Guatemala City

Understand

Guatemala City is in the department (territorial division) of Guatemala, and it's the capital of the country. All the main highways start at Kilómetro 0, inside Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (National Palace), in Centro Histórico (Historic Center). Guatemala City became the capital after Antigua Guatemala had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1773.

Tourist information INGUAT, 7 Avenue 1-17, Zone 4. Travellers have mixed reports about the service being unreliable here at the official travel office. There is little written material. You can get some nice posters for Q6 (quetzales), and if you bring your own blank CD, they will copy some marimba music for you. Although it holds a repelling reputation for violent crime, Guatemala is also known for its good-natured, friendly citizens.

Getting there

By plane 1 La Aurora International Airport (GUA IATA), 9av 14-75, Zona 13 (in the south side of town, in Zona 13.). Largest international airport in the country. There are daily international arrivals from the US, México, El Salvador, Honduras (San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa), Costa Rica (San José), Nicaragua (Managua), and Panamá and less frequent arrivals from Spain. The only available domestic flights are with Avianca (formerly TACA Regional) and TAG from Flores near Tikal. The number of arrivals are in parentheses:

Aeroméxico: México City (3) American Airlines: Miami (3), Dallas (1) Avianca: Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, México, San José (3), El Salvador (3), San Pedro Sula (2), Tegucigalpa (1), Flores (2), Cancún. (most outside Central America and Guatemala via San Salvador) CM (Cielo Maya) Airlines: San Pedro Sula (1) Copa Airlines: Panamá (5), Managua (2), San José (2). Delta Air Lines: Atlanta (1), Los Angeles (1). Iberia: Madrid (direct 3 times a week). (Rest of the week via San Salvador, San José, or Panamá. No fifth freedom rights for travel within Central America, meaning they cannot take on passengers who only want to travel from San Salvador or Panama to Guatemala City.) JetBlue: New York City-JFK Sosa Tegucigalpa (1 M-F) and San Pedro Sula (1 M-F) Spirit Airlines (Spirit Airlines ceased operations as of 5/2/26 Contact +1 971 715-2831)(0, all flights cancelled) Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG): Flores, Puerto Barrios, Belize City, Roatan, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador Ilopango United Airlines: Los Angeles, Houston (3), Newark (on Saturdays), Washington Dulles Volaris/Volaris Costa Rica: Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City, San Salvador & San Jose CR Wamos Varadero & Madrid If you need to change money or withdraw cash from an ATM, do so before exiting customs. There is no currency exchange or ATMs located past customs in international arrivals. You would need to go upstairs to Departures for these services. There are always taxis at the airport. They operate with fixed prices (around US$12 from the airport to Zona 10) that are 2-3 times higher than what you would pay for the same distance with an ordinary taxi. If your hotel is in Zona 10, chances are high that there is a free shuttle service. Regular shuttles run to Antigua each day, several times a day from 06:00 to 20:00 (prices US$8–12 per person). There is also a bus route operating the road that passes the airport that will take you to Zona 10 at around La Reforma and 12 Calle. If you are going to the old city center (Zona 1), many buses go that way

Getting around

The city is divided into 21 zones (zonas). Zona 1 is the old historic center. Here are the national palace, the presidential palace, the cathedral, the main plaza, and the Central Market. South of Zona 1 is Zona 4, with many of the official buildings like the national bank, the national theatre, and the tourist board (INGUAT). Farther south is Zona 10 and Zona 9, divided by Avenida La Reforma. Zona 10 hosts most of the high class hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping facilities. A small part of Zona 10 is called Zona Viva (the lively zone) because of its nightlife. If you walk, make sure to do so accompanied.

By bus Transmetro is Guatemala City's bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The fleet consists of (green) modern buses that have fixed stops and partly run on dedicated lanes, avoiding other traffic. Stops and vehicles are guarded by municipal police. The system has seven lines, numbered 1, 2, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 18. Service on each line begins between 04:30 and 05:30, and ends between 20:00 and 22:00. You must pay using a "Citizen's Card", which is available from the machines at each bus stop. It costs Q20, and includes 5 free trips. Subsequent trips are 1Q each (2025). You may also use a Visa or MasterCard contactless credit or debit card. Cash is no longer accepted. Transurbano (blue & white) buses provide slower service on more routes. To use this system you have to buy a pre-paid card from special booths, such as in Zona 1's Plaza Barrios, the CentraNorte bus terminal and the Zona 10 TransUrbano office on Av La Reforma. Cash is not accepted on board. It has surveillance cameras, and panic buttons in the units, which communicate directly to police officers. The old red city buses, los rojos, are hotbeds of violent robbery and extortion, and should only be used in an emergency.

