Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Guatemala
You have ashes in Guatemala and need to bring them home. This page covers what Guatemala requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Guatemala require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: La Aurora International Airport (GUA), Guatemala City
Documentation language: Spanish
The rules that apply on any route, and what you may do with ashes once home, are covered in bringing ashes into the UK.
What are the airline rules for carrying ashes?
What does Guatemala require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Guatemala due to religious or legal reasons. If you are dealing with ashes from a previous cremation held elsewhere, the export rules may differ. Contact us for guidance specific to your situation.
What affects the cost?
Carrying ashes home yourself is the least expensive way to bring someone back from Guatemala, and for many families it costs little more than the return flight they are already taking. We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.
| What changes the cost | Why |
|---|---|
| Whether the cremation has already taken place | Arranging it locally adds funeral director and crematorium involvement |
| Where the death happened | Distance to the nearest crematorium changes local transfer |
| Carrying versus shipping | Hand luggage costs nothing extra; a specialist courier is a separate arrangement |
| Documentation Guatemala requires | Export permits and translation, where they apply |
Send us the details of your situation and we will give you a figure, with no obligation.
What else is worth knowing about Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala (a UNESCO World Heritage colonial city) is one of the most popular Central American destinations for British tourists, drawing visitors for Spanish language schools, coffee farm tours, and volcano hikes; deaths in Antigua can typically be processed via INACIF Guatemala City (45 minutes away) faster than other provincial cases; Lake Atitlan in the Western Highlands is a major draw for British backpackers; the lake is surrounded by volcanoes and connected villages accessible only by boat; drownings and boat accidents on the lake are a documented risk, and any death requires transfer to Quetzaltenango or Guatemala City for forensic processing; The Peten lowlands in northern Guatemala include Tikal National Park (UNESCO) and the town of Flores on an island in Lake Peten Itza; deaths in this remote jungle region require road or air transfer to Guatemala City (flight approximately 1 hour, road 8 to 10 hours) before repatriation can begin; Volcan de Fuego near Antigua erupts regularly; the June 2018 eruption killed over 190 people; tourist deaths on volcano hikes (Fuego, Pacaya, Acatenango) require INACIF investigation and may involve difficult access conditions; La Aurora International Airport (GUA) is within Guatemala City; cargo connects via Miami (American Airlines), Atlanta (Delta), and Mexico City (Aeromexico with European connections); there are no direct UK flights
medium
Recurring causes of British deaths here: Spanish documentation throughout requires certified translation; Peten lowland deaths (Tikal, Flores, Sayaxche) require multi-hour transfer to Guatemala City before INACIF process can begin; Active volcanoes: Volcan de Fuego near Antigua erupted catastrophically in 2018 causing hundreds of deaths; tourist deaths on volcano hikes require INACIF investigation; Lake Atitlan drownings and boat accidents require transfer from lakeside villages to Quetzaltenango or Guatemala City
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Guatemala
Official support
British Embassy in Guatemala: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
If you are unsure about the paperwork or airline requirements, we can take it from here.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Guatemala
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Guatemala
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Guatemala
Tell us where the ashes are now and where home is. We will explain what is needed and send you a quote. We send ashes home to the UK, Ireland or any other country.