How to Get to Antigua, Guatemala + How to Get Around
Discover how to get to Antigua, Guatemala, as well as the best ways to get around, in this transportation guide.
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Getting to Antigua, Guatemala, and figuring out how to get around once you’re there can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time in Central America. Between navigating shuttles from Guatemala City, wondering whether it’s safe to take a bus or taxi, and trying to plan day trips from Antigua to nearby volcanoes or lakes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the logistics.
We’ve been to Antigua three times and have travelled all over the country via shuttles, buses, and private transfers. We’ve also used Uber, taxis, and tours to get around. In this guide, we break down exactly how to get to Antigua, whether you’re flying into Guatemala City, coming from further afield like Lake Atitlán, or crossing the border. Plus, we cover how to get around once you’re here, including the best local transport options, tips for day trips, and what to expect on the road, so you can spend less time stressing about travel details and more time enjoying the best things to do in Antigua.
How to get to Antigua at a glance
More from Antigua
How to get to Antigua
You might be wondering how to get to Antigua, Guatemala, and your route will depend on where you are travelling from. It’s unusual for tourists to rent a car in Guatemala and drive, due to a combination of dangerous road conditions and unpredictable driving habits (honestly, it’s some of the worst driving we’ve seen anywhere in the world), but there are a variety of other methods, depending on your budget and Antigua itinerary.
Overland
The most common ways to reach Antigua if you’re not flying are to take a shuttle, get there by local chicken bus, take a taxi or Uber, or book a transfer from Guatemala City. These are the best options if you’re coming from other places in Guatemala, like Lake Atitlán, or crossing the border from Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, or Mexico. We cover overland travel below, with specific sections for each method and country.
By plane
Most visitors fly into La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City, the closest airport to Antigua and the largest in the country. From here, you can take a variety of transportation methods to Antigua.
The airport is the busiest in Central America after Panama City, San José in Costa Rica, and El Salvador International Airport, serving daily direct flights from major North and South American hubs such as Miami, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Mexico City, as well as a few European connections. Flights to Guatemala City take from 2 to 5 hours from the U.S., depending on your departure city. Most international airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, United, Avianca, and Iberia, operate regular routes to Antigua.
The only other international airport in Guatemala is Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores, which is a popular base in the northern part of the country near the famous Mayan city of Tikal.
No matter what time you arrive, you can connect to any major destination in Guatemala, including Antigua, using the methods below:
Guatemala City to Antigua Map
How to get to Antigua from Guatemala City Airport
Most tourists don’t hang around in Guatemala City, as it’s got a sketchier reputation. But it’s a natural start to any Guatemala itinerary, and you can get to Antigua by bus, taxi, or shuttle easily from the airport.
It’s only a 25-mile (40 km) journey from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua, taking between 1 and 3 hours, depending on whether you opt for a transfer or public transportation and how bad the city traffic is.
By shared shuttle
Shared Guatemala City shuttles are one of the most popular and cost-effective ways to reach Antigua. They cost about $20 USD per person and are easily bookable online. This gives you peace of mind, knowing you have transportation arranged before you land. Beware that they often have fixed departure times, and you usually won’t get a refund if you miss it.
If you don’t pre-book, you can find shuttles at the airport entrance, but you may have to wait for the shuttle to fill up before leaving, which can take a few hours. There are multiple shuttles to Antigua from the airport a day, roughly between 6:00 AM and 7:30 PM, with most services dropping you off right in the centre of town. They’re around 100Q (~$13 USD).
By private transfer
Another option that’s more comfortable than a shuttle and more convenient than a taxi is to arrange a private transfer to Antigua. You can book a private car for around $50-75 USD for 1-4 people, and your driver will meet you off your flight, delivering you and your luggage to the door of your accommodation.
It’s a great option if you have an early morning or late evening flight, as it takes the stress out of the journey, and everything’s organised for you. Even if your flight is delayed, your driver will track it and be waiting for you.
Most accommodations will help you book an airport transfer. Alternatively, you can book on platforms like Viator and GetYourGuide, which can be prepaid, meaning you don’t need to deal with local currency as soon as you arrive.
This is what we did on our first visit to Guatemala, as our flight arrived in the early morning. Our driver met us at the airport with our names on a sign and drove us straight to our destination. Since we were a little nervous about landing in Central America for the first time, this was a great introduction to the country’s landscapes and meant we could settle in without immediately having to try and figure out public transportation.
