La Aurora International Airport (GUA) sits approximately 6 km from downtown Guatemala City – known locally as La Capital. That short distance deceives, though. Traffic and lower road quality mean the trek can take quite a while depending on when you arrive.
GUA is small and easy to navigate. It has just 2 terminals – Central handles the majority of flights, while North typically serves shorter regional hops within Guatemala.
I’ve flown into GUA throughout my Guatemala travels, and it’s one of those airports that’s not stressful at all. Everyone’s rather relaxed, which sets the tone for your trip.
Getting to and from the airport
Although there are multiple bus options, the schedules vary unpredictably. My advice: skip public transportation and take a taxi. Walk straight out of the terminal and you’ll find a taxi stand with official taxis. They provide a flat rate quote before you get in – no meter, no surprises, no scams. It’s inexpensive, even for longer rides. I’ve traveled straight from the airport to the coast to catch a boat, and even that hour-long journey was cheap.
You’ll find hotel shuttles at the airport. These generally need to be arranged in advance, so confirm with your hotel ahead of time – these have been very useful to me when arriving in the middle of the night.
If you’re looking for an airport hotel, I recommend just going to the Hyatt Centric, Westin or Intercontinental downtown instead. They’re easily reached and have pools to cool down and buffet breakfasts with great fresh fruit.
Car rental at the airport
I’ve driven a car around Guatemala a few times, and it can be a great adventure. The navigation can be a little complicated, though, as there is often not great signage. But with a little Spanish language skill, I managed to find my way.
Note that roads can be washed out and in bad condition with potholes, so you should consider renting a vehicle that can handle these conditions. Nevertheless, the views and sites are beautiful so it’s great to be able to drive around, wherever you want to go.
There can still be safety concerns driving around Guatemala, even as tourism increases, so exercise caution, especially if you’ll be alone. Nevertheless, car rental agencies are easy to find – you’ll find car rental counters within the terminal, and for at least one provider, you’ll pick up your car on the third floor of the parking building in front of the airport. Follow signs for car rentals and you’ll find Budget, Hertz and other major brands.
Food and drink at GUA
Although the airport was updated this century, it does not have a large selection of available concessions. Still, there are the big American brands, if you’re so inclined, like Pizza Hut, Subway and McDonald’s.
My advice is to try the local coffee shops – Guatemalan coffee is excellent, grown deep in the forests and up into the mountains. I always buy some coffee beans here to take home.
If you need a beer and some salty snacks, try Cervecería Gallo. There’s a kiosk after security called Kiosko de Cervecería Gallo, and there you can buy beer and snacks to take home, along with draft beers for a drink at the airport. I’ve taken friends here after a long, hot drive out of the jungle, and it’s a great refresh before a flight.
If you’re hungry for something local, try Pollo Campero, a local grilled chicken restaurant. If you want to try a great local dish, I recommend asking for mole de plátano, which is sweet plantains in mole sauce, or trying jocon, which is a chicken stew with green chile sauce. They’re both delicious and often available at the airport lounges, too.
Amenities at the airport
There’s complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the airport, and it’s easy to stay connected.
If you need to do some shopping, there are a bunch of interesting options in addition to the standard fare of luxury brands and duty-free. Ferragamo has an official boutique at La Aurora Airport.
I love Arte y Folklore Galería, where you can buy handcrafts from local artisans, including leatherwork, textiles and bead work that is beautiful. Guatemala is known for kites and that’s one of the best souvenirs to purchase as a gift. They sell them after security at a few different handcraft stores.
You’ll find ATMs and currency exchange services at the airport, but the exchange rate usually isn’t great so I advise you to take local money out of the ATM rather than convert your own currency here.
Based on my experience, luggage storage isn’t available at this airport, so plan accordingly if you have a long layover.
I’ve actually used the travel agents when I had trouble with my visa on arrival after entering by boat and they were extremely helpful – they called the consulate for me and helped me board my flight back home in time.
Lounge facilities
La Aurora International Airport has 2 VIP lounges: Casa del Ron Aeropuerto and Copa Club. I’ve spent many hours in the Copa lounge as a Star Alliance Gold member, connecting through here several times on routes between the Caribbean, Central America and the US.
You’ll find the Copa Club in the International Terminal next to Gate 14. They have snacks, beverages, free Wi-Fi, plus you can sit and watch the planes coming and going on the tarmac.
If you love rum, you’ll want to spend your time at the airport at Ron Zacapa rum in the Casa del Ron lounge instead. Priority Pass is accepted. Casa del Ron provides complimentary alcoholic drinks with a stated per-person limit, and Zacapa XO is included (restrictions apply). You can try flights or even cocktails made from this favorite local spirit. You can buy bottles on your way out, too.
Special attractions of the airport
There’s something special very nearby that makes an excellent activity if you’re on a layover here, as long as you only have a light bag with you. La Aurora Zoo is next-door to the airport and you can reach it with just 20 minutes of walking. There are more than 2,000 animals here and it’s a great way to pass the time if you’re into zoos or just need to get some open greenspace time.
Also worth noting is that this airport is specifically engineered for people with disabilities and special needs, with wheelchair ramps, special doors and more accommodations throughout. Finally, INGUAT operates a Tourist Information Office at La Aurora International Airport – if you have kids, pets or any other special considerations (like medical first aid concerns), staff here are helpful.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
