Traveling in Guatemala is not only easy but safe as well. Below is some information and links to help make your visit easier and enjoyable.

About Guatemala

Guatemala is located in Central America just below Mexico and above El Salvador. It is about the size of North Carolina. It’s approximate population of 15 million people are comprised of Guatemalans, 23 different indigenous Indian tribes, Europeans and North Americans. The primary language here is Spanish but there are at least 23 other local dialects spoken here as well. Within the capital city of Guatemala City some English is spoken as well. Guatemala has approximately 250 miles of coast line along the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the East. Except for the coast areas this is a mountainous country of rolling hills, plateaus, deep valleys and numerous volcanoes, some still active. The highest point in Guatemala is Volcano Tajumulco at 13,816 feet while the lowest elevation is along the coast at 0 feet.

There are 22 different departments (states) in Guatemala. Guatemala is known for it’s collection of ancient Mayan ruins that literally cover the countryside. A growing number of eco-tourism sites are now also attracting tourists from around the world. Significant points of interest include the Mayan temples and ruins at Tikal, Quirigua, Mirador and Piedras Negros. The colorful markets where the various indigenous tribes go to sell their goods including colorful textiles are also worth a visit in many towns across Guatemala. The Pacific coast offers beaches and a wide variety of water sports. Other attractions include tours of Guatemala’s coffee plantations and an orchid farm in Coban containing over 700 varieties of orchids.

 

Climate

The tropical country of Guatemala is warm with two seasons, wet and dry. The high and low temperatures vary quite a bit in the mountainous country depending on the elevation. The coastal areas including the Rio Dulce  will have temperatures into the 90s while the high lands in the mountains will have temperatures into the 60s. The rainy season in Guatemala runs from May to early December. In the Rio Dulce area the rain is very predictable, usually occurring in the late afternoon or early evening. It does not rain every day during the rainy season, but there are times that when it comes down it comes down hard.

 

Airports

There are two international airports in Guatemala. The primary and largest airport is in Guatemala City (GUA) with flights arriving from around the world. Major airlines include United, American, Continental, Copa and Taca. The second and smaller airport is located in Flores, the northern area of Guatemala. Flights into and out of Flores to the United States are more limited. Continental flies between Flores (FRS) and Houston (IAH) two days a week while Taca and Copa offers more frequent flights. Entering into Guatemala is fairly straight forward. One form to turn into immigration where they will give you an entry stamp good for 90 days. Once you pass through immigration you will find yourself at baggage claim. Because luggage is offloaded from the plane and brought to the carousel by hand it can take a while to get your bags. Once you have your bags clearing customs is quick as only 10% of the passenger will be stopped and inspected. Outside the airport you will find an abundance of taxis and hotel shuttles to get you to your hotel. Remember that taxi rates at the airports are published on a large sign.

 

Getting Around

Getting around in Guatemala is very easy with it’s extensive range of transportation options. From taxis or chicken buses to first class buses and rental cars. Within Guatemala City and other towns taxis are the easiest way of getting from one point to another within a city or town. They are relatively inexpensive but be sure to negotiate the price before getting into the cab. To move between cities and towns the first class buses are an excellent option. Litegua, and Linea Dorada offer comfortable seats, air conditioning, movies and in most cases there are bathrooms on board. Typical cost for the five hour ride from Guatemala City to the Rio Dulce is about $7 or $8 per person. ADN offers a more luxurious ride on their double decker bus which includes a game room, on board menu, snacks and beverages as well as the other amenities that Litegua and Linea Dorada offer. ADN costs about $22 per person.

While on the Rio Dulce the primary means of transportation is your own dingy or by water taxi. Almost all the places along the river are accessible only by water. Within the town of Fronteras, the local town here on the Rio, walking will do as the town is about five square blocks.

 

Where to Stay

When traveling in Guatemala there are a range of hostels, bed and breakfasts and hotels to accommodate any budget. Prices start at $5/night for bare basic rooms up to $200/night for a luxurious suite. On average one can expect to pay $25 to $45 for a clean, comfortable room with a private bathroom.

