If you’re traveling to Guatemala, I’m sure you have a list of places you want to go, from Antigua and Guatemala City to Tikal and Flores. If you skip Semuc Champey, you’ll likely travel by bus from Antigua to Tikal (or vice versa) or from Antigua to Flores. Here’s a guide to the best way to get from Guatemala City to Tikal, how to get to Tikal from Antigua, and more.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
How to Get to Tikal From Antigua
Traveling from Guatemala City to Tikal or taking a Tikal tour from Antigua may not seem lengthy. Still, with the state of Guatemala’s roads, it will take you forever. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would entertain this! The cost wouldn’t be much less than a tourist bus—plus, there would be a lot of bus changes. To summarize, I don’t recommend planning your Tikal tours from Antigua. Instead, you can book a guided Tikal tour from Antigua. Also, keep reading for info on how to get to Tikal from Guatemala City.
Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress.
Best Tikal Tours: Click here to check out the top Tikal tours
Best Tikal Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in Tikal
Best Tikal Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in Tikal
Can You Book a Guided Tikal Tour From Antigua?
Yes, you absolutely can! I recommend booking small group or private Tikal tours from Antigua with Heart of Travel. You can learn more about them by clicking here. For more information about how to get from Antigua to Tikal with a group, complete the form below, and someone will be in touch within 24 hours.
Guatemala City to Tikal
Get the first-class overnight bus from Guatemala City—you can book this through GuateGo.
- First, buy a shuttle from Antigua to Guatemala City. Buy the latest one, which departs at 7:00 p.m. This will drop you off at the central bus station.
- In a separate transaction, buy your night bus ticket. I recommend booking the one that departs from the bus station at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.
These are both luxury buses, so you will have comfortable semi-bed seats, snacks, WiFi, AC, and an on-board bathroom. It’s a little more expensive but worth it. You can also get a full meal in Antigua before you depart.
If you’re being thrifty, book a second-class bus. The main difference is that the first class is a little nicer and only makes three stops, while the second-class bus stops many times.
If you don’t believe me, read this. It’s an eight to 10-hour bus journey overnight, and you’ll probably want to go straight to Tikal after dumping your bag. You will need sleep, as the Guatemala City to Flores bus arrives around 6:00 or 7:00 a.m.
Top Tip: If you want to save a little money, skip the shuttle to the bus station and take a chicken bus.
The 3 Companies That Travel From Guatemala City to Tikal Are:
- FDN: Fuente del Norte
- ADN: Autobuses del Norte
- Linea Dorada
Cost of Traveling to Tikal From Antigua
Now that you know how to get to Tikal from Guatemala City, let’s talk about $$$. The cost starts around 30Ard in Guatemala City—if you book through GuateGo, you will pay more. The advantage of booking online is you’ll get a fair price, the company is reputable and insured (trust me: this is a big issue in Guatemala, and I’ve been on multiple uninsured shuttles), and you know they will pick you up (sometimes, drivers don’t turn up). For these reasons, I suggest pre-booking the day before.
Top Tip: These buses have AC, so dress warm as they get very chilly!
Quick Tip: View my full Guatemala packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Guatemala Essentials shopping list here.
Splurge On a Guatemala City to Flores Flight
While there aren’t direct flights from Guatemala City to Tikal, you can fly from Guatemala City to Flores—a one-way Guatemala City to Flores flight costs from around $108 to $300. The flight takes one hour, and both airports have shuttles and taxis to take you to your accommodation.
Looking for somewhere to stay in Tikal? Check out these options!
Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal
Hotel Tikal Inn
Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal
Guatemala Travel Guide Planning
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Guatemala?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Guatemala which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Guatemala on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Guatemala?
I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Guatemala?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
Tikal Tours From Antigua and Guatemala City to Tikal: Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering how to get to Tikal from Antigua or how to travel from Guatemala City to Tikal, you have many options. The best way to get from Antigua to Tikal is on a guided Tikal tour from Antigua with Heart of Travel. There are comfortable buses that can take you from Guatemala City to Tikal. While there aren’t direct flights from Guatemala City to Tikal, you can book a Guatemala City to Flores flight and take a taxi or bus from there.
This post was proofread by Grammarly.
Michelle
Friday 19th of April 2019
Hi Claire, we will be in Antigua for a wedding and reception that will go until 11pm. We have a 6:45 am flight out of Guatemala City. Can you give me any ideas on who I can get to drive us safely to the city at that time of night?
