Antigua To Lake Atitlan Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide (2023)
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Looking for the best ways to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan? You’re in the right place! This post explains all of the ways to travel between these two iconic locations in Guatemala, making sure you have the smoothest trip possible.
Antigua was one of our favourite places in Guatemala and is known for its epic volcano hikes, colourful colonial buildings, strong coffee and digital nomad scene. It’s somewhere we could see ourselves returning to and living in for quite a while.
After our trip to Antigua, we headed to Lake Atitlan. It’s only a short 2.5-hour shuttle away, so it can even be done as a day trip if you’re on a tight time limit. But if you can, spend a few nights around the lake relaxing, taking in the volcano views and enjoying the water.
So, let’s find out the best ways to travel from Antigua to Lake Atitlan.
🚎 In a rush? Simply click the button below for prices and availability of shuttles and cars from Antigua to Lake Atitlan.
Other Antigua posts:
- 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala: The Perfect Itinerary
- Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: How Do Lanchas Work?
- BEST Hostels In Antigua Guatemala
- Lake Atitlan To El Paredon: Step-By-Step Guide
Antigua To Lake Atitlan: A Summary
The distance between Antigua and Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) is around 80km and is a 2-hour drive. In summary, there are three main ways to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. They are:
- Shuttle bus (most popular backpacker option)
- Public bus (‘chicken bus’)
- Private transfer
It’s important to note that all shuttles will stop in Panajachel for Lake Atitlan. 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.
If you’re backpacking Guatemala, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Antigua and Lake Atitlan is by shuttle. The shuttles hold around 16-25 people and are full of other backpackers.
But, if you’re a little more adventurous than us, you can travel from Antigua to lake Atitlan via public bus. This will take a longer amount of time, but of course, you get the adventure of being mixed in with the locals on a second-hand converted USA school bus!
➡ Travelling to Lake Atitlan? Check out my full post on how to travel around the lake via a lancha and visit all of the beautiful lakeside towns!
1. Antigua To Lake Atitlan By Shuttle
The best and safest way to travel from Antigua to Lake Atitlan is via shuttle bus. Shuttles run all over Guatemala and are the most popular way for backpackers to travel around. Most even pick you up from your hostel (ours in Antigua did!)
Shuttles depart Antigua for Lake Atitlan a few times through the day. When we were in Antigua in February 2023, there was a shuttle at 9 am, 12 pm and 4 pm. However, this changes often, so be sure to check on this website, your hostel or with a local travel agent!
The shuttle must be pre-booked via this website, your hostel, or a local travel agent. Depending on the time of year and company, shuttles will cost between £10-25 (100 Q – 250Q) per person.
The journey is around 2.5 hours (depending on traffic, road conditions, roadworks and other factors) from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. Bear in mind, the road between Antigua and Lake Atitlan is adventurous, to say the least, so it may take a little while longer!
Your luggage will be safely tied to the top of the shuttle. Just remember to keep all valuables with you inside the bus!
As I mentioned, shuttles in Guatemala are full of other backpackers and tourists. They are safe, reliable and easy to use. They’re also modern and clean, and everyone will have their seat (no plastic chairs shoved in the middle of an aisle)!
I highly recommend using shuttles to travel around Guatemala when backpacking!
2. Antigua To Lake Atitlan By Private Transfer
Of course, if you have a luxury budget, or if there is a bigger group of you (3 or 4), you may want to split a private transfer.
Private cars will pick you up from your Antigua accommodation, and drop you off at your Lake Atitlan accommodation. The journey to Panajachel shouldn’t take more than 2 hours.
➡ Book your private transfer on a safe and reputable site now!
3. Antigua To Lake Atitlan By Public Bus
Feeling a tad more adventurous? The public ‘chicken’ bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan is pretty straightforward.
The journey from Antigua to Lake Atitlan via public bus would be (correct as of April 2023):
- Antigua > Chilmaltenango (50 minutes)
- Chilmaltenango > Los Encuentros (70 minutes)
- Los Encuentros > Salolá (40 minutes)
- Salolá > Panajachel (25 minutes)
Total time from Antigua to Lake Atitlan via public bus: 3.5 hours. As you can see, this is a much longer journey than taking a tourist shuttle. You’ve got to want the adventure to do it!
