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Figuring out how to get from Antigua to the villages of Lake Atitlan took me hours. Here’s everything you need to know, simplified! Note that the prices listed below are accurate as of February 2025 but may change.

Check out more travel guides, recommendations, and tips on Lake Atitlan and Guatemala, like this guide to San Juan La Laguna, Lake Atitlan’s best village, what you should know before swimming in the lake, how the boats work on the lake, the best lakeside hotels for every budget, and 10 interesting facts about Lake Atitlan.

How to Get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan

There’s no direct chicken bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. You’d have to take three different buses, so we’re not even going to get into that here. Your best option is to take a shared or private shuttle.

Shared Shuttle to Panajachel or San Pedro (Budget Option)

Shared shuttles to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan’s transit hub, take about 3 hours and cost $20/person. You can also take a shared shuttle to San Pedro on the other side of the lake, which takes about 4 hours. Shared shuttles are cheap, 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. This option is your best bet for a shared shuttle to Panajachel; the public ratings and reviews incentive better service.

  • I recommend going to Panajachel, even if San Pedro is your final destination. The roads are better, and it’s a lot nicer to spend time in a boat on the lake than in a cramped van on windy roads.

Private Shuttle to Panajachel, San Pedro, San Marcos, or San Juan (Best Option)

If you’re willing to spend more, a private shuttle is the quickest, most reliable, and comfortable option. The journey to Panajachel can take as little as 2 hours and 15 minutes without traffic. You’re charged based on the number of people. For four people to go to Panajachel costs $45/person. For two people it costs $78/person. To go to other lakeside villages takes longer and costs an additional $20/person.

  • Don’t travel after dark. The roads are poorly lit, and there is a high risk for serious traffic accidents.

How to Get from Panajachel to Other Lakeside Villages

If you’re going to a hotel (these are the best lakeside hotels for every budget), ask your hotel the best way to get there from Panajachel. If you’re going within a 10-minute drive from Panajachel, you can take a tuk tuk. If you’re going farther (or just want to maximize your time on the lake), you’ll take a boat called a lancha. Here is everything you need to know about how the lanchas work, including the routes, schedule, cost, and other important logistics. If you need to take a lancha from Panajachel to your final destination, note that the last public lancha leaves around 7:30 PM. If you miss it, you can hire a private boat instead.

Another Option: Tours from Antigua

I met many people who visited Lake Atitlan on a tour from Antigua. One-day tours involve a lot of driving, but it’s a good option if you’re short on time or don’t want to stay overnight in Lake Atitlan. You can also do a tour combining Lake Atitlan with the Chichicastenango market, which is about 1.5 hours away.