Private vs. Shared Transportation in Guatemala: Which One’s Best?

First, I want to be honest—this post is a little biased, because we offer private transportation. That said, I still want to share the pros of other types of transportation so you can compare for yourself and make your own decision.

The Chicken Bus

As a local, I’ll tell you straight up—I don’t even use this type of transportation myself. The drivers of these buses were basically the inspiration for the whole Fast & Furious saga. They often race each other for passengers, and unfortunately, there’s a long history of accidents in Guatemala. The most recent and tragic one happened on February 10, 2025, when 55 people lost their lives and 15 others were injured. But let’s not get too dramatic here—the truth is, the chicken bus is one of the most widely used forms of transportation in Guatemala because it’s cheap. You’re looking at about $4–$6 to get to Antigua, and $8–$10 to reach Panajachel. So, if you’re on a tight budget and your nerves are made of steel, this might just be the option for you.

Van or Minivan

These shuttles are usually run by old local tour companies or small new entrepreneurs. The drivers are employees who earn a relatively low monthly salary, and most of them are not bilingual—so don’t expect much help if you have questions along the way.

Take it from Pranav, a traveler who used this type of transportation to get from the airport to Panajachel: ‘They literally never spoke to me. The seats were so cramped my legs were super uncomfortable, and with how winding the road is to the lake, I felt like I was about to throw up on every curve.’

Most of these shuttles don’t have A/C—or they choose not to turn it on to save money—and they typically won’t leave until the van is completely full. Again, in Pranav’s case, his flight landed at 11am, but his van didn’t leave until 2pm. Add in city traffic, and he didn’t arrive at the lake until 8pm. When he shared his story with me, I honestly felt bad (and even a little frustrated) because that day I wasn’t working, and I could’ve taken him and his beautiful, smart girlfriend myself in way better conditions—but we hadn’t met yet.

Again, let’s not be overly negative. Shared shuttles are still one of the most popular ways for tourists to get around Guatemala despite the discomforts, mostly because of the price. To Antigua, seats usually go for about $35–$55, and to Panajachel about $50–$80. They’re ideal for backpackers or travelers who don’t mind sharing the ride, don't care about A/C and have time to wait for the van to fill up.

Taxis or Sedan Cars Through Apps

Taxis in Guatemala are regulated by local municipalities and must have visible identification on the outside of the vehicle. You can find them all over the country, but here’s the catch: they don’t use meters. That means you’ll need to negotiate the price before you get in. Since you’re basically hiring a private service, the cost won’t be the same as a shared shuttle or van.

To give you an idea, a taxi from the airport to Antigua usually runs between $60 and $100, and a trip to Lake Atitlán can be around $200. Some taxis have A/C, but it’s a good idea to make sure the car isn’t too old before you hop in. Drivers might understand a little English, or they’ll use Google Translate to communicate with you.

Now, if we’re talking about hatchbacks or sedans you book through apps, those prices are set by the app itself. To Antigua, expect somewhere between $35 and $65, and to the lake about $100 to $150 depending on traffic.

One thing to be aware of: local news sometimes reports robberies involving ride-hailing cars. These cases often go unreported to the authorities, since drivers usually have personal info from passengers like home or work addresses.

So, this type of transportation can be a good option if you want something private and don’t really mind not knowing your driver beforehand or having reviews and references to check before you ride, you’ll be able to unleash your adventurous spirit.

Foreign Websites for Tourist Transportation

This is where things start to get a little better. For example, we’re still connected with some international websites that sell trips to tourists. The advantage of using these platforms is that they usually have 24/7 customer service. If the driver doesn’t show up, they’ll find another one or refund your money. And if you don’t show up, they’ll still charge you and pay the driver for their time. These websites also make it easy to pay online and book your trip ahead of time.

The downside is that they’re not local, and that lack of knowledge can end up costing you more. For instance, to them it makes no difference to offer you a trip to San Pedro or to Panajachel. But a local knows that going to Panajachel is both cheaper and takes a lot less time by road, when in Panajachel you take a bout for less than $4 to San Pedro and will have a much better experience instead. The website won’t tell you these details—you just book, and they deliver.

Another thing is, there’s no real human connection. At the end of the day, the only personal contact you’ll have is with the local driver, not the website. And keep in mind that these platforms usually take around 30% of what you pay, sometimes even more, and the rest goes to the driver.

Prices through these websites usually run from $70 to $150 for Antigua, and from $165 to $240 for Lake Atitlán. But remember, the local driver is getting about 30% less than what you actually paid, if not more.

This kind of service isn’t as commonly used by tourists because the most popular options are still minivans, taxis, and ride-hailing apps. But honestly, after our own private service, this would be the next best option on the list.

The Best Transportation in Guatemala: My Mayan Trip

My Mayan Trip is a small company right now—but that’s because we only want to grow with drivers who share the same love for customer service that we do. At the moment, we have just 2 drivers and 2 vehicles: a 2018 Hyundai Accent sedan for up to 3

passengers, and a 2025 Kia Carens MPV for up to 7 passengers.

It’s a family-style business, supervised and sometimes even handled directly by the owner. Our drivers are bilingual (English–Spanish), so you can ask all the questions you want and get recommendations on food, drinks, and important tips about Guatemala. And truly, by the end of the trip, we usually end up becoming friends with our clients—many of them actually book with us again when they come back.

As our owner always says: ‘I always think as if I were the one riding in the backseat—so I ask myself what our clients might need, and then I make sure we offer it.’ That’s why you’ll always find snacks, bottled water, Wi-Fi, clean and comfortable vehicles, good music, and friendly conversation. We arrive 30 minutes early for pickups—not to rush you, but to make sure your trip starts on time. And yes, our cars smell fresh, and so do our drivers.

We also love putting on NFL games while you ride so you don’t miss your favorite teams. Need to stretch your legs, grab a bite, or stop at a restroom? No problem—we’ll make it happen.

Of course, we could say a lot of nice things about ourselves, but what really matters are the reviews from our past clients, which you can read on our website and on TripAdvisor. We’re also happy to help you plan the best arrival time for your flight so you don’t waste hours in traffic and can get to your destination on schedule. And throughout your trip, we stay in touch—because we want you to feel like you’ve made new friends in Guatemala who will keep you updated and looking out for you.

As you can see, our service is limited, so let us know your itinerary as soon as you can and we’ll be happy to help. You can message us on WhatsApp or book directly through our website to make sure you get a spot on our schedule.

I hope this info is helpful, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them right here on the blog. And from now, let me just say: welcome to Guatemala!

Jorge.