Quick Guide to Guatemala
It has been almost 10 years since I was last in Guatemala. I was a relatively new traveler and made several mistakes. Now that I have over 50 countries under my belt, my experience this second time around was less troublesome. My first time had a few strings of unfortunate events but it led me to meeting a local family who invited my group to go camping with them. That is still one of my most memorable travel moments ever.
This time, I was better prepared and will share how to have a wonderful trip to Guatemala.
Table of Contents
Must Know Before You GoWhen to Visit: Dry Season (November to April) is the best time to visit. Wet Season (May to October) has afternoon storms but fewer tourists. Visas: The United States and most Western countries do not need to apply for a visa; a valid passport with 90 days validity is required. Language: Spanish. Indigenous Mayan language. Very few locals speak English. Currency: Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ). Exchange Rate as of April 2024.
Credit Card vs. Cash: Most restaurants within Antigua and Lake Atitlan will take card; however, it is important to carry cash at all times. Street vendors, public transportation (boats and tuk-tuks), public toilets, and smaller restaurants only accept cash. It is easier to have smaller notes and coins. ATMs: ATMs can be easily found at the GUA airport, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan. Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Guatemala. Many restaurants may include a mandatory 8-10% service charge on the bill, but tipping in addition to that is not required. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Antigua, Archeological Park and Ruins of Qirigua, Tikal National Park National Parks: Tikal National Park |
Getting To Guatemala
Traveling from the United States to Guatemala is affordable with average flights ranging between $250 – $400 (of course it depends when flights are booked and departing cities). Flights from the United States land in the capital, Guatemala City (GUA). There are direct flights to Guatemala from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New York, and Atlanta as of June 2024.
Entry/Exit Requirements
A customs declaration form needs to be filled prior to arriving in Guatemala. The form includes your email, nationality, passport number, etc. It will generate a QR code that will be scanned when presented to officials. Some airlines will also request this QR code during check in. I filled out my form when I exited the country, but I never had to show my form to anyone.
Getting Around
There are different modes of transportation to get around Guatemala. For longer distances, I recommend a private driver. For shorter distances, I suggest taking an Uber.
Public Buses:
There are several public buses in Guatemala known as Chicken Buses. These buses are painted in vibrant colors and can be taken throughout Guatemala. The name of the location is written on the bus. To take the bus, you just hop on, take a seat, and the worker will come up to you for payment. I do not advise in taking this method for safety reasons but it is a unique experience.
Uber:
Ubers are cheap and affordable in Guatemala. I was able to arrange for transportation in most parts of Guatemala (aside from Flores). Uber vehicles can be cramped and most cars are without air conditioning. There is little to no distinction between the size vehicle of an UberX and a Uber comfort.
Private Driver:
For longer distances, I recommend hiring a private driver. The roads are windy and could be congested at some points. For those who are prone to motion sickness, this would be the best option as the driver can adjust the speed to your needs, and can provide more comfort. A round trip journey from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan was $300. We also hired a driver for a full day + waiting and that was about $260. This can be affordable when split with friends or family.
Safety
The U.S. State Department has determined Guatemala as a Level 3: Reconsidered Travel for its travel advisory as of July 17, 2023. Guatemala’s country conditions indicate that “violent crime such as extortion, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, narcotics trafficking, and gang activity are common in Guatemala.” Travel Advisory included the following:
Do not travel to:
- San Marcos Department (except the city of San Marcos) due to crime.
- Huehuetenango Department (except the city of Huehuetenango) due to crime.
- Zone 18 and the city of Villa Nueva in Guatemala City due to crime.
Nonetheless, the State Department has stated tourist areas such as Antigua and Lake Atitlan are safer regions. I traveled in Guatemala back in 2013 and again in 2024, and can attest that I felt safe in Antigua and Lake Atitlan, but it is always best to be aware of your surroundings. Here are some things to be cautious of while traveling to Guatemala.
Chicken Buses:
While Chicken Buses are fun and affordable ways to travel, this is a prime target for criminals to extort passengers. Criminals have been known to come on board with weapons and threaten passengers with all their personal belongings. I have heard this story many times from locals. I had relatives who had their wallets stolen while looking outside. While I had no negative experience in the past, I would approach taking this form of transportation with caution.
Parking:
In 2013, my group and I rented a car. We checked into our accommodations late at night and the front desk told us to move our vehicle. Where we park, apparently criminals would smash windows attempting to steal any valuables left inside. I recommend asking your hotel where it is safe to park to prevent this from happening.