Important to know:
- The route from Antigua to Lake Atitlan via public bus involves 4 buses and 3 changes.
- Chicken buses run throughout the day, but can stop early in the evenings, so start early!
- You shouldn’t have to wait longer than 5-10 minutes between buses.
Related post: 3 Perfect Days In Antigua | Best Time to Visit Guatemala: Complete Guide
What are ‘chicken’ buses in Guatemala?
Guatemala is known for its ‘chicken buses’, which are old school buses donated from the USA. Guatemalans have painted and turned these school buses into public party buses. Yes, they do play loud 80’s music as you travel!
Public buses can take much longer than shuttles and are a lot bumpier. It’s also a bit riskier with your bags and luggage, but not impossible. If you’re the more adventurous type, travelling via chicken bus in Guatemala should be on your bucket list.
Arriving in Lake Atitlan from Antigua
STAYING IN PANAJACHEL?
Your shuttle will drop you off in one of two places; on the main street near Calle Santander, or at the ferry dock. If you are staying in Panajachel, check your Google maps to see which drop-off point is easier.
NOTE: Selina and the Dreamboat Hostel are both by the ferry port. But Panajachel is easy to walk around, and there are tuk-tuks if you get lost!
STAYING IN SAN PEDRO, SANTA CRUZ OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON LAKE ATITLAN?
You will need to make your way to the ferry port in Panajachel to reach your accommodation in another town around Lake Atitlan. Boats (aka lanchas) run regularly throughout the day, from around 6 am – 7 pm. There’s no need to book, as they run every 10-15 minutes to all locations. They’re small but hold around 25 people and cost £2.50/$3 per one-way journey.
Lanchas on Lake Atitlan go to all areas around the lake (San Pedro, Santa Cruz, San Juan etc), and stop at private docks if you are staying in a specific hotel that is not close to a main town. You will just need to tell the captain when boarding!
➡ Check out my full post on how to travel around the lake via a lancha and visit all of the beautiful lakeside towns!
The next section explains where the main backpacker hotels are located around Lake Atitlan.
Where to stay on Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan has many different areas for backpackers to stay in. Some are more popular than others for several reasons. Where you stay in Lake Atitlan will depend on what kind of traveller and person you are.
For example, if you’re keen to party, you’ll want to stay in San Pedro. Or if you want to experience the zen, hippy part of the lake, head to San Marcos. For a remote hostel experience (with little around, so you’re all-in with your hostel friends), look at hostels in Santa Cruz (like Free Cerveza). And another popular location is to actually stay in Panajachel, Lake Atitlan’s main town.
I recommend either staying in a social hostel or a hotel/apartment with a lake view. We stayed in a few different locations around the lake, and whilst we liked our Airbnb in Panajachel, it was so far away from the lake that it didn’t feel like we were there. If we were to return, we’d splurge a little more and stay in an apartment in one of the smaller towns overlooking the volcanoes and water.
But of course, most backpackers (like us!) can’t afford this, so we stick to the hostels. Our favourite hostel on Lake Atitlan was Free Cerveza (a full review coming soon).
So, if you’re staying in Lake Atitlan for the first time, I recommend the following accommodations:
- Free Cerveza (Santa Cruz): for backpackers wanting to SUP, swim, socialise, be off the grid for a few days and soak in everything the lake has to offer ➡ BOOK NOW!
- Dreamboat Hostel (Panajachel): if you want to party in Panajachel ➡ BOOK NOW!
- Mr Mullet’s (San Pedro): for BIG party backpackers and solo travellers (they run their own crazy boat party)➡ BOOK NOW!
- Chirris Hostal (San Juan): for a nice hostel in the middle of San Juan ➡ BOOK NOW!
Where to stay in Antigua Guatemala
There are so many amazing hostels to choose from in Antigua that it’s hard to pick the best one! However, after staying in some myself, and talking to other backpackers, we’ve found these are the most popular choices.
Remember: things change quickly when it comes to hostels! Make sure you always read the reviews first.
- Somos: a social hostel with amazing rooftop views
- Hostel Antigueno: another social hostel with a large communal garden
- The Purpose Hostel: beautiful rooftop views of all 3 volcanos
- Barbara’s Boutique Hostel: the most expensive hostel in Antigua, but also one of the most luxurious!
