Antigua To Rio Dulce + Livingston (Guatemala) FULL Guide

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Looking for the best ways to get from Antigua to Rio Dulce in Guatemala? You’re in the right place! Antigua is one of the main tourist hubs in Guatemala, and taking a trip to Rio Dulce is a popular option for nature fans. It’s also easy to travel from Rio Dulce to Livingston, one of the main gateways to Honduras.

This post outlines everything you need to know about getting from Antigua to Rio Dulce, from safety concerns, journey times, prices, drop-off points and more. But as always, if you still have a burning question to ask, be sure to drop me a message on Instagram to ask.

So, let’s start and discuss all the possible ways to travel from Antigua to Rio Dulce (and vice versa), including onward travel to Livingston.

Did you know I’ve written an in-depth guide about backpacking Guatemala? Check it out for what to do, public transport, where to stay, what to eat, how to stay safe and everything in between! ➡️ View the backpacking Guatemala guide now!

Other Guatemala posts:

• 15 Best Coffee Shops In Antigua Guatemala (+ Digital Nomad Spots)
• What To Wear In Antigua Guatemala (That Isn’t Ugly)
• 7 Best Spanish Schools In Antigua Guatemala
• Guatemala Independence Day: Everything You Need To Know!

Antigua To Rio Dulce + Livingston (Guatemala): A Summary

The journey between Antigua and Rio Dulce is roughly 200 miles (321km). It will take around 6-10 hours to travel between the two locations, depending on traffic, road conditions and mode of transport.

In summary, there are four ways to get from Antigua to Rio Dulce. These options are:

• Shuttle bus (easiest, recommended option)
• Public bus (cheapest but longest duration)
• Private transfer (most expensive but the quickest option)
• Hiring a car and driving

If you’re backpacking Guatemala, the most common, safest and easiest way to travel between Antigua and Rio Dulce is by shuttle. The shuttles hold around 16 people and are full of other backpackers.

Shuttles are slightly more expensive than the public bus, but involve a lot less hassle and drop you off in Rio Dulce where you can walk to your hostel. They’re a safe, easy and reliable way to travel in Guatemala.

➡ Book your shuttle from Antigua to Rio Dulce here!

1. Antigua to Rio Dulce by shuttle

The best and safest way to travel from Antigua to Rio Dulce is via shuttle bus. Shuttles run all over Guatemala and are the most popular and safe way for backpackers to travel around. We used shuttles on a regular basis when backpacking Guatemala!

Shuttles in Guatemala can either be pre-booked online, booked via your hostel or booked by a travel agent. There are many travel agents all over Antigua (especially in the areas where your hostel will be) where you can book your shuttle. 

The shuttle from Antigua to Rio Dulce should take around 8 hours (including stops). It only runs once a day, so be sure to pre-book to confirm your spot. At the time of writing this, the shuttle leaves Antigua at 4am, and arrives by midday.

But, this is Central America, and no overland journey is ever short of an adventure! Expect some bumps and hiccups along the way, and the likelihood of arriving at Rio Dulce by 2-3 pm instead of 12 pm. It’s similar all over the country, so be prepared!

➡ Book your shuttle from Antigua to Rio Dulce here!

2. Antigua to Rio Dulce by private transfer

The next option is to travel via private transfer. This is perfect if there are more than four of you, you want your own space or you are short on time.

Similar to a taxi, private transfers will pick you up from your hotel or hostel in Antigua and take you directly to your accommodation in Rio Dulce. But of course, it’s expensive! I’d only suggest this mode of transport if you’re not travelling on a backpacker’s budget.

Private transfers from Antigua to Rio Dulce can take from 6-10 hours (depending on traffic, road conditions and other factors). Most hostels and hotels can organise this, or you can book a private transfer online here.

Hiring a private driver to get around Guatemala is one of the most popular and safest ways to see the country.

➡ Book your private transfer from Antigua to Rio Dulce here!

3. Antigua to Rio Dulce by public bus

I do not recommend travelling from Antigua to Rio Dulce by public bus, as it can be an incredibly long journey (and you may even need to split the journey up across two days). But, it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t mention it, so here goes!

🚎 To travel from Antigua to Rio Dulce by public bus, you will need to first board a bus from Antigua to Guatemala City. This journey takes around one hour.

From Guatemala City, there is a bus that runs to Rio Dulce. The Autobuses FDN (Fuente Del Norte) run a bus from Guatemala City to Rio Dulce four times a day. This journey will take around 6-8 hours.

🛌 Book accommodation in Rio Dulce here!

