The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Guatemala
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If you’ve been daydreaming about Mayan culture, coffee and chocolate farms, and volcano adventures, then it might be time to consider being a digital nomad in Guatemala.
The digital nomad and remote work scene in Guatemala has blossomed in recent years, which means right now is a great time to be a nomad in Guatemala and work remotely for a couple of weeks or months.
Whether you’re enchanted by Lake Atitlan and its views of volcanoes or you’re more of a city dweller with the stunning ruins of Antigua in mind, there’s something for everyone in Guatemala.
Teeming with adventure activities, culture, history, and so much more, Guatemala is by far one of my favorite places to live as a digital nomad—and that’s precisely why I am writing this post!
I’m here to tell you why you should put Guatemala on your digital nomad bucket list.
In this guide, I detail everything you need to know to help you decide whether or not Guatemala is your next digital nomad destination.
Read more below to learn about where to live in Guatemala as a digital nomad, WiFi expectations, community, Guatemala’s digital nomad visa requirements (if any), and more! 🇬🇹 💻 ⬇️
The Ultimate Guide: Guatemala for Digital Nomads
Your Guatemala Nomad Essential Toolkit
Before you debut your digital nomad adventures in Guatemala, here are some must-have tools and resources. Particularly, make sure to use an eSIM to get data abroad, and don’t forget to sign up for travel insurance.
✈️ Travel insurance: Stay safe in Guatemala with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance—ideal for travelers and remote workers on the go (starting at $56 per 4 weeks).
📱 Guatemala eSIM: Get data in Guatemala without changing your number with an easy-to-install Guatemala eSIM.
🗺️ Book Tours: Find local tours and experiences across Guatemala on GetYourGuide and Viator, like the Acatenango Volcano hike!
🚕 Airport Transfer: The easiest way to get from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua is via taxi, Uber, or private shuttle transfer ($25).
Even though Guatemala is safe to visit, unexpected health or travel events can happen anywhere, anytime. Guatemala faces many challenges and issues, from indigenous rights to rampant poverty and beyond.
Again, even though I felt safe living and traveling in Guatemala, getting insured for the unforeseen is wiser and safer than taking the risk.
I personally use and recommend signing up for SafetyWing Nomad Essential to cover emergency travel medical needs in Guatemala. It costs as little as $56 per four weeks and is ideal for most nomads.
However, if you need a bit more coverage and plan to stay in Guatemala (or abroad) longer-term, consider getting comprehensive health insurance plus travel medical insurance.
SafetyWing now offers Nomad Insurance Complete starting at $150/month.
Not sure which one you need?
- Essential: Travel medical insurance only, starting at $56/4 weeks
- Complete: Worldwide health insurance with travel coverage, starting at $150/month
Signing up takes less than five minutes, and coverage starts immediately. You can also enroll even if you’re already in Guatemala.
Don’t wait for accidents to happen—sign up today to protect your trip and health for as little as $56 per four weeks.
Cost of Living in Guatemala as a Digital Nomad
Guatemala is one of the cheaper Central American countries for digital nomads—especially if you are used to the sky-high European and North American costs of living.
So, just how much do you need to budget to be a digital nomad in Guatemala?
From our experience, you should plan to spend between $1100 and $2200 per month (as a digital nomad couple) in Guatemala. If you are traveling solo, you can expect to pay less.
Below is a breakdown of costs!
That said, please be mindful of your purchasing power as a temporary nomad in Guatemala!
For example, avoid overpaying for monthly rentals as this hurts the locals who can’t match the rent prices tourists are willing to pay.
As nomads, we have a responsibility to do good in the host communities we choose to visit and live in. Read more in my guide to ethical and responsible travel.
Your cost of living in Guatemala as a nomad will vary greatly depending on several factors.
For example,
- Will you be slow traveling and staying in one place for an extended time or traveling through the country digital nomad backpacker style and moving quickly?
- Where will you stay as a nomad? In a coliving space, a hostel, or a local apartment?
- What is your travel lifestyle like? Do you eat out a lot or cook at home? Do you shop at local markets?
So, it all depends!
Just to give you an idea of everyday living expenses in Guatemala for digital nomads and remote workers, here are some examples of the types of prices you’ll see for food/drink, monthly rent, and transport:
- Cup of coffee: Q20 ($2.60)
- Beer: Q20–40
- Restaurant meal: Q60–120
- Budget eats: Q30–60
- Coworking day pass: Q50–70
- Gringo accommodation: Q5000+ ($650+)
- Local rent: Q3500 ($450)
- Boat fare (Lake Atitlan): Q10–25/person
- Tuk-tuk ride in small towns or cities: Q5–10/person
- Shuttle to Antigua from Lake Atitlan: Q125+/person ($16)
The conversion rate from US Dollars or Euros to the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) varies per the market.
