Quetzal

The Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ) is the official currency of Guatemala, named after the resplendent quetzal, the country’s national bird. Introduced in 1925 during the presidency of José María Orellana, it replaced the Guatemalan peso at a rate of 60 pesos to 1 quetzal. The currency’s name has historical significance, as quetzal bird tail feathers were used as currency in ancient Mayan culture. The quetzal is divided into 100 centavos, and its plural form is quetzales.

Currently, the Bank of Guatemala issues both coins and banknotes in various denominations. Coins in circulation include 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos, as well as 1 quetzal. Banknotes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 quetzales. An interesting feature of Guatemalan banknotes is the display of the note’s value in Mayan numerals in the top-right corner of the obverse face, reflecting the country’s rich cultural heritage.

The quetzal was initially pegged to the U.S. dollar until 1987 when it was allowed to float freely against other currencies. You can easily get quetzales at ATMs within Guatemala and hotels as well as restaurants most often accept credit cards – but it is nevertheless a good idea to always have some cash in your pocket, especially in remote areas.

Quetzal
Guatemala