Buses are common in Guatemala and can be a very good way to travel around the country. There are several types of buses, which will serve different purposes for travelers. The so-called “chicken buses” are set in old school buses — these tend to be very crowded but also very cheap. They travel along inter- and intracity routes.

Comfortable, first-class buses ply the roads between big cities like Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, and Cobán. These are one seat per person and may have bathrooms. If you know the dates you’ll be traveling and want to a more comfortable experience, go ahead and book these buses in advance. A final type of bus is the tourist shuttle that travels along main tourist routes. These are slightly more expensive, but are safe and pleasant.

The distance between destinations in Guatemala is not huge and you usually won’t be on a bus for more than 4 hours at a time. Chicken buses have had safety issues in the past, including accidents, robberies, and head-on collisions. If you do decide to ride one of these buses, keep your wits about you and be ready to share your seat.