Getting around · Antigua · Guatemala
Getting around Antigua
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Antigua's centre is a compact grid of numbered calles (east–west) and avenidas (north–south) radiating from Parque Central, and almost everything is reachable on foot. Tuk-tuks cover short hops, tourist shuttles connect with the airport and Lake Atitlán, and colourful chicken buses run to Guatemala City and nearby villages. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- GUA
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Walking
Most sights are within 10–15 minutes of Parque Central. Streets are uneven cobblestone and pavements are narrow, so watch your footing.
Avenidas run north–south and calles east–west; addresses use 'Norte', 'Sur', 'Oriente' and 'Poniente' relative to the square.
Tuk-tuk
Three-wheeled tuk-tuks wait around the centre and the market and are handy for short rides, for Jocotenango or with luggage.
Agree the fare before you get in.
Bus
Chicken buses — converted school buses — leave from the terminal behind the market for Guatemala City, Ciudad Vieja, San Antonio Aguas Calientes and Chimaltenango. They are very cheap but crowded.
Keep bags on your lap and valuables out of sight on chicken buses.
Car
Tourist shuttle vans run shared transfers to the airport, Lake Atitlán, Chichicastenango and other hubs, booked through hotels and the many agencies in town.
Book shuttles a day ahead in high season and confirm the pick-up point.
Taxi
Taxis are available for longer trips and night journeys; hotels can call trusted drivers for airport transfers.
From the airport
La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City is about 45 km from Antigua. Shared shuttles and private transfers take about 1–1.5 hours, longer in Guatemala City rush-hour traffic, so allow plenty of time for departing flights.
Do you need a car?
No. Antigua is walkable, and shuttles and tours cover the volcanoes, Lake Atitlán and Chichicastenango. A car is only useful for independent exploring, and highland driving can be slow.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Pacaya volcano | About 1.5 hours by shuttle | Organised half-day tour with shuttle from Antigua |
| Acatenango overnight hike | About 1 hour to the trailhead | Guided two-day tour with transport |
| Lake Atitlán | About 2.5–3 hours by shuttle | Shared shuttle to Panajachel, then public boats |
| Chichicastenango market | About 2.5 hours by shuttle | Shared shuttle on market days |
| Iximché | About 1.5 hours by car | Car, tour or shuttle via Tecpán |
| San Antonio Aguas Calientes | About 20–30 minutes by car or bus | Chicken bus from the market terminal, tuk-tuk or tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Antigua?
No. Antigua is walkable, and shuttles and tours cover the volcanoes, Lake Atitlán and Chichicastenango. A car is only useful for independent exploring, and highland driving can be slow.
+How do you get from the airport to Antigua?
La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City is about 45 km from Antigua. Shared shuttles and private transfers take about 1–1.5 hours, longer in Guatemala City rush-hour traffic, so allow plenty of time for departing flights.
+What is the best way to get around Antigua?
Walking: Most sights are within 10–15 minutes of Parque Central. Streets are uneven cobblestone and pavements are narrow, so watch your footing.