Guatemala City - Post Report Question and Answers
Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
You can choose between Claro and Tigo. We have been happy with Claro and it works well in the U.S. as well. It is about $25 a month. - Mar 2023
Using a local provider is best because you'll need a local number for somethings. For example, to buzz people through the gate where I live, the call routes through my mobile phone, and so I need a local number. Otherwise, for talking with people and communicating with businesses, everyone uses WhatsApp. It's almost impossible to avoid it. - Oct 2022
There are two main service providers, Tigo and Claro, and I think they're about the same. - Oct 2022
You can also get cell phone service from Claro I'm not sure about Tigo. A good plan monthly will cost you about $40. I kept my home country plan (tmobile) and just use it over wifi with no issues. - Jul 2021
Most Embassy people here buy a cell phone plan through either Claro or Tigo. Service and quality seem to be about the same. We bought pay-as-you-go SIM cards upon arrival, and just kept them the whole time instead of signing up for a plan. We pay around $13/month for calls to Guatemala and the US (can't remember how many... we never seem to run out of either...) and 2gb of data. - Mar 2019
Used US-based cell phones for a month prior to service deteriorating, then switched to local number and service (Claro or Tigo). - Feb 2019
Tigo and Claro both offer very extensive coverage at reasonable prices. I have a data-only prepaid plan from Tigo and pay US$13 for 1.5GB that lasts a month. - Jun 2015
Pay-as-you-go phones are the cheapest way to go. Monthly plans are available. The Embassy gives FSOs phones. - Apr 2014
Cell phone operators are pretty good in Guatemala. 3G Coverage is impressive (I managed to upload pics from the top of the Acatenango volcano). - Jan 2014
Most cell phones work and much of Guatemala has 3G capability. - Nov 2011
Don't talk on it in public if possible. - May 2010
See above. Get a pre-paid phone card on double or triple days. - Mar 2008
