Lake Atitlan To Flores: COMPLETE Guide (2023)

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

Looking for the best ways to get from Lake Atitlan to Flores You’re in the right place! This post explains all of the ways to travel between these two iconic locations in Guatemala, making sure you have the smoothest trip possible.

Lake Atitlan was one of our favourite places in Guatemala. It’s only a short 2.5-hour shuttle away from Antigua, so it can either be completed as a day trip or you can spend a few nights around the lake relaxing and taking in the volcano views before heading north to Flores.

Flores is another great destination in Guatemala and is popular with those wanting to visit the ancient ruins of Tikal.

Unfortunately, Lake Atitlan and Flores are not close. Many people decide to fly from the south to the north due to how long the journey takes!

But that’s what I’m here for; to explain the different methods of transport and ways to reach Flores from Lake Atitlan. So, let’s get started!

🚎 In a rush? Simply click here for prices and availability of shuttles and cars from Lake Atitlan to Flores.

Still have a question about the Lake Atitlan to Flores journey? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇬🇹 Other Guatemala posts:

• Lake Atitlan To El Paredon: Step-By-Step Guide
• Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: How Do Lanchas Work?
• BEST Hostels In Antigua Guatemala: Review
• Lake Atitlan To Guatemala City Airport: Complete Guide

Lake Atitlan To Flores: A Summary

The distance between Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) and Flores is around 500km by road, and a 12-13 hour drive. This is a long way, so there are a few options when it comes to deciding how to travel between the two!

In summary, there are four main ways to get from Lake Atitlan to Flores. They are:

• Shuttle bus (18-19 hours)
• Shuttle via Antigua (most popular backpacker option)
• Private transfer
• Flying from Guatemala City (the most expensive option)

It’s important to note that all shuttles will depart from Panajachel at Lake Atitlan.

As this journey is exceptionally far, even by car, I do not recommend getting the public bus. If you are going to attempt it, I recommend planning stops in Antigua, Coban and other towns along the way.

If you are staying in any of the other towns around the lake (Santa Cruz, San Pedro etc), you will need to take a lancha (boat) – see more in the ‘arriving in Lake Atitlan from Antigua’ section or in my full lancha guide here – to board the shuttle in Panajachel and then reach Flores.

1) Lake Atitlan To Flores by shuttle bus

One option when travelling from Lake Atitlan to Flores is by a direct shuttle bus.

The shuttle runs from Calle Santander in Panajachel, and departs daily at either 16:00 or 12:00. It is run by GuatGo, and takes 15-20 hours (depending on the driver, time of day and other considerations). The shuttle costs £70 ($91) per person.

➡ You can book your direct shuttle from Lake Atitlan to Flores here.

Although I’m a big believer in shuttles to get around Central America, this is an exceptionally long journey, so I don’t actually recommend it.

As the roads in Guatemala aren’t the best to drive on, this shuttle time can sometimes increase to 20-21 hours.

Is it doable? Yes, and if it’s a last resort, it’s not a bad option. But if you have the luxury of time, I recommend staying in Antigua for a night before heading to Flores.

The shuttle from Antigua to Flores is 11 hours (which is still a long time), but is much better than 20+ hours! For more information on this journey, skip to the next section.

🦉 TOP TIP: Your luggage will be safely tied to the top of the shuttle. Just remember to keep all valuables with you inside the bus!

2) Lake Atitlan To Flores via Antigua

This is my favourite option when it comes to travelling from Lake Atitlan to Flores.

Shuttles from Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) to Antigua run frequently throughout the day and only take 2.5 hours. From here, you can then board the next shuttle the following day to Flores.

The shuttle from Antigua to Flores takes around 11 hours.

➡ You can book the shuttle to Antigua and then to Flores here.

Stay the night in Antigua, enjoy the sights and then head north.

Why is this my most preferred option? Well, a few reasons. Journey time is the most important (the shuttle from Antigua to Flores is only 11 hours), and it’s an incredibly popular option, so you’ll meet lots of other backpackers on the shuttle with you.

