Guatemala City Airport (also known as La Aurora Airport) is one of only two international airports in Guatemala, and it is the main airport in Guatemala, as it is the only one that services routes outside of Guatemala and Mexico (Mundo Maya International Airport that services Flores just has two direct flights to Merida and Cancun, both in the south east of Mexico). It is the fourth biggest airport in Central America, and if you’re travelling in Central America you are likely to pass through here at some point.
Guatemala City Airport is also home to Guatemala’s own airline, Tag Airlines.
Contents
- Where is Guatemala’s La Aurora International Airport close to?
- Is there WiFi in Guatemala Airport?
- Is there somewhere to buy food when you land?
- How many airports are in Guatemala City?
- What is the most used airport in Guatemala?
- Is there an ATM when you land at Guatemala City Airport?
- Is there somewhere to buy food in departures?
- Is there an ATM in Guatemala City Airport departures?
- What’s it like entering Guatemala through immigration?
- Do I need to show proof of onward travel to enter Guatemala?
- Do they scan your bags?
- Is it safe to get the bus from Guatemala City Airport?
- Is Guatemala City Airport Safe?
- Is Guatemala City Airport Big?
- Is Guatemala City Safe?
- What is the 3 letter airport code for Guatemala City?
- How Many International Airports Are there in Guatemala?
- How do I get from Guatemala airport to city?
Where is Guatemala’s La Aurora International Airport close to?
Guatemala City Airport is the main airport in Guatemala and the closest airport to Antigua, Guatemala. It’s also the place you’re most likely to fly into for any other destination in Guatemala, because it’s one of only two international airports in the country. The other is Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores, but that airport serves much fewer routes than Guatemala City Airport. Mundo Maya Airport only serves domestic flights and two international routes to Cancún and Merida (both in the south of Mexico).
Is there WiFi in Guatemala Airport?
Yes! I was able to connect to WiFi as soon as I landed at Guatemala Airport and had no problems with it. However, I always suggest using a backup method of communication like an extension with your phone provider or buying an eSIM, even if you only use it for emergencies. Whilst the WiFi will probably be fine, don’t pin everything on it working as there’s always a chance it will be down or you won’t be able to connect. And that’s not a problem you want to deal with after a long flight!
Is there somewhere to buy food when you land?
No, there are currently no shops or cafes in the arrivals area in La Aurora Airport. There is a comfortable waiting area with sofas, but that’s about it. Other than that, there are only the booths waiting to sell you currency or onward transportation.
How many airports are in Guatemala City?
Luckily, La Aurora Airport is the only airport in Guatemala City, so you won’t get mixed up or accidentally fly in or out of the wrong airport! (No, I’ve never done that… *cough*).
What is the most used airport in Guatemala?
La Aurora Airport is also the most used airport in Guatemala. The only other airport in Guatemala is Flores International Airport, which mostly serves short-haul flights from Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala City Airport (this one that we’re talking about right now).
Is there an ATM when you land at Guatemala City Airport?
Yes, there are 2 ATMs in the section of the airport where you pick up your luggage. This is a secure place to take out cash as it’s before immigration, so you don’t need to worry too much about someone looking over your shoulder. There are charges to taking out cash at all cash machines in Guatemala. The most expensive is 5B (and these are the most common ones, too). They charge around $6 to withdraw cash. BI and BAC cash machines both cost around $3-4, and there is one of those in arrivals in Guatemala City Airport, too, but I have heard it often runs out of cash (it was fine when I arrived). There is also a bureau de exchange, but it’s still generally more cost effective to take out cash.
Remember that all airport transportation (except for the bus) will take USD. If you’re flying from or through the United States, I recommend taking cash before you arrive.
Is there somewhere to buy food in departures?
Yes, in the main terminal there are a few places to buy food both before and after security.
Is there an ATM in Guatemala City Airport departures?
Yes, in the main terminal there are several ATMs.
What’s it like entering Guatemala through immigration?
