Guatemala: Overview
The colorful Republic of Guatemala is located in Central America bordering with the Pacific Ocean to the south, with Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast, with Belize to the east and with Mexico to the northwest. This country offers a great variety of places and activities to its visitors, as the great yungas of Central America and many Catholic-Mayan festivities.
Climate
The Guatemalan climate is very pleasant throughout the year, so it is possible to visit the country at anytime. The rainy season takes place between May and November and thermal variations, which are not many, are due to altitude. The northern climate is hot and tropical, with several precipitations between May and September; the coastal and north-eastern regions are also hot with a dry season (November-April) and a rainy one. In the highlands, Guatemala City and Antigua you will enjoy a temperate climate with cooler nights and less rains.
Important information
Entry requirements for Guatemala vary according to visitors’ nationality, although most of them do not need a visa or a tourist card. They only need to have an effective passport for stays up to 30-90 days. If you are thinking of a longer stay you must check entry requirements at a Guatemalan embassy or consulate before travelling.
The official currency is the quetzal (GTQ), although the American dollar has become a second official currency, as broadly extended as the first one. Travelers’ checks (preferably in American dollars) and the main credit cards are also broadly accepted. Exchanging cash is easy, although riskier than exchanging checks. It is recommended not to change money in the street or kiosks. ATMs are plentiful and they work mostly with American Express and Visa (and in a more limited way with MasterCard and Diners Club).
A 10% tip is recommended for tourist guides, hotel staff and waiters in case the service has not been included in the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.
There are several health problems in Guatemala, so you should take some cautions. Outside Guatemala City there is a great malaria risk and dengue fever is endemic. There are also rabies, typhus, hepatitis A, dysentery, cholera and other diarrheic diseases. It is recommended to drink only bottled water and to be very careful with food; eat well cooked dishes at hygienic places. Guatemalan hospitals do not give treatment unless the patient has medical insurance or pay for it in advance. Therefore, it is necessary to hire a comprehensive medical insurance for the trip and go to private clinics if you need medical care. Travelers coming from infected areas must produce a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
There are also some relevant safety issues, since crime level is particularly high in this country. There have been many attacks to tourists, especially in isolated places and in Guatemala City, after sunset. In zona 1, where most economic lodgings and bus stops are, it is recommended that visitors remain alert. Attacks have also been reported by tourists travelling from the capital city airport to business areas zona 9 and zona 10. Other two routes where tourists should be vigilant are the ones traveled by economic buses between Guatemala City and Antigua and between Antigua and Panajachel. Pickpockets and petty criminals operate frequently in tourist areas and markets. Robberies in Antigua have dramatically increased. Women should be particularly cautious, since many rapes have been reported, even during daylight and in buses traveling the main routes. Many long distance buses have been intercepted by armed gangs. In the roads surrounding Lake Atitlan armed robberies had occurred, so it is strongly recommended that tourists use boats for traveling between cities and be careful on shore. Attacks have also been reported in Tikal and in the road going from Flores to Tikal. There are some natural risks, as floods during the rainy season and the activity of some volcanoes. Tourist are advised not to climb or walk in the surroundings of volcán Fuego, since it is active.
There are some social and cultural customs which tourist must respect in Guatemala such as avoiding public displays of affection, especially between people of the same sex and particularly outside Guatemala City. It is recommended to ask for permission before taking pictures of local people, especially of children since it is feared that the pictures are being taken for kidnapping or child traffic. Two people who were suspected of wanting to kidnap children for adoption were brutally hit by the neighbors. In case you have been granted permission to take the picture, you will be expected to tip the person you photograph.
Where to go
Guatemala City, located in a large plateau and surrounded by ravines, is one of the biggest urbanizations in Latin America. The city is divided into eight “zonas” (areas) and it is an excellent starting point for trips around the country. In zona 1 you can visit Plaza Mayor which has a very Spanish colonial style, Palacio Nacional, Catedral Metropolitana and the central market. North of this zona it is worthwhile to visit Parque Minerva. In zona 10 are interesting museums like the Popol Vuh and the Ixchel. In zona 13 you cannot miss the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology and the one of Modern Art or the Mayan ruins of Kaminaljuyú. The night life of the city concentrates in Zona Viva.
Antigua, the former capital city, is one of the most beautiful Latin-American cities. It is located among the three volcanoes Acastenango, Fuego and Agua and still has some of its colonial buildings. Here you can see beautiful churches like La Merced, San Francisco and Las Capuchinas which is also a museum. You can visit Casa K'ojom where are kept musical and ritual objects of the Mayan culture.
Panajachel attracts its visitors with a volcanic cone covered with water, the boiler of lake Atitlán. From the city you can make short trips to the indigenous towns in the surroundings. You can also enjoy a one-day trip to Santiago Atitlán where you can see god Maximón smoking a cigar and the local people wearing their colorful clothes. Sololá is a mercantile city which square buzz with activity during market days. Santa Catarina de Palpalá and San Pedro de la Laguna are two very traditional towns.
Flores is a city located in the wild northwestern area of an island of lake Petén Itzá and it is connected by a bridge with Santa Elena City in the coast. There you can visit the square, the church and the government center, besides making short boat trips to some of the lagoon’s settlements and to the calcareous rock caves of Actun-Can.
Wrapped in the mysterious fog of the highlands is Chicastenango, a city surrounded by valleys and mountains which is still an important business center. It is worthwhile to spend a Sunday here in order to enjoy the picturesque market and witness some of the Mayan-Christian religious rituals. The best places to see these rituals are santuario de Pascual Abaj and the surroundings of Iglesia de Santo Tomás, built to honor the Mayan god of the earth. It is also a good choice to visit Museo Regional.
Quetzaltenango (Xela), southeast of Guatemala, is an important business center and an excellent starting point for making short trips to the surrounding towns as Zunil, Momostenango and San Francisco el Alto which stand out for their thermal baths and crafts. Also, in the surroundings you can enjoyed the natural vapor baths of Los Vapores and Fuentes Georginas. Some of the places you can visit in the city are the central square, its surrounding buildings, the markets and Parque Minerva.
Festivals
The festivities of this country are characterized by a strong Christian-Mayan syncretism. Among the main celebrations are Holly Week, especially in Antigua and Rabin Ajau, a Mayan festival, which takes place between the 21 and 26 of July in Verapaces, Other festivals you can enjoy are Independence Day, Día de Santo Tomás and Día de Todos los Santos.
