Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in Guatemala take card payments at check-in
During my stay in San Marcos La Laguna, the hostel only took cash, and the lone ATM by the dock wasn’t working for two days. That experience taught me not to count on card payments in Guatemala. In Antigua and Guatemala City, it’s easier - most hostels there will swipe Visa or Mastercard. But if you’re exploring Mayan ruins or smaller villages, you’ll need quetzales. To dodge ATM runs, bring some cash before leaving urban areas.
Hostels in Guatemala are mixed. I paid by card in Antigua, but in Quetzaltenango they demanded cash upfront. ATMs are around, but queues and outages aren’t uncommon. I usually carried some quetzales from a Banco Industrial ATM before heading to smaller towns. To really avoid ATM stress, don’t rely on card check-ins here. Cash is king outside of tourist bubbles, and even when card readers exist, they often tack on a fee.
Guatemala City hostels near Zona 10 were card-friendly, no problem with my Mastercard. But when I stayed in Flores before Tikal, the hostel’s card reader was “out of service” the entire weekend. I had to hit a Banrural ATM, which added fees on top of my bank’s. If you’re bouncing between cities and villages, assume cash is safer. A few tourist hostels take card, but the infrastructure isn’t reliable. For avoiding last-minute scrambles, withdraw early in larger towns.
In Antigua, my hostel accepted Visa easily, but when I moved to Lake Atitlán, every place wanted cash in quetzales. ATMs from Banco Industrial and BAC are common in bigger towns, but smaller villages often have only one machine - and sometimes it’s empty. I got caught once in San Pedro with no cash and had to wait for the ATM to refill. Cards can work in city hostels, but to avoid last-minute ATM runs, definitely keep quetzales handy. Rural Guatemala is still very cash-driven.