Guatemala uses the quetzal (GTQ); carry small Q bills for markets, buses, tips, and rural stops.
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The type of money used in Guatemala is the Guatemalan quetzal, written as GTQ and shown in shops with the symbol Q. US dollars help in a few travel settings, but quetzales are the money you need for daily spending.
Plan on paying with a mix of cash and card. Cards work in many hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and tour offices in Guatemala City, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Flores, but small bills matter once you step into markets, local buses, food stalls, tuk-tuks, public bathrooms, and rural villages.
Money Used In Guatemala: Bills, Coins, And Daily Prices
Guatemala’s official money is the quetzal, and one quetzal is divided into 100 centavos. The Banco de Guatemala lists current circulating bills and coins on its official bills and coins page.
Travelers usually see prices written as Q25, Q100, or Q200. For rough mental math, when the exchange rate sits near Q7.6 per $1, Q100 is about $13 and Q200 is about $26. Rates move daily, so use those numbers only as planning math, not as a promise from an exchange counter.
| Guatemalan Money | Approx USD At Q7.6/$1 | Most Useful For Travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 coin or bill | About $0.13 | Small tips, public bathrooms, market change |
| Q5 bill | About $0.66 | Street snacks, local bus fares, tuk-tuk change |
| Q10 bill | About $1.30 | Coffee, short rides, small market buys |
| Q20 bill | About $2.60 | Everyday cash payments and easy change |
| Q50 bill | About $6.60 | Meals, shuttles, entry fees, gas-station purchases |
| Q100 bill | About $13 | Hotel balances, restaurants, bigger purchases |
| Q200 bill | About $26 | Larger bills, but harder to break at small shops |
Can You Use US Dollars In Guatemala?
US dollars are sometimes accepted in tourist-facing places, but Guatemala runs on quetzales for normal spending. A hotel or tour desk may quote dollars, while a market vendor, bus helper, or small comedor will expect Q cash.
Bring dollars only as backup money, not as your main travel currency. If you bring cash from the United States, pack clean, untorn bills because banks and exchange desks can reject damaged notes. Large dollar bills may be awkward outside banks, so a small emergency stash in $20s is easier than a wallet full of $100s.
At land borders and bus terminals, informal exchangers may approach travelers. Use banks, ATMs, or established exchange desks instead, since a slightly better street rate is not worth the counterfeit or short-change risk.
Cards, ATMs, And Cash: What Works Where
Cards work well in larger towns, but cash still solves the most common payment problems in Guatemala. Visa and Mastercard are the safest card networks to bring, while American Express and Discover are less dependable for everyday travel.
Use ATMs attached to banks, malls, supermarkets, or hotel lobbies when possible. Standalone machines in quiet streets are not worth the extra risk, especially after dark. Decline dynamic currency conversion if the ATM or card terminal asks to charge you in dollars; paying in quetzales normally lets your bank set the rate.
Cash rule: break Q100 and Q200 bills at supermarkets, pharmacies, or hotel desks before visiting markets or taking small local transport.
| Payment Situation | Best Way To Pay | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua hotel | Card or Q cash | Cards are common, but small hotels may add a fee |
| Lake Atitlán boat | Q cash | Boat operators need small bills |
| Local market | Q10, Q20, and Q50 bills | Vendors may not break Q100 or Q200 bills |
| Restaurant in Guatemala City | Card or Q cash | Cards are common in central zones |
| Chicken bus | Small Q cash | Fares are collected on board |
| Tour office | Card, dollars, or Q cash | Some offices quote in dollars but settle in quetzales |
| Rural village stop | Q cash only | Card terminals may be unavailable |
Cash Amounts For Daily Travel
A practical Guatemala cash plan is to carry one day’s spending in quetzales and leave backup money secured at your hotel. For many travelers, Q300 to Q600 covers meals, small rides, snacks, tips, local transport, and small entry costs for a normal day.
Split your money into two places: a small front-pocket amount for the day and a separate card or emergency cash source in your bag or room safe. Guatemala is not a place where travelers need to flash a thick cash stack, and small bills make daily interactions smoother.
- Carry Q5, Q10, and Q20 bills for tuk-tuks, buses, snacks, bathrooms, and market buys.
- Use Q50 bills for meals, shuttles, and mid-size purchases.
- Save Q100 bills for supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants that can make change.
- Break Q200 bills as soon as you can at a formal business.
Where To Stay While Handling Cash Safely
Guatemala City, Antigua, Panajachel, and Flores are the easiest bases for ATMs, card payments, and bank access. Guatemala City is the most practical arrival or departure base if you want a hotel near banks, malls, airport transfers, and reliable card acceptance.
Compare stays in Guatemala City before a late arrival or early flight, especially around Zone 10, Zone 13, or the airport corridor:
A Simple Guatemala Money Plan
Guatemala money is easiest when you use quetzales for daily life, cards for larger formal purchases, and dollars only as backup. The goal is not to carry the biggest amount of cash; the goal is to carry the right bills for the next 24 hours.
- Withdraw quetzales from a bank-linked ATM after arrival.
- Break large bills at a supermarket, pharmacy, hotel, or restaurant.
- Keep Q5, Q10, Q20, and Q50 bills ready before markets, buses, boats, and rural stops.
- Pay by card at established hotels and restaurants when the terminal charges in quetzales.
- Save clean US dollars as emergency backup, not as your default payment method.
For a first Guatemala trip, land with a no-foreign-transaction-fee card, one backup card, and a small dollar reserve. Once you have local cash in small denominations, the money side of the trip gets much easier.
References & Sources
- Banco de Guatemala.“Billetes y monedas de actual circulación.”Supports the official quetzal bills and coins used in Guatemala.