Guatemala Travel Guide

Full Name

Republic of Guatemala

Former Name

None

Capital City

Guatemala

Government Type

constitutional democratic republic

Area Size

total: 108,890 sq km

Time Zone

UTC/GMT -6 hours

Climate

Guatemala’s climate varies according to altitude. The coastal regions and the northeast are hot throughout the year with an average temperature of 20°C sometimes rising to 37°C . Generally, nights are clear all year round. In higher climes, near the centre of the country, the rainy season, running from May to September, is characterised by clear skies after abundant rainfall in the afternoons and evenings. Temperatures fall sharply at night.

Geography

Guatemala is mountainous, except for the south coastal area and the northern vast lowlands of Petén department. Two mountain chains enter Guatemala from west to east, dividing the country into three major regions: the highlands, where the mountains are located; the Pacific coast, south of the mountains; and the Petén region, north of the mountains. All major cities are located in the highlands and Pacific coast regions; by comparison, Petén is sparsely populated. These three regions vary in climate, elevation, and landscape, providing dramatic contrasts between hot and humid tropical lowlands and colder and drier highland peaks. Volcán Tajumulco, at 4,220 meters, is the highest point in Central America.

Languages

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Culture

If there is a single feature that makes Guatemala unique, it is the living indigenous culture which envelops daily life, especially in the highlands. Color, traditions, language, ritual and customs dominate in almost half the country as Guatemala's 23 ethnic groups proudly cling to their ancestral ways, differentiating their hometown by wearing their distinctive hand woven attire. One of Guatemala's most mystical features is its archaeological heritage, the heart of the Maya World.

History

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.

Travel Information

The main airline is TACA. Iberia flies direct from Madrid to Guatemala City. Guatemala City (GUA) (La Aurora) is 6km south of the city. A bus runs to the city. Taxi services to Guatemala City are available (journey time – 20 minutes). Airport facilities are Car hire, duty-free, shops, bars, restaurants, post office, bank/bureaux de change and tourist information. Flores (FRS) is 3km from Flores and is located one hour from the UNESCO Tikal Archaelogical Park. Regular flights operate to Belize and Mexico. Taxis and shuttles are available. Airport facilities are Snack bar and car hire. Departure Tax US$30, usually included in the fare. 24-hour transit passengers are exempt. A security tax of US$3 is payable at the airport. Main ports: Santo Thomás de Castilla, Puerto Quetzal and Puerto Barrios. There are regular water taxi services between Punta Gorda, Belize and Puerto Barrios and twice-weekly boats between Punta Gorda and Livingston. There is also a service from Omoa, Honduras to Livingston. From Palenque, in the Chiapas region of Mexico, there are a number of routes to Flores involving a mixture of bus and riverboat travel. Travel agents in Palenque can make all the arrangements. Several international cruise lines call at Guatemalan ports. Ferrovias Guatemala is an 800km railway connecting Guatemala City with Mexico, El Salvador and ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Restoration of the railway is currently underway, but the line is used mainly for freight. Two steam trains are available for charter by tour companies. The Pan-American Highway runs through Guatemala from Mexico in the north and El Salvador in the south. Access is also possible from Belize. You should exercise particular care when travelling in the Belize/Guatemala border area. Travellers are strongly advised to use only the officially recognised border crossings.There are bus services from all the neighbouring countries. Border crossings can be subject to considerable delays. The buses used by some companies are comfortable and air conditioned. Ticabus runs international services throughout Central America.

Accommodation

There are many first-class hotels in Guatemala City and throughout the country. Many offer excellent service in restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Antigua Guatemala also has a good choice of hotels. Chichicastenango, Cobán, Panajachel (near Lake Atitlán), Puerto Barrios and Quetzaltenango have a reasonable selection of hotels, although elsewhere accommodation is more limited. Registered hotels are required to display room rates.

Visa Requirements

Visas are not required by all nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada and USA for stays of up to 90 days. Nationals not referred to above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements. Passport valid for at least six months required by all nationals referred to above.

Getting Around

TACA runs flights between Guatemala City and Flores. A travel tax of Q5 per person is applied to internal flights and payable at the check-in desks.Regular boats operate between Puerto Barrios and Livingston. There are also frequent services along the Rio Dulce, as well as on the bigger lakes, in particular between villages on Lake Atitlán. Traffic drives on the right. Travellers should avoid driving to Panajachel via Patzun as the road is badly maintained and criminals take advantage of these conditions to hold up travellers. The road from the El Salvador border to Cuilapa and from the Belize border to El Cruce are major danger spots for bus-jacking and there are also similar incidents on the main Pan-American Highway near Solola. Buses are cheap but crowded and road accidents are common. Slightly more expensive air-conditioned services are available. Transportes Litegua operates regular buses from Guatemala City, Rio Dulce and Morales to Puerto Barrios. The Guatemala City Council no longer permits inter-urban buses to enter the city centre; passengers are dropped at various points on the outskirts. Private minibuses operate on the main tourist routes. International and local firms have car hire offices in Guatemala City. Guatemala City and major towns have limited, but cheap and regular, bus services. Travellers are advised to use radio-dispatched taxis or taxis from international hotels. Tipping is discretionary.

Health & Safety

There are a number of health risks associated with travel to Guatemala and travellers. Malaria is prevalent in the low-lying areas outside Guatemala City and dengue fever is endemic. Other risks include rabies, typhoid, Hepatitis A and cholera. Dysentery and other diarrhoeal diseases are common; visitors should be careful what they eat and stick to bottled water. Guatemalan hospitals are unlikely to give medical treatment unless the patient has medical insurance or can pay up front. Good travel insurance is therefore essential. State-funded hospitals best avoided, travellers should only use private clinics where possible. A yellow fever certificate is required from travellers entering the country from infected areas. The rate of violent crime is exceptionally high in the country. There has also been a relatively high rate of violent attacks on tourists, especially after dark. Pick-pocketing and petty theft are common in tourist areas and market places. An increase of armed robberies targeting tourists has also been reported in Antigua. Many robberies take place on the cheaper buses when travelling on the tourist routes from Guatemala City to Antigua, and from Antigua to Panajachel; keep all belongings close at hand. There has been an increase in reported incidents of attacks, including the rape of female passengers, on cars and buses during the day on main routes. Hold-ups by armed gangs occur frequently on city and long distance public buses; visitors are advised not to use the buses if possible. Guatemala's rainy season between April and November usually brings about heavy rain and flooding, mudslides and hurricanes. Fuego volcano is very active and climbing it is not advisable at present.

National Holidays

1 Jan - New Year’s Day. 5-8 Apr - Easter. 1 May - Labour Day. 30 Jun - Army Day. 15 Aug - Assumption (Guatemala City only). 15 Sep - Independence Day. 20 Oct - Revolution Day. 1 Nov - All Saints' Day. 24 Dec - Christmas Eve. 25 Dec - Christmas Day. 31 Dec - New Year's Eve.

Currency

Guatemala Quetzal (GTQ)

Electricity

115-125v AC

Working Hours

Office hours: Mon-Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm, Sat 8.00am - 12.00noon.

Emergency Numbers

123(Ambulance, Fire) 110(Police)