Guatemala is a gorgeous Central American treat just waiting to be discovered! Immerse yourself in ancient Mayan culture in this captivating country, and explore the incredible ruined temples and palaces at Tikal. Soak up the colonial flavour of Antigua, or cruise across the languid waters of beautiful Lake Atitlán. Head for the famous market at Chichicastenango or hike through the Mayan highlands for some authentic folklore and colour. Get going to Guatemala on your gap year and start your amazing Central American adventure!
GMT-6
Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
+502
The capital city of Guatemala is Guatemala City, known to the locals as ‘Guate’. The city is the largest urban centre in Central America, and offers a mixed experience, with poverty and crime a problem in some areas of the city. On the flip side, it’s the country’s cultural hub with great museums and a growing restaurant and bar scene.
Guatemalan food has both Mayan and Spanish influences and is similar to Mexican food. Corn, beans, rice, cheese, tortillas, stews and soups are popular dishes and ingredients. Tamales are a popular dish, which is a filled dough wrapped in a plantain or banana leaf. For breakfast, you can expect to have eggs, tortillas and beans with plenty of fresh tropical fruit such as mango or papaya. Don’t forget to try the famous Guatemalan coffee!
Guatemala’s coastal and Northeastern regions are warm all year round, averaging around 20-25°C. The central highlands see more rainfall, especially during the rainy season from May-September. Guatemala has such a temperate climate that it is known as the ‘Land of Eternal Spring’.
Visas may be required in order to enter or transit through certain countries depending on your passport nationality, your reason for travel and how long you intend to stay.
Visa, passport and entry rules are subject to change and you should check the most up-to-date information from the relevant embassy or visa specialist.
To make things easier we have teamed up with The Travel Visa Company who are one of the UK’s leading travel visa specialists. You can use their website, alongside embassy websites, to find out the specific entry requirements for the countries you intend to travel to.
For a fee, their dedicated team of experts can also apply for visas on your behalf, taking away the hassle and streamlining the process for you if you wish. For more details on the services they provide please click here – The Travel Visa Company
Passports must be kept in good condition. Travellers with damaged passports may be refused entry at immigration. It is the responsibility of the traveller to ensure that all travel documents are in good condition before they travel. Most countries will also require at least 6 months of validity on your passport from the time you finish your trip.
Some countries will require proof of certain vaccines, such as yellow fever or covid, in order to gain entry. Please check with the relevant embassy or a visa specialist before travelling.
Spanish is the official language of Guatemala and is spoken by around 60% of the population. There are also many Mayan languages spoken by Guatemala’s Amerindian population.
The main plug socket in use in Guatemala is the two-pinned North American plug, so UK travellers will need to take a universal adaptor.
Drug trafficking incurs severe penalties (10-20 years) and drug use can result in detention for 8-15 years. Conditions in Guatemalan prisons are very poor.
Do not take photographs without permission in Guatemala, especially photos of children and particularly in remote areas such as Quiche, Peten, San Marcos and Chiquimula provinces. Photography can provoke local fears of child kidnapping or organ theft and can result in violence. You may be asked to pay a small fee if do are given permission to take photographs.
Attitudes to homosexuality in Guatemala City are tolerant but local people may be less accepting in other areas of Guatemala, so public displays of affection should be avoided.
We have selected what we believe to be the key points that you should be aware of when travelling in Guatemala.
Gap 360 follows advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and we recommend that you frequently check the FCDO for updated travel advice. You can find the website here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
Most visits to Guatemala are trouble-free, but travellers should be aware that Guatemala has one of Latin America’s highest rates of violent crime, mostly involving local gangs. All areas of Guatemala City are at risk from crime, including popular tourist areas such as the historical centre (zone 1) or Zona Viva (zone 10). Do not carry, wear or display cash or valuables and, if possible, leave valuables in a hotel safe. Take particular care around ATMs, petrol stations, and at the airport, bus stations and shopping malls.
Take radio or hotel taxis, even for short trips. You can buy pre-paid taxi vouchers from the tourist office at the airport arrivals terminal.
Only change money in hotels, banks or foreign exchange offices whenever possible. Don’t withdraw too much money at once and avoid money exchange or withdrawals at night.
