How to take the Chicken Bus Panajachel to Antigua | Guatemala
July 5, 2021 | Tagged: Guatemala
Travelling by chicken bus, Panajachel to Antigua:
On day 547 of my present travels, I travel by chicken bus from Panajachel to Antigua.
On day 547 of my present travels, I travel by chicken bus from Panajachel to Antigua.
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This turned out to be my most popular post of the 30 I did from Guatemala. You can see a complete list of them on Guatemala Index page.
The journey is just 110km and involves 3 changes. Yes, 3 changes. That's 4 separate chicken buses.
Chicken buses are ex-US school buses sold/given to Latin American countries and are known locally as Camionetas and not as Bus de Pollo.
The term comes from the fact that passengers used to travel with live animals, more often than not chickens. Yup, they eat a lot of pollo and eggs here. Though this is not unique to Latin America. Southeast Asia transports more than its fair share of livestock too.
Some refer to it as being packed in like chickens at a poultry farm. "Sardine buses" just doesn't have the same ring to it does it!
The easiest way to get from Panajachel to Antigua if you are not trying to save every Quetzal is to take a tourist shuttle, door to door so to speak. 120 Q for the privilege. Also recommended if you don't travel well.
World Travellers and Global Nomads opt for the cheapest, long-winded and often much more uncomfortable way. Chances are that your bus won't crash.
Panajachel to Sololá: 5Q 25 mins
Solalá to Los Encuentros: 5Q 25 mins.
Los Encuentros to Chimaltenango: 30Q 55 mins.
Chimaltenango to Antigua: 10Q 35 mins.
Total cost: 50Q
Total time: 2hr 35
Adventure factor: 10/10
Compare this to the gringo shuttle
Total cost 120 Q
Total time: 2 hr 30. Traffic is only as fast as the slowest truck. Shuttles probably go a little slower on the highway than the chicken bus.
Adventure factor: 0/10
Bus #1: Panajachel to Sololá
Very easy. The bus starts from near the La Torre Supermarket.
The journey is just 110km and involves 3 changes. Yes, 3 changes. That's 4 separate chicken buses.
Chicken buses are ex-US school buses sold/given to Latin American countries and are known locally as Camionetas and not as Bus de Pollo.
The term comes from the fact that passengers used to travel with live animals, more often than not chickens. Yup, they eat a lot of pollo and eggs here. Though this is not unique to Latin America. Southeast Asia transports more than its fair share of livestock too.
Some refer to it as being packed in like chickens at a poultry farm. "Sardine buses" just doesn't have the same ring to it does it!
The easiest way to get from Panajachel to Antigua if you are not trying to save every Quetzal is to take a tourist shuttle, door to door so to speak. 120 Q for the privilege. Also recommended if you don't travel well.
World Travellers and Global Nomads opt for the cheapest, long-winded and often much more uncomfortable way. Chances are that your bus won't crash.
Panajachel to Sololá: 5Q 25 mins
Solalá to Los Encuentros: 5Q 25 mins.
Los Encuentros to Chimaltenango: 30Q 55 mins.
Chimaltenango to Antigua: 10Q 35 mins.
Total cost: 50Q
Total time: 2hr 35
Adventure factor: 10/10
Compare this to the gringo shuttle
Total cost 120 Q
Total time: 2 hr 30. Traffic is only as fast as the slowest truck. Shuttles probably go a little slower on the highway than the chicken bus.
Adventure factor: 0/10
Bus #1: Panajachel to Sololá
Very easy. The bus starts from near the La Torre Supermarket.
Nomadic Backpacker happy to be moving again after 3 weeks in Panajachel.
Bus #2: Sololá to Los Encuentros. Again very easy. The bus starts across the road from where you get dropped off.
Bus #3: Los Encuentros to Chimaltenango: Bus ride from hell. The driver was a super maniac. It's the through bus to Guatemala City. Not sure why the passengers don't say, "hey dick head, slow the fuck down". Everyone was gripping the seat in front with both hands. Get the bus from across the road from where you get dropped off.
Bus #4: Chimaltenango to Antigua. Easy. The driver of Bus #3 will stop on the highway assuming you are in the GC bus and you need to walk down the slip road and in the small lay-by wait for the Antigua bus to come by. Poor choice if pissing with rain.
Bus #4: Chimaltenango to Antigua. Easy. The driver of Bus #3 will stop on the highway assuming you are in the GC bus and you need to walk down the slip road and in the small lay-by wait for the Antigua bus to come by. Poor choice if pissing with rain.
Tips for riding the chicken buses:
Watch your pockets. Watch for wandering hands. Theft is common. Each seat is good for 3 people. Bit of a squash. Watch what locals pay and give the conductor the same. Masks are mandatory. Loosely enforced mostly though on bus #2 the conductor didn't take any shit. Avoid sitting at the back or on seats over the wheels.
Watch your pockets. Watch for wandering hands. Theft is common. Each seat is good for 3 people. Bit of a squash. Watch what locals pay and give the conductor the same. Masks are mandatory. Loosely enforced mostly though on bus #2 the conductor didn't take any shit. Avoid sitting at the back or on seats over the wheels.
How to take the Shuttle Panajachel to Antigua
Of course taking 4 separate chicken buses might not be for everyone.
Maybe you have luggage that you just can't balance on your lap.
Maybe chicken buses just aren't your thing.
Maybe you have luggage that you just can't balance on your lap.
Maybe chicken buses just aren't your thing.