For me, going through immigration was very straightforward, although of course it’s different for everyone. I had pre-filled out the immigration form (and I recommend this, because it’s easy and probably not something you want to faff about with after a long flight) but there was someone in the airport showing people how to do it and how to connect to the WiFi to do it.
Do I need to show proof of onward travel to enter Guatemala?
Technically, yes, they say that you should arrive with proof of travel out of the country. However, I was not asked for mine when I travelled.
Do they scan your bags?
Yes – sort of. I was travelling with quite a small rucksack, so I was just waved through and they didn’t ask to put my bags through the scanner. However, some people were put in a short queue to have their bags scanned.
Is it safe to get the bus from Guatemala City Airport?
In my opinion, no. Guatemala City is not a safe place to be anyway, nor are the local buses, really. I’d only recommend taking the local buses between tourist hotspots (click here to read about taking the chicken bus from Antigua to Lake Atitlan!)
Is Guatemala City Airport Safe?
Yes, inside the airport it is perfectly safe.
Is Guatemala City Airport Big?
It’s not tiny, but I wouldn’t say that Guatemala airport is big, either, especially for a capital city. It has only one runway and one small lobby when you arrive.
Is Guatemala City Safe?
No, Guatemala City is not generally considered safe for tourists. I have heard from some locals that there are safe neighbourhoods, but that they’re few and far between. It’s pretty normal to fly into Guatemala City airport and go straight onto another city such as Antigua or Quetzaltenango.
🇬🇹 Read more: How to Get from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua
🇬🇹 Read more: How to Get from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan
🇬🇹 Read more: How to Get from Guatemala City Airport to Quetzaltenango
What is the 3 letter airport code for Guatemala City?
The official international airport code for Guatemala City is GUA
How Many International Airports Are there in Guatemala?
There are two international airports in Guatemala: Guatemala City Airport and Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores, which is in the north of Guatemala.
How do I get from Guatemala airport to city?
Guatemala City is about 4km from Guatemala Airport. The best way to get into the city is to take private transport, either pre-booked or from one of the official transfer stands inside the airport arrivals area.
I really like your articles because I learn new things even about places I’ve been to before. I’ll definitely be reading it more, especially since I have a travel blog myself. But I experienced something strange in Guatemala’s Airport. When I went to Guatemala it was with a group of 4, 2 couple to be precise. While going up to the counters where there’s a person that stamps your passport and lets you into the country, we were asked if we’ve ever been here before. We said No obviously. We were sent to a different section to sit and wait. This area had other people waiting as well. We were waiting to enter into a room with military looking personnel that were looking at your passports and asking questions. In my experience no one in Guatemala speaks English, there were some stuff that the staff just couldn’t understand or explain. Finally, I showed them my Canadian Visa and they just went, “AHHHH YESSS” and smiled, stamped all our passports and let all 4 of us in. Very weird experience.
How strange! So many strange things happen at border control that just cannot be understood!
Thank you for this info! I’m a solo girl traveling & am meeting friends at the airport from different flights before we shuttle to Antigua together – I arrive a few hours earlier than them- would the safest place to wait for them be the seating you mentioned after customs or is there a better area before customs? I wasn’t sure if I should wait inside the terminal for a bit before going through customs and waiting on the seats there. Ty!
Hey Nat! There’s not really a lot going on before or after customs, but there’s at least somewhere to sit after customs! I were you I’d go through and wait there 🙂
Hello thank you for all the great info! I have a question, when we arrive we will have a 3 hour wait before our shuttle arrives. Is it possible to exit customs and go into the departures side to have food, or do we have to exit the airport and wait at the Cafe Bareto where our shuttle will be meeting us?
Hi Tera,
When I was there, I didn’t see any way to get to the departures side so I’m not sure if it’s possible or not. Good luck, and have a great trip!
Okay, thank you for the response. And thank you! I am really looking forward to our trip. 🙂