28 hours on the road (and boat), that was the final verdict when I travelled from Caye Caulker to Belize City to Flores to Guatemala City to Antigua Guatemala, including a freezing bus and a bus breakdown in Guatemala. Continue reading for more useful information about how to get from Caye Caulker Belize to Antigua Guatemala.
How to get from Caye Caulker Belize to Antigua Guatemala
The most enjoyable part of this trip was the boat ride from Caye Caulker to Belize City. The ride is along some beautiful islands and Caribbean colored waters. Book your ticket with the Ocean Ferry company, it’s half the price of Belize Water Taxi!
Leaving Caye Caulker Belize
When you arrive in Belize City at the small pier (from Ocean Ferry), head outside, turn right and walk for 5minutes until you reach the big ferry terminal from the San Pedro Belize Water Taxi and look out for the bus companies counter. At the boat terminal you can book the tickets all the way from Belize City to Antigua Guatemala. You might save a few bucks if you book everything as a single ticket, but not sure if it’s worth the hassle after arriving tired at a new place figuring out where to buy the cheapest bus ticket for the next leg.
Belize Guatemala Border crossing and ride in Guatemala
The border crossing in Melchor de Mencos from Belize to Guatemala went very smooth. We could leave our big bag in the bus, queued up in the immigration line, payed the small Belize exit fee, changed my Belize Dollar leftovers into Quetzals and entered Guatemala 🙂 Simple as that. Some hours later we arrived in Flores.
In Flores I had around 2hours time until the night bus left to Guatemala City. That was the perfect amount of time to stretch my legs, get a first little impression of Guatemala and to eat dinner at one of the street food stalls outside of the big bus terminal. If you travel by yourself, make sure your take your bags and stuff with you. Don’t leave it just in the bus terminal, as there are no lockers.
Buses are on time in Guatemala
Even many people said that buses in Latin America are never on time, for me it was the opposite. Literally every bus I took left on time or even almost earlier! So make sure you arrive early enough at the bus terminal, otherwise you have to figure out a new way on how to get from Caye Caulker Belize to Antigua Guatemala.
I have booked the $5 more expensive bus ticket for the long night bus ride, to have a little bit more space and a bigger seat. I tried to fall asleep as soon as we left Guatemala City, but within a few minutes the bus turned into a driving freezer! Jeans, sweater, jacket and even my beach towel around my neck didn’t help to keep me warm. I think it was the coldest bus I have ever experienced on my long-term travels. Of course I was not the only one who was freezing, so a German guy who sat in front of me went to the diver and asked him to turn up the heating system (or turn off the air con). Nothing happened. He went 3times to the driver to tell him to increase the temperature. Finally after some hours! it started to get warm and comfy in the bus.
The bus broke down
As soon as everybody slowly felt asleep (except me as I hardly can sleep in buses), the bus stopped on the street in the middle of nowhere. Did we arrive already? Nope. There was a problem with the bus. Two other buses stopped as well, either to help or because they had some problems as well. After an hour or two (I’ve lost track of time) we continued our ride but only until the next gas station. Huh. What’s happening next? A short time later a “replacement” bus arrived and we squeezed our self into the new bus which was full of people already. At least everyone got his own seat and the journey to Guatemala City could continue. At 11am, several hours late, we arrived in Guatemala City.
Guatemala City to Antigua
As the booked shuttle from Guate to Antigua left already hours ago, I had to check out for new options. Always fun after 24hours on the road and arriving tired at a new place. Luckily I’ve got the money back from the shuttle I have booked from Guatemala City to Antigua.
At the end I’ve shared a taxi from Guate to Antigua with a German couple and a Polish girl, who were on the same bus. Sharing a taxi with 4 people is the same price as taking and paying a shuttle each. Of course there would be the cheaper chicken bus option, but after more than 24hours on the road you don’t care anymore about saving something like $4.
Thankfully Antigua welcomed me with sunshine, blue sky and a great view to the surrounding Volcanos.
Hola Volcano Agua, Volcano Acatenango and Volcano Fuego (Central America’s most active volcano).
Quick overview for how to get from Caye Caulker Belize to Antigua Guatemala
Caye Caulker to Belize City: 10am-11am (book your ticket with Ocean Ferry, it’s half the price of Belize Water Taxi!)
Belize City to Flores: 2pm-7pm (book all the tickets from Belize to Antigua in Belize City)
Flores to Guatemala City: 9.15pm-11am
Guatemala City to Antigua: 12pm-2pm
- Want to know more about Belize? Don’t miss the Top things to do in Belize – Ultimate Itinerary post for more information.
