Guatemala is the easiest and cheapest place to get around thanks to the infamous chicken buses.

You can get lucky and have a seat to yourself or end up swishing up to 3 other people on a two seater banquette. You will not as the name misleads, be stuffed in the back of a pick up full of chicken but rather packed into an old American school bus. You will however occasionally travel with chicken, cats, dogs or rabbits. You will never die of thirst or hunger as street sellers regularly hop on to sell you anything from drinks to pop corn to (ironically) chicken and chips.

I disappointedly found that hostels in central america will often not give you information regarding chicken buses as they make commission of the ridiculously overpriced shuttles. You will however save an incredible amount of money if you’re prepared to ride like a local. 

In some cities you can flag down a chicken bus everywhere, in others you have to know the specific spot. All of the locals know when and where they stop so don’t hesitate to ask them. Most trips aren’t direct and you will have to change one or two times, but don’t fret. Chicken buses are chaotically organized so that the bus you need is always there. Plus,  what we ended up calling the “bus assistant” will often grab your bags from one bus and pass them onto the “bus assistant” of the next bus you need! These guys are incredible to watch as they hop on top of the bus whilst it’s moving and pop back through the front or rear door.

Guatemala City “Guaté” to Panjachel “Pana” (Lake Atitlan) costs 43Q (5/6€) *

You catch the chicken bus to Los encuentros for 35Q  (4,30€) you switch there for a quick bus to Soledad for 3Q and where you catch the last bus to Panajachel for 5Q.

Guaté to Antigua costs 10Q (1,50€)* – Some chicken buses are direct, others stop at Chimaltenango – Hostels with sell you the shuttle for 80Q

Los encuentros is literally a stop on the main road where all of the chicken buses cross. From this point you can get buses to and from all of the main cities and it’s the main transfer point. 

The chicken buses leave from Antigua’s main bus station located 5 minutes walk from the old town right by the main market.

From Chichicastenango you queue up in a single line and get put into mini vans that cost the same as the chicken bus. Again you can change at Los Encuentros and head to Guaté, Antigua, Pana etc.

Panajachel to Antigua costs 33Q (4€)*

Pana -5Q-> Soledad -3Q-> Los Encuentros -20Q->Chimaltenango -5Q-> Antigua 33Q

 TIPS 

• Keep your valuables with you and not in your big back up (it may go at the back of the bus or on the roof)
• Ask locals when and where to get them
• Be aware that for some places the buses only go in the mornings
• Leave early…you never know how long some of these trips can take
• Ask a local the price before you get on or before you pay and try and have exact change to not get ripped off
• Check your change 
• Know the lingo Guatemala City “Guaté” – Panajachel “Pana” – Chichicastenango “Chichi” – Chimaltenango “Chima”

*These were the prices in April 2017 please let me know if they have changed