4. Antigua to Rio Dulce by car hire

Driving in Guatemala is safe, straightforward and easy. One of the best ways to travel around the country is by hiring a car.

The distance between Antigua and Rio Dulce is around 200 miles (321km), and will take 6.5 hours to drive (on a good day). You may experience some traffic when leaving Antigua and on the roads between Guatemala City and Rio Dulce.

➡ Check car hire prices in Guatemala now!

Rio Dulce to Livingston

If you would like to visit Livingston from Rio Dulce, it’s a simple (and quite nice) boat ride along the river! On a typical day, this boat ride shouldn’t take longer than 90 minutes and cost more than £13 ($16 USD) per person.

This ferry can be booked via your hostel or hotel in Rio Dulce, or via one of the ticket offices in Rio Dulce town or dock.

How to get around Rio Dulce

Depending on where you want to go in Rio Dulce, you can get around using a boat, bus, on foot or even kayak! Your hostel or hotel will arrange the original transfer for you (you will need to tell them when you are arriving), but from then, it’s all about water travel!

However, the main town of Rio Dulce is walkable. It is just from the town, you will need to get around via boat, especially to your accommodation. As I said, your hostel or hotel will arrange a boat for you if you let them know before your arrival.

The hostels and hotels are usually on the river banks, so you will need to explore your surroundings by kayak (exciting!). When you need to go back to town, you will again need to organise a transfer with your accommodation.

Where to go after Rio Dulce or Livingston

Onward to Livingston: Spend a few nights in the town of Livingston after Rio Dulce, especially if you want to travel to Honduras.

Livingston to Belize: there is actually a ferry that runs directly from Livingston in Guatemala to Punta Gorda Municipal Pier.

Livingston to Honduras: this is a long journey (and our friends actually advise flying from Guatemala City to Honduras instead of using public transport) but it can be done!

North to Flores or Semuc Champey (Guatemala): I recommend getting a shuttle from Rio Dulce or Livingston to either of these locations. ➡ Bookings can be made here!

How long should I spend in Rio Dulce?

If you are visiting Rio Dulce for the first time, two nights is enough. This gives you time to see the area, explore the river and relax and even do some of the river tours.

Where to stay in Rio Dulce

Looking for somewhere to stay in Rio Dulce? These are the accommodations I recommend. Most of these accommodations are reachable from the Sundog Bar (where boats arrive and leave to transfer you to your stay).

• Boatique Hotel and Marina: most popular backpacker hostel in Rio Dulce.
• Dreamcatcher Hostel: for budget backpackers in Rio Dulce.
• El Hotelito Perdido: a unique jungle stay on the river.
• Tortugal Boutique River Lodge: an amazing hotel on Rio Dulce near a 16th-century castle with a diving platform and with comfortable loungers. Highly recommend!

➡ View all Rio Dulce accommodations here!

Where to stay in Livingston

If you are continuing on your journey from Rio Dulce to Livingston, I recommend the following accommodations.

• Hotel Casa Maya: a great hotel with a garden, a restaurant, a bar and a private beach area.
• La Casa Rosada: another great hostel/hotel option with dorm and private rooms.

➡ View all Livingston accommodations here!

Where to stay in Antigua

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!

Did you know I have a whole post dedicated to helping you backpack Guatemala? From routes, itineraries, what to do, where to eat, what not to miss and everything in between! It’s a one-stop backpacking Guatemala guide – don’t forget to check it out!

Related post: BEST Hostels In Antigua Guatemala: Read before you book!

Antigua To Rio Dulce + Livingston: FAQs

1) How much is the boat from Rio Dulce to Livingston?

The boat ride from Rio Dulce to Livingston is around £13 ($16 USD) per person. It takes 90 minutes.

2) Is there a shuttle from Rio Dulce to Lake Atitlan?

Yes, you can get a shuttle from Lake Atitlan to Rio Dulce, although shuttles for this journey can be hard to find. It is best to get the direct shuttle from Antigua to Rio Dulce.

3) How far is it from Livingston to Antigua Guatemala?

It is around 11 hours to travel between Livingston and Antigua and just under 500km (310 miles).

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 Rio Dulce and Livingston: In A Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about travelling from Antigua to Rio Dulce and Livingston. 

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 currently travelling around the world 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

🇬🇹 Where to next?!

• What To Wear In Antigua Guatemala (That Isn’t Ugly)
• 2 Weeks In Guatemala: Perfect Itinerary
• Guatemala Independence Day: Everything You Need To Know!
• 15 Best Coffee Shops In Antigua Guatemala (+ Digital Nomad Spots)