Guatemala
Currency in Guatemala: what to use and how to exchange
Guatemala uses the quetzal (GTQ, Q), roughly 7.6–7.8 per US$ in 2026 (check). Bring clean US$100 notes as backup, withdraw quetzales from bank ATMs in Antigua, Guatemala City or Panajachel, and keep small notes for shuttles, markets and tips. Cards work in hotels and city restaurants, not in villages.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideGuatemala
Key facts
- Currency
- Quetzal (GTQ, symbol Q); 100 centavos
- Ratecheck
- About 7.6–7.8 quetzales per US$1 in 2026
- Best value
- Bank ATM withdrawal in quetzales; decline the ATM's own conversion
- Cash is king
- Markets, shuttles, tuk-tuks, small hotels, villages
- Cards
- Accepted in Antigua, Guatemala City, Panajachel hotels and mid-range restaurants
- US dollarscheck
- Accepted in Antigua and Flores at a poor rate; not in villages
- Tipping
- 10% in restaurants, often already added as 'propina'
Details
The quetzal is named after the national bird and is issued by the Bank of Guatemala. Notes run from Q1 to Q200; coins from 1 centavo to Q1. Prices in tourist areas are often quoted in quetzales, but shuttle operators and some hotels quote in US dollars, so ask which currency before you agree.
Your cheapest source of quetzales is usually a bank ATM. Withdrawals in Guatemala City, Antigua and Panajachel are reliable; ATMs in Flores and smaller towns work but run out on weekends and holidays. When the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline — that conversion adds roughly 3–6%.
Exchanging cash is the fallback. Banks and casas de cambio in Guatemala City and Antigua take US dollars, and rates are close to the official one; euros and other currencies are harder and cost more. Street changers in the market may offer a better-looking rate but count the notes carefully. Hotels are the most convenient and the worst value.
US dollars are accepted in Antigua, Flores and some Lake Atitlán businesses, usually at a flat rate that loses you a few percent. Outside those areas, expect quetzales only. Torn, marked or old-series US notes are often refused, so bring clean bills from 2009 or later.
Cards work in hotels, mid-range restaurants and supermarkets in the main visitor towns. Visa and Mastercard are the most reliable; American Express is patchy. Small businesses add a card surcharge, and village shops, market stalls, shuttle drivers and tuk-tuks are cash only. Carry a mix: a card for hotels, quetzales for everything else.
- Carry Q50–Q100 in small notes for shuttles, tuk-tuks and market food.
- Keep a backup US$100 note separate from your wallet.
- Photograph your card and passport, and store the images offline.
- Withdraw during business hours so a swallowed card can be retrieved.
| Method | Where it works | Cost / rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank ATM | Guatemala City, Antigua, Panajachel, Flores | Official rate plus a local fee | Decline the machine's own currency conversion |
| Casa de cambio | Guatemala City, Antigua | Close to official for US dollars | Bring your passport; keep the receipt |
| Bank counter | Main cities | Close to official | Queues and limited hours |
| Hotel desk | Everywhere | Several percent worse | Convenient for small amounts |
| US dollars cash | Antigua, Flores, some lake towns | Poor flat rate | Clean, recent notes only |
| Card | Hotels, city restaurants, supermarkets | Bank rate plus possible surcharge | Visa and Mastercard most reliable |
Rates and fees move; treat the figures as 2026 estimates (check).
Tips
Budget in quetzales, not dollars. A day of shuttle travel, meals and a night's lodging in a hostel runs roughly Q300–Q600 (about US$40–80) depending on how much you move. Carry enough cash for two days in case an ATM is empty or offline.
Count your change at market stalls and in tuk-tuks; short-changing by a few quetzales is common and rarely deliberate. Keep coins for buses and small purchases. If you plan to tip guides and shuttle drivers, set aside small notes before the trip ends.
Tell your bank you are travelling, and carry two cards from different networks. If a card is swallowed or blocked, a replacement can take days to reach you outside Guatemala City. Travel insurance rarely covers cash losses, so split your money between bags.
- Ask '¿cuánto es?' before agreeing to a shuttle or tuk-tuk fare.
- Use ATMs inside banks or malls rather than on the street at night.
- Keep Q200 notes for hotels and break them at supermarkets.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Guatemala?
The Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, symbol Q), divided into 100 centavos. It trades at roughly 7.6–7.8 per US$1 in 2026 (check). US dollars are accepted in Antigua, Flores and some lake towns, but you will get a poor rate and villages take quetzales only.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Guatemala?
A bank ATM in Guatemala City, Antigua or Panajachel gives the closest rate; decline the machine's own currency conversion. Casas de cambio in the main cities are the next best for US dollars. Hotels are convenient but cost several percent more.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Guatemala?
Bring both. Cards work in hotels, city restaurants and supermarkets, but markets, shuttles, tuk-tuks and village shops are cash only. Carry quetzales for daily spending and a clean US$100 note as backup.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialBanco de Guatemala
- officialINGUAT – Guatemalan Tourism Institute
- secondaryWikivoyage – Guatemala