Other Practical Information for Guatemala

Baggage and Equipment to Bring

On the coast or in the Petén, plan for lightweight clothing year-round, plus a warm layer for evenings or air conditioning. For the interior, in the mountains and highlands, it’s useful to bring warm clothes. Also pack rain and sun protection, as well as good walking shoes if you plan to hike.

Communications

Phone

International dialing code: (00 +) 502.

For low-cost calls, most cybercafés offer inexpensive communication options. Alternatively, you can buy prepaid Telguat (local telecom) cards to use in their phone booths and call centers.

Internet

Internet is widely available in the country, as is Wi-Fi, which is now common in hotels of all categories. In short, you won’t have much trouble finding a connection, especially in the most tourist-friendly areas.

Mail

Allow a full week for mail to reach Europe or Canada from Guatemala. As always, it’s best to post letters from major city post offices.

Time Difference

Local time: Heure : 3095.

Guatemala is on GMT-6. This means it’s 7 hours behind France in winter and 8 hours behind in summer.

Electricity

110 V (60 Hz) with "American" plugs (officially types A and B) and very occasionally "British" (type G), which will require an adapter for French plugs.

Opening Hours

Most shops are generally open from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM Monday to Saturday, with a lunch break. Banks are open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (or just 3:00 PM for some) on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Note that between Holy Wednesday and Easter Sunday, most businesses are closed.

Laundries

Local Tourist Offices

Weights and Measures

Except for gasoline sold by the gallon (3.5 L), weight and measurement standards are the same as in France.