Stay online in Guatemala from the moment you land in Guatemala City. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, WhatsApp and your shuttle bookings from Antigua to Lake Atitlán.
Guatemala eSIM
Guatemala eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
10.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$17.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$29.99
Buy this plan
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in Guatemala
Which plan fits your trip
Guatemala is sold on our global plans, which cover it together with more than 160 other countries in one install. They suit a trip in Guatemala alone as well as one that continues to Mexico, Belize or El Salvador. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use: maps, messages, shuttle bookings and photos every day. A loop through Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Tikal is steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Fixed data suits a longer, slower trip, such as a Spanish course in Antigua, where you use your homestay's Wi-Fi most of the time.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Landing in Guatemala
International flights arrive at La Aurora airport in Guatemala City, about an hour's drive from Antigua. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then message your shuttle driver or hotel before you reach the exit. Uber runs in Guatemala City.
WhatsApp runs the trip
Shuttle companies, guesthouses, Spanish schools and tour guides in Guatemala arrange almost everything by WhatsApp: pickup times, changes and directions. Keep your data on, especially on travel days between Antigua, the lake and Flores.
Coverage
Coverage is good in Guatemala City, Antigua, Panajachel, Flores and along the main highways. It is patchier in the smaller villages around Lake Atitlán, inside Tikal National Park, at Semuc Champey and on the Acatenango and Pacaya volcano hikes, where you may be offline for hours or overnight. Download offline maps and save your bookings before you set out.
How much data do you need?
A typical traveler using maps, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. Video calls and working from a laptop push that up, so pick the larger daily allowance if you stream or work.
Networks in Guatemala
Guatemala's mobile networks are Tigo and Claro. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Guatemala eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Guatemala?
Usually, yes. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a two-week trip those passes add up to much more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Does it work at Lake Atitlán?
In Panajachel and the larger lake towns, yes. In smaller villages around the lake and on boats between them, the signal can be weak, so save your bookings before you go.
Is there signal on the Acatenango hike or at Tikal?
Little or none on most of the Acatenango climb and at the overnight camp, and limited inside Tikal National Park. Download what you need in Antigua or Flores first.
Can I use the same eSIM in Mexico, Belize or El Salvador?
Yes, if the countries are on the plan's list. Guatemala is sold on our global plans, so one install keeps you online across the countries the plan covers. Check the list on the plan before you buy.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.
Guatemala travel guides
Our guides for getting online there.
