🇬🇹 Travel facts Guatemala
✓ Last checked:The most important practical answers for your trip to Guatemala — entry, tipping, plug, customs and more. Compactly verified, with sources.
| Capital | Guatemala City |
|---|---|
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Quetzal (GTQ) |
| Timezone | UTC-6 |
| Flight time from Germany | approx. 14–16 hours (with a layover) |
| Emergency number | 110 · Police 110 |
| Plug | Type A/B · 120 V / 60 Hz · Adapter needed |
| EU / Schengen | not an EU country · not Schengen |
Do I need a visa for Guatemala?
Passport required; visa-free for up to 90 days (CA-4 area).
The 90 days apply to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua combined (CA-4). Binding information: German Federal Foreign Office.
How much tip do you give in Guatemala?
Approximately 10% is customary (sometimes included as 'propina' on the bill)
Taxi: Round up
Which plug adapter do I need in Guatemala?
Adapter needed: Plug types A / B, 120 V / 60 Hz.
US plug shape — adapter needed; devices without a 100–240 V power supply require a voltage converter.
Can you drink tap water in Guatemala?
No, tap water is not recommended for drinking.
Only bottled ('Agua Pura'), filtered or boiled water.
What can I bring back from Guatemala to Germany?
Non-EU country: When returning to Germany, goods up to €430 (by air), 200 cigarettes and 1 litre of spirits are duty-free.
Does my mobile phone work in Guatemala?
No EU roaming — pre-book eSIM or buy a cheap local SIM on-site.
Card or cash — how do you pay in Guatemala?
Quetzal (GTQ); cash dominates, card only in cities and larger hotels.
What should I know about health in Guatemala?
Travel health insurance with repatriation is recommended; check vaccination/health advice with the German Federal Foreign Office or Tropical Institute.
Sources & Note
Information from the perspective of German citizens, as of August 2026, without guarantee. Entry and security information may change at short notice — binding is the German Federal Foreign Office (Guatemala travel information) . Health information does not replace travel medical advice.