Another reason is that Antigua is a city. It’s a bustling, busy hub of transport. It’s a much more common route, and if anything goes wrong, you’re more likely to find another shuttle, bus or extra night’s accommodation in Antigua than you are in Lake Atitlan.

In my opinion, it’s best to travel back to Antigua, spend the night eating good food, and then travel on an early shuttle the next day. This also means you get more time in one of the best cities in the world, and that’s always a win!

3) Lake Atitlan To Flores by private transfer

If you have a luxury budget, or if there is a bigger group of you (at least 3 or 4), you may want to split a private transfer.

Private cars will pick you up from your Panajachel accommodation (you will need to board a lancha if you’re not already there), and drop you off at your Flores accommodation.

The journey to Flores shouldn’t take more than 12 hours, but again, this depends on the road conditions and traffic.

If you book via this company, prices range between £250-400 ($320-510), depending on group size. You can also hire a private transfer through Viator here.

It’s a great option if you want your own space and have the budget to do so.

4) Lake Atitlan To Flores by flying

Finally, there is the quicker option of flying. There is no airport in Lake Atitlan, so you will first need to board either a shuttle or book a private transfer to Guatemala City Airport.

• Shuttle from Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) to Guatemala City Airport: ➡ BOOK HERE
• Private car from Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) to Guatemala City Airport: ➡ BOOK HERE
• Flight from Guatemala City Airport to Flores: ➡ BOOK HERE

From Panajachel to Guatemala City Airport, it is around a 2.5-3 hour drive. This greatly varies depending on rush hour and the time of day, so be sure to check with your driver or shuttle to arrive in enough time for your flight.

Once at the airport, the flight to Flores is around 50-60 minutes.

Again, this is a popular option if you have the budget. It’s by far the quickest option when travelling from Lake Atitlan to Flores.

Arriving in Flores

It’s good to know that when you arrive in Flores, it’s likely you’ll be able to walk to your accommodation. Flores Island is tiny, and most of the hostels and hotels are within walking distance.

If you find you do need additional transportation, there are tuk-tuks all over the island. These can be hailed from the side of the road.

If you’re not dropped on the island (and across the bridge, near the Burger King and Maya Mall), you will need to grab a taxi or tuk-tuk across. It is within walking distance, but it depends on how many bags you have and the weather (it rains a lot in Flores!)

Looking to visit Tikal? Check out my honest opinion on whether it’s worth it in my full Tikal guide here!

Where to stay in Flores

If you’re visiting Flores for the first time, I recommend you stay on the island rather than the mainland to get the full experience.

Flores Island in Guatemala is exceptionally small. That means all of the accommodations, hostels and hotels are within walking distance of each other.

Again, my biggest piece of advice is to book hostels in advance. We missed out on so many of the best hostels in Central America as they fill up so quickly – get booking!

• Los Amigos Hostel: This is by far the most popular hostel in Flores, but also the most expensive! A dorm will cost over £20 a night, and a private room up to £120. When we were staying in Flores, there was no availability even 4 weeks in advance, so make sure you book early! ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!

• Hotel Peten Express Tikal: Another popular hostel in Flores with a good location on the water. It has a calmer atmosphere than Los Amigos. ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!

⮕ View all other Hostelworld hostels in Flores here.

Arriving at Lake Atitlan

STAYING IN PANAJACHEL?

Your shuttle will drop you off in one of two places; on the main street near Calle Santander, or at the boat dock. If you are staying in Panajachel, check your Google Maps to see which drop-off point is easier.

NOTE: Selina and the Dreamboat Hostel are both by the ferry port. But Panajachel is easy to walk around, and there are tuk-tuks if you get lost!

STAYING IN SAN PEDRO, SANTA CRUZ OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON LAKE ATITLAN?

You will need to make your way to the ferry port in Panajachel to reach your accommodation in another town around Lake Atitlan. Boats (aka lanchas) run regularly throughout the day, from around 6 am – 7 pm.

