The currency used throughout the country is the local currency: the Quetzal. The simplest way is to withdraw quetzals on site using an ATM (Visa and Mastercard accepted). The maximum amount per withdrawal is 2,000Q, and the commission charged by the local bank is 30-40Q per transaction. Be sure to notify your bank of your departure abroad. Some restaurants, hotels, and shops now accept card payments. You can also bring a small amount of US dollars in cash as a backup, to exchange in major cities. Note, however, that it is generally not possible to exchange more than approximately 300 dollars per bank (amounts vary by bank and day). Do not bring euros, as they are difficult to exchange.

• 1 EUR = 8.5 QTZ (rate Dec. 2019)
• 1 USD = 7.7 QTZ (rate Dec. 2019)