La Aurora International Airport

La Aurora International Airport is about 6.4 km (4 miles) south of Guatemala City's historic center, in Zone 13. Because it sits inside the city, the drive is short in distance, but traffic in the capital can make it slow at rush hour, so allow extra time when heading to or from the airport.

Yes. La Aurora International Airport sits within Guatemala City, in Zone 13, roughly 6 km south of the historic center. It is surrounded by urban neighborhoods, which makes it quick to reach most parts of the capital, though congestion on city roads can still add time to the trip.

La Aurora has one passenger terminal with 22 boarding gates. All international and domestic flights use this building, so there is no need to change terminals between flights. Arrivals, baggage claim and customs are compact and easy to follow, and the taxi rank and pickup points are right outside the main exits.

United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Frontier Airlines and Alaska Airlines fly from the United States. Avianca, Copa Airlines, Volaris, Aeroméxico, Wingo, Arajet, Air Canada and Iberia cover Latin America, Canada and Spain, and TAG Airlines and Avianca fly domestic routes to Flores. All of them use the single passenger terminal.

Yes. White official airport taxis wait at a rank outside the arrivals exits. You arrange and pay for the ride at the taxi kiosk inside the arrivals hall, agreeing a fixed fare for your destination rather than using a meter. Avoid unofficial drivers who approach you outside the terminal, particularly late in the evening.

There is no direct public bus from the terminal. Travelers going to Antigua by chicken bus must first get to the El Trébol intersection in Zone 8, either by taxi or a long walk with luggage. Most arriving visitors instead use official taxis, rideshare, shared shuttles or a pre-arranged transfer.

Yes, Uber operates at La Aurora International Airport. Drivers usually pick passengers up on the second road outside the terminal rather than on the inner lane used by taxis and shuttles. Check the plate and car before getting in, and expect higher fares during the city's morning and evening rush hours.

Yes. Every traveler arriving by air must complete Guatemala's electronic traveler declaration, the Declaración Jurada Regional de Viajero, through the SAT website or app. It is free and generates a QR code that customs agents ask for after baggage claim. Paper forms are used only when the system is down. Check visa rules for your nationality separately.

Antigua Guatemala is about 40 km (25 miles) from La Aurora, and the drive takes roughly 1 to 3 hours depending on traffic. Options include official taxis, Uber, walk-up or pre-booked shared shuttles from the arrivals area, and private transfers. There is no direct bus from the terminal, and shuttles stop running late at night.

Flores, the usual base for visiting Tikal, is reached by domestic flight from La Aurora. Avianca and TAG Airlines both fly the route from the same passenger terminal used by international flights. Flores was the airport's busiest domestic destination in 2024, with about 350,000 passengers on the route that year.

Guatemala uses Central Standard Time (UTC−6) all year and does not observe daylight saving time. The currency is the Guatemalan quetzal. US dollars are sometimes accepted by drivers, but the exchange rate may not be fair, so it helps to withdraw or exchange some quetzales at the airport before leaving the secure area.

Guatemala City sits at about 1,500 meters above sea level, so it is generally mild rather than hot. Days are usually comfortable, and evenings and early mornings can feel cool, so a light layer is useful on arrival. Antigua, at a similar altitude, has much the same climate.

La Aurora is run by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), Guatemala's civil aviation authority, under the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing. The airport handled about 4.9 million passengers in 2024, up from about 4.3 million in 2023, using one terminal and a single 2,987-meter runway.