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Guatemala: Doing business & staying in touch
Doing business in Guatemala
Business relationships in Guatemala tend to be formal at first and are built gradually through personal contact and trust. Meetings commonly begin with polite conversation about family, travel or Guatemala before business is discussed. A direct approach without this preliminary conversation may appear abrupt.
A handshake is the usual greeting. Address contacts by their professional title and surname, such as Licenciado, Doctor, Señor or Señora, until invited to use first names. Academic and professional titles carry considerable importance.
Spanish is the principal language of business. Interpreters should be arranged for important discussions if participants are not fluent. Business cards are commonly exchanged; having one side translated into Spanish is helpful but not essential.
Business dress is generally conservative, particularly in Guatemala City. Suits or smart business clothing are appropriate for formal meetings, while somewhat lighter clothing may be acceptable in warmer lowland areas.
Appointments are advisable and should be confirmed shortly beforehand. Foreign visitors are expected to arrive punctually, although meetings may begin late. Decision-making is often hierarchical and may take time, particularly where approval from senior management is required.
Business lunches are common and may last considerably longer than in northern Europe or North America. The person issuing the invitation normally pays. Avoid discussing Guatemala's civil war, inequality or domestic politics unless the host raises the subject.
Mon to Fri: 08:00 or 09:00 to 17:00 or 18:00.
Some businesses close for an extended lunch break, particularly outside Guatemala City.
Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America by population and total output. Services account for most economic activity, while manufacturing, construction, agriculture and trade remain important. Guatemala City is the principal financial, industrial and commercial centre.
Agriculture supports a large proportion of the rural population and produces coffee, bananas, sugar, cardamom, palm oil, fruit and vegetables. Manufacturing is centred on food and drink processing, textiles and clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics and construction materials. Tourism also contributes foreign earnings and employment, particularly around Antigua, Lake Atitlán and the Maya sites of Petén.
Money sent home by Guatemalans working abroad, primarily in the United States, is a major source of household income and foreign currency. These remittances support consumer spending but also demonstrate the economy's close dependence on conditions in the United States.
Guatemala has maintained relatively steady economic growth and moderate public debt, but development remains uneven. Widespread informal employment, poverty, inequality, limited infrastructure and restricted access to education and healthcare continue to constrain economic progress. Rural and Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected.
The economy is vulnerable to hurricanes, floods, droughts, volcanic activity and changes in international commodity prices. Guatemala participates in the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) and has strong commercial links with neighbouring Central American countries and Mexico.
Clothing and textiles, bananas, coffee, sugar, cardamom, palm oil and other edible oils.
Petroleum and refined fuels, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, motor vehicles and parts, and plastics.
Keeping in Touch in Guatemala
The principal mobile network operators are Tigo and Claro. Coverage is generally good in Guatemala City, Antigua, other towns and cities, and along the main roads. Reception may be weak or unavailable in remote mountain areas, forests and parts of Petén.
Prepaid SIM cards and data packages are available from operator shops, authorised retailers and some airport outlets. Visitors should bring their passport when purchasing and registering a SIM card, and their phone must be unlocked. Travel eSIMs are another option for compatible devices, although many provide data only. Guatemala's international dialling code is +502.
Wi-Fi is widely available in hotels, hostels, restaurants and cafés in Guatemala City, Antigua, around Lake Atitlán and in other established tourist areas. Connections are generally adequate in cities and larger towns but may be slower or unreliable in rural and remote areas.
Mobile data is widely used and prepaid packages are generally inexpensive. Travellers who require a dependable connection outside the principal towns should check the coverage maps of Tigo and Claro before choosing a SIM card.
Television and radio remain important sources of news, while online news services and social media are increasingly influential. Guatemala has numerous commercial television and radio stations, but ownership of the principal television channels is concentrated among a small number of companies.
Leading Spanish-language newspapers and news websites include Prensa Libre, La Hora, Soy502 and Emisoras Unidas. Major television services include Canal 3, Televisiete, Guatevisión and Canal Antigua. There is no major national English-language newspaper or broadcaster.
The constitution protects freedom of expression, but media reporting can be affected by political and commercial interests.
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