Guatemala SIM Cards 2026: Tigo vs Claro from Q10

A 30-day prepaid data pack costs Q120 in Guatemala — 15 GB on Tigo, 17 GB on Claro (published prices, verified 2026-09-01). You can buy one at the airport the moment you land, at any carrier store, or at practically any tienda (corner shop) in the country. The whole process takes 5 minutes.

Guatemala has two mobile carriers: Tigo and Claro. Tigo has the best coverage and the largest network; Claro is a solid second choice. If you want one answer: get Tigo.

If a guide offers you a third option, it is out of date. Movistar left Guatemala in 2019 – America Movil bought Telefonica’s local operation and folded the brand into Claro – and movistar.com.gt no longer resolves.

For a deeper comparison of postpaid plans, family bundles, and home internet packages, see the full phone plans guide. This guide focuses on getting connected quickly with a prepaid SIM.

TL;DR: Get a Tigo prepaid SIM at the airport for about Q25-50 with starter credit, or Q10-25 at any tienda (observed counter prices - neither carrier publishes a chip tariff). Add a 30-day pack: Q120 for Todo incluido 15 GB on Tigo, or Q125 for Tigo Flex 18 GB, the largest 30-day pack either carrier publishes. Tigo has the best nationwide coverage. The whole setup takes 5 minutes with just your passport. WhatsApp is essential – every business in Guatemala uses it.

Quick Comparison: Prepaid Data Plans

Prices verified February 2026. See our exchange rates page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.

Prices reflect standard prepaid package rates as of early 2026. Carriers frequently run promotions that bundle extra GB or social media data.

Where to Buy a SIM Card

At the Airport (La Aurora, Guatemala City)

There are Tigo and Claro kiosks in the arrivals hall at La Aurora International Airport. A SIM card with an initial data package costs Q25–50 ($3.26–$6.53) at the kiosk. That is an observed counter price: neither carrier publishes a chip tariff on its own site. The staff will install it in your phone and activate it on the spot. This is the easiest option if you want connectivity the moment you land.

Carrier Stores

All three carriers have stores in every shopping mall and most commercial areas. The major ones:

• Tigo: Stores in every mall (Cayala, Oakland Mall, Miraflores, Pradera). Also standalone stores on major commercial streets.
• Claro: Similar mall presence. Their flagship stores tend to have shorter lines than Tigo.

Any Tienda (Corner Shop)

This is the most Guatemalan option. Walk into virtually any tienda, pharmacy, or small shop and they sell SIM cards and recharge cards for all three carriers. The SIM itself costs Q10–25 ($1.31–$3.26). You activate it by dialing a code and then buy a data package separately.

Pro Tip: If you arrive late at night or on a weekend when carrier stores are closed, any 24-hour gas station sells SIM cards and recharge cards. Tiendas in residential neighborhoods are open until 9–10pm. You are never more than a 5-minute walk from a place that sells phone credit.

How to Get Set Up (Step by Step)

1. Buy a SIM card at the airport, carrier store, or tienda (Q10–50)
2. Bring your passport. Guatemala requires ID registration for all SIM cards. The carrier store handles this. At a tienda, you may need to call the carrier to register.
3. Make sure your phone is unlocked. If you bought your phone through a US carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon), it may be locked. Contact your carrier before traveling to unlock it, or buy an unlocked phone.
4. Insert the SIM and restart your phone
5. Buy a data package by dialing the carrier’s USSD code or using their app

Activation Codes

The carrier apps are the easiest way to manage your plan, check your balance, and buy data packages. They are available in Spanish and (partially) English.

Recharging Your Prepaid Balance

You need credit (saldo) on your account to buy data packages. Here is how to add it:

At a Tienda (Most Common)

Walk into any tienda and say “Quiero recargar [Tigo/Claro], [amount].” Hand them your phone number and cash. They process it electronically. Available in denominations of Q5, Q10, Q15, Q25, Q50, Q100.

Physical Recharge Cards

Buy a scratch card at a tienda or supermarket. Scratch off the code, dial the carrier’s recharge number, enter the code. Simple but becoming less common as electronic recharges dominate.

Via App or Bank Transfer

The Tigo and Claro apps accept credit/debit card payments. You can also recharge through Guatemalan banking apps (BAM, BI, Banrural) if you have a local bank account.

ATMs

Banrural and some BAM ATMs have a “Recarga Telefonica” option. Insert your debit card, select the carrier, enter the phone number, choose the amount.

Pro Tip: Buy a Q100 ($13.06) recharge and activate a monthly data package immediately. This gives you the best rate per GB. Buying small Q10–25 top-ups and using pay-as-you-go data is 3–5x more expensive per megabyte.

