- Cash Currency
- Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: livinginguatemala.com, asocialnomad.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Cash is essential—most markets, buses, and small businesses only accept quetzales
- Use Banco Industrial ATMs near the central park for lowest fees (Q25 per withdrawal)
- Avoid large denomination bills (Q100+); many businesses struggle to make change
- Request smaller denomination bills when withdrawing to ease transactions
- Card payments often include 5-10% surcharges; paying in cash is usually cheaper
- ATMs are concentrated in central Antigua; plan your cash withdrawals accordingly
- Use ATMs inside banks or malls rather than street-facing machines for added security
- Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard; bring both cards if possible
- Exchange rates at bureaus near the central park are generally worse than ATM rates
- Notify your bank of travel dates to avoid card blocks on foreign transactions
ATM Fees
Near Central Park
- Visa fee
- GTQ 25
- Bank
- Banco Industrial (BI)
- Network
- 5B
- Reliability
- Highly reliable with international cards
- Max Withdrawal Per Transaction
- GTQ 2,000
3a Calle Poniente
- Bank
- BAM
- Network
- 5B
- Reliability
- Second-best option for foreign cards
- Hours Note
- Extended weekday hours until 7:30 PM
5B Network ATMs (yellow machines)
- Visa fee
- GTQ 45
- Max Withdrawal Per Transaction
- GTQ 2,500
- Note
- Most common ATMs but more expensive than BI
Account Opening
- Processing Time Days
- 3 days to 1 week
- Location Recommendation
- Branches in Zona 10 or Zona 14 (Guatemala City) handle expats more smoothly
Required Documents
- Passport
- Proof of address (utility bill)
- Proof of income (sometimes)
- Reference letter from home bank (sometimes)
- NIT (Guatemalan tax ID, may be required)
Minimum Deposit Range
- Low
- GTQ 500
- High
- GTQ 5,000
Top Banks For Foreigners
Banco Industrial (BI)
- Strengths
- Largest bank, deepest ATM network (2,500+), English-speaking branches, most foreigner-friendly
- Processing Time
- Same day to 1 week
BAM
- Strengths
- Modern app-based banking, part of Bancolombia group, contemporary approach
- Processing Time
- Same day to 3 days
Banrural
- Strengths
- Lowest wire fees, good rural coverage, lowest incoming wire fee (Q100)
- Processing Time
- Variable
BAC Credomatic
- Strengths
- Strong international banking, regional coverage across Central America
- Processing Time
- Variable
USD Notes
USD is accepted in some tourist-facing businesses in Antigua, but at less favorable rates than using local currency. Better to exchange for quetzales.
Cash Currency
Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Tipping Norms
- Taxis
- Not expected, but rounding up the fare is a common gesture
- Tour Guides
- Expected but amount varies by tour length and group size
- General Note
- Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Guatemala
Hotels
- Porters
- GTQ 10
per bag
- Housekeeping
- GTQ 10
per night
Restaurants
- Casual Cafes
- Rounding up or a few quetzales is appreciated
- Mid Range Upscale
- 10% of bill is customary
- Service Charge Note
- Some restaurants may already include 10% service charge; check bill before adding additional tip
Card Acceptance
- Summary
- Limited but available in tourist-focused businesses. Visa is most widely accepted; Mastercard accepted at some locations. Many places add 5-10% surcharge for card payments.
Details
- Where Accepted
- Mid-range and upscale hotels, restaurants catering to tourists, chain stores, and shopping centers in central Antigua
- Surcharge Warning
- Debit card surcharges of up to 10% are common in Antigua, especially at smaller establishments
Card Networks
- Amex
- Not reliably accepted
- Visa
- Most widely accepted
- Discover
- Rarely accepted
- Mastercard
- Accepted at many locations
Cash Required For
Cash Required For
- Local markets and street vendors (cash-only)
- Public transportation (chicken buses, tuk-tuks)
- Small family-run restaurants and cafes
- Archaeological sites and attractions
- Small shops and tiendas
- Tips at casual establishments
Dynamic Currency Conversion
Decline DCC (dynamic currency conversion) offers at ATMs; instead request to be charged in Guatemalan Quetzales for better rates
ATM Fees
- Local Bank Card
- GTQ 20
- Foreign Card Typical Range USD
- $3–$8 per withdrawal
Foreign account opening is challenging due to anti-money-laundering laws. Physical presence required. Best banks for foreigners: Banco Industrial, BAM, Banrural.
Challenges
Many banks refuse foreigners; some require local sponsor; partial accounts (ATM-only) may be offered; credit cards hard to obtain
Wire Transfer Fees
- Incoming Banrural
- GTQ 100
- Incoming Other Banks
- GTQ 150
Monthly Maintenance
- Low
- GTQ 15
- High
- GTQ 200
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.livinginguatemala.com
- 2.asocialnomad.com
- 3.atmfeesaver.com
- 4.foodtravelexplore.com
- 5.conscious-explorer.com
- 6.originaltravel.co.uk
- 7.onthegotours.com
- 8.tippingin.com
- 9.xe.com
- 10.tradingeconomics.com
- 11.xe.com
- 12.livinginguatemala.com
- 13.expatlife.ai
- 14.internationalinsurance.com
- 15.insured-nomads.com
- 16.livinginguatemala.com
- 17.expat.com
- 18.livinginguatemala.com
- 19.livinginguatemala.com
- 20.internationalcitizens.com
- 21.livinginguatemala.com
- 22.expatexchange.com
- 23.wise.com
- 24.xe.com
More About Antigua
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.