By taxi There are two kinds of taxis: the ones with a meter and the ones on which you have to agree on a price before the trip. Of the metered taxis, the best service is given by Taxis Amarillo (yellow cabs). It is not possible to hail them in the street so you have to call 1766. They will demand an address (they can sometimes by quite picky about getting an exact address: look around at nearby houses, and give the correct zona) and normally a telephone number, so it might be wise to have someone call on your behalf from a restaurant or so. With Amarillo, every trip is logged, and riding is considered safe. The other kind of taxis are white. With these you have to negotiate a price, and as you are a foreigner, they most likely will demand more than the normal fare. Normally,

See

Antique churches provide the capital city with a very special historic and architectural touch, such as Cerrito del Carmen, Catedral Metropolitana, Calvario, Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Yurrita, and Iglesia de la Merced. The archaeological site of Kaminal Juyú is in this capital city, which according to specialists, is a city buried under one of the most commercial areas of the city, comprising Zona 7 and Zona 11.

1 National Palace of Culture (Palacio Nacional de la Cultura). Symbol of the city and former presidential palace. Tours operate every 15 minutes. You can see the interior courtyards and official function rooms, decorative artwork, wall murals, and a small statue commemorating the end of the civil war: a pair of hands that hold a fresh rose. Entrance Q40 for foreigners. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Mapa en Relieve, ☏ +502 2254-1114. Daily 09:00-17:00. At Minerva Park, at end of Av. Simon Cañas, Guatemala Zona 2. Entrance is Q16. This relief map depicting Guatemala's precipitous topography is so immense you have to view it from an observation tower. What makes it even more amazing is that it was built in 1904, before satellite or even aerial photography. 3 La Aurora Zoo, Zona 13. See local and exotic animals in a decent environment. Make sure to listen to the songbirds that gather in the trees above. 4 Kaminal Juyu Parque Arqueologico, Zona 7. An early Maya ruin right in the heart of the city. The buildings are mostly mounds, however, the excavations have opened up a lot of areas that are interesting to tour. 5 Parque Central (Plaza de la Constitucion). A town square established in 1776. 6 Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago de Guatemala. Consecrated in 1815. Beautiful, outside and inside. 7 Jardines Botánico, Calle Mariscal Cruz 1-56, Zona 10, ☏ +502 334 6064. First botanical garden in Central America. Houses a large variety of indigenous and exotic plant species in a mature, well-maintained facility. The garden is part of the Museum of Natural History, an operation of UCA. 8 Cayalá City (Ciudad Cayalá). A planned district built in a traditional style. Popular with locals and tourists. (updated Mar 2021)

Museums 9 National History Museum (Museo Nacional de Historia), 9A Calle 9, ☏ +502 2253 6149. (updated Mar 2021) 10 National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, MUNAE), 7 Avenida. Presents an archaeological sample of the Mayan civilization. This is where you find the famous Tikal mask. (updated Aug 2020) 11 Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing (Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena),

Do

Recreational activities can be done as well, from climbing volcanoes (Agua and Pacaya), to swimming in several recreational facilities, as well as water sports in Lago de Atitlán (lake). For recreation, you can visit 4 Grados Norte: pedestrian roads that offer great entertainment, commerce and cultural activities, and Zona Viva, an area of Zona 10 that has become the main center for nightlife. Guatemala City is an urban center with cultural diversity, cosmopolitan as well as traditional, in which traditional and folkloric abundance stands out, with legends such as El Cadejo or La Llorona. The city offers the tourist all the services and commodities and is normally the center of operations to set out to any of the other destinations in the Republic.

Shopping at the Central Market Every Sunday hundreds of People stroll at the Main Plaza ("Plaza Mayor") in Zona 1, where music, arts and food is provided Cinema

Los Proceres La Pradera Miraflores. Tikal Futura Pradera Concepcion. Newest cinemas in Guatemala with IMAX Theater Football

1 Guatemala National Football Team (Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores), 10A Avenida, ☏ +502 2412 7500. If you want to experience a football game in a country that's obsessed with football (Spanish: fútbol; North American/Oceanian English: soccer), spend a Sunday morning/afternoon at Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores. The most popular football club in the country, CSD Municipal ("Los Rojos"). Tickets are cheap and you can get them at the stadium entrance. Go to [1] to see when there is a local match. "Palco" is the most expensive seating with ample spaced seats followed by "Preferencia", "Tribuna", where the "hinchas", or fanatics, sit and "General Sur y Norte" which are the cheapest. The first three are best for a good view. The other big Guatemala City football team is Comunicaciones ("Los Cremas"). If Municipal isn't playing, go see Comunicaciones play as they share a stadium as their home venue. (updated Nov 2022) Tour

Authentic Guatemala, Cd. Guatemala, ☏ +502 4715-9095. Visit the highlights of the city with this comprehensive and educational tour. Tours run daily, call in advance. Private transportation and tour service is available throughout the entire country.

