Travelling by Bus in Guatemala is cheap and entertaining. You also have several options:
The cheap buses are the famous “chicken buses“. These buses are also known as “Camionetas” for the locals. To identify them, imagine a school bus painted with a variety of colors. They always make several stops in the way picking up passengers in the road so the ride can take a little longer. If there’s room for passengers even if the bus seems full, they will get them in 
Second class buses are known by locals as “Pullmans“. These gray buses are in a regular condition and will also pick passengers in the road and get full in rush hours. Depending of the route, you could get in one of this every one or two hour.
First class buses have direct routes between the Capital and other main cities of Guatemala. Some are similar to the second class buses but in a better condition. You can buy tickets in advance and some offer bathrooms. They’ll do fewer stops in their road only in main towns.
Finally some companies with regular routes using first or second class buses also have a premium service. You’ll get a numbered seat when you buy your ticket. The service includes meals, bathrooms, coffee and movies. They also offer direct connections without stops and could be expensive, running only once or twice a day.
So, where do you want to go?
- Buses inside Guatemala.
Directory of companies and schedules.
- International buses to go out or inside Guatemala.
Buses traveling from or to México, Belice, Honduras and El Salvador.
Comment by Monkey Tail at Nov 12th, 2004 4:20 pm ↑
How much should I budget to visit Guatemala using the chicken buses?
Comment by Pampa at Nov 12th, 2004 4:47 pm ↑
Travel in chicken buses is very cheap, sometimes uncomfortable, but the best way to see Guatemala if you ask me. I will give you some examples of the cost from Guatemala City to some towns in the highlands:
Antigua Guatemala - Q5 ($0.65)
Xela - Q15 ($1.90)
Panajachel - Q18 ($2.30)
San Marcos - Q25 ($3.20)
Huehuetanango - Q25 ($3.20)
This prices are one way only.
Comment by Monkey Tail at Nov 13th, 2004 12:55 am ↑
Are there trains in Guatemala?
Comment by cvander at Nov 15th, 2004 4:11 pm ↑
Passenger trains in Guatemala don’t work since a long time ago.
Comment by Monkey Tail at Nov 15th, 2004 6:46 pm ↑
Imagine for just one minute how wonderful it would be to travel across the Guatemalan highlands by train…
Many years ago my dad used to take the train from Chiquimula to Guatemala city. He describes the journey as one permeated by the smell of freshly broiled chicken and coffee at every station. It was indeed a long journey slow and full of beauty…
Comment by micaela pascual at Apr 25th, 2005 8:24 am ↑
plaese help guatemala for a safe place to be in that country for my family ok bye love my grandma micaela jose and her son to bye
love:micaela pascual:]
Comment by Jon at Apr 29th, 2008 8:35 am ↑
Chicken buses are the way to go. I use chicken buses for most trips when in Guatemala, and Pullmans for long trips between cities (i.e. Guatemala City to Coban.)