antigua guatemala view

Here’s how to get from Guatemala City or La Aurora airport to Antigua (or vice versa), with options at every price point. Note that the prices listed below are accurate as of January 2025 but may change.

Check out more travel guides, recommendations, and tips on Antigua and Guatemala.

How to Get to Antigua from Guatemala City

Chicken Bus

The chicken bus is a cheap and authentic local experience. But I don’t recommend it when carrying all of your belongings, traveling after dark, or after a tiring, long flight. Crime is an issue, the driving can be dangerous, the buses are packed, and it will be a bumpy ride! Your luggage will go on top of the bus, where it could get stolen. The chicken buses going to Antigua depart from El Trebol bus station in Guatemala City. If you’re going to El Trebol from the airport, it’s an hour’s walk or about $4 with an Uber or taxi. The buses depart regularly throughout the day and cost around 15 Q ($2). The journey takes 1.5-2 hours because the bus will make stops along the way before arriving at the bus station in Antigua.

  • U.S. government employees are not allowed to take public transportation in Guatemala, given the “high chance of crime and injury.” While USG policies are extremely risk-averse to protect American officials overseas, this should give you an idea of the risks involved when taking chicken buses.

Shared Shuttle

Shared shuttles make travel in Guatemala more accessible and budget-friendly than it would be otherwise. But you get what you pay for! You could wait an hour for the shuttle, spend an hour picking passengers up, and you will be packed in uncomfortably like sardines. Atitrans offers shuttle service from Guatemala City airport, Zones 9, 10, and 13, or the bus stop in Zone 1 to Antigua for $18/person. The trip takes 1.5-2 hours, depending on traffic and how long it takes to pick up other passengers. There are six departure times from 6 AM to 7:30 PM, which unfortunately doesn’t work for all flight arrival times.

Uber or Taxi

An Uber from Guatemala City to Antigua costs about $35-45. As a solo traveler, I would instead choose a private shuttle (see below) for $50 for added safety, customer service, and convenience. But Uber becomes a more enticing option for groups of 3 or more when the cost of a private shuttle is $75+. As for taxis, the U.S. State Department, which monitors crime closely to protect Americans in Guatemala, advises only using Guatemalan Tourism Institute-approved taxis from the “SAFE” stand at the airport.

Private Shuttle

A private shuttle is the easiest, most reliable, and comfortable option. The ride from Guatemala City to Antigua is about an hour, depending on traffic. The price of private shuttles is based on the number of passengers, costing about $50 for 1-2 people and $75 for 3 people. Below are reputable providers to choose from depending on whether you’re departing from Guatemala City or the airport, flight times, and the number of people. The third option is cheapest for solo travelers but only has airport pick-up.