Uber launched in Guatemala City in December 2016 and in Quetzaltenango in March 2019, according to its own Guatemala blog. It does not publish a per-kilometer rate any more: since September 2018 the app shows you the full price before you confirm the ride.

Uber Guatemala in short: upfront price in the app, set from distance, estimated time, traffic and demand; no published per-km rate. Uber’s city list names Escuintla, Guastatoya, Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango (read 4 November 2026). At La Aurora airport Uber lists UberX, Comfort, Uber Planet and Uber Priority, and rides can be reserved up to 90 days ahead. Cash and cards were both accepted at launch.

How Uber prices a trip in Guatemala

Uber moved Guatemala City to upfront pricing on 17 September 2018: once you enter a destination you see the total, and Uber says that figure is calculated the same way as its dynamic fare, from traffic, estimated time and trip distance, plus how many riders and driver-partners are using the app at that moment. Its La Aurora airport page adds the type of ride, tolls and city fees to the list, and says that once the ride is requested “the price you get is the price you’ll pay” unless the route, duration or distance changes (for example, if you add a stop).

The only per-kilometer cards Uber has published for Guatemala are its launch cards. They are history, shown here so you can recognise an out-of-date figure when you see one:

Uber launch rate cardBase farePer kmPer minuteMinimumUber post
Guatemala City, UberXQ5.25Q2.27Q0.45Q1212 December 2016
Quetzaltenango (Xela)Q4Q2Q0.70Q1213 March 2019

Any page quoting a current Guatemalan per-km rate, base fare or minimum is quoting a number Uber itself does not publish. Use the in-app quote.

For USD fares: see today’s exchange rate.

Ride options

Uber’s La Aurora airport page lists four ride options: UberX, Comfort, Uber Planet and Uber Priority (read 4 November 2026). Uber’s Guatemala site also has a page for Uber Moto, its motorbike option. Uber publishes no Guatemalan price for any of them; each shows its own upfront price in the app.

Cities where Uber operates

Uber’s list of Guatemalan cities names four (read 4 November 2026):

  • Guatemala City, launched December 2016
  • Quetzaltenango (Xela), launched March 2019
  • Escuintla
  • Guastatoya

Antigua is not on Uber’s list. Rides there depend on a driver being nearby; open the app before you plan around one. Uber also lists no city for Lake Atitlan or Panajachel, Coban, Flores or Puerto Barrios; there, plan on tuk-tuks, local taxis with the fare agreed first, or tourist shuttles.

For destinations without Uber, see taxi vs Uber and alternatives.

When the price goes up

Uber says the upfront price reflects demand, so it rises when more riders request trips at once. Uber does not publish its multipliers for Guatemala. If the quote looks high and you are not in a hurry, you can wait and check again, or compare it with the Transmetro if your trip follows a route.

How to pay

Uber’s Guatemala City launch post (December 2016) listed debit and credit cards, PayPal and cash, and its Xela launch post (March 2019) said riders can pay by credit or debit card or in cash. Check the payment options shown in your own app before the trip.

  • For foreign tourists: an international Visa or Mastercard means no handling of quetzales
  • For diaspora visiting family: a US card linked to your account works; check your bank’s foreign transaction fee

Tips

Tipping is optional, and Uber publishes no expected percentage for Guatemala.

Tips for using Uber in Guatemala

Before the trip

  • Verify driver details: license plate, car model, photo before getting in
  • Share your trip: the app’s trip-sharing sends your location in real time to a contact
  • See the price: the app shows the upfront price before you request
  • Do not get in if the car or plate does not match what is shown in the app

During the trip

  • Sit in the back seat, especially as a woman traveling alone
  • Wear your seat belt
  • If the route is very different from the map, ask the driver
  • Stay alert in poorly lit areas

After the trip

  • Rate the driver
  • Report problems through Help in the app
  • Check the charge on your card

For diaspora from the USA

If you are coming from the United States to visit family:

  • Your US Uber account works in Guatemala; you do not need a new account or a local app
  • Any currency conversion on your linked card is done by your bank

Exchange tip: to avoid conversion charges, use a card with no foreign transaction fee. See Q-USD exchange rate.

Safety

What the app gives you that a street taxi does not:

  • The driver, vehicle and plate are shown before you get in
  • The trip is tracked by GPS and can be shared with family
  • The price is fixed before the ride, so there is no fare argument at the end

Safety recommendations:

  • Wait inside the establishment, not on the street
  • Confirm details before getting in
  • At night, wait in a well-lit place
  • Keep your phone out of sight

For more info see Guatemala safety guide. At La Aurora, Uber’s airport pickup page tells riders not to accept trips from solicitors offering Uber rides inside the terminal or at the ground transportation zones.

Limitations

  • Coverage: Uber lists only four Guatemalan cities, and Antigua is not one of them
  • Demand pricing: the upfront price rises when demand is high
  • Airport pickup: request the ride in the app and meet the driver where the app directs you; do not accept offers inside the terminal

Uber alternatives

  • inDrive: riders and drivers agree the fare; Revista E&N, citing Sensor Tower, reported in February 2026 that it is the most-downloaded mobility app in Guatemala. See inDrive in Guatemala
  • Yellow taxi: traditional, no app; see the comparison

Ordering food rather than a ride? Uber Eats’ Guatemala city list, PedidosYa and the apps that are not here: food delivery apps in Guatemala.

Other transport options:

Sources