Guatemala City is divided into 18 zones (districts). It is recommended during your first visit to stay in zone 10, also known as Zona Viva. Here you will find hotels like the Hilton, Raddison, Holiday Inn and many more with familiar names. You will also find a variety of local hotels that are equally as nice. Zone 10 is considered the safest area of Guatemala City, filled with all the amenities a tourist expects. Fine dining, fine hotels and fine shopping. You will find zone 10 to also be very safe to walk around late at night. Other areas within Guatemala City that are worth staying at is zone 4 and 9, but you should be careful walking at night by yourself. Hotels to consider in Zone 10 are the Biltmore ($75), Los Torres ($25-$40, popular among cruisers), Hotel Santa Clara and Hotel San Carlos. An internet search will give you a larger variety of options. My favorite place is in zone 9, the Armadillo Suites. Here you will find one bedroom apartments ($40-$56/night) as well as two and three bedroom apartments. Be sure to book ahead as Armadillo Suites can be booked up.

In the Rio Dulce area you will again find rooms ranging from $5 to $120/night. Popular places for visitors is at Tortugal Marina and Hotel Catamaran. When checking out hotels be sure to ask about the amanitas you desire such as air conditioning, cable TV, internet or private bath, not all places will have everything.

 

Staying in Touch

Staying in touch with friends and family back home while you’re visiting Guatemala couldn’t be easier. Internet cafes exist everywhere and on every street corner. You can expect to pay $1 to $2 an hour for internet service. Calling home is not only easy but very affordable too. The best deal for calling home is at internet cafes where you can use the internet for about 30 cents per minute or a regular phone for about 75 cents per minute. If you plan on staying a month or more it is defiantly worth looking into getting your own cell phone. In Guatemala you can purchase a cell phone almost anywhere for about $30 for a simple one to $100 for a fancy one. All the phones here use minute cards and there are no contracts. Minute cards cost about 13 cents per minute, calling to the US thus will cost you 13 cents per minute. If you have a lot of people to call this is the way to go. Be sure to buy your phone at a reputable cell phone store or at a pharmacy. You risk buying phones from street vendors.

 

Money

The currency in Guatemala is the Quetzales. Currently the average exchange rate is Q7.50 to $1 USD. U.S. dollars are also readily accepted through out Guatemala but you will get a much lower exchange rate. The easiest and best method of obtaining quetzales is either exchanging money at a bank or making a withdrawal from an ATM machine. You’ll also find that these two options will give you the best exchange rate. Businesses including hotels and restaurants will also exchange your dollars but at a substantially lower rate. Hotels will accept dollars, quetzales and Visa as will most businesses. If you plan on bringing and using a credit card bring a Visa, they are accepted almost anywhere. Mastercard, Discover and American Express are not widely accepted. In Guatemala when using a credit card expect a credit card fee of 6% to 10% to be added to you bill. Another note regarding the use of credit cards. Check with you issuing bank to see if they charge a foreign transaction fee and if so, how much. Some banks will charge a foreign transaction fee of up to 15% every time you use the card. Best option is to bring your ATM card and use the machines for getting quetzales.

 

Safety in Guatemala

Despite what you may read or hear Guatemala is a relatively safe country to visit and travel. Not more than 10 years ago Guatemala was suffering from internal wars and travel here was very dangerous. All that has since been settled and the country is now stable. When reading about the safety of Guatemala on the internet keep in mind that some of the reports out there are from the era of Guatemala’s civil war.

As with any country including the United States common sense is the key to having a pleasant visit. Because Guatemala is a poor country it is advisable not to wear extravagant jewelry or flashy watches. For the majority of the population the average income here is less than $2000 USD a year. Wearing something flashy and very expensive might temp an otherwise honest person. Common sense also dictates traveling where you feel comfortable, staying out of bad neighborhoods at night and being aware of your surroundings. It really isn’t any different than walking the streets of Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York or many other cities in the United States. In all honesty, we have felt more safe traveling in Guatemala than traveling in some places in the US. As with any major city or tourist destination there are some petty thefts that do take place, such as pick pockets. Carry only enough money for what you want to do or wear a money wallet under your clothes.

Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006 S/V Bruadair. No reproduction without written consent.