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Is There Uber In Guatemala? Yes + 4 Alternatives

ByKatie Caf Updated on

There is Uber in Guatemala, but only in Panajachel, Guatemala City, and Antigua. Keep reading this guide for everything you need to know about using ride-hailing services in Guatemala, in addition to how to get around the country cheaply and safely when Uber is not available and travel inter-city.

✔️ Essential Info

  • 🚕 Where is it Available? Uber is only available in Guatemala in the city centers of Guatemala City, Antigua, and Panajachel (Lake Atitlan).
  • 👉 Is it Legal? Uber is legal in Guatemala, it’s commonly used by locals and tourists alike.
  • 📲 Is it Safe? It’s safer to call an Uber than to hail a taxi off of the street because Uber has GPS tracking and safety features.
  • 💰 Is it Cheap? Using Uber is cheaper than hailing taxis off the street, but not as inexpensive as utilizing Guatemala’s extensive shuttle service network.
  • ✈️ Can You Take Uber from the Airport? The only place you cannot take an Uber in Guatemala City is directly from the airport terminal, however, you can take Uber cars to the airport when departing.

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Antigua

✈️ Guatemala Airport Transfer Service

You cannot take Uber directly from the Guatemala City Airport terminal, but this private transfer service is just as convenient and budget-friendly.

→ Book It!

Taking Uber From Guatemala City To Antigua

Using Uber is the easiest way to arrange private transport from Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Antigua. You can use the same Uber app that you already have downloaded on your phone, and the drive takes between 45 minutes and an hour. A one-way Uber from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua should cost between 200 – 300 Guatemalan Quetzales or 25 – 38 American dollars.

Shuttle from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua 

There is a shuttle that goes from GRU arrivals straight to your hostel/hotel in Antigua for 100Q ($13) per person. The shuttle departs Guatemala City Airport every 10 minutes. The shuttles are safe, fast, and easy. You need to pay for the shuttle in Guatemalan Quetzal so I recommend taking out cash at the airport or exchanging money before you arrive. 

Guatemala City Airport > Antigua: 100Q ($13 in person, $15 online)

4 Uber Alternatives in Guatemala

Guatemala is a surprisingly easy country to travel in! Most travelers are hopping through the main tourist spots of Guatemala City, Antigua, Tikal, Lake Atitlan, and Semuc Champey, and direct shuttles go between all major stops.

minibus tourist shuttle in Guatemala
(Photo by Christopher Crouzet via Flickr)

1. Tourist Shuttles – Easiest Way to Travel

The shared shuttles in Guatemala also called Tourist Shuttles, and Minivans, are the most popular way for tourists to travel the country. Every day of the week you can take a tourist shuttle from Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Semuc Champey, and Flores to any other popular destination in Guatemala. The shuttles typically depart early in the morning between 7 – 8 AM. 

💰 How to Book & Prices

Please note that prices for shared shuttles in Guatemala are per person.

✅ Guatemala City Airport > Antigua: 100Q ($13 in person, $15 online)

✅ Antigua > Lake Atitlan (Panajachel): 125Q ($16 in person, $20 online)

✅ Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) > Semuc Champey (Lanquin): 300Q ($40) 

✅ Antigua > Semu Champey (Lanquin): 225Q ($30 in person, $40 online)

✅ Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) > Tikal: 525Q ($68)

All Guatemala Transport options

You can book your shuttle online through a site called GuateGo or through one of the links I provided below, but usually for a small fee. For example, a shuttle paid in cash from Lake Atitlan to Semuc Champey is $40, on GuateGo it’s $50. You can also book shuttles ahead of time on Viator, which is what I did for the second half of our trip.

We were trying to save money while traveling in Guatemala by booking our shuttles in person and in cash, but that almost cost us our flight back home! There’s only a handful of shuttles leaving every day, and on our last night in Guatemala, we had booked a shuttle to go from Semuc Champey back to Antigua through our hostel. 

Unfortunately, the person at the front desk forgot to actually book our shuttle when we requested it, so the night before we were told all of the shuttles were booked and we were stranded in Lanquin for an extra 24 hours. 

We almost missed our flight but luckily someone dropped out and decided to stay in Lanquin an extra day, so a space freed up for us.I would recommend booking your shuttle online ahead of time and paying the small extra fee for peace of mind while traveling in Guatemala. 

  • Shared shuttles are priced per person, not per ride. 
  • There are no bathrooms on board the shuttles.
  • Be patient! Long-haul shuttles are frequently delayed 2 hours + 

2. Renting a Car

Guatemala is one of the easiest countries to travel in without a car. It’s much easier to take one of the various tourist shuttles from Antigua, Tikal, Lake Atitlan, Semuc Champey, and Guatemala City, than to hire a car and drive it yourself. The only time you would need your own car in Guatemala is if you’re traveling somewhere remote and off the beaten path. 

