Every comprehensive Guatemala guide we’ve published — organized by what you actually want to know. Written by a Guatemalan native, with real local data, and refreshed regularly. 33 guides covering cost of living, safety, Spanish schools, transportation, residency, archaeological sites, and the practical stuff that actually matters when you’re planning a trip or moving here.
For specific government procedures (DPI, passport, NIT tax ID, drivers license), see our /tramites/ section instead — that’s where the step-by-step paperwork guides live.
Cost of Living
Real monthly budgets for the 6 most-asked-about Guatemalan cities. All in USD with quetzal conversions, updated against our daily exchange rate data.
- Cost of Living Guatemala (national average) — country-wide budget tiers
- Cost of Living Guatemala City — capital, full breakdown
- Cost of Living Antigua Guatemala — colonial city + tourism premium
- Cost of Living Lake Atitlán — Panajachel, San Pedro, San Marcos
- Cost of Living Quetzaltenango (Xela) — highland city, Spanish-school capital
- Cost of Living Cobán — Alta Verapaz, off-the-beaten-path
- Best Places to Live in Guatemala — comparison framework
- Guatemala vs Costa Rica vs Mexico — head-to-head decision guide
Safety, Health & Practical Living
- Water Safety in Guatemala — what’s drinkable, where, how
- Driving in Guatemala — license, road rules, what to expect
- Internet in Guatemala — fiber availability, ISP comparison
- SIM Cards in Guatemala — Tigo vs Claro vs Movistar, prices, how to buy
- Solar Power in Guatemala — for anyone going off-grid
For full safety data by department + crime statistics, see our safety hub.
Spanish Schools
Guatemala has the highest concentration of Spanish-language schools in the Americas. We compared verified schools across Antigua, Quetzaltenango, and Lake Atitlán with 2026 pricing.
- Spanish Schools Antigua — 7 schools verified, $130-190/week
- Spanish Schools Guatemala — countrywide overview
Things to Do
- Hiking Volcanoes in Guatemala — Acatenango, Pacaya, Fuego, Tajumulco
- Hot Springs in Guatemala — Fuentes Georginas, Amatitlán, etc.
- Archaeological Sites — Tikal, El Mirador, Yaxhá, Quiriguá
- Coffee Tours — origin tours, tasting, where to book
- Adventure Sports — paragliding, climbing, kayaking, diving
- Cycling in Guatemala — routes, safety, rentals
- Birdwatching in Guatemala — quetzal sightings, top spots
- Lake Atitlán Hikes — volcano + village treks
- Lake Atitlán Towns — guide to all the lakeside villages
Daily Life Logistics
- Best WiFi Cafes in Antigua — speed-tested, with prices
- Best WiFi Cafes in Guatemala City — for remote workers
- Grocery Shopping in Guatemala — supermarkets, markets, prices
- Shipping to Guatemala from US — couriers, costs, customs
- Transportation in Guatemala — chicken bus, shuttle, Uber, rental car
Government & Documents (overview)
For step-by-step government procedure guides, see our /tramites/ section (100+ procedures). Quick links to the most-asked guides here:
- Get a Guatemala Drivers License — overview
- Guatemala Passport — requirements + cost
- Guatemala Tax ID (NIT) — for foreigners + Guatemalans
- Guatemala Residency — visa/residency pathway
What’s not in this hub
- Government procedures — see /tramites/ (100+ step-by-step procedures with current costs)
- Live data (exchange rates, gas prices, weather, earthquakes, remittances) — see the data tools in the main nav
- Recurring events (Mother’s Day, Independence Day, Quema del Diablo) — see /events/
- Patron saint festivals — see /ferias/ (340 municipalities)
- Specific neighborhoods — see /municipalities/ (337 munis) or /departments/ (22 departments)
Why these guides
Most Guatemala “guides” online are written by US travel bloggers who flew in for a week, posted “10 things about Guatemala,” and never updated. Every guide here is written by a Guatemalan native (and refined with feedback from expats and locals living in each area). When the cost data changes, the guides change. When a Spanish school adjusts pricing, we update the comparison. When a hiking route closes seasonally, the guide reflects it.
If you find something out of date, let us know.
