How to Get to Lake Atitlan
I include COVID-19 information in this post. This is the most updated information as of May 2022.
Flight Information
In October 2021, I found $175 roundtrip flights from Chicago to Guatemala City. I called my mom and sister and said, “you have 30 minutes to decide. Let me know if you can come.” I had points on my credit card to pay for them. They replied back and said, “let’s do it!”
I booked the flight, then we booked Memphis to Chicago for around $80 round trip each. So overall, we’re looking at $255 round trip per person to leave the country. Not bad!
We flew on United from Memphis to Chicago, and then American Airlines from Chicago to Guatemala City. It was a nonstop flight both ways, but on the way back we had a layover in Miami to go through customs.
COVID-19 Information
If you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, you can download the VeriFLY app through American Airlines and input all of your vaccine information, along with a photo, passport information, and other identifying information. You then get your vaccine verified and then you’re free to fly! (
If you are not vaccinated against COVID-19, you need to show proof of a negative PCR test within 3 days of airport check-in.
To travel back into the US, you need proof of a negative COVID test overseen by a medical professional within 24 hours of check-in. This can be difficult since some tests take 2-4 days to get a result! We found a company that came to our hotel room and gave us results in 15 minutes, which was very nice and convenient!
Getting Around Guatemala
Once we landed in Guatemala City, we had a private driver pick us up through our Airbnb host. It was $140 for a 3.5 hour drive. We found out after the fact that our driver took the long route and it should’ve been around $100. However, they don’t really have addresses around the lake, so I am okay with spending that extra money to know we’re going exactly where we need to go.
Around the lake, we rode tuk-tuks. We knew we were being ripped off by spending 90Q ($11) from Panajachel to Santa Catarina (about a 15 minute ride), but our driver would always pick us up within 10 minutes of us messaging him on WhatsApp.
On the lake, we used boats. They offer public taxi boats for about 10Q ($1.30), but we didn’t want to have to wait, so we got a private boat each time. The first day we gave them 1200Q ($156) and thought this was a pretty good deal based on prices in America. Then we met some other travelers and they said we were ripped off BAD. The next day, we joined them and it was 200Q per person ($26) and we kept that same price for the next private boat.
We also were given information for a private driver who spoke English. We reached out to him for a driver from Lake Atitlan to Antigua (2 hours away), and then Antigua to Guatemala City. To Antigua it was $80, and then to Guatemala City it was $40.
They do offer public buses, called “Chicken Buses,” for much cheaper! Though I am neurotic about COVID so I was happy to spend some extra money to ensure it was just us in the car.
If you plan on visiting, let me know and I will share the contact information of the people we used and we trust!
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