TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS.
A fast network of tourist-orientated transport (usually white vans) that makes getting around a breeze if you want to use it. If you're feeling more adventurous, have time to spare, or are running low on funds. Get yourself on a chicken bus and prepare for the ride of your life.
TOURIST VANS & MINI-BUSES.
Tourist geared transport is well out of reach, price wise, to most locals. That said, these white mini-buses are still an okay value and run several times per day along main tourist routes. They pick up at the main hostels in each town and will drop you off wherever you've booked once your arrive at your destination, making it possible to travel all around the country without interacting with locals.
The most popular routes are sold by the travel agents in Panajachel and Antigua with easy to arrange routes to Copan, Rio Dulce, Chichicastenango, Guatemala City and Monterrico. For example, to travel from Panajachel to Antigua expect to pay about US$15, compared to about US$1.5 in a chicken bus. However your journey will be much quicker and you'll be dropped at your hotel.
It is up to you if you use these buses, it will significantly increase your budget, but make things a little easier (and much more comfortable/faster). Prices to further destinations such as Copan are much higher. In all cases shop around in Panajachel and Antigua, since many companies under-cut each other and saving a few dollars here and there is easy.
CHICKEN BUS.
Chicken buses are as much as a national symbol in Guatemala as Tikal. They are a great experience to use and your only option in many cases. They are frequent, slow and always interesting throughout the country.
FLIGHTS.
The only place you'll be likely to visit via plane is Tikal, which is about a 70 minute hop from Guatemala City. This route is run by TACA/AVIANCA and flies several times a day with a standard price of about US$100-150 (one way), which is crazy expensive for Guatemala as the overnight bus only takes 5 1/2 hours and is a (very small) fraction of the price.
GETTING TO/FROM TIKAL (VIA FLORES).
By Plane. It is possible to visit Tikal in one day by flying if you're very short of time (see above), but this is not recommended as Flores (the nearest city) is worth seeing. That said, you don't necessarily need more than one day to get a good feeling for Tikal.
By Private Bus. There is a new overnight bus going to and from Flores where you'll get TV, food, cushions and a toilet onboard. The trip (via Rio Dulce) takes only 5 and half hrs. if you leave from Guatemala City. There are also first- and 'first first' class buses that run to the capital (Linea Dorada y Maya de Oro), which are from 90 - 125 Quetzales (Rio Dulce - Flores) and up to 250 for Gua - Flores.
By Chicken Bus. Of course there's still the Chicken Bus option, but this takes you a whole day or even two, depending on season and luck.