- Casi Casa: a ‘home away from home‘ kind of hostel with comfy beds, a roof terrace and homemade breakfast
- Tropicana: best for solo travellers wanting to party in Antigua!
Related post: 3 Perfect Days In Antigua
Antigua to Lake Atitlan FAQs
How much is the shuttle from Antigua to Lake Atitlan?
The shuttle from Antigua to Lake Atitlan costs between £15-25 ($18-30) depending on where and when you book. There are travel agents around Antigua where you can book your shuttle, or you can pre-book online here.
How far is it from Antigua to Lake Atitlan?
Antigua is around 2.5 hours away from Lake Atitlan. There are daily shuttles that run to and from Lake Atitlan and Antigua. The shuttles can be booked via your hostel or travel agents in Antigua and should be organised at least 24 hours in advance.
Can you swim in Lake Atitlan?
Yes, you can swim in Lake Atitlan, but some areas are safer than others. Unfortunately, the main towns around the lake (including Panajachel and San Pedro) have a high level of pollution and trash in the water.
The best places to swim around Lake Atitlan are the San Marcos diving point, in front of Free Cerveza hostel (Santa Cruz), and around the smaller towns. However, there are no ‘rules’ anywhere when it comes to swimming at Lake Atitlan.
If you are going to swim, be cautious and try not to swallow any water. It’s not unheard of for backpackers to come down with food poisoning and sickness when visiting Lake Atitlan, mainly caused by the lake water. Unfortunately, there’s a high level of cyanobacteria and phosphorous in Lake Atitlan, from the fertiliser and sewage around the lake.
Should I spend more time in Lake Atitlan or Antigua?
This is a personal preference. For us, we preferred Antigua because it’s a small city with lots to do (volcano hikes, shopping, bars, restaurants, cafes, walking tours, chocolate workshops, coffee making…) and we just enjoyed being in Antigua and spending time there, especially as digital nomads.
We also found a few nights in Lake Atitlan was enough for us to do and see everything we wanted. But we spent just under two weeks in Antigua and would love to go back and stay for even longer!
What is the best time of year for Lake Atitlan?
You can visit Lake Atitlan at any time of year and have a good time. However, the rainy season in Guatemala is from May to October, but rain can last until later in the year (even as far as December), so if you want to avoid the rain, January to May is the best time to visit.
We visited Lake Atitlan in February and had a real mix of sunny days with blue skies, and grey clouds overcast on the lake and over the volcanoes.
Is Lake Atitlan expensive?
This depends on where you’re staying, which town you visit and what kind of traveller you are. Personally, I don’t think any of Central America is ‘cheap’, but of course, you can budget FOR things that may be more or less important to you.
As digital nomads in Lake Atitlan, we were paying £50-60 per night for a private room, and around £25 (for 2 people) at a meal in a restaurant.
If you’re backpacking Lake Atitlan, cooking your own meals and staying in shared dorms, you can knock this down to £15-20 per night on accommodation, and £10-20 per day on food and activities.
TOP TIP: Staying at Free Cerveza saved us a lot of money, as all of the activities were free, and all meals were under £10 per person!
How long should I spend at Lake Atitlan?
If you are visiting Lake Atitlan for the first time, I recommend spending at least 3-4 nights in the area. This gives you enough time to do some of the activities (volcano hikes, paddle boarding, swimming) and visit some of the other towns like San Marcos and San Juan.
Is Lake Atitlan touristy?
There are tourists around Lake Atitlan, but it depends on which area you are staying in. We found Panajachel to have some tourists in the main restaurants and on Calle Santander, but there was a much higher percentage of Guatemalans around, especially during the day. If you head to the tourist bars, restaurants and cafes, then yes, it’s touristy. But if you don’t, then no, it’s not as touristy!
It’s a great destination to have a mix of local life as well as fun bars, restaurants and tourist attractions.
Is Lake Atitlan worth visiting?
Yes, Lake Atitlan is definitely worth visiting. It’s a beautiful part of Guatemala with friendly locals, incredible volcano and lake views and a fun, vibrant atmosphere. Whether you want to party, relax by the lake, hike to a sunrise spot or jump off a rope swing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Plus, it’s only 2.5 hours from Antigua, so it’s definitely worth a visit!
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Antigua to Lake Atitlan: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the journey from Antigua to Lake Atitlan.
When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