Avoid lone travel, particularly at night, and take special care at border crossings or in isolated or remote areas. Car-jackings and armed robberies have been reported on the ‘Carretera Salvador’, the main road between Guatemala City and the border with El Salvador. Crossroads at Fraijanes, San Jose Pinula and Las Luces are also focal points for ‘express kidnappings’ and sexual assaults. Avoid involvement in any demonstrations while in Guatemala.
Armed attacks on tourists climbing mountains have been reported so it is advisable to go with a reputable tour guide or company.
You should carry a photocopy of your passport for identification purposes, except in San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá, where local authorities may fine or detain you if you don’t show your original passport.
There have been reports of travellers being targeted by bogus police officers and becoming victims of theft, extortion or sexual assault. Another typical scam asks you to transfer funds to people you supposedly know (such as family or friends) who are in Guatemala.
When crossing into Guatemala by land border, the customs or immigration official may try to charge you an illegal “entry fee”. If you ask for an official receipt the “fee” is usually dropped.
Armed attacks have been reported for road travel routes to/from major tourist sites like Antigua, Tikal, Peten and Lake Atitlan and boat services may offer a safer alternative. The Godinez by-pass via Patzun between Guatemala City and Panajachel should be avoided, as should the road between Cocales (Suchitepequez) and San Lucas Toliman (Atitlan). Main roads are generally safer than quieter or more remote routes.
Recent landslides and flooding have destroyed many roads and bridges, causing some disruptions to road travel.
It is illegal in Guatemala to have more than 1 person riding a motorcycle at one time, and a black vest and helmet with the registration number must be worn at all times, otherwise, you may incur a fine of around £80.
Avoid travel on public buses (which are repainted US School buses), as local gangs have staged armed attacks, muggings, rape and sexual assault on these buses. As a result, some inter-city buses are banned from entering the city centres. Private inter-city buses generally have a better safety record although they have also been subject to attacks.
We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.
Credit cards are the recommended form of exchange as debit cards are sometimes rejected by ATMs. You should only change or withdraw money in hotels, at banks or at foreign exchange offices. There have been reports of credit and debit cards being cloned after use in ATMs. If your credit card is lost or stolen you may have trouble getting a replacement as major international courier services from the UK are not delivering to Guatemala.
Guatemala has four active volcanoes, so listen out for local alerts and warnings when travelling in these areas. If climbing Fuego and Santiaguito, avoid areas around craters and don’t climb volcanoes at night. Take care when climbing the Tajumulco volcano. Land disputes among local communities have led to some unrest.
Guatemala experiences minor earth tremors and occasional earthquakes. Guatemala’s rainy season runs from June to November, and this is also hurricane season in the Caribbean. Heavy rains can cause flooding and landslides and collapse roads and bridges.
You should be in touch with your GP around 8 weeks before you travel for vaccination or health advice. Diarrhoea can be caused by contaminated food or water so we advise you to drink bottled water.
You should carry evidence of your insurance coverage at all times in case you need medical treatment.
Dengue fever is present throughout the year in Guatemala. It is not safe to drink the water in Lake Atitlan and some areas are not safe for swimming.
Take precautions to avoid exposure to HIV and AIDS during your visit.
A Yellow Fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever.
I’ve just finished travelling Costa Rica on Gap 360’s 14-day Costa Rica Adventure and it was packed with so many bucket list moments. We’re talking about spotting adorable sloths, ziplining through Monteverde Cloud Forest, surfing...
Let’s take a quick history lesson… 3 million years ago Costa Rica rose to the world, forming part of the land we know as Central America. You can thank its impressive volcanoes for that...
Our oceans are home to all kinds of beautiful coral reef animals, plants and objects. Coral reefs are home to millions of unique species. Snorkelling allows you to explore these fantastic reefs like a real-life Ariel and see a wide...
With tropical Caribbean beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, mouth-watering tacos, and colourful cities bursting with rich Mexican culture, there are plenty of things to see in Mexico. It’s a traveller’s treasure trove. Here are our 12 favourite things...
Volcan Pacaya (Pacaya Volcano) is one of the most climbed volcanoes in Guatemala. Rising to an altitude of 8,371 feet, the Pacaya Volcano is still active and last erupted in May 2010, spewing clouds of black ash across the sky for miles...