Guatemala City:
Guatemala City has a reputation of not being safe. I spent the majority of my stay here in the city. I never had any issues here; however, I visited areas known to be more safe. This includes zone 1, 4, 9, 10, and 16. With that said, I also heard to stay clear of zone 1 at night.
Antigua:
I would practice general caution in Antigua.
Lake Atitlan:
I would practice general caution in Lake Atitlan.
In addition to these safety tips, the U.S. Department has also provided the following:
Hotel
Guatemala City:
In Guatemala City, I stayed in Zone 10. Zone 10 is a commercial district and is considered one of the wealthiest regions in Guatemala City. This zone has many chain hotels to choose from and is located near many delicious restaurants.
Tikal:
In Tikal, I stayed in the city of Flores. Flores is about an hour away from Tikal. Some people consider Flores to be a party town but I found the city to be a mixture of relaxation and party. There are also options to stay by the park. I opted out of that as the area gets dark fairly quickly and I did not want to turn in early. But if you have extra time in Tikal, I would split my time between Flores and a nearby accommodation to Tikal.
Antigua:
There are so many great and inexpensive accommodations in Antigua. I recommend staying by the central park to have easy access to all of the main attractions. The city does get roudy with fireworks at odd hours of the day, but the city does come alive. If that is not your cup of tea, staying a few minutes away from Central Park can provide some serenity. My hotel was a 15 minute walk to central park, yet it was peaceful.
Lake Atitlan:
There are 11 towns in Lake Atitlan so choosing a place to stay can be challenging. Honestly, it depends on what you are looking for. My driver recommended San Juan or San Marcos. Due to my short stay, I stayed in Panajachel. To get around town, the primary form of transportation is by boat. Pana is the main city and all towns must pass through Pana to get around Guatemala. The nearest town by boat from Pana is Santa Cruz. This is about a 10 to 15-minute boat ride. A boat ride to San Juan or San Marco can take anywhere from 40 minutes to 1 hour depending on the weather. If the weather is daunting, the boat ride would be choppy. Note that staying in any city outside of Pana will require you to take all of your belongings on the boat. In some instances, your belongings may be strapped on the top. The public boats costs Q25 one way despite of the destination.
Itinerary
| Week | Date | Location | Hotel | To Do/ To See | To Eat |
| 1 | May 20 – 27, 2024 |
→ Avenida La Reforma, Flores 17001, Guatemala
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1. Fly from GUA to FRS
2. Explore Isla del Flores 3. Lancha boat ride
4. Tikal National Park Sunrise Tour with Gem Tours
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Breakfast: 1. Gem Tour Tikal tour included breakfast: boiled eggs, pupusa, and banana. Lunch: 1. Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal → 69GQ+G82 Tikal National Park, Tikal, Guatemala Gem Tour also included lunch at the Hotel Jaguar Inn. The menu has a few fixed items. This includes soup, entre with sides, fruits, water, and juice. Dinners: 1. Mango’s Bar → Avenida Reforma, Flores Peten Guatemala, Flores 17001 Guatemala
Slow service and mediocre food/drinks.
2. Nativo Restaurante → Calle la unión casa 43 isla de, Guatemala Incredible food and drinks. Highly recommend.
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| 2 | May 28- Jun 3, 2024 | Antigua |
Hotel Genessis |
1. Casa de Artes → 4 Avenida SUR 11 Antigua, Guatemala 03001, Guatemala Entry to museum: $5.
2. Convento Santa Clara → H749+2PW, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
3. La Catedral de Santiago → 5a Calle Oriente 5, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
4. Shopping by the Arco de Santa Catalina
5. Pacaya Volcano Challenging hike but easier than other volcanic hikes in Antigua.
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Lunch: 1. Las Antorchas → 3a Avenida Sur 1, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala Italian restaurant.
2. French Restaurant
Dinner: 1. Antigua Brewing Company → 3a Calle Poniente 4, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala Rooftop bar with incredible views of surrounding volcanos.
