Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
La Aurora International Airport
If most of your travel involves the Guatemala City and Antigua area, my advice is to
forgo a car rental in favor of taxis and shuttle buses. You can also hire a driver to take
you around for about US$75-100 a day. Local hotel concierges can usually recommend
someone for you. Doing so will allow you to get a feel for the city without the stress of
having to drive on its unfamiliar streets. It will also allow you to get acquainted with the
particular style of Guatemalan urban driving you'll need to adopt if you do end up driving
here.
If you're bypassing Guatemala City altogether, you'll find shuttle vans to Antigua
($15-20)areeasilybookeduponarrivalattheairport.ThereisalsoaveryhelpfulINGUAT
(Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo) information desk just after passing customs. It's
staffed by English-speaking agents who can help you get your bearings.
It's not a good idea to ride a public bus into the city, especially at night. The Transmetro
is perfectly safe and efficient, but its coverage area is limited. It will not get you to or from
the airport, though the newer
eje central
route can get you as close as Bulevar Liberacion,
which fronts the airport runway's northern extreme.
Several U.S. and foreign carriers fly daily into Guatemala City. Most of these airlines
havecityticketoffices,including
American Airlines
(BarcelóGuatemalaCity,7aAvenida
15-45 Zona 9, tel. 2422-0000),
United Airlines
(18 Calle 5-56, Edificio Unicentro, Local
