Tzununá & How to Get There!

Tzununá is a small town nestled into a valley just east of San Marcos, about 2km down a paved road bordering the shores of Lake Atitlan.

The name “Tzununa” is Kaqchikel (local dialect) for “Hummingbird of the water”, or locally referred to as “Hummingbird Valley”. The river flows year round with waterfalls higher in the valley offering a nice place to cool down and enjoy the lush natural beauty of the area. Lots of local trails weave the hillsides allow for hiking and gorgeous views of the valley and lake. Locally grown crops range from Avocado, Jocote, Corn, Banana, and primarily Coffee. It is a mostly indigenous community and home to a growing community of expats who have chosen to live a life off the land. A great place to get your hands on the earth and study Permaculture, Fermentation, Mycology and Herbalism.

How to Get To Tzununa

My personal recommendation, based on experience, is to hire a private taxi ahead of time. Let them know when you will be arriving at the airport, so they will be ready to pick you up. Take the taxi straight to the Lake, and depending on what town you are going to, you may be able to drive right there. Otherwise, taking the taxi to Panajachel, and then a boat to your destination town. If you want to use one of our taxi driver friends from Panajachel you can get in touch with them here.

How To Get From Guatemala Airport To Tzununa

–Chicken Bus

If you are feeling adventurous and your spanish is quite good, this is a great budget-friendly option. Buses leave hourly from the corner of 21 Calle and 1A Avenida. The trip will be roughly 4 hours. Any Large Luggage will be put on top of the bus. You will need cash on hand to pay for the ride.

–Shuttle Bus

Shuttles leave regularly from Guatemala City Airport to Panajachel. However most shuttles are not direct and do stop over in Antigua. This makes the total travel time to the lake around 4 1/2 hours.

Shuttle Service – 06:00am – Guatemala City/Airport to Panajachel $25 p/p
Shuttle Service – 11:00am – Guatemala City/Airport to Panajachel $25 p/p
Shuttle Service – 02:30pm – Guatemala City/Airport to Panajachel $25 p/p
(this service makes a stop in Antigua and then continues to Panajachel, travel time 4-4.5hrs)
Direct Shuttle Service – 2:30pm – Guatemala City/Airport to Panajachel $35p/p (min 3 persons)
Private Service – can be scheduled at any time according to your needs, please specify time and number of persons for details

-Private Taxi

There are plenty of taxis available to take you directly to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan. They cost between 120$ – 130$ and take around 3 hours. You can either arrange one yourself outside of the terminal or book one through an agency at the airport.

If you’re looking for a driver you can trust and one who speaks perfect English, we highly recommend getting in touch with one of our friends. The best way to get in contact is to go here.

How To Travel From Antigua To Tzununa

–Chicken Bus

You can take a bus at around 7am from the pickup point right near the local market for about 35Q (approximately $5 USD). The ride should take about 2.5 hrs to 3.5 hrs. You will arrive in Panajachel and will then need to get yourself down to the docks (embarcadero) to take a boat over to Tzununa. (approximately 15-25Q)

–Shuttle Bus

If you’re coming from Antigua, it’s extremely easy to get a shuttle bus to Lake Atitlan. You could either book a shuttle through your hotel or get a ticket at any travel agency. The price is advertised as 12$/85Q but you can usually haggle the price down to 10$/70Q .

Shuttle – 05:30am – Antigua to Panajachel $12 p/p
Shuttle – 08:00am – Antigua to Panajachel $12 p/p
Shuttle – 12:30pm – Antigua to Panajachel $12 p/p
Shuttle – 04:00pm – Antigua to Panajachel $12 p/p
Shuttle Thu and Sunday – 7:00am – Antigua >> Chichicastenango Market Day 9:00am>> to Panajachel 02:00pm $24 p/p

From Other Towns on the Lake

–Boats

Ranging from 10Q – 25Q, you can take a boat to any town on the lake. Remember to get a “colectivo” or “publico” (collective / public) boat, versus a “privado” (private).

The private boats can cost much more, anywhere from 100Q and up.

–Tuk-Tuks

There is a plethora of Tuk-Tuks around the lake in each major town. Rides inside of a town are generally 5Q, unless you are going quite far. From town to town can be 10Q or more depending on what you agree upon with the driver. It is possible to take long rides through a few towns, but will be quite a bit pricier in the long run versus taking a boat.

–Pickup Trucks

Sometimes you can catch pick-up trucks driving by, they are a very cheap travel option. They have metal railings in the bed of the truck, for standing and holding on. You can just flag them down as they pass by, and pay anywhere between 2 – 10Q. Maybe more depending on the distance you are traveling.