Coverage: Where Each Carrier Works

Tigo

Best overall coverage in Guatemala. Strong 4G LTE in Guatemala City, Antigua, Quetzaltenango, Coban, Flores, and all departmental capitals. Decent 3G/4G along major highways and in medium-sized towns. Some dead zones in deep rural highlands and remote Peten.

Claro

Good 4G in major cities and tourist areas. Their 5G network is live in limited areas of Guatemala City (Zona 10, Zona 14, Cayala) but still very small. Coverage drops off faster than Tigo in rural areas.

Coverage by Destination

eSIM Options (For Tourists)

If your phone supports eSIM you have two routes, and the choice is really about whether you need a local number.

Carrier eSIM (local +502 number). Both Guatemalan carriers sell their own, prepaid included, and both publish it themselves: Claro has a dedicated eSIM page with its own device-compatibility list and step-by-step iOS/Android activation, and Tigo keeps an eSIM category in its help centre covering prepaid eSIM activation (both checked September 2026). Check your exact handset against the carrier list rather than a generic “iPhone XS and later” rule - the published lists cover several Android brands too.

International eSIM (data only, no local number). Airalo, Holafly and similar activate before you fly. Airalo’s Guatemala page starts at $5.00 USD (checked September 2026). The per-package comparison (Airalo vs Holafly, every duration, price per day, read 4 September 2026) is on our Guatemala eSIM page; the providers reprice often, so confirm the current tier on the provider’s own site before buying.

eSIM pros: Activate before you land, keep your home SIM active for calls/texts, no physical card to manage.

International eSIM cons: No local Guatemalan phone number (you cannot receive local calls or WhatsApp verifications), more expensive per GB than a local SIM, speeds may be throttled on “unlimited” plans. A carrier eSIM does not have the number problem - it is a normal Tigo or Claro line without the plastic.

My recommendation: eSIMs are fine for a short tourist visit (1–2 weeks). If you are staying longer than a month, get a local Tigo SIM. It is cheaper, gives you a local number (important for WhatsApp, which everyone in Guatemala uses), and has better coverage.

Pro Tip: WhatsApp is the primary communication tool in Guatemala — more important than phone calls or SMS. Restaurants take orders on WhatsApp. Landlords communicate via WhatsApp. Uber drivers message you on WhatsApp. Get a local number so you can set up WhatsApp with a Guatemalan +502 number. It makes everything easier.

Dual SIM Setup

Most modern phones support dual SIM (either two physical SIMs or one physical + one eSIM). The ideal setup for expats:

• SIM 1 (eSIM): Your home country number for receiving texts and calls from banks, family, etc.
• SIM 2 (physical): Local Tigo SIM for data and local communication

This way you keep your US/Canadian/European number active without paying international roaming, and use cheap local data for everything else.

What About WiFi Calling?

If you keep your US carrier plan and rely on WiFi calling, the direction of the call is what decides the price:

• T-Mobile: its roaming page states there is no charge for Wi-Fi calls from 215+ countries and destinations back to the US, Canada or Mexico (T-Mobile, retrieved 2026-08-11).
• Verizon: “Wi-Fi calling can be used to call the US at no additional charge. Wi-Fi calling to a country other than the US will be charged International Long Distance rates, regardless of your International Travel plan” (Verizon international terms and conditions, retrieved 2026-08-11). This corrects an earlier version of this page, which said Verizon Wi-Fi calling was US-only and would not work in Guatemala — Verizon’s own terms say otherwise.
• AT&T: confirm against your own plan; AT&T publishes a separate Latin America benefit that names Guatemala, and its terms differ by plan tier.

Calling a Guatemalan number over the same Wi-Fi is the billed case on both T-Mobile and Verizon, not the free one. For the full carrier-by-carrier breakdown — what each plan tier includes, the daily fees, and the clauses that cut off long stays — see will my US phone work in Guatemala.

This is a viable strategy if you mostly need your US number and have reliable WiFi at home. But you will still want a local SIM for data when you are out and about. WiFi is not available everywhere, and mobile data at Q120/month for 15–17 GB is too cheap to skip.

Monthly Cost Summary

Prices read from tigo.com.gt/prepago, tigo.com.gt/postpago and Claro’s planes y precios comparador, verified 2026-09-01. Correction (1 September 2026): an earlier version of this table quoted prepaid and “unlimited postpaid” tiers whose price-and-allowance pairs match no plan on either carrier’s site; they came from a hand-curated file with no scraper behind it. See our corrections policy.

For most expats and remote workers, Q120–125/month for a 30-day prepaid pack plus home WiFi (about Q200–350/month) covers all communication needs. Compare that to a US phone bill.

For home internet options including fiber, cable, and Starlink, see the Internet in Guatemala guide. For overall budget planning, check the cost of living breakdown. For the latest USD to GTQ conversion, see the exchange rate tracker.