At the time of this writing, 1 USD is around Q 7.73 (GTQ), and 1 EUR is about Q 8.41.
Do You Need a Digital Nomad Visa for Guatemala?
Citizens from the US, UK, and EU, among other locations categorized as visa-exempt (Category “A”), do not need a visa to enter Guatemala for up to 90 days.
If you want to extend your stay as a digital nomad in Guatemala beyond those 90 days, you must fill out this Tourist Extension Form and go to Guatemala City.
Guatemala Entry Requirements for Visa-Exempt Nomads:
- Passport validity of six months, with one blank passport page
- Onward proof of travel is technically required
Basically, if the above applies to you, all you need to get into Guatemala as a digital nomad is a stamp in your passport.
It’s also important to note that Guatemala is part of the Central America Border Control Agreement (CA-4), similar to the European Union Schengen agreement.
In short, this means that the day you enter Guatemala or another CA-4 country (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), you have free movement between those countries for up to 90 days.
Unlike some Central American countries, proof of travel insurance or onward tickets isn’t required.
Nevertheless, consider getting travel medical insurance to cover your trip! Read more about medical provisions for tourists in Guatemala below.
Healthcare for Digital Nomads in Guatemala
Public and private hospitals in Guatemala are fairly affordable if you need general medical or emergency care.
You could probably pay out of pocket for routine check-ups, dental cleanings, and anything non-emergency.
For example, in Antigua, I paid $50 USD for a dental cleaning. (I highly recommend Smile Antigua, by the way!)
Services and their costs will vary, depending on where you travel in-country.
If you’re based in Panajachel, hospital prices at Pana Med are as follows:
- Regular Appointments: Q150 (general medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics)
- Specialist Appointments: Q300
- Emergency: Q300* — *base cost
Of course, just because medical expenses are cheaper in Guatemala than in North America/Europe, don’t forego signing up for travel medical insurance.
It only costs $56/4 weeks to protect your life and trip in an emergency. Perhaps best of all, it takes less than five minutes to sign up, and coverage starts on the first day you are abroad.
I have been insured with SafetyWing since 2018! You can read more about it in my SafetyWing Review.
What Are the Best Places to Live in Guatemala for Digital Nomads?
Now, here comes the fun part! Which towns or cities in Guatemala are ideal for digital nomads?
Surprisingly, there are several places in Guatemala where you can work remotely for a few weeks or months as a digital nomad.
Let’s start with my favorite!
Antigua — Guatemala’s Colonial Capital
Average monthly spending: $2200–$2500 (for two)
WiFi speeds: 10–20 Mbps
Why we love it: Volcanoes, history/culture, excellent food/drink, cafes, community
If you’re someone who thrives on coffee culture and wishes to explore your temporary home on foot, all while having access to epic day trips, activities, breweries, and more, then you would love being a digital nomad in Antigua!
There are so many awesome things to do in Antigua that make digital nomad life there so intriguing.
Besides that, it’s a gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely one of my favorite Latin American destinations and cities in the world.
Trust me, you won’t ever get bored being based in Antigua!
My partner and I had the chance to live in Guatemala’s colonial gem for two months and deemed it the best place to be a digital nomad in Guatemala.
We were trying out a new restaurant, brewery, or rooftop bar each week.
On weekends, we would go hiking on Pacaya Volcano, duck inside a cozy cafe for work, pretend to be hobbits at Hobbitenango, or snuggle up at home.
Antigua is also ideal for nomads thanks to its many cozy cafes with WiFi and coworking spaces, such as Impact Hub and El Cubo.
The only possible downside of Antigua is that it has quickly become a must-visit destination—for nomads and non-nomads alike.
That said, accommodation, food, and other expenses will be higher. Our expenses in Antigua were about $2200 per month as a couple.
Lake Atitlán — Central Highlands of Sololá
Average monthly spending: $1100–$1500 (for two)
WiFi speeds: 10–15 Mbps
Why we love it: Culture, natural beauty, fun activities, wellness, adventure, unique destination
The second best place to live in Guatemala as a digital nomad is Lake Atitlan (Lago de Atitlán) in the Guatemala Highlands.
Lake Atitlan is great for digital nomads who don’t mind trading more stable WiFi to be based in one of the most striking destinations on earth!
Imagine waking up to do your morning yoga before leisurely strolling into town to work for a few hours at a cafe overlooking the lake with three towering volcanoes in sight.
That’s Lake Atitlan in a nutshell.
The catch?
There are about a dozen towns around Lake Atitlan—only accessible by boat—but not all are ideal for nomads.
