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Getting from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan is a wonder of nature. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world – if not the most beautiful – and is surrounded by lush mountains and three volcanoes (Toliman, San Pedro and Atitlan). The lake’s shores are dotted with small villages immersed in Mayan culture, where you can enjoy scenic vistas over the lake’s calm waters and a long-lasting sense of serenity.

There are two ways to reach the settlements at Lake Atitlan; a taxi or private transfer and a shared shuttle. An airport taxi will cover the 130 km distance in about 4 hours, for an average cost of €145 (GTQ 1,250). Regarding shuttles from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan, the travel time depends on which settlement is accessible by road. If you’re going to San Pedro – La Laguna or San Marcos – La Laguna, where shared shuttles go, calculate approximately 6 hours in total for a fee of €42 (GTQ 361) per person.

For other towns that are only accessible by boat from Panajachel, such as Santa Cruz La Laguna or Santiago Atitlan, you can expect an additional 10-30 minutes of boat time.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Guatemala at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €185 240min 24/7
Taxi €145 240min 24/7
Shared shuttle €84 360min 06:00–06:00

How to get from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlan by taxi

A taxi or private transfer is the most stress-free way to reach your accommodation in Lake Atitlan. The transfer is direct without any stopovers, and you can get going right upon landing without any waiting times, arriving at your destination in 4 hours if there’s no heavy traffic along the way.

What’s the cost of a taxi ride from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan?

Taxi drivers at Guatemala Airport offer flat rates for transportation to various destinations. While you won’t be asked for the same price by everyone, the average quote you’ll receive for a ride to one of the towns around Lake Atitlan is €145 (GTQ 1,250).

To avoid negotiations and the language barrier that could cause problems, you can pre-book a private transfer with an English-speaking Welcome driver and take advantage of 5-star service and a competitive fixed-rate fare.

Cost

€145 (GTQ 1,250)

Trip Duration

240 min

*The final fare is to be agreed upon with the driver.

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

You can find a taxi 24/7 at Guatemala Airport.

Where do I get a taxi from?

Taxis are lined up in front of Arrivals. Upon exiting the terminal, you will see the rank of white cabs. Go to the first available driver and ask for a transfer to Lake Atitlan.

Convenience

Considering how poorly maintained the road network of Guatemala is, especially this mountainous, windy part that leads to Lake Atitlan, a taxi or private transfer is a synonym for convenience. A taxi driver will take the shortest route without stops along the way to pick up or drop off passengers, and your commute doesn’t rely on scheduled departures; instead, you make your schedule.

Editor’s Note

The road to the lakeside towns passes through Panajachel. Estimate 1-2 extra hours once you’re there.

Useful Tips

Most taxi drivers do not speak good English. The knowledge of some basic Spanish will be more than handy.
Have your hotel or apartment’s exact address written on a piece of paper to avoid miscommunication.
Gratuities are not a given, but they’re always highly appreciated by the hard-working people of Guatemala.

How to take a shuttle from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlan

Some of the towns on Lake Atitlan, like San Pedro La Laguna and San Marcos La Laguna, are accessible by road, and the shuttle bus can take you there. Others, such as Santiago Atitlan, will require you to take the shuttle to Panajachel instead and board a public boat (“lancha”) from the docks. This is nothing worrying, though, as lanchas are reliable, quick (the longest ride takes 30 minutes), and affordable. In any case, expect up to six hours in total to reach your destination, depending on where exactly you’re headed.

How much is it to take the shuttle from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan?

The cost of a single ticket on the shared minivan that goes directly to San Pedro La Laguna and San Marcos La Laguna is €42 (GTQ 361).

If you’re heading nearer Santa Cruz or Santiago Atitlan, shuttles to Panajachel cost €38 (GTQ 328) per person, and then the charge for the public boat is €1.15-2.90 (GTQ 10-25) per traveller, depending on the final destination.

Cost

€42 (GTQ 361)

Trip Duration

360 min

*If your chosen shuttle ends its route in Panajachel, you must include the public boat cost.

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

San Pedro and San Marcos have a daily shuttle departure from Guatemala City Airport at 06:00.

Where do I get the shuttle from?

The shuttle to San Marcos leaves from the airport (on the right side of the exit, outside Café Baretto). The minivan to San Pedro mainly picks up passengers from their hotels, but a meeting at the airport can be arranged if necessary.

Convenience

The convenience of a shared shuttle to Lake Atitlan is of a medium level since there’s a scheduled departure to catch, and the ride takes much longer than a private transfer. In addition, shuttles make frequent stops to pick up and drop off travellers.

Editor’s Note

Since there is only one departure to San Pedro/San Marcos per day, if your flight’s arrival time is not convenient, you’ll have to either consider arriving the previous day and take the shuttle the next morning or choose the shuttle to Panajachel, which has three daily departures.

Useful Tips

There is a connection in Antigua, and passengers board a different minivan.
You must be at the pickup point (Café Baretto) 30 minutes before departure.
Public boats in Panajachel run between 06:30 and 19:30. There is a departure roughly every 30 minutes.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Guatemala. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more

Prices

DAYTIME
€215.0
NIGHTTIME
€258.0
Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlan?

There are two possible modes of transportation from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan – a taxi or private transfer and a shared shuttle. The travel time is 4 hours in the first case and up to 6 hours in the second case.

What’s the cost of a taxi from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlan?

Taxis from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlan are not metered; you’ll be quoted a fixed rate instead. The price requested by local cab drivers is typically €145 (GTQ 1,250), but that is just an average. You can always secure a competitive set fare and benefit from all the perks of our renowned 5-star service if you pre-book your ride with Welcome Pickups.

What’s the distance between Guatemala Airport and Lake Atitlan?

Lake Atitlan lies approximately 120 km from Guatemala Airport. The time needed to reach the lake depends on traffic conditions, but generally, if you’re travelling by taxi or a private vehicle, you should arrive at your destination within 4 hours in light traffic.

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