A basic car in Guatemala can cost as little as $40 per day to rent, but after add-ons like 4-wheel drive, automatic transmission, and insurance it can cost closer to $70 per day. 

You do not need an International Drivers Permit to drive in Guatemala, all you need is a valid driver’s license to rent a car. 

It’s not very safe to drive in Guatemala. The roads in cities like Guatemala City are congested with lots of traffic. If you travel to the mountainous regions the roads are very winding and narrow with no guardrail. I wouldn’t recommend it, and instead it’s a lot easier to take the tourist shuttles.

Guatemalan Chicken Bus

3. Taking A Chicken Bus

You’ll see brightly painted schoolhouses all over Guatemala, these are the Guatemalan “Chicken Buses”. I have no idea why they’re called Chicken Buses. After all, they’re not called “Pollo Bus” in Spanish, the Guatemalans actually call them Camionetas. You will save a little bit of money taking the chicken buses over tourist shuttles, as well as engage in the local culture, but it’s a far more uncomfortable experience.

There’s a rumor that the buses are called “Chicken Buses” by foreigners because people are packed into them like chickens, but I’m not sure how true that is! There’s a joke in Guatemala: “How many people can fit in a Chicken Bus? dos mas! dos mas!” (two more, two more), because Chicken Bus drivers are always trying to pack their buses with as many people as possible.

If you want to take a Chicken bus instead of the shuttles you’ll save a lot of money, and have an authentic travel experience. But, if you just want to take a Chicken Bus to save some cash, I have heard from other travelers that the money saved doesn’t justify the extra effort.

For example, if you want to travel from Antigua to Lanquin, where Semuc Champey is, it will cost 225 Q ($29) for a shuttle that will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel/hostel. If you were to take the Chicken bus, you need to transfer buses in Coban, go through a lot of hassle of finding the right buses (especially if you don’t speak Spanish), and it will come out to 100 Q ($13).

So you save around 50% taking the Chicken Bus, but a lot of people who aren’t shoestring backpackers would rather spend the extra $16 on comfort.

Chicken Buses need to be booked in person, and paid for in cash. Ask your hostel or hotel where to go to catch a chicken bus, since they mostly operate by word of mouth.  

  • Ask other passengers where your bus is going. The Chicken Bus drivers have a bad reputation of saying their bus is going wherever you’re trying to get to, and there are no signs saying the destination. 
  • Learn a little bit of Spanish. It will be pretty hard to take a Chicken Bus over long distances if you don’t know a word of Spanish. 
  • If you don’t know Spanish, you can download Spanish on Google Translate offline. 
  • Track your location on Google Maps so you can see if you’re not going in the right direction! 

Pullman buses are called the “first class” public buses in Guatemala. Pullman buses aren’t crowded like Chicken Buses, they’re cheaper than the tourist shuttles, and they have bathrooms onboard. Pullman buses are a great option for traveling long distances via public transportation in Guatemala. 

Semuc Champey viewpoint in Lanquin in Guatemala with tourists on the viewing platform.
Semuc Champey Viewpoint in Guatemala

4. All-Inclusive Guatemala Tour Packages

Believe it or not, traveling with an all-inclusive group tour in Guatemala is one of the cheapest ways to see the country. Because the shuttles are so expensive compared to other costs in Guatemala, it can actually come out cheaper to take a guided 3,4,5,6, or 7-day all-inclusive tour than to do it yourself.

That being said, the cheap tours usually are the bare minimum, don’t be expecting to stay in a nice hotel on your bare-bones tour. But, if your goal is to see as much of Guatemala as cheaply as possible, these group tours are great.You can book super cheap group tours in Guatemala in person in Antigua. Almost every hostel, hotel, and travel agent sells them. 

Guatemala Multi Day Tours

Katie Caf

Katie Caf, founder of Katie Caf Travel, is a seasoned travel expert who has explored over 30 countries and lived abroad in places like Egypt, Morocco, Mexico, India, Indonesia Thailand, Europe, and the USA. Her goal is to help other traveler see the world by providing first-hand accounts of what to expect on the road.

3 Comments

  1. Do you have any recommendations for multi day tours which includes above average accommodations?

    Reply

  2. Do you have any recommendations for multi day tours with above average accommodations?

    Reply
    1. Katie Caf says:

      Hi Glenn, not ones that I’ve personally taken – what’s your itinerary like? Many of the budget multi-day tours are geared towards backpackers.

      Reply

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