Visit Guatemala (in Photos) - with Practical Guide - Central America

The 10 Places Not to Miss When Visiting the Land of Eternal Spring

1. Antigua Guatemala

2. Pacaya Volcano

You can find a detailed description of what it's like to climb the Pacaya Volcano in this article Climb the Pacaya Volcano - One of the Most Active - Guatemala

3. Lake Atitlán

4. Acatenango Volcano

5. Chichicastenango Market

6. Tikal

7. Semuc Champey

8. Rio Dulce (Flores Island)

9. Livingston

10. Flores Island

Practical Guide - Guatemala

Geography - Where is Guatemala?

• Land Borders - Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.
• Mainland - America (Central America)
• Time Zone - GMT-6 (minus 6)
• Language - Spanish

Guatemalan flag

 

Visas - Do You Need a Visa to Visit Guatemala?

• Entry and stay regime - When entering and leaving Guatemala, it is necessary to fill in a migration form, which is distributed on board commercial airplanes and is available at border and migration checkpoints.
• Seen - No entry visa is required for stays of less than 90 days, but a passport valid for 6 months beyond the end of the trip is required.
• Single Central American VisaGuatemala is part of the Central American CA-4 free mobility agreement along with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. This means that the 90-day period starts to run from the moment you enter one of these 4 countries (without prejudice to the fact that when you cross the borders between them you will have to go through immigration control and get your passport stamped, which does not interrupt or restart the 90-day calculation).

 

Local Currency and Exchange

• Currency - Guatemalan Quetzal
• ATM - ATMs are relatively easy to find in big cities. For security reasons, it is advisable to withdraw money from ATMs inside banks or buildings, rather than on the street.
• Credit/Debit Cards - They are accepted in most commercial establishments, with Visa and Mastercard being the most common. Amex is also accepted.

The Revolut card is a great option to avoid paying bank fees and commissions while traveling.

You can calculate the current exchange rate

 

Weather - When to Visit

Guatemala is known as "The country of eternal spring". The climate is tropical and sub-tropical, varying greatly with altitude. The climate is mild all year round. But the best time to visit is during the dry season, from November to April. In the rainy season, between May and October, it will be more uncomfortable to visit.

• Hurricanes - The hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30, although the most critical period is between August and October.

• High Season - The peak seasons, and consequently the ones with the most visitors, are the summer months (from November to April) with local vacations, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and Easter (Holy Week is very important in Guatemala, and during this period it is very difficult to find accommodation). In July and August, Guatemala welcomes many students to learn Spanish.

• Dry season - The best time to visit is during the dry season, from November to April.

• Rainy Season - Between May and October, it will be more uncomfortable to visit.

Airport

• La Aurora International Airport (GUA) - Located in the country's capital, Guatemala City.
• Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) (Also known as Santa Elena Airport) - Located in the city of Flores.

Electricity

• Type A sockets

International Telephone Code

• +502

UNESCO World Heritage Site in Guatemala

• Tikal National Park
• Antigua Guatemala
• Quirigua Archaeological Park and Ruins

Security in Guatemala

Information on the Portuguese Communities Portal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs):

"Security conditions are poor, with high levels of crime such as robberies, thefts, sexual abuse and kidnappings (express) throughout the country. The border areas with Mexico, and in particular the corridors used for drug trafficking and migratory movements (departments of Izabal, Alta Verapaz, Petén, Huehuetenango, San Marcos) have seen several incidents related to organized crime and drug trafficking.

The risk areas to avoid are concentrated in the departments of Escuintla, Quetzaltenango, Alta Verapaz, Izabal and Petén, as well as a large part of the capital and most of the neighboring municipalities which have very high crime rates. In the capital, zones 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 18, Mixco and Villanueva should be avoided, and vigilance should be maintained at all times when visiting other parts of the city. Uaxactùn is a particularly isolated destination and it is also recommended that tourists be accompanied by certified agents to access Aguateca and Ceibal by river.

The areas considered to be at medium risk (where visits should be made with caution) are the department of Sololá (Lake Atitlán) and the department of Sacatepéquez (La Antigua).

Caution is also advised when climbing any volcano in Guatemala. More detailed information can be obtained from Tourist Assistance Office (ASISTUR). It is recommended that this type of excursion be carried out in a group, by day, and accompanied by professional guides.

If possible, you should leave your documents and valuables in a safe place.

In the interior of the country and on the roads, the risk is directly proportional to the degree of isolation and the lack of adequate infrastructure. It is not advisable to travel by road at night, also due to the lack of lighting.

The Guatemalan authorities, through the "Programa de Atención al Turista" (PROATUR) and the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), provide information on safety conditions in the areas to be visited, and provide custody (security) services for groups of tourists. http://proatur.visitguatemala.com/es/custodias.php.

Both drug use and drug trafficking are severely punished under Guatemalan law, with sentences ranging from two to twenty years in prison, depending on the quantity seized, subject to immediate detention.

In the event of a traffic accident, contact the National Civil Police, avoid arguments with third parties.

Take extreme precautions on the beaches, as there are few lifeguards and the currents are very strong, especially on the Pacific coast."

It is essential to know that Guatemala is on the list of the most dangerous countries in the world. But it is possible to visit this country safely. I visited Guatemala in November 2022, alone, for a week and never felt in danger. Extra measures are needed when it comes to taking care of your safety, your personal safety and the safety of your property.

Emergency in Guatemala

• National civil police. Telephone: 110
• Any type of emergency: 1500
• Tourist assistance: 00 (502) 24212810

Travel in Guatemala

• Airplane - The airport in the capital (Guatemala City) is La Aurora International Airport. There are domestic flights to various destinations.

• "Chicken Bus" - These are public buses, which travel both short and long distances. They are known for carrying literally everything, even chickens. They are not considered very safe because they carry more people than the recommended maximum capacity, and because they are old vehicles with poor safety conditions.

• Car - If you decide to rent a car, it's important to find out about the insurance conditions. The condition of the main roads is generally good. Traveling at night is not recommended, mainly due to poor road lighting.

• Vans "shuttle” – This is the most recommended means of transport for travel within the country.
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Other articles about Guatemala

CLIMB THE PACAYA VOLCANO - ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE - GUATEMALA

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