Tipping in Guatemala is not widely practiced – although it has become the norm in certain services, particularly – as you would expect – in any provided directly to tourists and foreigners.
We are frequently asked “What is considered normal tipping practice when fishing”, to which we generally advise that a tip of $125-175 per boat per day is probably average. The wide range should be primarily determined by factors such as

• #1 is how hard did the crew work for you? Were they watching the baits ALL the time? Were they changing out the baits on a regular basis to avoid them becoming “washed out”? Were they considerate and asking how YOU would like to fish rather than how they normally fish?

• How many anglers on the boat (in fact how many passengers total) – the tip referenced above assumes 4, so if more or less there is a case for adjustment

• Were you provided with snacks, food and drink as and when you want it? Were your needs anticipated?

• Did the captain work hard to find fish? Was he successful? While the tip should not necessarily reflect the number of fish caught, there IS a correlation between
• Number of fish caught and effort/work provided
• Number of fish raised to efforts to scout a productive area and find what baits are working

In all cases of course, the tip is discretionary, and should reflect the level of service provided and your satisfaction with the crew. The suggestions above are given for guidance and for your consideration only. Be aware also that there can be a significant difference in expectations for tip between “local” crews (which are reflected above) – and “Professional” or “International” Captains.

The prime season in Guatemala is relatively short compared to many other destinations, and so there is a “school of thought” that says that Captains and crews have a need to compress earnings into a shorter time – and so the average needs to be higher. Again, we leave the reader to wrestle with that one alone.