaving from Antigua bus terminal which is located nearby big market. a Tripadvisor company. From Solola, you merely need to descend down a steep and winding road to the shores of the Lake. Top Antigua landmarks between Antigua and Panajachel, Lake Atitlan. The cost for two people was $35. But there are no direct chicken buses from Antigua to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan anymore. Make sure you have a padlock on your bag and dont leave anything valuable in it. Heres the story. Travelling by chicken bus, Panajachel to Antigua: On day 547 of my present travels, I travel by chicken bus from Panajachel to Antigua. QUICK ANSWER: How To Get From Antigua To Lake Atitlan. 3 hours; from $20.00. If youre lucky, youll catch a once an hour Rebuli bus direct to Panajachel (on the shores of Atitlan) but if not. Its essentially a covered three-wheeled motor scooter.). In reality, you could travel around the whole of Central America using more expensive tourist shuttle buses, but where is the fun and adventure in that! Id rather not use the chicken bus as I will be bringing all my stuff with me which adds to the hassle. HACE CALOR! By Shared Shuttle. These shorts had zipped pockets which I highly advise. When I told locals in Antigua that I was going to live in Mazatenango, they laughed. There are a few agencies like Hertz and Avis available. This was the best excursion! I travelled in Central America for 6 months through 5 different countries and I never encountered anyone who had any problems. The terminal is chaotic, with lines of buses, every single one with a driver screaming an abbreviated version of the bus destination. The driver in our private car (arranged by our Airbnb host) was pleasant and kind and seemed to be happy to have the job. 22 reviews. Chicken buses that run to Panajachel or San Pedro in Lake Atitln are called las pedranas . WebHalf-day Tours in Antigua: Check out 116 reviews and photos of Viator's Villages Tour on Chicken Bus. Your email address will not be published. Plus: we had a fun adventure to boot! The timetable is limited, so if you cant leave in the morning you will most likely need to get a tourist bus. The first bus was $1.42 USD for two people. There are a few different transportation options you can take from Lake Atitlan to Antigua and I highly recommend taking the most adventurous chicken bus option. Duration: <25 minutes (or half/full-day tour) By Rental Car. Taking the Chicken Bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan This is the cheapest way, but it can also be a bit tricky. Once I had made my first journey on chicken buses, they were always my first option for the remainder of my trip. Its easy to book via WhatsApp. Hopefully with these tips, you can travel around the lake and feel more safe. You can go as far as a Panajachel (Lake Atitlan) for only 30Q ($4) from Antigua. Its easy to book via WhatsApp. These cookies do not store any personal information. The town of Panajachel is located on the Northeast shore of Lake Atitln, and has become a centre for the tourist trade of the area as it provides a base for visitors crossing the lake to visit other towns and villages. Read our fullHeymondo Travel Insurance Review, You can getSafetywing Travel Insurancefor Digital Nomads valid for 28 daysSafetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included. July 5, 2021 | Tagged: Guatemala. Chicken buses that run to Panajachel or San Pedro in Lake Atitln are called las pedranas . Duration: 2+ hours (traffic dependent) By Private Tour. The second bus was a much longer ride and it cost $5.71 USD for two people. How to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan. I travelled Central America for 6 months and the journey from Atitlan to Antigua was the first of many chicken bus adventures. I havent seen any other tourists in the village yet. HACE CALOR! Chicken buses, a boat, and tuk tuks to Lake Atitlan from Guatemala City budget travel, early retirement / By Ellen / April 16, 2017 One private taxi, four chicken buses, two tuk tuks, a boat, and an adventure to remember. But we got off the boat at the San Marcos dock at the advice of our new Airbnb host because the path from that dock to the road is less of an incline (again, the bags play a role in our travel decisions). We are friends and will alwasy be, sharing extraordinary moments with you was awesome for us too! The town doesn't have the best reputation. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Its a logical step between two beautiful and popular tourist destinations that Q10 = $1.28(US) / $1.74(CAD) / 1.21 (Prices as of February 2023) Direct Bus from Antigua to Panajachel. I would always try to leave as early as possible on travel days in case of delays. CHICKEN BUSES FROM ANTIGUA TO PANAJACHEL, LAKE ATITLAN (CHEAPEST WAY), BY TAXI, UBER AND PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM ANTIGUA TO PANAJACHEL, Heymondo Vs Safetwing cheapest travel Insurance, Safetywing for $50 USD per month with kids until 10 years old included, Click here to get the best deals renting a car in Guatemala. How to get from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan. \0/ The total cost to get from Guatemala City to Pana and on to San Marcos at Lake Atitlan cost roughly $60 for two people. Rent a Car in Antigua. Not even close to one. Wise Alternative: Comparing Various Transferwise Alternative, How To Get From Antigua to Rio Dulce Best Way. In Antiguas bus area, find the bus going to where you want to be, get on, and pay the conductor once the bus is moving. Take an Uber or Taxi to Lake Atitlan. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. You can usually say your final destination such as Antigua or if you know the route, the next stop, which is Encuentros. Help. Ages 3-101, max of 22 per group. Driver is safe and courteous. Wherever you are staying in Lake Atitlan you will need to firstly go to Panajachel (Pana) to start the journey. Look for the bus going to Chimaltenango. In truth, the experience I had couldnt have been further from the truth. Mil gracias Laura! Its less crowded than taking a chicken bus. We appreciate your time, your trust and your preference so much that we firmly believe you deserve nothing less than exceptional moments and memories. WebHalf-day Tours in Antigua: Check out 116 reviews and photos of Viator's Villages Tour on Chicken Bus. When we left here, a driver falsely told us his bus was the one we wanted just to get us on board. This route involves 4 buses in total and 3 changes. 1st bus Antigua to Chimal. Ride onboard a Guatemalan Chicken Bus on this half-day excursion, Explore more of Antigua and beyond than you could during a walking tour, Gain insight into culture, communities, and cuisines that you might not get alone, Choose the start time that suits youmorning or afternoon, 2a Calle Poniente 2, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, Confirmation will be received at time of booking, This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers. You should be vigilant and take all possible precaution measures in order to minimize the risk of something wrong happening. Guatemala is not the safest country to visit. At the end, we even got dropped off at our preferred location instead of back at the office. If a boat driver tries to rip you off, simply say no and the price you know to be correct as firmly as you can. Thank you so much for ranking us, we are happy to share Guatemala and the rest of Central America with all our new friends! We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I always felt safer when my wallet and phone was zipped away, especially if I ever had to stand on a packed bus. It also took us nearly eight hours with a private car, four chicken buses, two tuk tuks and a boat.
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