Cheap flights to Guatemala City
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Guatemala City and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
Guatemala
Continent
North America
Airport
GUA
Currency
Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ)
Time zone
UTC-6 (no daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Guatemala City
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
An airport south of the centre, a base for Antigua, Atitlán and Tikal
La Aurora (GUA)
La Aurora International Airport, code GUA, is the country's main airport, in Zone 13 south of the centre: 6.4 km according to Wikipedia (EN), which also puts it 25 km from Antigua Guatemala. Wikivoyage (EN) lists daily arrivals from the United States, Mexico and several Central American capitals. Wikivoyage (DE) notes that most visitors move on to Antigua on the day of arrival or the next day, with daytime shuttles.
Schedules and routes change: check them before you travel. We do not quote fares. Wikivoyage (EN) mentions carjackings on the road from the airport: arrange a transfer in advance.
Guatemala City is the capital and largest city of the country, and the largest urban area in Central America (Wikipedia EN, FR). It lies in the Valle de la Ermita at about 1,500 m (Wikipedia FR, ES). The city is above all the country's gateway: Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Tikal can be reached from the capital, by road or by a domestic flight.
To Antigua, Atitlán and Tikal
Antigua Guatemala, the former colonial capital, is about 25 km from the airport (Wikipedia EN); travel time depends on traffic. Lake Atitlán is in the highlands, further by road. For Tikal, Wikivoyage (EN) lists domestic flights to Flores, near the site. Each of these destinations has its own page or guide: we do not detail them here.
Entry rules
Entry rules depend on your nationality: check the official websites of your country of departure and of Guatemala.
Landmarks
Plaza de la Constitución, the National Palace, the cathedral and the central churches
Guatemala City was founded after the 1773 earthquake destroyed Antigua Guatemala, the old colonial capital; the present centre dates from the second half of the eighteenth century (Wikipedia EN, DE). The city was almost entirely destroyed by the 1917-1918 earthquakes and rebuilt with wider streets (Wikipedia EN), and another major earthquake struck in 1976 (Wikipedia DE). The historic centre, Zone 1, holds most of the monuments.
The Metropolitan Cathedral
The Cathedral of Santiago, consecrated in 1815 (Wikivoyage EN), dominates the Plaza de la Constitución with its clock towers and blue domes. Wikipedia (EN) stresses the city's role in the Act of Independence of Central America, signed here in September 1821.
The National Palace of Culture
A former presidential palace and a symbol of the city, it is visited with a guide, and Wikivoyage (EN) mentions frequent departures: you see interior courtyards, official rooms, murals and a sculpture of two hands holding a rose. The "kilometre zero" of the country's roads is inside (Wikivoyage EN). Hours and access change: check them.
The Church of San Francisco
Downtown, this church with a pale pediment and Corinthian columns is one of the capital's old churches. Wikivoyage (EN) also lists Cerrito del Carmen, Calvario, Santo Domingo, Yurrita and La Merced.
The square and the Paseo de la Sexta
The central park, the Plaza de la Constitución, was laid out in 1776 (Wikivoyage EN, DE). To the south, the Paseo de la Sexta is a pedestrian shopping street (Wikivoyage DE). As anywhere downtown, keep an eye on your belongings and avoid lingering after dark.
The Mapa en Relieve
In Minerva Park, in Zone 2, an immense relief map of the country, built in 1904, is viewed from an observation tower (Wikivoyage EN).
Museums and culture
Maya archaeology, pre-Columbian art and a cultural centre
Wikipedia (FR) counts about thirty galleries and museums in the city, including several collections of pre-Columbian art, and five universities, among them San Carlos, the third oldest in the Americas still in operation. Always check opening hours before you go: we do not quote prices.
The National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Its rooms present pieces from Maya civilisation and other peoples of the country, around a circular courtyard with a fountain. It complements a visit to Tikal or other Maya sites well.
The Miguel Ángel Asturias Cultural Centre
This modern complex houses the National Theatre and a concert hall; its architecture, with pointed roofs, is recognisable from afar. An open-air theatre completes the site. Check the programme on site.
Kaminal Juyú
This Maya archaeological park, in Zone 7, was occupied from about 1500 BC to 1200 AD (Wikipedia EN); the buildings are mostly mounds, but excavations have opened several areas to visitors (Wikivoyage EN).
Other places
Wikivoyage (EN) also lists La Aurora Zoo, and Wikivoyage (DE) the railway museum in the former main station.