By Uber
Unlike many other destinations in the region (like Mexico), Uber is allowed to operate at Guatemala City’s airport. It can be a cheaper option than a regular taxi, with the added protection of tracking your journey in-app.
But the downside is that prices surge during rush hours (6:00 AM-10:00 AM and 4:00 PM-6:00 PM), often surpassing taxi prices. You could pay anything from $20-50 USD one-way.
By taxi
Like with any airport, taxis are widely available. There’s a dedicated taxi booth with fixed prices to Antigua for around $40-50 USD, but you may get a slightly cheaper price by negotiating directly with the driver. Taxis are more expensive than a shuttle, but can be worth it for travellers who like a little more convenience.
By rental car
Driving from Guatemala City to Antigua by rental car is a flexible option if you’re comfortable with local road conditions. The most common route is via CA-1 and RN-10, a well-paved highway that winds through scenic mountain landscapes.
You’ll find major car rental companies like Alamo, Avis, and Hertz at La Aurora International Airport, so you can pick up your vehicle as soon as you land. We like to use DiscoverCars to find the best rates.
Honestly, we wouldn’t recommend driving in Guatemala. It’s the worst country we’ve ever been to for dangerous driving habits. We have driven in both Belize and Costa Rica, but wouldn’t risk it here, especially in Guatemala City, which has insane gridlock traffic.
Parking in Antigua is generally safe if you use secured lots or designated parking areas, but avoid leaving valuables in the car. Check with your Antigua hotel ahead of time if there’s parking on-site.
By bus
It is possible to take Guatemala’s traditional form of public transport: chicken buses (camionettas). Although a lot of tourists have had no issue with them, it’s not always the safest option, and the stations have historically been sketchy. The buses themselves have been targets for crime, such as theft, and getting one to Antigua requires you to go into Guatemala City, which has a notoriously high crime rate.
If you’re travelling on a shoestring budget, and you speak decent Spanish, you can take an Uber to the Terminal de Autobuses and hop on a chicken bus for 20Q (~$2.60 USD). You can also walk or get dropped off at Estación El Trebol, an intersection where the buses pick up from.
They’re slow, taking up to several hours to get from Guatemala City to Antigua, but cheap. We wouldn’t recommend them with lots of luggage, as they’re cramped.
How to get to Antigua from within Guatemala
If you’re already in the country, there are a variety of ways to get around, but routes need a little forethought when planning a Guatemala trip.
From Flores and Río Dulce
Many longer shuttles to and from destinations like Flores and Río Dulce also change in Guatemala City, with connections to Antigua, which you can buy as combo tickets on GuateGo. If you’re brave enough to use public transport, you can take the chicken bus from the Terminal de Autobuses for 20Q (~$2.60 USD), with Uber being a good connection.
From Lake Atitlán and Xela
Many travellers to Antigua also visit Lake Atitlán. It’s easy enough to take the shuttle to or from Panajachel, the lake’s main town, or from San Pedro La Laguna, the more popular of Lake Atitlán’s towns for backpackers. We actually took one from San Juan La Laguna to Antigua, which was organised through our accommodation, Eco-hotel Mayachik.
You can also take the chicken bus, but it requires several changes. However, there are direct buses between Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Antigua. You can also take a shuttle from Xela to Antigua, which is a direct and short route, bypassing the lake.
From Semuc Champey
If you’re coming from further afield, like Lanquín, the gateway town to the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey, you can take a tourist shuttle to/from Semuc Champey. It’s a long journey at 8-9 hours, but we found it much smoother than other people had said it would be. You can arrange one through your Semuc Champey/Lanquin accommodation, which will help you arrange a complimentary 4×4 truck ride to your specific lodge.
From El Paredón
You might also be visiting El Paredón, Guatemala’s most popular coastal town, which is only a 3-hour journey from Antigua. Shuttles are easy enough to book online or arrange through your accommodation, mostly leaving for Antigua on an afternoon. There’s also a chicken bus option, but you might need to change in Escuintla with a tuk-tuk, so it’s a faff.
How to get to Antigua from within Central America
Lots of people visit Antigua as part of a wider backpacking itinerary through Latin America. You may be coming from neighbouring countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, and Mexico, or even as far away as Nicaragua. Here’s how to get to Antigua within Central America.
From Belize
The fastest and easiest way is to fly from Belize City to Guatemala City, usually via smaller passenger planes with TAG Airlines or Tropic Air. Flights take about 1 hour.
