For most people, travelling in Guatemala means using the anarchic fume-belching
bus system
: a chaotic mix of fun, frustration and discomfort. While it's possible to remove yourself from this chaos to a certain degree by taking
tourist shuttles
and
flights
, you risk missing out on one of Guatemala's essential experiences. Though in remote areas many buses leave in the dead of night in order to reach the morning markets, we strongly recommend
not traveling after dark
if you can avoid it, due to the greater risk of robbery.
Despite a concerted government campaign to improve things, Guatemala's road network is still alarmingly inadequate and you'll constantly find yourself stuck behind smoking trucks as you climb up the Carretera Interamericana to Lago de Atitlán or drive down to the Caribbean. Fortunately, whatever the pace of your journey, you always have the spectacular Guatemalan countryside to wonder at
Buses
Buses
are cheap and convenient, and can be hugely entertaining. There are two types of service.
Second-class
buses - known as
camionetas
to Guatemalans and "chicken buses" to foreigners - are by far the most...
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Taxis
Taxis
are available in all the main towns and rates are fairly low. Except in Guatemala City, meters are nonexistent, so it's essential to
fix a price
before you set off. Local taxi drivers will almost always be prepared to negotiate a...
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Driving and hitching
On the whole,
driving
inside Guatemala is pretty straightforward and it certainly offers unrivalled freedom as traffic is rarely heavy outside the capital.
Parking and security
are the main problems, and in the larger towns you...
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Bikes and motorbikes
Bikes
are pretty common in Guatemala and cycling is a popular sport, so you'll be well received and should be able to find a repair shop in most towns. Though cycling is the most exhilarating way to see Guatemala, the country is very mountainous and...
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Boats
Small speedy motorized boats called lanchas have largely replaced ferry routes in Guatemala, a slow ferry service between Puerto Barrios and Lívingston. The two definitive
boat trips
in Guatemala are through the Río Dulce gorge system,...
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Planes
The only internal
flight
most people are likely to take is from Guatemala City to Flores (from US$75 return), with four airlines offering rival services. A domestic airline,
Inter
(part of the Taca group), flies to various other...
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