Thank you so much, Michelle
Heidi
Tuesday 19th of February 2019
Hi Claire,
Thanks so much for all the info. I'm trying to book a bus from Antigua to Guatemala City, then from Guatemala City to Flores like you suggest here. The problem I'm running into is that the place where the bus from Antigua drops you off at is different from the place where the coach picks you up from in Guatemala City.
The only bus that goes from Antigua to Guatemala City in the evening is a shuttle which claims to drop you off at a hotel in zones 9,10,13,14. But the coach that picks you up to go to Flores does so at 17 Calle 8a. y 9a. Avenida 8-46 Zona 1. Do you know the easiest way to coordinate all this? We could just take a bus from Antigua to Flores but that seems to be more hours in the bus.
Thanks!
Mayra
Thursday 6th of September 2018
Hi Claire, thank you so much for your blog. We are driving from Guatemala city to Lake Peten, and wonder if there's a city in between that you'd recommend spending the night. We need to break up the trip due to a family member 's health and are thinking of Livingston, but it seems that it may be a bear to get there (Livingston) and back to our driving itinerary. Thank you.
Claire Summers
Saturday 8th of September 2018
Hi Mayra, I've just had a quick look on the map and I don't actually know anywhere on that side of the country as I didn't get to Livingstone. If you drove the other way you could stop in Coban o Semuc for a night but the drive alone would put an extra 5 hours on your trip! I'd say Livingstone is your best bet. Sorry I can't help more!
Thirza
Wednesday 30th of May 2018
Hoi Claire!
Like your page, lots of details!
I only have one question. Do you know an travel angency in Antigua where you can book the nightbus from Antigua to Flores?
Claire Summers
Monday 4th of June 2018
Hi Thirza I would recommend just booking at your hostel. They will all charge the same price. You will only pay more if you book online. You can nook the same day so don't worry about booking before you go :-)
Archie
Tuesday 13th of March 2018
Hello Claire,
First of all I would like to express my gratitude of your blogs as they provide a lot of detail information step by step.
A friend and I are going to be visiting Guatemala from March 24th to April 1st, 2019. We will be landing in Guatemala City and have few things in our itinerary to see/do which consist of Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Tikal, Semuc Champed and the volcano hiking in Antigua. I'm pretty sure we're squeezing a lot of things in such short period of time but wanted to get you opinion as I've read your blog on getting to Tikal from Semuc Champed was a "hell" lol. I think we wouldn't mind taking the flight both way but I'm afraid we will miss Semuc as its sort of in the middle of the country or have to take another 10 hour bus just to go that way. Would you suggest us to take the flight to Flores from Guatemala city and take a First class bus from Flores to Semuc to Antigua on our way back? Do you happen to know if they even have First class that goes in that route?
Also, we will be there week leading to Easter(april 1st) which I've read is the biggest Easter festival in the word, which is the main reason of our trip to explore the culture and traditions.
We would like to visit Tikal early(March 25th would be perfect) and work our way down so it gives us more time in Lake Atitlan and Antigua and visit the places,restaurant and bars you've recommend(I've read all of your blogs on Guatemala so I feel like I'm pretty well prepared with all your tips :D).
Any and all of your suggest are greatly appreciated! :)
Heidi
Sunday 17th of February 2019
My friend and I will be there from March 25 to April 2nd, what a coincidence!
I just wanted to let you know that as far as I've read, Easter is April 21st and Holy Week is the week leading up to that--let me know if I'm wrong about that so I can plan ahead too!
Claire Summers
Friday 16th of March 2018
Ah so much! OK so the sus to Semuc is HELL and there are no 1st class options as it is only the minibusses that can get down the roads. Some companies will charge you 'extra' for AC, but half the time it doesn't work. So it is just luck really!
If you have the time 100% go to Semuc as it is totally worth it! Tikal you can get a 1st class night bus there or fly (the airport is right in the city) and then travel back to Antigua via Semuc.
Antigua is INCREDIBLE during Semana Santa but, be warned, you will NOT be able to move there and you must book accommodation before you get there as it will all be booked by Guatemalans traveling there for the celebrations. On main days all of the roads are closed meaning there is NO transport in the city. So if you want to leave you will need to walk with your backpack to the outside of the city for the bus to pick you up.
If it were me I would go to Semuc and skip Tikal. But I've seen a lot of Mayan Ruins haha!
I have lots of friends still in Antigua so I'm heading back there, but not until June. It's an incredible country and I hope you have the most amazing time!