If you’re travelling overland from Belize to Guatemala, which most travellers do, you can cross the border at Melchor de Menchos. It’s easy enough to reach from a variety of places in Belize, but the closest towns are San Ignacio in Belize and Flores in Guatemala.
The journey takes around 4 hours, and you can either book a shuttle to Flores or use local buses or taxis on either side of the border. Then, you need to connect onward to Antigua via Guatemala City or Cobán. We’d recommend spending at least one night in Flores to break up the journey.
You can cross between Belize and Guatemala by boat from Punta Gorda to Livingston (with access to Río Dulce) and Puerto Barrios.
Bookaway is amazing for booking shuttles and transport throughout Central America. You can get 5% off with our code THOROUGHLY5.
From Mexico
The first time we visited Antigua, we arrived from Mexico. It’s a popular option, but it often requires a long journey.
To get to Antigua from Mexico quickly, you can fly into Guatemala City from Mexico City or Cancún and connect to a transfer.
Alternatively, you can take a bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas in Mexico. Gekko Explorer also runs this route as a shuttle. It takes around 12 hours, including a border crossing at La Mesilla, and costs about $35 USD per person.
If you’re coming directly from the Yucatán Peninsula, you’ll miss the beauty of Belize, which is such a mistake, and one that we rectified on our second trip.
From Honduras
If you’re heading for Guatemala from Honduras, you can reach Antigua from two entry points: Río Dulce in the east, which has connections to La Ceiba, the gateway to the Bay Islands of Utila and Roatán, and Río Cangrejal, or Copán Ruinas, which is the closer option.
The best option between La Ceiba and Antigua is the Roneey Shuttle, which stops in Río Dulce. It’s an insanely long journey, so we’d recommend actually staying in a river lodge in Río Dulce for a few nights to break up the journey. They run shuttles every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Gekko Explorer also run a shuttle between La Ceiba and Antigua every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The journey takes about 15-16 hours, costs around $80 USD, and gets you into Antigua about midnight. You can also find shuttles on Bookaway.
Shuttles run most days of the week between Antigua and Copán Ruinas. The journey takes 6-7 hours and costs around $40-50 USD.
If you’re coming from San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa, expect a longer journey of around 9-10 hours on Autobuses FDN (Fuente Del Norte) with connections.
From El Salvador
Being quite close to El Salvador, getting to Antigua from El Tunco, and the nearby El Zonte (or vice versa to El Tunco) is quite a common option. You can also go from Santa Ana to Antigua, which is a good option for those exploring the central and northern areas, like the Ruta de las Flores.
If you’ve connected to San Salvador or have visited the more remote Suchitoto, you can take the Ticabus coach (which is run by Cristobal Colón) between San Salvador and Guatemala City, which connects to Antigua if you book with an operator like Marvelus Travel, or simply hop on the Gekko Explorer shuttle.
Journeys take around 4-5 hours, depending on border conditions at La Hachadura or Las Chinamas crossings and cost about $40-50 USD.
From Nicaragua
Technically, it is possible to get to and from Antigua from Nicaragua, but you’ll completely skip Honduras and El Salvador. We really don’t recommend this, as you’ll miss so much of Central America. Plus, the journey is over 18 hours and mega uncomfortable.
If you’re adamant that this route is for you, you can take a shuttle between Leon in Nicaragua and Antigua in Guatemala.
How to get around Antigua
Once you arrive in Antigua, getting around is pretty simple.
On foot
Antigua’s compact layout makes it easily walkable. Most of the main attractions are within walking distance, with a network of streets splaying out from a central plaza. If you choose central accommodation, you should be able to get to all the major sights, shops, museums, and restaurants in Antigua on foot.
The city is mostly flat, with the hilly Cerrro de la Cruz hike, leading to a viewpoint of the city in the north. Most streets have dedicated pavements, so you shouldn’t have any problems.
By taxi
If you’re going slightly further or are staying a bit further from the centre, you can always hop in a taxi. You can simply hail one on the street, ask your hotel to arrange one, or use Uber. This is also a good option at night or if you’ve got luggage. Agree on a price before getting in a taxi.
By tuk-tuk
You can easily get a tuk-tuk if you need to get from A to B a bit faster – just hail one in the street, as there are plenty around. Surprisingly, they’re typically more expensive than an Uber, and they’re obviously way less comfortable, bumping over the cobbled streets, but they’re quick and convenient, being able to take shortcuts that cars can’t. Be sure to agree on a price before setting off.
