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Flores to Antigua Guatemala Shuttle

Overnight shuttle from $30 per seat · ~12 h · dropped at your Antigua hotel door

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Tikal done, most travelers point southwest — and the overnight shuttle from Flores to Antigua closes the loop on Guatemala's classic circuit in a single move. It's the country's long haul: 530 km, roughly 12 hours, which is exactly why it runs at night. Board on the island or in Santa Elena in the evening, sleep — or negotiate with the seat — through Petén and the climb into the highlands, and wake up threading Antigua's cobbled grid, dropped at your hotel door with the volcanoes in morning light and the whole day ahead.

Fares run about $30–$60 per seat (Q230–Q465). Adrenalina Tours operates the direct van and Atitrans works the route as well; there's also a sleep-friendlier combination — an overnight ADN or Línea Dorada Pullman to Guatemala City, then a shuttle up to Antigua. Book either through Spring Bus. And if you'd rather not spend a night in a seat at all, a private charter runs the same road by day with a lunch stop — the strongest version of this trip for families and groups of four or more.

Per-seat pricing · fixed departures · pay online

Shuttle details at a glance

Door-to-door time

12 h

Distance

530 km

Shared seat

$30 – $60 USD per person

approx. Q230–Q465

Private charter

typically $350–$550 USD per vehicle (1–12 passengers) — confirmed via quote

Departures

1 direct overnight shuttle daily, plus shuttle-and-Pullman combinations via Guatemala City

First departure

Approx. 6:00 PM

Last departure: Approx. 9:00 PM

Operators on this route

Adrenalina Tours direct shuttle · Atitrans · (Or transfer via Guatemala City + ADN/Línea Dorada Pullman)

Shuttles are operated by vetted local partners and booked through Spring Bus.

Pickup in Flores

Santa Elena terminals and Flores island hotels, linked by the short causeway

Drop-off in Antigua Guatemala

Door-to-door at Antigua hotels around the historic center

Shared shuttle: Flores to Antigua Guatemala

Operators collect from Flores island hotels and the terminals in Santa Elena across the causeway; the tuk-tuk between the two takes minutes, but leave 20–30 spare if your pickup is on the mainland side. There's one direct departure nightly, between roughly 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM depending on operator and season — and it's worth reconfirming your meeting point the day before, since Petén pickup lists get finalized late. One main bag rides in the back and a daypack stays at your seat; a full overnight van has no room for surprises, so oversized gear travels only by prior arrangement.

Know what the night looks like: about 12 hours in a partially reclining seat, a handful of brief cash-only stops, and air conditioning that doesn't relent. Pack the cabin kit — fleece, neck pillow, earplugs, eye mask, snacks, water, power bank, small quetzal bills — and remember the climate flips mid-ride: you board in lowland heat and step out into a crisp highland morning. The finish is the shared shuttle's best argument: door-to-door dropoff at hotels around Antigua's historic center — no terminal, no onward taxi, breakfast under the volcanoes within the hour.

Per-seat pricing · fixed departures · pay online

About the ride

Out of Santa Elena the road runs flat and fast across Petén in the dark, crosses Río Dulce country deep in the night, then joins the busy highway toward the capital as morning comes on. The last act — skirting Guatemala City and climbing over to Antigua's valley — is the least predictable hour of the trip, especially against weekday rush hour, so keep arrival-morning plans soft. Most runs deliver you to your Antigua hotel about 12 hours after departure, and the first sight of Volcán de Agua over the rooftops arrives with breakfast.

Private shuttle from Flores to Antigua Guatemala

A private charter changes the day completely: depart Flores in the morning, swim or lunch at Río Dulce, stretch your legs on your own schedule, and reach Antigua in time for dinner under the arch — with the whole 530 km crossed in daylight. It's the version we recommend for families and groups of four or more, and for anyone who just burned a 4:00 AM start on Tikal and would rather sleep in a bed in Flores than in a van seat.

The van is yours: 1–12 passengers, typically $350–$550 per vehicle, picked up at your island hotel and dropped at your Antigua doorstep. Split six ways, the per-person cost sits close to the shared fare — with every seat and all the luggage space thrown in. Send your dates and group size and we'll come back with the exact vehicle and price for your day of travel.

Per-vehicle pricing · flexible departure · 1–12 passengers

Travel tips for this shuttle

  • Don't stack Tikal sunrise and the shuttle on the same day. A 4:00 AM temple start followed by 12 overnight hours in a van is brutal. Tour in the morning, nap in Flores, then board — or go private and drive by day.
  • Reconfirm your pickup the day before. Island hotel lists and Santa Elena meeting points are settled late; a two-minute check saves a stressful evening on the causeway.
  • Board with dinner done. Flores does good, cheap food on the island; the overnight stops don't. Snacks in the daypack, water bottle full, small bills in reach.
  • Pack for the climate flip. You leave Petén heat and wake at highland altitude — Antigua mornings are crisp and the AC is cold all night. Warm layer in the daypack, not the hold.
  • Keep arrival-morning plans soft. Guatemala City traffic decides your final hour. Plan on dropping bags at your hotel and finding breakfast rather than a fixed 9:00 AM commitment.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the shuttle from Flores to Antigua?

Shared seats cost about $30–$60 USD (Q230–Q465) per person for the 530 km overnight run, hotel to hotel. A private van for your own group costs $350–$550 per vehicle for up to 12 passengers. Operator and season move the fare, so the price at booking is the one to trust.

Where does the shuttle pick up in Flores?

From hotels on Flores island and from the terminals in Santa Elena, the mainland town across the short causeway — tuk-tuks link the two in minutes. Reconfirm your exact meeting point the day before departure; pickup lists in Petén are finalized late.

Is this an overnight ride?

Yes. The direct shuttle departs between roughly 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM and travels through the night, reaching Antigua the next morning after about 12 hours. A daytime crossing exists only as a private charter.

How long does it take door-to-door?

About 12 hours from pickup in Flores or Santa Elena to your hotel door in Antigua. Dropoff is inside the historic center, so there's no onward taxi to arrange — though Guatemala City traffic near the end can stretch the final hour.

What is the luggage allowance?

One main backpack or suitcase in the rear plus a daypack at your seat. A loaded overnight van is tight, so boards, bikes and extra bags only travel by prior arrangement with the operator.

Can I book a private shuttle instead?

Yes: one van and driver for 1–12 passengers, typically $350–$550 per vehicle. Most private groups leave Flores in the morning and cross by day with a Río Dulce lunch stop. Request a quote and we'll lock in the exact price for your group size and date.

Is there a more comfortable overnight option?

Yes — ADN and Línea Dorada run overnight Pullman coaches from Santa Elena to Guatemala City with wide cama-style reclining seats, connecting to Antigua by shuttle. It adds a transfer but sleeps far better than a minivan. Compare both on our Flores to Antigua bus page.

Looking for the cheaper public bus option?

Compare every way to travel from Flores to Antigua Guatemala — chicken buses, Pullmans, and shuttles — on our bus route page.

See all bus options →

Going the other direction?

Antigua Guatemala to Flores Shuttle

See the return shuttle →

Read more about this destination