Business Customs

With a population of over 17.9 million, Guatemala has the largest economy of Central America. Guatemalan business executives and government officials place great importance on personal contacts with suppliers. U.S. suppliers should be prepared to have a local representative or distributor, and to travel to Guatemala personally.

The dress code for Guatemala City business appointments depends on the type of meetings planned and sector. For meetings in the capital, executives should wear standard U.S. business attire. For meetings in factories, farms, or plants casual attire is recommended.  
Although many senior executive Guatemalans in the private sector speak and read English, promotional material should be in Spanish and emphasize U.S. origin. Guatemalans are extremely receptive to technical presentations that are educational rather than sales oriented.

Travel Advisory

The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala provides travel information to U.S. citizens through the Country Information Sheet which is updated annually.

Since June 2022, Guatemala has had a Level 3 Travel Advisory in effect, recommending that travelers reconsider travel due to crime. Three departments within the country have a Level 4 Travel Advisory, suggesting that travelers do not travel to specific areas within those departments due to crime and safety concerns. A description of the Travel Advisory Levels can be found on the Country Information Sheet.  In addition, the U.S. Embassy regularly shares information with U.S. Citizens in Guatemala through messages that can be accessed through the Alerts and Messages section of the Embassy’s website.

All U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Guatemala are encouraged to register with the Embassy through the online Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Visa requirements

U.S. Citizens do not need to obtain a visa before traveling to Guatemala. Upon entry into Guatemala, visitors are normally granted a temporary stay of 90 days. Those who wish to remain longer will need to apply to extend their visa with Guatemalan immigration authorities within 90 days of their arrival in Guatemala. Information about applying for permanent residency or extending a visa in Guatemala can be found at: http://igm.gob.gt/.

U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that each traveler will need to apply and qualify separately for a Nonimmigrant Visa.  Visa applicants should go to the following links:
•    State Department Visa Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html
•    U.S. Embassy Guatemala Nonimmigrant Visa Services:   https://gt.usembassy.gov/visas/

Currency

Local currency is the “Quetzal”. There is a broad presence of ATM machines throughout Guatemala City, but they are much less available in rural areas. In general, businesses within Guatemala City and well-frequented tourist areas accept international credit cards. When traveling to the rural areas or smaller towns in Guatemala, it is a recommended to bring local cash to purchase artisan products, or food from smaller local vendors.  

Telecommunications/Electronics

Internet access is widely accessible by computers and smartphones. Hotels offer internet and telephone services and many restaurants within the city offer WiFi service. Local SIM cards can be purchased for visitors without international cell service with Claro and Tigo as the primary mobile cellular and internet providers.  

Transportation

Several U.S. airlines offer direct flights to Guatemala from the United States, including American Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit, and United. Additionally, there are many direct flights between Guatemala and major U.S. transit hubs.  

Transportation between the airport and hotels is available by hotel shuttle, Uber, or taxi. Several rental car companies are represented at Guatemala City’s airport. However, traffic is often very heavy and chaotic. Guatemala has one of the highest rates of crime in Latin America; therefore, it is recommended that travelers take taxis from the major hotels, or dispatch taxis such as Taxis Amarillos (yellow cabs). Public bus transportation is unsafe and is not recommended. Visitors should only travel between cities during daylight hours, and we recommend contacting the Guatemalan Protection of Tourist Office at (502) 2290-2800 or 1500 for updates on safety issues and possible security escorts for specific routes.

Language

While there are over 22 languages in use in Guatemala; Spanish is the official language.  Many firms are accustomed to working in English; however, correspondence should be in Spanish. Catalogs and technical literature should be provided with careful translation.  

Health

·    Medical Facilities and Health Information:  A full range of medical care is available in Guatemala City, but medical care outside the capital is limited.  Guatemala’s public hospitals frequently experience serious shortages of basic medicines and equipment. Care in private hospitals is generally adequate for most common illnesses and injuries, and many of the medical specialists staffing them are U.S.-trained and certified. 
·    Food:  Most well-known restaurants in Guatemala serve safe food and beverages. As in any part of the world, common sense should prevail, and standard dietary precautions observed.
·    Drink: Bottled drinks are considered safe. Tap water is generally not potable. Commercially available water bottled in Guatemala has been judged safe for consumption.  All reputable restaurants in Guatemala use commercially produced ice that is safe for consumption.  
·    Vaccinations: Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by calling 1-800-232-4636 or visiting CDC’s Internet site at www.cdc.gov/travel/.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad and additional health information for travelers, consult the site of the World Health Organization at www.who.int/en. 
·    Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their health insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as medical evacuations.  Many hospitals in Guatemala require payment prior to treating patients, even if personal insurance will cover the treatment.  Hospitals do not typically enter into payment plan agreements. Travelers should be aware that they may have to pay in advance and seek reimbursement.

Local time, business hours, and holidays

The time in Guatemala is one hour behind Eastern Standard Time and 2 hours behind Easter Daylight Savings Time.  

Business hours are similar to those in the United States, with typical office hours from 8am to 5pm. Businesses open to the public, like restaurants and grocery stores, tend to be open later, closing closer to 10pm.

The list of Guatemalan holidays can be found on the U.S. Mission Holiday Schedule 2025  

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings

The temporary entry of materials and belongings for personal use while in Guatemala (such as camera equipment, cellular telephones, laptop computers) is generally not a problem. Larger quantities of products and display systems for participation in trade events or tools and equipment for projects should be imported temporarily with the assistance of a customs broker, or with the help of the event organizer.