The best municipalities for digital nomads lare:
- San Pedro La Laguna
- San Marcos La Laguna
- Panajachel
- And possibly San Juan La Laguna
San Pedro is where we were based for 1.5 months as digital nomads in Lake Atitlan.
It’s the most backpacker-friendly of all the towns, with a bustling tourist scene. It has a handful of great cafes, restaurants, and hotels, but nothing that really compares to Antigua.
Want an idea of what there’s to do in this area? Read my ultimate Lake Atitlán itinerary for weekenders.
For a more bohemian vibe, head to San Marcos.
For a bustling shopping and commercial scene, Panajachel is the gateway to the lake and will offer the best in terms of WiFi stability. Pana is also where you’ll find Lake Atitlan’s only coworking spot — Selina Coworking/Coliving Hostel, though they may have just been bought out.
And if you’re more intrigued by arts, coffee, and local life, then try San Juan La Laguna.
From our experience, the WiFi was a bit more unreliable in Lake Atitlan than in Antigua. We had more outages than desired.
And on that note, a lot more spiders (and even scorpions) in our house, too. But that’s the reality of a tiny home perched on the slope of an ancient volcano. 🦂
As for housing options and availability, I will go into detail about that down below!
Flores — Petén’s Jungly Capital
Average monthly cost: $1000–$1500
WiFi speeds: 10–15 Mbps
Why consider it: Unique, backpacker community, adventure, Tikal
You’ve no doubt heard of Chichén Itzá in southern Mexico, but have you heard of Lago Petén Itzá in northern Guatemala?
Flores is a small island in Lake Petén, in the center of Guatemala’s Petén department.
But the real draw to the capital town of Flores is that it’s also the gateway to the Tikal ruins, which are often thought of as one of Central America’s best Mayan ruins sites.
Thanks to all this traveler foot traffic, more and more cafes with WiFi, cool hostels (like Los Amigos), and other nomad-friendly services are popping up in Flores.
I bet in a few years, this place will be one of Guatemala’s nomad hotspots as it is already a top place to visit for backpackers and tourists.
El Paredón — Pacific Coast Beach Town
Average monthly cost: $1000–$1500
WiFi speeds: 10 Mbps
Why consider it: Wellness, surfing, beach, off-beat
The Highlands aren’t the only places in Guatemala where you can live as a digital nomad or remote worker.
Head south to the Pacific coast, and you’ll find the sleepy coastal town of El Paredón (El Paredón Buena Vista).
From what I can tell, El Paredón is similar to Sayulita, Mexico, but maybe what it was like fifteen years ago.
In short, nomads and travelers flock to El Paredón not for coffee or volcanoes but for the surf.
As a surfing town, you can expect a couple of the digital nomad staples—i.e., cute cafes for living the laptop lifestyle (like Cafecito del Mar), fun things to do, thatched surf houses, and an up-and-coming nomadic community.
I’ve heard the WiFi is not great in El Paredón, so you should consider getting a Guatemala TIGO sim card, just in case.
Other places for nomads in Guatemala
If you’re looking for a destination that’s safe, well-on-the-beaten-tourist path, and has good WiFi, Antigua is your best bet.
However, there are so many underrated places to visit in Guatemala.
You might also consider looking into these destinations:
- Livingston — A town on the Caribbean coast that’s alive with vibrant Garifuna culture. Livingston is very unique and different from what you will experience elsewhere in Guatemala! Nearby are the beautiful Río Dulce and Lago de Izabal.
- Guatemala City — Although the city has previously been deemed as somewhat dangerous, its Zones 1 and 4 are becoming trendy digital nomad hubs.
- Xela (Quetzaltenango) — Xela is a more local city in Guatemala that rarely sees the average tourist. However, that’s no reason to discount it!
Finding Accommodation in Guatemala as Nomads
In our experience, the best way to slow travel as nomads in Guatemala is to rent a local studio or apartment.
However, if you are traveling faster as a nomad backpacker, hostels might be cheaper and easier to find.
Otherwise, there are several ways to go about finding short and long-term monthly rentals in Guatemala.
- 👉 Search local housing on Guatemala Facebook groups — Make sure to search by destination (e.g. Antigua Rentals, Lake Atitlan, Flores, etc).
- 💻 Try to find local listings on rental websites — These can range from LongtermLettings.com to Anyplace.com.
- 🏡 Consider staying in a co-working/co-living — Check out Selina Guatemala.
- 💵 Negotiate a monthly deal on Airbnb — This doesn’t work every time, but it’s a great way to snag unique accommodation in Guatemala’s off-season.
Coworking & Coliving in Guatemala
An extra note on coworking spots in Guatemala — for now, there isn’t an overabundance of coworking and coliving options for nomads in Guatemala.
