Are you about to travel to Guatemala? You will surely need a way to get a stable and reliable internet connection with quality speed and without interruptions. So, we will show you roaming and other alternatives that will make your stay easier in the country. This way you won’t spend a single day disconnected from the world. We’re going to discuss eSIM with data for Guatemala and other means of internet access so that you can make an informed decision and choose the option that best suits your needs and budget.
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Comparison of roaming rates in Guatemala with Latin American cellular operators
Certainly, one of the aspects that you’re most interested in is the price that your cellular provider will charge you to connect to the internet in America through roaming in Guatemala. Therefore, to answer this question, we have gathered all the roaming rates of the main cellular providers in the USA, Australia and the UK, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Vodafone, among others. This way you can compare them, stay well-informed, and choose the one that best suits your needs.
| Cellular operator | Cellular data or Internet |
| AT&T | Data, texts, and calls for $10/day |
| T-Mobile | $15.00/MB, $0.50/texts, and $0.25/min for calls |
| Vodafone | Data, minutes, and texts for £6/day |
| Telstra | $10 a day for 1GB data, unlimited calls, and texts |
How much does the roaming service cost in Guatemala?
We believe that customers should be familiar with the roaming rates of the main Latin American operators. Indeed, the rates will depend on where you are. Why? Because roaming works through the cellular networks of other companies that operate in the country you’re visiting. Thus, when using other cellular networks, your operator has to pay an additional fee, which is included in your bill for services such as MB, call minutes or SMS sent.
Hence, roaming is one of the most expensive services for international travel. So, you should only use it if it’s necessary and according to your travel budget.
Roaming in Guatemala with AT&T
To start, AT&T USA has an international day pass for their customers to use the roaming service in Guatemala, this costs $10 USD per day, and you will have data, unlimited calls, and texts. The first time you use data, make or receive calls in Guatemala, they will automatically charge you a $10 daily fee.
Roaming in Guatemala with T-Mobile
If you have a monthly plan with T-Mobile, like the Max and Plus plans, you can use “unlimited” data and texts in Guatemala at no extra cost. For calls, they will charge you $0.25/min. But if you have another plan, the roaming service in Guatemala will cost you $15.00/MB, $0.50 for sending SMS, and $0.25/min for calls.
Roaming in Guatemala with Vodafone
With Vodafone UK, you can buy a pay-monthly plan to use roaming in Guatemala. Since this country is in the D zone, this plan will cost you £6 pounds per day for data, calls, and texts.
Roaming in Guatemala with Telstra
Telstra, such as AT&T, has a Day pass that their customers can use in Guatemala. The day pass costs $10 USD per day for 1 GB of data, unlimited calls, and SMS. If you exceed your Day Pass daily limit, you can top it up with 1 GB of data for an additional 10 USD.
Alternative to Roaming in Guatemala
Let us guess, did the Roaming option not convince you? Maybe you’re looking for an alternative that fits your travel budget. But, there’s no need to be alarmed because, in addition to roaming, there are a variety of options to connect to the internet during your vacation at a more reasonable price or even free. This is the case with eSIMs with data for Guatemala, which we consider to be the best alternative to roaming, along with other options that we will show you below.
So, if you don’t want to depend on roaming or you need an option in line with your budget to go online during your trips abroad, we believe that eSIMs are the ideal alternative for you and the one you’ve been looking for. They offer very affordable rates, and because they are virtual cards, you won’t have to wait for them or pay for shipping fees. Certainly, this is the perfect choice if your cellphone is compatible with this technology.
In case you’re interested, you can contact an international eSIM provider, among which we recommend Holafly. On their website, you can find eSIMs for different destinations such as Ecuador, or even an eSIM for all of America. After clicking on the eSIM and the data plan that best suits you, you must choose the payment method. Then you will receive your eSIM using a QR code.
Advantages
- You can buy this service superfast.
- Customer service is available 24/7.
- You can share data with your friends.
- You keep your original number.
Disadvantages
- You can’t make calls unless it’s through an app such as WhatsApp or Skype.
- Your smartphone must be eSIM-compatible. If you’re not certain that this is your case, we invite you to check the following list of eSIM-compatible cellphones.
Free WiFi in Guatemala
In addition to the eSIMs for Guatemala and America, there’s also another alternative to have internet during your vacations in this country. We could say that this option is basic, but even so, you can connect to unlimited internet for free. Certainly, it’s a lifesaver. We are talking about the free WiFi spots that you can find in public areas of Guatemala such as parks, squares, metro, and bus stations.
Important to realize that this option has its disadvantages. Not only do they offer quite slow browsing speeds but also are often unsafe. It’s easy for third parties to access your personal information, so you must be careful when using them.
Advantages
- Unlimited internet
- Free
- Easy to find
Disadvantages
- It’s not usually stable, and the browsing speed is limited.
- They don’t have anti-theft security
Rent Pocket WiFi in Guatemala
Our last alternative to roaming (although it can be the most expensive) is the Pocket WiFi. This is a small router that will allow you to connect to the internet during your trips through a private WiFi network that only you and your friends can connect to. In particular, this is the distinctive feature of Pockets WiFi, since you can share the internet with other devices without losing internet access. Therefore, we can tell you that it’s more convenient if you travel with a large group.
Advantages
- Great availability of MB
- It’s portable so you can take it with you
Disadvantages
- It’s not protected against loss or theft
- You must always keep your Pocket WiFi charged before leaving the hotel
- They have a fairly high rental rate
