As in the rest of Latin America, Guatemala has many different ways of transportation, all depends on your preferences, style of traveling and budget.
When I say «preference», it means there are many people who likes to spend and talk with locals while traveling, another people likes to travel in a comfortable and luxury transportation and, maybe most of them like to travel in a safety and comfortable way.
“Style of traveling and budget” means that there are many travelers with a lot of experience on the road and they can transport in a different ways without problems.
Guatemala has four ways of transportation, check it out and let me know if you have any questions:
- A luxury and comfortable way: There are many companies where you can find or rent private transportation: You just have to contact them and make a reservation.
You will have a car with or without a driver and you can transport all over the country without problems. I recommend you to ask for a driver because the vial system in Guatemala is random, the drivers are a little crazy and the speed is a way of driving. So, is much better if is a Guatemalan with you to help, advise and guide on the road.
- Collective transportation: The famous “Shuttles” all over the country:This is a really easy way of traveling in Guatemala and all Central America, in each touristic city you can find tour operators, all of them offer the option of shuttles, many of them is not direct, sometimes you have to change the micro-bus one time but is a safety way of traveling to because of the drivers are more responsible, especially with velocity.
There are shuttles from Xela to Lake Atitlan, Antigua, La Mesilla (border with Mexico), Guatemala, City, Cobán, Petén, Belize, El tunco (El Salvador beach) and another touristic places.
In my personal opinion this is a good way of transportation because it is safe, comfortable and good prices. There is a common company to travel direct from Guatemala City to Xela or Quetzaltenango, the name of the company is Alamo, they have daily shuttles to Xela, the price is Q65.00 during the morning and afternoons.
Taxis and tuc tucs can be another option to transport in the town. Depending on the distance can be Q10.00 at least.
- Public transportation: Or as it is known “Chicken busses”: Locals call chicken busses “Camionetas” this is a fun say of transportation in Guatemala, but I want to be honest, is not the safest way of traveling. I going to start with the positives things of Chicken busses:
- You can start a conversation immediately you arrive the bus, you are so close to the people that is impossible to not speak with the other 4 people sitting beside you.
- You have to pay almost nothing to transport, compared with the other options. For examples in a chicken bus from Xela to Guatemala City you have to pay $5 but in a shuttle must pay $40. So the difference is obvious, but still your commodity and security is better in a shuttle.
- In a chicken buss you live the Guatemalan real life. The name is because of locals transport all in bus, even chickens, dogs, cats, etc… you will be surprised about what people transport on chicken busses.
Now, negative things of chicken busses or Camionetas: I am not saying this is going to happen to you but the risk exist.
- Because is too much people on the bus, there is a few bad people with an amazing humility to steal your personal things, especially if you have a phone, money or another things on your pocket. It is crazy but sometimes you cannot feel when they are taking of your things. So, I recommend you to take care of it. Also don’t leave your staff far from you, and when you have a small backpack, put it in front of you, because people can open it and take your things without you realize it.
- The chicken busses drivers are crazy when they are driving, it is like a competition with the other busses. “Fast & Furious” can be compared with them. For this reason it can be dangerous, in Guatemala is around 2 or 3 fatal accidents. Thanks to God is not much more. It is not frequent but it can happens.
Note: In Guatemala and Central America the chicken busses don’t have a specific schedule, normally is there a guy helping the driver who is called “Ayudante” he is who are going to charge you. So, you don’t have to pay at the beginning, the guy is going where you are sitting and he is going to ask you for the money. Remember, you have to ask how much is for Antigua… in Spanish ¿Cuánto es para Antigua Guatemala?
The prices sometimes can change depending on the distance, but usually can be:
To Lake Atitlan Q25.00
Antigua (Chimaltenango) Q30.00
Guatemala City Q40.00
- The other way is “To get a ride” I never have done this but I have met people (travelers) doing this. I don’t recommend to do it because it can be dangerous especially for female travelers. But if you decide to do it, I recommend you to be extrovert, talk with the people (you must speak Spanish) and give them some money after the ride. I hope you will enjoy the ride.
I can you give you many more advices to travel to Guatemala but I suggest you contact Travel & Health Guatemala to find out more.
We organize everything and will be with you throughout your adventure in order to make sure you have the best time possible. Transportation, accommodation, Guatemalan food, Spanish, activities and much more.
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Guatemala and T&H Guatemala are waiting for you….