Connectivity Guide for Guatemala
byCharles McQuainGuatemala has two mobile networks: Tigo, the larger, with a bit over half of all mobile lines, and Claro. Movistar used to be a third option, but América Móvil bought it in 2019 and folded its customers into Claro, so ignore older guides that still list it. Both Tigo and Claro launched 5G in July 2022, but it's concentrated in Guatemala City, so expect 4G almost everywhere else.
Guatemala City and Antigua have solid coverage, and the main towns around Lake Atitlán are connected too. Flores, the usual base for Tikal, has 4G, but signal at the Tikal ruins themselves is weak, and deeper in the Petén jungle there's none at all. Travelers commonly report that Tigo holds up better than Claro in rural areas, so if you're heading off the main circuit, it's worth checking which network a plan uses.
Uber works well in Guatemala City and reasonably well in Antigua, but it's limited in Panajachel and Quetzaltenango (Xela); inDrive is the other common option. WhatsApp is how most hotels, tour operators, and shuttle companies take bookings, so you'll use data for messaging more than you might expect.
Going to Tikal? Download Before You Go
Tikal is the one place on most Guatemala itineraries where you'll likely lose signal. Download offline maps of the park and save your tickets, tour confirmations, and shuttle details to your phone while you still have a connection in Flores.
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