When I first arrived in Guatemala last month, I exchanged cash at the BANRURAL, in the departure level of GUA airport. Tourist information can tell you how to get there. That bank would NOT exchange traveler's checks. I had AMEX. They gave me a rate of 7.48 for USD cash on January 6.
In Xela, I exchanged traveler's checks at Banco Agromercantil, next to Parque Central. One of the other banks next to the park would NOT exchange TCs. I got a rate of 7.57 for 1 USD, no fees. The maximum they would exchange per day was 200USD. Which I think is ridiculous. It takes a minimum of 20 minutes to exchange TCs. I would say you should expect at least 30 minutes to 45 minutes.
I also exchanged TCs in San Pedro, at BANRURAL near the dock. 7.56 for 1 USD. I think they said no maximum. I do not speak Spanish. I exchanged $300US.
I used an Chase Bank ATM, from the USA, in Flores, that charged a $2 US fee. Maximum withdrawal was 2,000Q. With the fee included the exchange rate comes out to 7.26Q for 1 USD. An ATM in Antigua charged $5. With the fee included the rate was 7.209 for 1USD. As you can see for the above, my ATM card rate is very bad. Does anyone have a better ATM card?
I used a credit card to pay for two hotels. They would not accept TCs. It would have been cheaper to use USD cash to pay for the hotels.
Next time I would bring mostly USD cash. Plus some AMEX TCs and ATM and credit card. I traveled in Burma in 2005 and 2008 where I was carrying $3,000 and $5,000. I was not nervous about it. For you that don't know, at that time there were no ATMs or credit cards or TCs used there.
What is the best ATM deal in Antigua or are they all the same?