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| 3 | Jun 4 – 10, 2024 | Antigua Region |
Guatemala City |
1. Hobbitenango → Antigua Vuelta Grande, Aldea El Hato, Guatemala Vuelta Grande, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala Entry Fee: Q50
2. Vinedo Chateau Defay → Santa María de Jesús, Guatemala
3. Cerro de La Cruz → H779+P7H, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
4. Convento de Las Capuchinas → 2a Avenida Norte y 2a Calle Oriente esquina. Antigua Guatemala Sacatepéquez, 03001, Guatemala
→ Calle del Cementerio No.22; Aldea El Hato, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
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Lunch: 1. Vinedo Chateau Defay → Santa María de Jesús, Guatemala
2. Casa Escobar → 6a Avenida Norte no.3, Antigua Guatemala 03001, Guatemala Amazing food. Has complimentary soups appetizer and marshmallow for dessert.
3. El Hato Verde → Calle del Cementerio No.22; Aldea El Hato, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala Beautiful restaurant with incredible views
Dinner: 1. Cerro San Cristobal → Calle Principal #5, San Cristóbal El Alto, Guatemala Restaurant located near Antigua with incredible views.
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| 4 | Jun 11 – 17, 2024 | Lake Atitlan |
AirBnB |
1. Santa Cruz la Luna 2. Shopping 3. Reserva Natural Atitlan → Antigua Finca San Buenaventura, Panajachel 07010, Guatemala A nature walk with several suspension bridges, views of monkeys, butterflies, and more.
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Breakfast: 1. Deli Jasmin → PRQQ+PMP, Calle Santander, Panajachel, Guatemala Restaurant surrounded by greenery. Lunch: 1. Hotel Arca de Noe → Muelle principal Santa Cruz la Laguna Santa Cruz la Laguna, 07014, Guatemala
2. The Little Spoon → Calle Santander, Panajachel, Guatemala A hipster-ish restaurant with great smoothies.
Coffee: 1. Cafe Loco Coffee Roasters → Calle Santander, Panajachel, Guatemala Arguably the best coffee place in Lake Atitlan Dinner: 2. Dao Thai → debajo Hostel Nómades, Calle Santander, Panajachel, Guatemala Thai Restaurant was founded by a Thai person. The food was just okay.
Bars: 1. Pana Rock → PRVV+76J, Calle Santander, Panajachel, Guatemala Fun ambiance with live performances |
| 5 | Jun 18 – 25, 2024 | Guatemala City |
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1. Nacional Museum of Mayan Art → 6 calle y 7 avenida Zona 13 Edificio No. 5 Finca La Aurora Ciudad de Guatemala, 01013, Guatemala
2. Palacio Nacional de la Cultura → JFVP+3Q2, 6A Calle, Cdad. de Guatemala 01001, Guatemala
3. Plaza de la Constitutional → JFRP+PQM, Cdad. de Guatemala, Guatemala
4. Mercado de Artestanias → Handcrafts Market, Cdad. de Guatemala, Guatemala
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1. Cielito Lindo Grill → 2 Avenida 13, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala Great Ambiance. Bar in the center of the restaurant. Open sides.
2. La Veinte Guatemala → 4A Avenida 11-45, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala Amazing food and drinks. Eclectic music playing. Also has live mariachi bands. Great ambiance.
3. Asados A La Lena Zona 10 → JF2M+WX9, 11 Calle, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala Most delicious and affordable chicken spot in Guatemala City.
4. El Adobe Zona 10 → 8A Calle 3-14, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala
5. Casa Saul → Building 15, 6A Avenida 15-64, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala Hipster-ish restaurant with a small market to purchase handmade goods.
6. Sublime Restaurant → 12 Calle 4-15, Cdad. de Guatemala 01014, Guatemala 12-course tasting menu Q680 that changes monthly. Courses represent 12 different locations in Guatemala. Ordered: 12 course, el jardon 60, sangria tinta 45 7. Lima Cocina Peruana → Norte Interior de Casa del Águila, Ruta 3 2-43, Cdad. de Guatemala, Guatemala Peruvian Restaurant
8. Mercado 24 → Via 5 2-24, Cdad. de Guatemala, Guatemala Unique ingredients with mindblowing flavors. Offers several menu of the days as well as favorites.
Bars: 1. Cerveceria14 → Km 51.5 RN10, Camino a San Miguel Dueñas, Cd Vieja, Guatemala Multi-floor bars with a rooftop. Known for their beers and hot dogs. 2. Uncle Sam’s → 14 Calle 5-00, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala Great place to go with large groups or sports enthusiasts. There are two areas with sofas in front of a large TV. Other tables have stools. 3. Casa Del Ron → Ciudad de, Avenida La Reforma 13-35, Cdad. de Guatemala 01010, Guatemala Came here to purchase a few rum but can ask to sample a few rums. |