Harlingen to Guatemala City (HRL–GUA) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

US passport holders enter Guatemala visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. Guatemala is part of the CA-4 agreement with El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, meaning the 90-day period is shared across all four countries. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City, immigration stamps your passport after a quick review.

The 90-day CA-4 clock starts when you enter any of the four member countries and does not reset when crossing borders between them. For stays beyond 90 days, apply for an extension at the Dirección General de Migración in Guatemala City (fee: GTQ 200, about $26). Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlán, and Tikal are the main draws. Spanish language schools in Antigua and around Lake Atitlán attract thousands of students year-round, with one-on-one instruction starting at $150 per week including homestay.

Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Guatemala City run about 2 hours 45 minutes on American Airlines and Avianca. Houston (IAH) to GUA runs about 3 hours on United. Fort Lauderdale and Los Angeles also have direct service. Guatemala uses the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ), trading at roughly 7.7 GTQ per $1. US dollars are accepted at tourist-oriented businesses but not universally. ATMs are common in cities and tourist towns. Card payments work at hotels and restaurants. Chicken buses (repurposed US school buses) are the cheapest transport at GTQ 5 to GTQ 25 per ride. Tourist shuttles between Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Flores (for Tikal) cost $15 to $50 per person.