Food and drink
Shucos, atol de elote and fruit with lime
Street food
Wikivoyage (EN) notes that street food is a little risky but interesting, and that you should pick the stalls with the best hygiene. Specialities include the shuco, a hot dog topped with guacamole and meats; the gauchito, a bun with a patty and scrambled egg; slices of mango or cucumber with salt, lime and toasted pumpkin seeds; and atol de elote, a thick maize drink.
Typical dishes
In restaurants you will find national dishes such as pepián, a spiced stew, and tamales. We do not recommend a specific address: ask your host.
Districts
Zone 10 concentrates upscale hotels and restaurants, with the Zona Viva for nightlife; Zone 14 and 4 Grados Norte are also cited for evenings out (Wikivoyage EN).
Getting around
Transmetro, buses, taxis and numbered zones
Numbered zones
The city is divided into about twenty numbered zones: Zone 1 is the historic centre, Zone 4 holds official buildings and Zone 10 most of the upscale hotels and restaurants (Wikivoyage EN).
Transmetro and buses
The Transmetro is a bus rapid transit network on dedicated lanes, with fixed stops and a rechargeable card; Wikivoyage (EN) says it has seven lines and that stops are guarded. The blue-and-white Transurbano buses cover more routes, more slowly.
Taxis
Wikivoyage (ES) advises finding out the fare for a taxi to your zone before getting in, and notes that public transport thins out after 7 pm, which often means taking a taxi. Ask your accommodation to order a car.
Budget and safety
A mid price level, and a safety note to take seriously
Price level
Guatemala is often described as an affordable destination; the price level is medium, with differences between districts of the capital and types of lodging. The currency is the quetzal (GTQ). We do not give ranges, as we could not confirm them on two independent sources.
Flights
The flight is the most variable item in the budget. SniperAir monitors prices to GUA and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets.
Safety
Guatemala City has a reputation for high crime (Wikivoyage EN). Wikivoyage (DE) notes that the situation has improved but that you should stay vigilant by day, not move about on foot after dark, and that the surroundings of the former railway station, the outer centre and several neighbouring zones are not entirely safe from assaults; the central square in Zone 1 and Zone 10 are described as somewhat safer. Official advisories vary by country of departure: consult yours. On the spot, ask your accommodation which districts to avoid, arrange transfers and do not show valuables.
When to go
A dry season from November to April, rain from May to October
November to January
Dry season: clearer skies, mild days and cool evenings thanks to the altitude.
February to April
End of the dry season: dry weather, sometimes windy, with higher temperatures towards the end.
May to August
Rainy season: showers are more frequent, often in the afternoon.
September to October
The heaviest rains before dry weather returns.
According to Wikipedia (FR), altitude tempers the climate: the rainy season runs from May to October and the dry season covers the rest of the year; the annual mean temperature is about 20.7 °C, and the city is often swept by wind. We give no other temperatures, as we could not cross-check them. Pack layers and a rain jacket.
How long to stay
What to do in Guatemala City depending on your stay
Stopover or arrival
The Plaza de la Constitución, the cathedral and the National Palace, then a transfer to Antigua or your next stop.
Centre and museums
The archaeology museum, the Mapa en Relieve, the cultural centre and Kaminal Juyú, with Zone 10 for dinner.
The country from the capital
Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Tikal by domestic flight to Flores, keeping the capital as your starting point.
In pictures
Guatemala City in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Guatemala City
How far is GUA airport from the centre?
La Aurora airport is in Zone 13, about 6.4 km south of the centre according to Wikipedia (EN). Antigua Guatemala is about 25 km from the airport; travel time depends on traffic.
What is there to see in Guatemala City?
The Plaza de la Constitución, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace of Culture, the Paseo de la Sexta, the Mapa en Relieve, the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and the Maya site of Kaminal Juyú.
When is the best time to visit Guatemala City?
November to April, in the dry season; the rainy season runs from May to October. Altitude keeps the climate mild, with cool evenings.
Is Guatemala City safe?
The city has a reputation for high crime: stay vigilant by day, avoid walking after dark and ask your accommodation which districts to avoid. Official advisories vary by country of departure: consult yours.
Can you reach Antigua, Atitlán and Tikal from Guatemala City?
Yes: Antigua is about 25 km from the airport, Lake Atitlán is in the highlands, and Tikal is reached by a domestic flight to Flores according to Wikivoyage (EN). Arrange transfers in advance.
How long should I stay in Guatemala City?
Many travellers move on to Antigua on the day of arrival or the next day (Wikivoyage DE). Allow one to three days if you want to see the centre and the museums.
How much does a flight to Guatemala City usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Guatemala City drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Guatemala City as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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