Chichicastenango Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Buses heading south to Los Encuentros, Panajachel, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala City and all other points reached from the Interamericana normally arrive and depart from the corner of 5a Calle and 5a Av, one block uphill from the Arco Gucumatz. Buses heading north to Santa Cruz del Quiché stop half a block downhill on the same street. On market days, however, buses to or from the south may stop at the corner of 7a Av and 9a Calle, to avoid the congested central streets.

Antigua (3½ hours, 108km) Take any bus heading for Guatemala City and change at Chimaltenango.

Guatemala City (US$3, three hours, 145km) Buses every 20 minutes from 4am to 5pm.

Los Encuentros (US$1.50, 30 minutes, 17km) Take any bus heading south for Guatemala City, Panajachel, Quetzaltenango and so on.

Nebaj (103km) Take a bus to Santa Cruz del Quiché and change there.

Panajachel (US$2.50, 1½ hours, 37km) About eight buses, from 5am to 2pm; or take any southbound bus and change at Los Encuentros.

Quetzaltenango (US$3, 3 hours, 94km) Seven buses, mostly in the morning; or take any southbound bus and change at Los Encuentros.

Santa Cruz del Quiché (US$1.50, 30 minutes, 19km) Buses depart every 20 minutes, 5am to 8pm.

On market days, shuttle buses arrive en masse mid-morning, bringing tourists from Panajachel, Antigua, Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango. They depart around 2pm. If you’re looking to leave Chichi, you can usually catch a ride out on one of these.

Chichi Turkaj Tours (5293 5480; Hotel Chugüilá, 5a Av 5-24) and Agency Chichi Maya (7756 1008; 6a Calle 6-45) provide shuttles to the same places and elsewhere including Huehuetenango, the Mexican border and the ruins of K’umarcaaj near Santa Cruz del Quiché. In most cases they need four or five customers unless you’re prepared to rent the whole vehicle (which costs around US$30 to Panajachel, and US$65 to Antigua or Quetzaltenango).