By tour
Tours are a great way to experience some of Guatemala’s best activities. For attractions outside the city centre, your best bet is to book a tour from Antigua. There are loads of things to do around Antigua, from touring macadamia nut farms and coffee plantations to hiking volcanoes. Many activities require a licensed guide, and tours provide your transportation, saving you the effort of arranging public transportation.
Some of the most popular tours in Antigua include:
Guatemala City Airport Amenities
La Aurora International Airport is surprisingly well-equipped for its size, offering a smooth arrival or departure experience. You’ll find clean restrooms, reliable Wi-Fi, ATMs, luggage storage, duty-free shopping, and plenty of seating throughout both terminals. There are also VIP lounges, currency exchange booths, and mobile SIM card kiosks before customs.
Guatemala City Hotels + Safe Areas
If you’re arriving late at night or have an early morning flight, you might need to spend a night in Guatemala City. Zones 9 and 10 are the city’s safest and most upscale areas, known for their modern hotels, restaurants, and shopping. Zones 12 and 13 are also good choices, located closest to the airport and home to several reliable chain hotels.
Avoid Zones 2-8 – there’s not really any reason for you to visit them. Zone 1, the historic centre, is fine to visit during the day, but don’t stay there overnight.
There are loads of hotels in Guatemala City. Some of the best include:
Food and drink
There’s a decent selection of food and drink options at La Aurora Airport, including sit-down restaurants, cafés, and grab-and-go snack stands. Café Baretto sits just outside, serving freshly brewed Guatemalan coffee and light meals, but just beware that once you leave the airport, you won’t be allowed back in.
ATMs
There are ATMs inside La Aurora Airport, though most charge high withdrawal fees (around Q70 / $9 USD). The 5B ATM before immigration is generally the most reliable and offers better exchange rates.
Currency exchange
You’ll find currency exchange kiosks before customs, which are handy for getting a small amount of quetzales for your first taxi or shuttle ride.
Wi-Fi
Yes, the airport offers strong, free Wi-Fi, which works well in both the arrivals and departures halls.
Buying a SIM card
There’s a Claro kiosk before customs where you can pick up a local SIM card with data plans starting around Q100 (~$13 USD). Alternatively, you can use an eSIM (we love Airalo eSIMs), which works seamlessly across Guatemala if you prefer to set it up before you land.
Planning a trip to Antigua?
Prepare for your trip to Antigua with our comprehensive travel guides! They include lots of handy tips like how to get to the city and get around, as well as the best things to do, tours, accommodation, restaurants, and more.
Antigua Transportation FAQs
Now you know how to get to Antigua, we’ve finished off with some frequently asked questions, answered.
What airport do you fly into to get to Antigua, Guatemala?
You’ll fly into La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City, as it’s the country’s main international airport and the closest one to Antigua, at just 25 miles (40 km) away.
How far is Antigua from Guatemala City?
From Guatemala City Airport to the centre of Antigua is around 25 miles (40km) along the main roads. By car, the journey can take anywhere between 45 minutes to several hours, depending on traffic! The lack of infrastructure in Guatemala City means that one traffic accident can grind everything to a halt. It is important to prepare for this eventuality and to bring snacks and water with you on every journey.
How much is an Uber ride from Guatemala City to Antigua?
An Uber from La Aurora to Antigua typically costs between 200–300Q (~$25-$40 USD), depending on traffic and time of day. The journey usually takes 1-1.5 hours.
Is Antigua Guatemala a walkable city?
Antigua is one of the most walkable cities in Central America. The historic centre is compact, flat, and laid out in a simple grid, so you can easily explore on foot without needing public transport. Most of the main attractions, cafés, restaurants, and hotels are within a 10 to 15-minute walk of each other. The cobblestone streets can be uneven, so comfortable shoes are a must, especially if you plan to wander for hours.
Is it safe to walk around Antigua, Guatemala?
Antigua is considered one of the safest cities in Guatemala, especially in the central historic area. That said, take usual precautions like avoiding walking alone down unlit streets late at night, keeping valuables close, and using registered taxis or tuk-tuks after dark.
Read next:
7 Gorgeous Cafés and Coffee Shops in Antigua
18 Churches, Convents, Colonial Landmarks & Ruins in Antigua
10 Fascinating Museums in Antigua to Visit
A Sustainable Guide to Souvenir Shopping in Antigua
A Practical Guide to the Acatenango Overnight Hike
How to visit Pacaya Volcano + Is it Even Worth it?
A Complete Guide to Visiting Hobbitenango
How to Hike to Cerro de la Cruz in Antigua
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