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.
If you’re looking for how to get from Guatemala Airport to Antigua, read my full guide here.
Guatemala City Airport is also home to Guatemala’s own airline, Tag Airlines.
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 the 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 an eSIM, even if you only use it for emergencies. Whilst the WiFi will probably be fine, you can’t rely on it working and 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.
Is there an ATM when you land?
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 departures?
Yes, in the main terminal there are several ATMs.
What’s it like entering 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?
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?
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.
Click here for my guide on getting from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua!
Now let’s talk about how to get to some of the most popular destinations from Guatemala City La Aurora International Airport…
How do I get a taxi from Guatemala Airport to Antigua Guatemala?
Getting a taxi to Antigua from La Aurora International Airport is really straightforward. You just need to go to the yellow booth that says “airport taxis” and request one. When I was there (January 2024), it was $50 for the ride, regardless of how long it takes (I arrived at peak rush hour, so it took us 2.5 hours!)
You can also take an Uber, which may be more expensive or cheaper, depending on the time of day. Outside of peak times an Uber is usually cheaper, but when I arrived they were even more expensive than a private taxi!
How do I get a shuttle from Guatemala Airport to Antigua Guatemala?
If you want to take a shuttle, I’d recommend booking it in advance. It’s only 4$ more and it means you don’t have to wait. You can read more about that in my article about how to get from Guatemala airport to Antigua here.
How do I get a taxi from Guatemala Airport to Quetzaltenango?
Getting a taxi to Quetzaltenango from La Aurora International Airport is really straightforward. You just need to go to the yellow booth that says “airport taxis” and request one. They charge a set fee for a ride, so you don’t need to worry about the fare totting up as you travel!
You can also take an Uber, which may be more expensive or cheaper, depending on the time of day. Outside of peak times an Uber is usually cheaper, but it may be difficult to find one willing to take you all that way.
How do I get a shuttle from Guatemala Airport to Quetzaltenango?
If you want to take a shuttle from Guatemala City Airport, I’d recommend booking it in advance. I haven’t taken the shuttle to Quetzaltenango, but they are easy to book. The only problem is that the shuttle won’t wait for you if your flight is delayed!
How do I get a taxi from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlán?
Getting a taxi to Antigua from La Aurora International Airport is really straightforward. You just need to go to the yellow booth that says “airport taxis” and request one. They charge a set fee for a ride, so you don’t need to worry about the fare totting up as you travel!
You can also take an Uber, which may be more expensive or cheaper, depending on the time of day. Outside of peak times an Uber is usually cheaper, but it may be difficult to find one willing to take you all that way.
How do I get a shuttle from Guatemala Airport to Lake Atitlán?
If you want to take a shuttle, I’d recommend booking it in advance. I haven’t taken the shuttle to Lake Atitlán, but they are easy to book. These shuttles go via Antigua, which makes the total travel time much longer (especially because some services drop you to your door, so you have to drive around Antigua dropping everyone off).
