How To Get from Antigua to El Paredon — ALONG DUSTY ROADS

Buses from Antigua to El Paredon

If you just look at the map and distance, it appears straightforward enough to reach the Pacific Coast.

However, getting from Guatemala City or Antigua to El Paredon by bus takes 5-6 hours and involves two to three connections to cover the 105km.

That’s why, unless you’re on a strict budget, slow travelling, or want a more interesting experience than Dave at the back telling you how much he enjoyed Semuc Champey, the daily shuttles will be both the quickest and most convenient option.

The reason it takes so much time is because El Paredon is quite remote and, until it blew up as a destination in the last five or six years, relatively inaccessible. There is now a newer road – split by a section of farmland that is either a symbol of ranchero resistance to change or a bargaining chip gone wrong – and direct bus routes from the cities may appear in future.

For now though, Antigua to El Paredon by bus involves:

· Go to the bus station by the central market (here on Google Maps), and find the chicken bus from Antigua to Escuintla. These start early in the morning and depart a couple times every hour, costing 20Q per person.

· In Escuintla, connect to a bus for Sipacate. These have departures every hour, and cost 40Q.

· In Sipacate, head to to the petrol station to take a five minute tuk-tuk to El Paredon for 5-10Q

There is an alternative option of taking the tuk-tuk to El Escondite dock and hopping on a 15-minute boat to El Paredon, but most should take the tuk-tuk direct.

As we personally didn’t do this journey, please let us know if there are any major changes to prices, route or issues to note along the way so we can keep the post as helpful as possible for travellers like you!

If travelling from Guatemala City, buses depart from CENMA (here on Google Maps) and you need to follow a similar route to the above. We recommend double-checking departures from Guatemala City to Escuintla though, as the pick-up point is not a great place to be waiting around in the early morning or after dark.

We don’t recommend trying to travel by public transport from Lake Atitlan (Panajachel) to El Paredon.