1

Mastercard is not as widely accepted anywhere in the world, not just Guatemala. Tell us where you plan to go and we can tell you about ATMs in those locations. Additionally, you can check the Mastercard website for ATM locations in Guatemala, or other countries.

I'm puzzled as to what sort of advice you are asking for. So I'll provide the only thing I can think of. Get a Visa ATM card.

Buen viaje!

2

We visited Guatemala Jan 2011 and used a Mastercard Debit Card, though not all ATM's it worked, but all businesses it did for a retial transaction (Hotels/Better meals).

As I recall, the Yellow/Blue ATM worked fine,,,but forgot name of bank. Be careful, a lot of phishing at ATM's (Antigua) and two months later your are cleared out, Visa or MC. In Pana was only 1 ATM it worked at, at the big new grocery store a ways up the road from the main lakefront.

3

Visa is more widely accepted worldwide, as noted, but these days MasterCard is quite widely accepted by retail places and in ATMs. A lot of the information about Visa being the only card accepted is years old and no longer applies.

To be sure, check which ATM networks your card is associated with (e.g. Cirrus, Plus, etc.) and then check to see where your network works in areas of Guatemala where you plan to go.

It's a good idea to have both Visa and MC, just in case. For one thing, your card issuer may decide to decline international charges because you didn't tell them where you were going or just for no reason, so it's always good to have a back-up or two.

4

As Lan says above,better to have both Visa and MC...if one doesn't work then use the other.You should have at least 1 credit and 1 debit card anyway.......

Having said that,we had no problems at all in Guatemala with ATMs.Used Mastercard a couple of times there without problems,and Visa as well.

5

I carry $1000 cash and dont mess with credit cards, except maybe once per trip I might draw $100 on one just to see if it will work. I carry a few hundred in travelers checks too, just for shits and giggles.

6

I have been using my MC debit card without issue in 5B ATM machines without incident. I am not charged an ATM use fee either. I don't use the BI ATM machines because they charge a $2 use fee with my card.

7

No MC issues; made withdrawals in Antigua, GUA, Flores, San Pedro, Monterrico...