Entry requirements

Passport and visa requirements

Health precautions

Once in the country

Time and time difference

It is 01:27 AM in Guatemala (GMT-6 )

Summer time period

Map of the time zone

Type of climate

The Pacific Coast benefits from temperatures close to 38°C; the level of humidity decreases a little bit over the dry season. In the mountains, the nights are icy, the days are damp and cold during the rainy season, and warm and pleasant during the dry season (from October to May). In the Peten, the climate varies from warm and humid to warm and dry. On the Caribbean Coast, it is hot and humid all year long.

Average annual temperatures and rainfall

Getting around

By road

The condition of the road network is average, and even rather poor but it is being improved on the two-way sections connecting the capital with the main cities of the country. The conditions of traffic are difficult (numerous old private or public vehicles, badly maintained, plus a total disrespect of traffic rules). To drive at night should be avoided.

By rail

There is no railroad network to ensure the transportation of people.

By air

There are Air connections between the capital and the main cities of the country and with some important tourist places as well. The aircraft's maintenance does not call to any particular remark.

Find an itinerary

Eating

Culinary specialties

The classic dish is composed of rice, kidney beans (frijoles con arroz), a little bit of avocado, sliced tomatoes and a piece of excessively cooked meat, the whole accompanied with tortillas (small pancakes made of corn). You can also find some enchiladas (omelets stuffed with beans, meat or cheese), tamales (rolls made of corn filled with meat or vegetables) or some pollo asado (roasted chicken), with no surprises and usually good. The coffee is excellent, as well as the local beer (Gallo, Moza or Dorado) and the brown rum (Ron Zacapa Centenario or Ron Botrán Añejo). You might also been offered some Quetzalteca, a white drink, cane sugar based.

Dietary taboos

Paying

Domestic currency

The currency is the Quetzal, 1 Quetzal = 100 centavos (cents), there are bills of 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 quetzales and coins of 1, 5, 10 and 25 centavos. Mastercard and Visa credit cards are well-accepted in the capital.

To obtain domestic currency

To find out the locations of ATMs in Guatemala, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

Speaking

Official language

Spanish

Other languages spoken

There are also 21 Maya languages. The Garifuna is spoken by the black community of the Caribbean coast.

Business language

English.

Getting some knowledge

Free translation tools

Babel Fish - Free English-Spanish-English traduction of texts and web page:
Systran - Free French-Spanish-French traduction of texts and web pages
Dictionarios.com - Free Spanish-Catalan-English-French Dictionary
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Visiting

Highlights

Guatemala Ciudad: one of the biggest built-up areas of Central America. It extends along an eroded and deeply gullied mountains range. The city, which is split into 15 "zonas", is not very nice and people are mainly driven there for professional reasons or for its communication platform role, than for its tourist interest. In the Zona 1, the Plaza Mayor is a classic example of the Spanish colonial plan, and is lined up in the North by the Government Palace and in the East, by the Catedral Metropolitana, which is massive and austere. Behind the cathedral, the Mercado Central mainly sells artcraft for tourists. The Zona 10 holds several museums, of which the Museo Popol Vuh ( Maya art and colonial Spanish) and the Museo Ixchel (beautiful costumes and pieces of art from the high plateaux). In Zona 13, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología (Maya art) and the Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno (contemporary Guatemalan art) can be visited. It is in Zona Viva that elegant restaurants and nightclubs are gathered.
Antigua: capital of Guatemala from 1543 to 1773, until a terrible earthquake destroyed it. Appearing among the oldest and the most beautiful cities of America, it underwent no less than 16 earthquakes. However, some colonial buildings, such as La Merced, the Iglesia of San Francisco and the Convento de las Capucinas, resisted.
Pacaya Volcano : if the safety rules enable it, do not miss the ascent of the Pacaya volcano (2,552 m), in the surroundings of Antigua. The walking is definitely long and tiring but there are no difficult ways. Once at the summit, the view is fabulous: about every 15 minutes, a rumbling fills the air and makes the ground shake, then a column of stones and smoke bursts out of the volcano, followed by a jet of lava.
Panajachel: situated at the edge of Atitlan's lago, this village has somehow a "French Riviera" atmosphere and it will offer you everything you might have missed while on the high plateaux: comfortable hotels, nice restaurants, friendly cafés with terraces where you'll be able to lazy in the sun, observing the animation of the street.
Chichicastenango: it is a big coulourful market. All the farmers of the surroundings gather there and, on Sundays, the cofradias (religious brotherhoods) march in procession at the end of the market, accompanied with firecrackers and music.
Tikal: jewel of Peten, Tikal raises its huge pyramids over the canopée where the howler monkeys rock and the parrots and toucans nest. The rich given off flavors of the jungle, the peaceful atmosphere and perception of the animal life confer to this place an unspeakable atmosphere and a definite harmony. This former Maya town is located in the middle of Tikal's vast national park, 575 m² protected zone where thousand of vestiges are scattered.
Livingston: located on the Caribbean Coast, in the North of Puerto Barrios, Livingston is only accessible by sea or river route. On your arrival, you will be surprised to find these black Guatemalans who speak as good Spanish as Garifuna, and often English. Music, nonchalance and heat are the main assets of this place.

Tourism organizations

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