Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala and although there aren’t many things to do here, it’s the transportation hub of the country and the gateway for international flights.
Antigua Guatemala, commonly known just as “Antigua”, was the colonial Spanish capital of Central America. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important travel destinations in Guatemala.
Located just 45 km west of Guatemala City, most visitors arrive in Antigua via the airport serving the capital, La Aurora International Airport (GUA). It handles both domestic and international flights. There are regular shuttle vans which take visitors from the airport directly to Antigua for Q80 (about US$10).
Quick summary
For the budget traveler, the chickenbus is the best option for traveling between Guatemala City and Antigua. Other options include the private buses (which cost more than taxis, by the way) or the shuttle buses from the La Aurora Airport.
Chickenbus from Guatemala City to Antigua
The chickenbus is used by the locals and is definitely the best way to experience real Guatemala. To get on the bus to Antigua, make sure you are on Boulevard Liberation, the major avenue in Guatemala City. This is where the chickenbuses stop (there are bus stops every few hundred meters). The fee is Q8 (about US$1). The travel time is about an hour.
>>read more about Bus Travel in Guatemala
Driving from Guatemala City to Antigua
You can rent a car in Guatemala City and drive the 37 km via the Pan American Highway to Antigua. The drive time is about 35 min.