- The currency is the Quetzal (GTQ). US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, but it’s useful to carry local currency for small purchases, markets and tips in more rural areas.
- Tipping is customary, not mandatory. Many travelers tip guides and drivers a modest amount per day for good service — entirely at your discretion.
- Altitude varies a lot by region. Guatemala City and Antigua sit around 1,500 meters, Lake Atitlán and Quetzaltenango higher still — pack layers, since evenings in the highlands get genuinely cold.
- The dry season (Nov–Apr) is most popular, but the rainy season (May–Oct) brings lush scenery, fewer crowds and rain that usually falls in short afternoon bursts rather than all day.
- Guides are typically bilingual in Spanish and English on tours aimed at international travelers, though Spanish goes a long way in markets and smaller towns.
- Visa requirements vary by nationality and change from time to time — check with the Guatemalan consulate or your government’s travel advisory before booking flights.
- Private vs. group tours both exist for almost every popular site — private for flexibility and pace, small-group for a lower cost and a bit of built-in company.
- Many top sites are half- or full-day trips from a central base like Antigua, Guatemala City or Flores, so you don’t need to change hotels constantly to see a lot.
- Cash machines are common in cities but scarcer in rural areas — plan ahead before heading to places like Semuc Champey.
- Guatemala rewards a flexible itinerary. Weather, road conditions and even market days (like Chichicastenango’s) can shift what makes sense on a given day — which is exactly why we build every itinerary around real dates rather than a fixed template.
Ready to start planning? Get in touch or browse our full list of tours.