Shopping
It is common to bargain for most purchases in the open air market. Though you may be able to bargain in other places, be aware that chain-owned shops have fixed prices you are no more likely to bargain in a Guatemalan Radio Shack than an American one.
These are some characteristically Guatemalan things you might consider buying here:
Ron Zacapa Centenario
 guatemala's prize-winning rum
Fabrics and traditional textiles
 traditional mayan blouses are known as huipiles whi-peel and skirts as cortes. be aware that these are almost always entirely handmade and prices for a high-end huipil may be as high as q1000.
Jade
 there is large jade working factory in antigua, but it is course a very stone.
Coffee
 touted as one of the best-tasting varieties in the world
Cardamom
 guatemala is the largest exporter in the world and coban is the main centre of this trade.
money
The local currency is the quetzal plural: quetzales, the national bird, with ancient and mythic connotations even today. One US dollar is equivalent to 7.61 quetzales. US dollars are widely accepted and be exchanged in most small towns. ATMs can be found in the major towns but do not expect to find them in every tourist spot. It is fairly easy to find your self in a town without an ATM or a place to change money.
Do not expect to be able to easily exchange travelers checks to Guatemala. You might find a few places willing to accept checks issued by American Express but other types are universally turned down. Amazingly, even major banks in Guatemala City do not accept VISA travelers checks.
The national currency is the quetzal. The rate of change is approximately 7.61 Quetzales per US dollar and 10.88 per euro May 2011. It is common to use dollars in tourist areas. You will most likely have difficulties in changing other currencies than US dollars, but euros are becoming increasingly common.