Buy

Guatemala is famous for its textiles. In the city you should be able to find textiles from all over the country. If you are particularly interested in Guatemala or the Maya, you might find books (in Spanish) here that are hard to get anywhere else. For books in English, you get better prices at an online bookstore like Amazon in most cases.

Textiles and artesania In Nola, 18 Calle 21-31, Zona 10. Tel +502 2337 4498. M-F 08:30-18:30, Sa 08:30-13:30. Enormous selection of fabrics by the yard (prices from Q20-60 depending on quality/thickness). Wood, clothes, leather, ceramic, souvenirs, traditional costumes. You can also get clothes sewn there. The artesania market, Zona 13. Lin-Canola, 5 Calle 9-60, Zona 1, ☏ +502 253-0138, fax: +502 232-0858. Enormous selection of fabrics by the yard (prices from Q20-60 depending on quality/thickness). Wood, clothes, leather, ceramic, souvenirs, traditional costumes. You can also get clothes sewn there. Centro guatemalteco de textiles, 5 Calle 9-41, Zona 1. Ceramic, wood and fabrics by the yard (Q15-25). Can't compete with the selection at Lin-Canola, but cheaper. In the same street you will find more shops with fabrics in the same price range, but none with the selection of Lin-Canola. Central Market, between 8 and 6 Calle/8 and 9 Avenida, Zona 1.

Bookstores You can rarely find travel guides for the region at these places (not even a Guatemala guide).

1 Librería SOPHOS, 4A Avenida 12-59, Zona 10 (in Plaza Fontabella), ☏ +502 2419 7070. (updated May 2022) 2 Artemis Edinter, Gran Centro Comercial Zona 4, second location at Oakland Mall, Diagonal 6, Zona 10, ☏ +502 2335 2409. M-F 09:30-18:00, Sa 10:00-18:00. (updated May 2022) Mundo de los Libros a Domicilio Guatemala, La Florida, 5A Avenida 1-14. M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa 10:00-15:00.

Shopping malls La Pradera, Blv. Los Proceres, Zona 10 3 Gran Centro Los Próceres, 18 Calle 2-21 Zona 10, Blvd. Los Proceres, ☏ +502 2326 3400. M-Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-19:00. (updated May 2022) 4 Unicentro, 9 Calle 5-47, ☏ +502 2366 6384. Su-F 10:00-19:00, Sa 10:00-20:00. (updated May 2022) 5 Oakland Mall, Diagonal 6, Zona 10. The newest shopping mall in the city, boasting the first restaurant aquarium in Latin America going by the Nais Aquarium. 6 Tikal Futura, Calzada Roosevelt 22-43 Zona 11. M-Sa 10:00-20:00, Su 10:00-19:00. (updated May 2022) 7 Miraflores, 21 Avenida 4-32 Zona 11. Su-F 10:00-20:00, Sa 10:00-21:00. (updated May 2022) 8 Pradera Concepción, Km 15.5 de Mall Pradera Concepción, Carr. a El Salvador. In Puerta Parada, next to the road to El Salvador.

6 Aven

Eat

Fast food You can find quite an array of American fast food restaurants (McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.) as well as Pollo Campero which is the most popular Guatemalan fast food chain. Fast food restaurants in Guatemala are very clean and accessible.

Street food Though a little risky, there are great street vendors that offer a variety of good local foods. Just remember to scope out the one with the best hygiene. This is the most more local.

Shucos can be found in carts that are usually parked in between "Estadio del Ejercito" and "Campo Marte" zona 5. They are comparable to a super charged hot dog with guacamole, meats such as "longaniza", "chorizo", and bacon. Just make sure you get the one with everything (Con todo). Mangoes or cucumbers with salt, pepitoria & limón - you can also get sliced fruit such as mangoes with "pepitoria" (roasted, crushed pumpkin seeds), salt, and lemon in a small clear bag. Or sliced oranges from carts all over the city. Gauchitos are also good cart foods. They are basically a pattie with scrambled egg, "chimichurri" and some dressings on a bun. You can find them in various places throughout the city. One favorite is on the "Mirador" on Carretera an El Salvador. It sits adjacent to Cafesa, diner like restaurant, on an outlook overlooking the city. You can order a "Súper Gauchito", a soda, and sit and admire the hustle and bustle of the city below. Atol de Elote is a very local and custom drink made from a corn (maize) base. It's somewhat sweet and a drink you must try. It's very rich so if you're not too hungry you can substitute it for a meal. The best place to try it is on the outlook on the other side of the city leaving towards Antigua. Just before you get to San Lucas. It's also another place where you can sit and admire the city from atop a mountain.

