Guatemala Travel Tips
Heading to Guatemala soon? Here are some things you should know before you visit.
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You’ll want an international phone plan to use during your trip. An eSIM is an easy and affordable way to use your phone while traveling abroad.
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Spanish is the official language in Guatemala, and is widely spoken. While many people who interact with tourists speak English, it goes a long way to learn some Spanish before your trip.
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The currency in Guatemala is the quetzal and not everywhere takes credit cards, so you’ll need to take out cash. It’s helpful to have small bills when paying for things. We found that the ATMs we visited had a limit of about $100 worth of quetzals at a time, with fees around 7%.
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Guatemala uses the same power outlets as the US. However, 3-prong outlets are rare, so you may want to bring a converter if you need to charge something with 3 prongs.
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Tipping is not mandatory in Guatemala, but it’s common and nice to tip about 10% in restaurants and to give a small tip to tour guides, hotel porters and housekeepers.
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The tap water in Guatemala is generally considered not safe to drink. However, most hotels and restaurants provide clean, free drinking water.
Guatemala Travel Guides

An Epic One Week Guatemala Itinerary (Lake Atitlan, Acatenango & More)
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