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Getting from San Cristóbal to Guatemala by chicken bus

A colectivo (chicken bus) is the most budget friendly option to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala. For those not familiar with colectivos (also often referred to as chicken buses), these are mini vans that don’t have a fixed schedule, but instead leave when the bus has filled up. Note that colectivos only accept cash! Here’s how to get from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Guatemala by colectivos:

• Take a colectivo from San Cristóbal to Comitán (the bus terminal in San Cristóbal is located next to the ADO terminal, exact location here). Cost: 70pesos (3.5 USD)
• Take a colectivo from Comitán to Ciudad Cuauhtémoc. Cost: 75 pesos (3.75 USD)
• Get your stamp to exit Mexico. Note that if you arrived in Mexico by plane, the exit tax is included in your ticket. If you arrived another way, you may be charged the exit tax of $1150 pesos (around 58 USD).
• Catch a taxi to the Guatemala border. Cost: 15 pesos (0.75 USD) per person with a full taxi
• Get your stamp to enter Guatemala.
• Catch a tuktuk to the colectivo stop. Cost: 3Q (0.4 USD)
• When you get to the colectivo stop, tell the drivers where you want to go and they’ll help you.

Expect the journey to take 10-12 hours if you’re headed to Lake Atitlán, and closer to 12 hours to Antigua.

Shuttle bus from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

In case you aren’t quite up for making the journey by chicken bus, another pretty affordable, but more convenient option, is to take a shuttle bus. These will cost more, but in return will make the journey much simpler as you won’t need to be changing buses all the time, as well as providing door-to-door service. Tickets can be purchased from one of the many tour operators in San Cristóbal, you’ll find plenty around the center. Prices are pretty steep, around $1500 pesos (75 USD), and I’d recommend purchasing a ticket 2-3 days in advance just in case. The process will look something like this.

• You will be picked up by your shuttle bus and drive to the border.
• Once at the border, you’ll hand over your passport and get your exit stamp from Mexico. Note that if you arrived in Mexico by plane, the exit tax is included in your ticket. If you arrived another way, you may be charged the exit tax of $1150 pesos (around 58 USD).
• Get back on the bus and drive to the Guatemala side of the border. This is where you’ll get your stamp to enter Guatemala.
• After getting your entry stamp and entering Guatemala, another shuttle bus will be waiting for you and will take you to your final destination in Guatemala.

Read also: 5 Amazing Places to Visit in Guatemala

Find your accommodation in Guatemala here!

Final thoughts

If you’re still not sure which transportation options to choose, here are my thoughts on each. Although it may sound complicated to make the journey by colectivos (chicken buses), it really isn’t. This route is frequented by backpackers and you are very unlikely to encounter any problems, especially if you speak Spanish. Just make sure to start your journey early so you won’t arrive too late. The main inconvenience, in my opinion, is that the colectivos don’t have A/C and tend to get very crowded. If that sounds like a nightmare to you and you aren’t on a strict budget, I’d go with the shuttle bus. The shuttle buses normally have A/C and don’t get overcrowded, so it will be a much smoother ride. For those on a budget, colectivos (chicken buses) are the obvious choice.

You can of course also make the journey by a rental car, just make sure to read the find print and familiarize yourself with the possible extra charges for renting a car in one country and returning it in another.

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