Traveling on Chicken Buses in Guatemala

The famous chicken buses of Central America are, in fact, old school buses shipped down from the United States to begin a new life. Once they’ve been remodeled and given a new lick of paint, the old buses are put to work running public bus routes across Guatemala. From short local trips to epic journeys across the length and breadth of the country, you can get around using only chicken buses if the feeling takes you.

While it’s technically possible to get around the whole country, the buses are best for short trips. First of all, they can be quite uncomfortable, especially for taller passengers, and there are occasional robberies, which make some people wary of using them.

For the most part, the chicken buses are safe during the day, and locals are generally helpful in getting you from A to B. If you want to take a chicken bus just once for the experience, do it on the route from Antigua to Lake Atitlan. Leave early in the morning and you will arrive before dark, best for appreciating the spectacular scenery on the route.

If you get a taste for chicken buses, it’s a fairly short hop from Lake Atitlan to Quetzaltenango or Guatemala City. For other popular destinations, such as Semuc Champey or Flores, you are better off taking a minibus shuttle or an overnight coach service.