There’s no need to book, as they run every 15-30 minutes to all locations. They’re small but hold around 25 people and cost £2.50/$3 per one-way journey.

Lanchas on Lake Atitlan go to all areas around the lake (San Pedro, Santa Cruz, San Juan etc), and stop at private docks if you are staying in a specific hotel that is not close to a main town. You will just need to tell the captain when boarding!

➡ Check out my full post on how to travel around the lake via a lancha and visit all of the beautiful lakeside towns!

Where to stay in Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan has many different areas for backpackers to stay in. Some are more popular than others for several reasons. Where you stay in Lake Atitlan will depend on what kind of traveller and person you are.

For example, if you’re keen to party, you’ll want to stay in San Pedro. Or if you want to experience the zen, hippy part of the lake, head to San Marcos. 

For a remote hostel experience (with little around, so you’re all-in with your hostel friends), look at hostels in Santa Cruz (like Free Cerveza). Another popular location is to actually stay in Panajachel, Lake Atitlan’s main town.

I recommend either staying in a social hostel or a hotel/apartment with a lake view. We stayed in a few different locations around the lake, and whilst we liked our Airbnb in Panajachel, it was so far away from the lake that it didn’t feel like we were there.

If we were to return, we’d splurge a little more and stay in an apartment in one of the smaller towns overlooking the volcanoes and water.

But of course, most backpackers (like us!) can’t afford this, so we stick to the hostels. Our favourite hostel on Lake Atitlan was Free Cerveza (a full review can be found here).

• Free Cerveza (Santa Cruz): for backpackers wanting to SUP, swim, socialise, be off the grid for a few days and soak in everything the lake has to offer ➡ BOOK NOW!

• Selina (Panajachel): for digital nomads in Lake Atilan. ➡ BOOK NOW!

• Dreamboat Hostel (Panajachel): if you want to party in Panajachel  ➡ BOOK NOW!

• Mr Mullet’s (San Pedro): for BIG party backpackers and solo travellers (they run their own crazy boat party)➡ BOOK NOW!

• Chirris Hostal (San Juan): for a nice hostel in the middle of San Juan ➡ BOOK NOW!

Lake Atitlan to Flores: FAQs

1) Is there a shuttle from Flores to Lake Atitlan?

Yes, there is a shuttle that runs from Flores to Lake Atitlan. The journey takes between 15-18 hours. You can view shuttle prices and private driver options here.

Related post: Lake Atitlan to Guatemala City

2) Is Flores Guatemala worth it?

Flores Island in Guatemala is worth visiting for one or two nights, especially if you want to visit Tikal, the ancient Mayan ruins. In my opinion, Tikal is one of the best day trips and experiences whilst visiting Guatemala, so Flores is worth it.

3) Why can’t you swim in Lake Atitlan?

You absolutely can swim in Lake Atitlan! But some areas are safer than others. Unfortunately, the main towns around the lake (including Panajachel and San Pedro) have a high level of pollution and trash in the water.

The best places to swim around Lake Atitlan are the San Marcos diving point, in front of Free Cerveza hostel (Santa Cruz), and around the smaller towns. However, there are no ‘rules’ anywhere when it comes to swimming at Lake Atitlan.

If you are going to swim, be cautious and try not to swallow any water. It’s not unheard of for backpackers to come down with food poisoning and sickness when visiting Lake Atitlan, mainly caused by the lake water.

Unfortunately, there’s a high level of cyanobacteria and phosphorous in Lake Atitlan, from the fertiliser and sewage around the lake.

Related posts: Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: How Do Lanchas Work | Lake Atitlan To El Paredon: Step-By-Step Guide

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Lake Atitlan To Flores: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about travelling from Lake Atitlan to Flores! When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently balancing travelling around the world and living in London with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇬🇹 Other Guatemala posts:

• Lake Atitlan Boat Schedule: How Do Lanchas Work?
• Antigua To Rio Dulce + Livingston (Guatemala) FULL Guide
• 7 Best Spanish Schools In Antigua Guatemala