If you are planning to travel to San Pedro La Laguna on the shores of Lake Atitlán, there are a few things you should know before you go.
All shops and markets only accept cash, which can be a problem for many foreigners. Here’s why:
What types of payment are accepted in San Pedro La Laguna?
We can say that all stores only accept cash. Few stores accept debit or credit card payments, and when they do, they may charge you a commission of 5% or 7% of the total amount. Here’s another tip: please use the BAC brand POS terminal. You should ask to be charged with that POS terminal because most have the Neo net POS terminal (Visa and Mastercard), which has some problems charging foreign cards. On the other hand, the Bac POS terminal usually accepts foreign card payments without any problems.
How much can I withdraw from an ATM in San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala?
You should know that in San Pedro La Laguna there are only three 5B ATMs that allow you to withdraw Q.2000 quetzales, which is equivalent to $256 US dollars.
They usually charge a $5 commission for each withdrawal, and you should keep in mind that you can only make one withdrawal per day per card. Be very careful, as they often show you a conversion rate, which you should reject because it can charge you much more.
If you travel outside of San Pedro, you can find BI ATMs, which usually charge a little less, but unfortunately, they are not in San Pedro La Laguna.
What types of banknotes are used in Guatemala?
The types of banknotes used are Q.200, Q.100, Q.50, Q.20, Q.10, Q.5, and Q.1.
Coins: Q.1, 0.50, 0.10, 0.05
These are the coins you may receive, and we will give you an approximate value for each one, bearing in mind that the exchange rate tends to vary.
We will use an exchange rate of Q.7.50 per US dollar as a reference.
Q.200 = $26
Q.100 = $13
Q.50 = $6
Q.20 = $2.5
Q.10 = $1.30
Clearly, this is only an estimate, but it can serve as a reference during your trip.
