Is Guatemala Expensive? Our Budget Travel Guide
How much do you need when traveling around Guatemala?
One of the most popular countries in Central America, Guatemala is already well-known for its fiery volcanoes, giant Mayan ruins and charming towns.
Many also make the visit to see spectacular natural sites such as Lake Atitlán, Semuc Champey and the Pacific beaches.
In this guide we’ll look at the typical costs you can expect when traveling Guatemala, such as for accommodation, food and getting around. As well as recommending some of the best tours you can head on, we’ll also answer your most burning questions in our FAQ section.
Is Guatemala Expensive for Tourists?
Quick Answer: Overall Guatemala is not only one of the cheapest countries you can visit in Central America, it’s also a good contender for the whole of Latin America.
When backpacking around Guatemala, we recommend setting a daily budget of roughly $15-20 a day. This will be a solid amount for staying in a comfortable dorm room, eating local meals as well as for using public transport to get around cities and regions.
Those who are looking for a more luxurious experience can expect to spend between $25-35 a day in Guatemala. With this budget you can stay in a sleek private room, eat out at nicer restaurants and also take Ubers more frequently.
Things to know before traveling to Guatemala
- The High And Low Seasons – It’s good to know that the most popular time to visit Guatemala is from November until April, which also coincides with the dry season here.
We can also expect sunny weather and clear blue skies most days, although there will also be a lot more crowds. If you want a quieter experience and don’t mind some showers, then be sure to head between May and October. - Planning Out Your Itinerary – There are tons of incredible destinations to visit here, and you may be wondering how much time is sufficient to see them all. Overall we would recommend spending 2-3 weeks in Guatemala, where you can see all the best highlights including Lake Atitlán, Antigua, Acatenango Volcano as well as Flores. You may want to plan more time if you want to learn Spanish just like Dan did during his stint in Guatemala.
- Staying Safe In Guatemala – Whilst generally safer than its neighbor of Honduras, you’ll still want to be cautious of petty theft when out and about. This is especially so when using public transport, so you’ll always want to keep an eye on your belongings and to leave valuables back in your accommodation. Aside from that Guatemala is quite a safe country to explore when you take the right precautions.
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How much does a trip to Guatemala cost?
Budget travelers and backpackers can expect to spend roughly $15-20 a day in Guatemala, whilst those who want an upgrade in experience (such as private rooms, eating in nicer establishments) can budget for around $25-35 a day.
This budget only covers accommodation, food and a few extras (like beers, a walking tour or entrance etc). Other costs such as flights and day tours will need to be planned with a different budget in mind.
Cost of Accommodation in Guatemala
On the whole you’re going to find accommodation very cheap in Guatemala, and especially so if heading south from either Belize or Mexico.
If you are looking to save the most money, then hostels are going to be your best bet. You can easily find dorm beds for as low as $5-6, and possibly lower in certain regions! When in Antigua we highly suggest staying at the Hotel La Xinca which has comfortable dorm rooms and is just a block away from the main Parque Central in town.
Private rooms are also going to be cheaper here than elsewhere in Latin America, so it’s definitely a good place to treat yourself without blowing your budget. They usually cost between $15-20, although this may increase in certain months.
If you are looking for a great private stay in San Pedro La Laguna (Lake Atitlán), then we recommend staying at the Hotel Villa del Lago which has spacious rooms and directly overlooks the lake.
Cost of Food in Guatemala
Whilst not as coveted as the foods of Mexico or Costa Rica, Guatemala also has some legendary street foods where we can enjoy hearty stews such as Tostadas and the national dish of Pepián.
And of course street food is going to be very cheap here, where we can find tasty dishes in markets for as little as $2-3 a meal. In local restaurants you can also find them cheap, however you’ll want to go a few blocks outside of the touristy zones (where they usually hike up prices for tourists).
We can also find lots of luxurious restaurants and establishments throughout Guatemala’s more popular destinations, and especially within the touristy zones of places like Antigua and Lake Atitlán.
We can expect meals to cost anywhere from $6-10+ per person, although it’s worth browsing around as you can find great deals if you put the effort in.
Cost of Transportation in Guatemala
Transport costs will be quite low as well when in Guatemala, although this can be even cheaper depending on what you’re happy with.
For instance you can use a combination of taxis and buses to get around which are still quite cheap. To give an example, the 10 hour bus from Guatemala City to Flores is roughly $30-40 – which is probably the longest route you can do through this Central American nation (and quite a popular one to do too).
If you want to really save and have a much more local experience, then you can use the local Chicken Buses to get around towns and cities, and also between regions. Rides can be as low as $1, however you’ll want to be vigilant with your belongings since petty theft can be targeted towards tourists on these.
Cost of Tours & Attractions in Guatemala
There are many epic activities worth doing throughout Guatemala which is why you’ll want to take your time here. These are often great value for the price too – so it’s worth ticking as many of these off as you can when here!
If you are looking to do some true bucket list activities then you’ll find plenty here. One of our absolute favorites has to be the Overnight Acatenango Volcano Hike where you’ll camp on an adjacent volcano for the night. You’ll also have some incredible morning views when here, and if you’re lucky you’ll also get to see some lava spurting out too.
Generally day-to-day activities in Guatemala are pretty affordable too, meaning you can do many of these without breaking your budget. This includes doing food tours, city walking tours or heading to important historical sites all over the different cities and towns.
When in Antigua we highly recommend heading on this city walking tour where you’ll have a knowledgeable guide show you many key sites such as La Merced Church, the General Palace as well as the Nim Pot Craft Market.
Guatemala FAQs
Is Guatemala Expensive for Tourists?
And that’s all for our guide on how expensive Guatemala is.
With everything from Mayan ruins hidden in the jungle to towering volcanoes that spurt hot red lava, there are tons to see and do in Guatemala.
Even better is that this country is very cheap to travel around, and you’ll especially find this to be the case if you are coming from neighboring Belize or Mexico.
In this guide we’ve looked at how much money you’ll need when traveling around Guatemala. This guide focuses more on the minimum needed for low-budget travelers, so of course if you feel like upgrading then by all means go for it!
Be sure to read our 2 weeks in Guatemala Itinerary to learn more about how to best use your time when exploring this incredible nation.
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