How to Get a Guatemalan Phone Number & SIM Card

Getting a local SIM card is one of the first things you should do when arriving in Guatemala. A local number gives you affordable data, the ability to make local calls, and access to services that require a Guatemalan phone number (like delivery apps, bank verification, and WhatsApp with a local number). The good news: it's cheap, easy, and can be done within minutes of landing.

Guatemala has three main carriers: Tigo (by Millicom), Claro (by America Movil), and Movistar (by Telefonica). Tigo has the best overall coverage and is the most popular choice for expats. Claro offers competitive data prices and decent coverage. Movistar is the smallest and generally not recommended unless you're in an area where the other two have poor signal. For most visitors, Tigo is the safe default.

You can buy a SIM card at the airport (there's a Tigo kiosk in the arrivals hall at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City), at any carrier store in town, or at small tiendas and phone shops throughout the country. Airport kiosks charge a small premium but offer the convenience of getting connected immediately. In Antigua, there are Tigo and Claro stores on the main streets near Central Park.

As of 2026, SIM card registration requires a valid passport. The process takes about 10 minutes: present your passport, choose a plan, and the staff will activate the SIM in your phone. If your phone is locked to a specific carrier, you'll need to unlock it first (most modern phones purchased outright are already unlocked). eSIM is available through Tigo for compatible phones — ask at the store.

Data plans are remarkably affordable. Tigo's prepaid plans include: Q30 ($4) for 1.5GB valid for 7 days; Q75 ($10) for 5GB valid for 15 days; Q100 ($13) for 10GB valid for 30 days; and Q150 ($19) for 20GB valid for 30 days. These plans include social media data (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram) that doesn't count against your data cap. For most travelers, the Q100/month plan is the sweet spot.

To recharge your balance, you have several options. The easiest is buying recharge cards (tarjetas de recarga) at any tienda, convenience store, or gas station — just tell the cashier your carrier and amount. You can also recharge through the Tigo or Claro apps using a debit card, or via bank transfer. In rural areas where stores are scarce, the app-based recharge is invaluable.

A few things to know about phone usage in Guatemala. WhatsApp is the primary communication platform — businesses, landlords, tour operators, and even some government services use WhatsApp instead of phone calls or email. Having a local WhatsApp number makes daily life significantly easier. Also, many restaurants and services list only a WhatsApp number, not a phone number or website.

For digital nomads who need a reliable data connection as a backup for cafe WiFi, consider getting a mobile hotspot device (available at Tigo stores for about Q200-300) with a separate data-only SIM. This gives you a dedicated connection for your laptop that doesn't drain your phone battery. The Q150/month plan on a hotspot device provides solid backup internet.

If you're staying long-term and want to avoid monthly top-ups, Tigo and Claro both offer postpaid plans starting around Q150-200/month ($19-26) with higher data allowances and better customer service. These require a passport and sometimes a local address. The advantage of postpaid is automatic renewal and the ability to make international calls at reasonable rates.

Pro tip for money transfers: avoid using your home country's bank to buy quetzales at poor exchange rates. Instead, use Wise (formerly TransferWise) to transfer USD or EUR to a Guatemalan bank account at the mid-market rate with fees of just 0.5-1%. This saves you 3-5% compared to ATM withdrawals with foreign cards.