Carretera a Antigua Guatemala Restaurante La Abuelita, the best homemade food in San Lucas. Zona Viva, between Avenida La Reforma, 6 Avenida, 16 Calle and 10 Calle in Zona 10 is the best place to find restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Zona 10/Zona Viva Hacienda Real, ☏ +502 2380 8383. 5A Avenida 14-67, Zona 10. One of the best places for steak. Try the tortillas with guacamole, frijoles (beans) and chorizo for starters, and the steak pimienta as the main course. Serves a free, delicious caldo while you wait for the meal. Tre Fratelli, 4A Avenida, inside Plaza Fontabella, ☏ +502 2420 5350, [email protected]. Mainly Italian food. Tamarindos, ☏ +502 3296 8696. 5 Avenida 9-27, Zona 10. Asian fusion cuisine, duck, ostrich, steak, shrimps, and

Drink & nightlife

4 Grados Norte. A cultural district in Zona 4 in Guatemala City. It was a project of the municipality to convert this area into an attractive pedestrian area in 2002. Many green areas were created. Today the district also features bars, restaurants, shopping and cultural activities and has become one of the city's trendy and open minded areas, competing with Zona Viva in Zona 10. The most interesting places are perhaps the ones just outside the main street. It has, however, become less popular and developed a poor reputation. Bodegita del Centro, 12 Calle 3-55, Avenidas 3/4, Zona 1. El Portal, inside the complex (entrances from 8 Calle, 9 Calle and 6 Avenida) facing Parque Central, Zona 1. Supposedly Che Guevaras favorite place when he lived in Guatemala City in the early 1950s. El Establo, 14 Calle 508, Zona 10, ☏ +502 4206 9554. Daily 12:00-01:00. Everyone is just really chill and relaxed. The gay circuit in Guatemala is somewhat extensive, and it is growing every day.

Genetic Majestic Club, Ruta 3, near 4 Grados Norte. F Sa 19:00-0:100. It is Guatemala's biggest gay club, where you can get for free if you come before 21:00. It has two floors, and shows a variety of music: from Latin beats to europop. US$12.

Sleep

Most accommodations in the Zona Viva are within a few blocks making location less important than amenities like airport transfers or breakfast. Check for hidden costs and taxes (22%) before booking.

Budget Hostal GuateFriends, 16 Calle 7-40, Zona 13. Aurora 1, ☏ +502 2261-3460. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 13:00. In Zona 13, one minute from La Aurora International Airport, safe, private parking, affordable, breakfast, lunch and dinner, international foods prepared. Breakfast served 07:00-10:00 From US$18 per person in shared rooms and US$35-40 p/p in private rooms. Pension Meza, 10 Calle 10-17, Zona 1, ☏ +502 2230-1233. In Zona 1, near the Parque Central, safe, cheap, basic. From US$4 p/p in shared rooms and $8 p/p in private rooms. Dos Lunas Guest House, 21 Calle 10-92, Zona 13, fax: +502 2261-4248, [email protected]. Free services included: airport transfer to or from La Aurora airport, breakfast and WiFi internet. Close to the airport. Dorms and privates from US$14 p/p.. Hostal Hermano Pedro, 6a Avenida 20-53, Zona 13, ☏ +502 2261-4181, [email protected]. Free services included :airport transfer to or from La Aurora airport, breakfast and WiFi internet. Dorms and private from US$17 p/p. Close to the airport. (updated Jul 2019) Hostal Los Volcanes, 16 calle 8-00, Zona 13 Aurora, ☏ +502 2261-3040, +502 2261-3584, +502 5853-7016, [email protected]. It is 600 m from airport La Aurora. Dorms and privates from US$15 p/p. Hotel Spring, 8 Avenida 12-65, Zona 1, ☏ +502 232-2858. Double room US$22. English spoken. Situated in the colonial house, it has a nice cafeteria in the courtyard. But one annoying thing is that the entrance to the bathroom is very low, expect to bang your head at least once. It also provides internet access, but the prices are a bit steep. Apart from that clean and pleasant. Quetzalroo Backpackers, 6ta Avenida 7-84 zona 10, ☏ +502 5746-0830. A hostel in the financial district (near the airport). It is easy to find, as it's neighbors with the McDonald's in Zona 10. The atmosphere has the laid-back Aussie aspects from Jodie and the local knowledge of Manuel, who are the owners. The rooms go for dorm US$15; Single US$20; Double US$35. (updated Apr 2025) Tequila Sunrise Hostel, Ruta 5 7-33 Zona 4, ☏ +502 3287 8723, [email protected]. Check-in: 13.00, check-out: 11.00. 14 bed capsule mixed dormitory, garden, terrace, sun deck, shared lounge/tv area, baggage storage, Lockers, shared kitchen, speaks English, tour desk, free wifi in all areas. from $8 per person. (updated Jan 2022)

Mid-range Hilton Garden