The Best eSIMs & SIM cards for Traveling in Guatemala

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Using a SIM card is the best way to keep your phone connected and up to speed in Guatemala! 

Luckily, getting a SIM card for Guatemala is fairly easy. Whether you decide to purchase a prepaid SIM card or use an eSIM, you have plenty of options to choose from. 

The main providers of physical SIM cards in Guatemala are Tigo, Claro, and Movistar.

Movistar is convenient if you often travel between Guatemala and Mexico, as their cell phone service will follow you between the countries.

For the best eSIMs, I highly recommend Airalo! You can purchase a plan for Guatemala alone or for the Latin America region. Another eSIM option is Holafly. 

As globetrotting digital nomads, we typically switch SIM cards in each new country we visit.

Airalo makes it extremely easy to purchase and install new eSIMs for every new destination, but you’ll also typically be able to find physical SIM cards too. 

This means that we always have access to the fastest 4G LTE/5G internet, which is super helpful for having GPS, WhatsApp, and social media whenever we aren’t connected to the WiFi in our apartment or Antigua’s cafes and co-working spaces.

This handy little guide will tell you exactly how to get a SIM or eSIM card for Guatemala.

How to Get a SIM Card (eSIM & Physical) in Guatemala

Physical SIM Card vs. eSIM Card for Guatemala

Physical SIM cards and eSIMs have pros and cons. I’ll explain them below to help you decide which option is right for your adventures in Guatemala!

eSIM Cards

Pros: 

• eSIMs can be installed before you even arrive! 
  • Worried about landing in a new country without phone service? Your eSIM could be installed and activated before you arrive, so you can use it as soon as you land.
• They’re easy to top up and add extra data.
• You don’t have to keep track of a tiny SIM card.

Cons: 

• eSIMs are often a little more expensive than physical SIM cards.
• Certain eSIM options (like Airalo) don’t allow traditional calling. You’ll still be able to communicate via WhatsApp, but you won’t be able to call or send SMS messages in the traditional sense. Holafly does allow calls and texting.
• To install an eSIM, you’ll need an iPhone XS, a Samsung Galaxy S23, or a newer phone that is unlocked and eSIM compatible.

Cost of an eSIM Card + Data Packages

Airalo’s Guatemala eSIM, also called the Tikal Mobile plan, comes in 1, 2, 3, and 5 GB plans. The cost varies depending on the plan, ranging from $6.50 to $25.50.

Be sure to pay extra attention to when these plans expire. The more GBs you purchase, the more time you have to use them, up to 30 days. 

With Airalo, you can also purchase a regional package, like the Latin America package, that covers most of Central and South America. This is another good option if you’re traveling from country to country quickly, like Mexico to Guatemala.

The Latin America regional package costs $15 to $60, depending on the number of GBs you want, from 1GB to 5GB.

Holafly is another eSIM provider, although its prices are significantly higher. For its Guatemala eSIMs, packages range from $29 to $79. Holafly has unlimited data and quantifies usage by time instead of GBs. 

You can choose from a 5-day package to a 30-day package. Holafly’s benefit is that you can call and text using their eSIMs, which explains the higher charges.

Guatemala’s SIM card providers, like Claro, also offer eSIMs that might be worth checking out!

How to Activate Your eSIM

Activating an eSIM is slightly tricky, but Airalo makes it fairly easy. 

To start, you’ll need a strong internet connection. This is one reason why it’s a good idea to install your eSIM ahead of time if possible. 

Download the Airalo app, choose your destination and package, and it will walk you through the installation and activation steps. It’s extremely simple, and activating your eSIM should only take a few minutes.

After installation is complete, you should be good to go! 

If you need help, fast customer support is available, but you’ll need WiFi to contact them.

Physical SIM Cards

Pros: 

• If you’re in the old phone club, you might be unable to install an eSIM. In that case, a physical SIM card will work perfectly fine!  
• Do you need to make local or international phone calls and send text messages? This is your best option, as many eSIMS aren’t compatible with these functions.
• Most physical SIM cards have a longer expiration date.

Cons: 

• You’ll have to find a shop that sells physical SIM cards and install them manually. You cannot install them ahead of time.
  • This isn’t difficult, but it’s an extra headache, considering you can install eSIMs anywhere, anytime!
• It can be difficult to keep track of the tiny, physical SIM cards, especially if you plan on visiting multiple countries.

Where to Get a Physical SIM Card

SIM cards are available throughout Guatemala.

Whether you choose Tigo, Claro, or Movistar, you can easily find them along popular streets in almost every major town and city.

We picked ours up on the main street in Panajachel, the biggest town around the beautiful Lake Atitlán.

Note that you cannot buy a SIM card in the little mini supers (markets/tiendas) with Tigo pre-paid signs on them; Those are just for recharging your Tigo SIM once you have it and want to replenish your data.

If you type the names of these SIM card companies into your GPS, you will find the nearest agency and suppliers near you. Alternatively, you can check this website to find agencies nationwide.

Cost of a Physical SIM Card + Data Packages

A physical SIM card costs around 100Q in Guatemala.

To activate it, you must buy a minimum internet package of 10Q (we chose the cheapest package). The package lasts only two days and comes with 300 MB + WhatsApp, so it’s not much.

Once the two days are up, you can refill online or in person with a plan that lasts 30 days and comes with 8GB of data (enough for getting around/browsing) and unlimited social networks.

The internet packages don’t come with voice or SMS. For that, check out the Tigo prepaid plans.

How to Activate Your Physical SIM

If you travel a lot, you might be used to taking out your SIM card and replacing it with another one while in-country.

To activate it, turn your phone off, do the exchange, and turn it back on.

Navigate to your Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Network Operators and select TIGO or the name of your SIM card provider.

If you install it in person, the agent will do this for you. It should only take a couple of minutes.

Are Guatemala SIM Cards Fast?

From my experience, SIM cards in Guatemala are fast and reliable. 

With my Tigo SIM card, I had 4G LTE connectivity, which was fast enough for my needs as a digital nomad. You’ll be able to get 5G connectivity in Guatemala’s largest cities, like Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango, although more rural areas may only have 4G LTE. 

Claro has slightly better coverage overall than Tigo these days, but both are great options! You can check the network coverage for the cities you’ll be visiting ahead of time.

A SIM card or eSIM is extra convenient if you work remotely, as you can use your phone as a digital hotspot. 

If you plan on traveling around Guatemala, I highly recommend you try out the Airalo Guatemala eSIM to stay connected to the internet while you wander before getting a physical SIM.

While eSIMs are the fastest and most reliable option for digital nomads today, buying a physical SIM might be worth it if you plan to stay in Guatemala long term. 

If you have questions about SIM cards or life as a digital nomad in Guatemala, please comment below!

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