Best Tourist Sim Cards in Guatemala in 2024
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Guatemala across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you plan on visiting Guatemala, having a SIM card is essential for easy navigation and access to the internet while traveling. With internet access, you can easily find the best restaurants, get directions to your accommodations, book a taxi, and share photos with your family on the go. While roaming is an option, international fees can quickly accumulate, so we highly recommend either getting an eSIM or a local SIM card to take advantage of local phone rates.
Luckily, obtaining either an eSIM or a local SIM card in Guatemala is a straightforward process. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all the information you need regarding purchasing a SIM card in Guatemala, including current pricing and the best SIM card options available.
The best sim card in Guatemala is the Claro tourist sim card which costs 199 GTQ and comes with 15GB data, free social media and unlimited calls and texts for 30 days. This is a pretty good deal!
If you’re looking for something a bit cheaper, then you can also just buy a Claro sim card for 25 GTQ then top up 55 GTQ and buy a prepaid plan. I recommend the 50 GTQ plan which comes with 6GB data + free social media for 15 days. This will be possible from any tienda (store) in town, but not from the airport – the official Tigo and Claro stores at the airport will charge at least the full 200 GTQ price (if not more).
You can also check out the Airalo Guatemala eSim here. The prices aren’t as competitive as the local sim cards for the same amount of data so I can’t recommend them for most travellers. However, if you only need 1GB of data for 7 days it will cost you just $7.50 USD (or 58 GTQ). This is a convenient and cheap option if you are just visiting for a couple of days.
The larger 3GB Airalo eSim, although still quite small, will cost you just $21 USD (165 GTQ) and will last for 30 days. This is a good option for travellers who value the convenience over the extra data.
A Tourist Sim Card in Guatemala costs 199 GTQ in December 2024, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Guatemala will cost between $7.50 USD and $21 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Guatemala which includes 3GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $21 USD.
There are two main sim card providers in Guatemala: Claro and Tigo. These are the leaders in the market and their mobile networks are the most extensive. Movistar is a third option but I prefer Claro and Tigo due to their stronger network.
They also offer a variety of plans that work well for different tourists, from tourist plans to local prepaid packs. I can personally recommend either and find them to be pretty much the same in real world use.
Claro is my preferred sim card when travelling in Guatemala. Their network is excellent and their mobile plans offer good value with heaps of data and minutes for a very low price.
That said, the price is still relatively high compared to their local plans. If you’re a budget traveller you should wait until you get into town as the prices at the airport are extremely high. You can purchase a sim card from any little tienda (store) and get them to help you add a plan. This will cost a fraction of the price, but may be a bit challenging if you don’t speak any Spanish! Google Translate should be good enough though.
The price of a Claro tourist sim card in Guatemala is 80 GTQ (25 GTQ for the sim card + 55 GTQ for the plan).
The plan offered by Claro stores includes 8GB data + free social media valid for 15 days.
Tigo is very similar to Claro and is a perfectly good option for tourists. I recommend making your way to the nearest tienda to your hotel / accommodation and asking them to help you purchase a prepaid sim card.
Tigo’s network is great and their plans cost around the same as Claro so just go for whichever the store has.
The price of a Tigo tourist sim card in Guatemala is 149 GTQ (50 GTQ for the sim card + 99 GTQ for the plan).
The plan offered by Tigo stores offers 10GB data + free social media + 200 minutes calls & SMS valid for 30 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Guatemala: Claro, Tigo and are your best options in Guatemala.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Guatemala. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Guatemala to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Claro, Tigo or staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Claro that includes 8GB data + free social media for 80 GTQ (25 GTQ for the sim card + 55 GTQ for the plan).
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 199 GTQ to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Guatemala at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Guatemala then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Guatemala have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Claro, Tigo and . Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Guatemala are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Guatemala with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Guatemala. The Airalo Guatemala eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $21 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Guatemala without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Guatemala is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Guatemala and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Guatemala eSim uses the Tigo and Claro networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Tigo and Claro networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Guatemala.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Guatemala eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $7.50 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $21 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 3GB data plan for $21 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Guatemala eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Guatemala eSim uses the Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala, S.A. (TELGUA)network to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Guatemala
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Guatemala eSim:
6GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $44 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is permanently embedded in a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike the traditional physical SIM cards, there is no need to physically insert or remove an eSIM from the device.
The eSIM is integrated into the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards.
The use of eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and ease of use, particularly for frequent travelers or people who switch between multiple mobile networks or travel internationally. It removes the need to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, simplifying the management of multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and enjoy voice, data, and messaging services just like with a physical SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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