The two Selina offers are the most trusted, beautiful, and well-known—one in Lake Atitlan and the other in Antigua. However, this may have changed since Selina’s bankruptcy resulting in all of its worldwide locations being bought out.
Getting Around and Traveling in Guatemala as a Digital Nomad
Once you pick a location, the next item on your to-do list is to find out how you are getting there!
Before going to Guatemala, we were living as digital nomads in San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico. We took a shuttle from San Cristóbal to Panajachel and crossed into Guatemala by land.
You might do the same thing if you are also in Mexico or Belize, Honduras, or El Salvador.If you are not planning on entering Guatemala by land, then you will find the cheapest airfare flying into Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA).
Once you are in-country, there are a few ways to get around:
- 🚌 Local chicken bus — These are loud and colorful American school buses that have been painted and converted into the local mode of transport (these are an iconic national symbol of Guatemala!).
- 🚐 Shuttle or shared minivan — Mostly for transport between major cities/towns (i.e. to or from Antigua to Lake Atitlan or Antigua to Flores).
- 🚙 Rental car — For an epic DIY road trip!
- 🚕 Uber, taxi, or tuk-tuk — For getting around within towns and cities like Antigua or Lake Atitlan.
Certainly, the most expensive option is a rental car, although it might not be the best choice if you are not familiar with Guatemala.
In my opinion, the easiest and safest transportation options are to take the mid-tier route and take shared minivans or private shuttles.
✈️ To get from the airport to Antigua, it takes about 45 minutes to one hour, depending on traffic. The easiest way to get there (that doesn’t cost too much) is to take an Uber or shuttle. This is what we did a few times!
The Best Time of Year to Work Remotely in Guatemala
Next, when should you visit Guatemala as a nomadic traveler?
As you may already know, Guatemala’s climate is quite diverse.
It has the hot and humid jungle up north in Petén, the sultry coast of the Pacific to the south, and the cooler and high-altitude Highlands.
No matter which destination you choose, there is a distinct dry and wet season in Guatemala that makes the best times to visit fall between the months of November and May.
They don’t call Guatemala the “Land of Eternal Spring” for nothing. Most of the country’s climate is springlike and pleasant.
We were in Lake Atitlán in the spring, and I must say, it was lovely!
We moved to Antigua at the end of April and were hoping for more sunshine, but the rainy season came early and put a chilly damper on our plans to hike Acatenango.
🌸 Before you arrive in Guatemala, plan what activities and destinations you’d like to visit, depending on how long you plan to be in the country!
Unmissable Things to as a Digital Nomad in Guatemala
Speaking of Acatenango, there are many bucket-list-worthy things to do as a digital nomad traveler in Guatemala.
First up, you have to hike up a volcano—whether roast marshmallows on Pacaya, camp overnight at Acatenango Basecamp, or birdwatch while tramping up one of the three volcanoes surrounding Lake Atitlan.
If you are seeing more of the country than Antigua or Lake Atitlan, consider adding these other must-dos to your list!
- 🌿 Swimming in the natural pools at Semuc Champey
- 🇬🇹 Exploring Tikal National Park in Petén
- 🏄♀️ Surfing it up at El Paredón
- 🌳 Kayaking on the Rio Dulce
- 🗣 Immersing yourself in Spanish Language School
- ☕️ Touring a coffee farm in the Highlands
- 🌋 Trek and camp on Volcán de Acatenango
- 🥾 Hiking Santa Maria in Xela
- 💐 Shopping at the sprawling Chichicastenango Market
- 🏖 Learning about Garifuna culture in Livingston
And that’s just the start! There is so much more to discover in Guatemala.
Overall, Is Guatemala Safe & a Good Country for Digital Nomads?
Finally, is Guatemala safe for digital nomads? And is it worth your time?
I understand safety is relative, but during our time in Lake Atitlán and Antigua, I felt very safe as a female digital nomad.
Rest assured that all of the locations I feature above, while they may be less frequented, are accustomed to seeing foreign tourists.
As for whether Guatemala is a good country for digital nomads, it simply depends on your nomadic lifestyle.
I personally think Guatemala is so underrated for travel and nomadism!
It has an incredibly rich indigenous culture(s), natural beauty, and colonial history. There’s also a fantastic food and drink scene everywhere you go, and tons of adventurous activities around every corner.
It’s kinda hard not to fall in love with Guatemala!
If you are more of an adventurous digital nomad, Guatemala would be RIGHT up your alley. I do not doubt that if you go and leave, you’d immediately start itching to go back as soon as possible — as I am! 🇬🇹
I hope this digital nomad guide helps plan your stay in Guatemala! Please drop me a comment below with your expectations, experiences, or questions.