Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Visa Informations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (In Spanish)

Diplomatic representations

Directory of Embassies (Spanish only)

For more information

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Once there, vehicle rental is a cheap and sure means of transport than public transport.  It is always advisable to go through the travel agent or the hotel to hire taxis as there are a lot of false taxis and a lot of attacks and kidnaps have taken place.  A lot of buses circulate in the towns and this is the cheapest means of transport though the buses are neither comfortable nor air conditioned.

Maps of urban networks

Maporama
UT Library on line
Mapblast

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

A number of buses go around the country, they are not always safe (there have been several accidents, especially in mountainous areas).  Flying followed by taxi remain the most secure means of travel. 
Car rental is still the most practical way to get around.

Rail companies

FEGUA: Guatemala railway company

Flight from Tunisia

Distance between capital cities in km: 9 971
Flight duration between capital cities: 31h40 (via Madrid)

Airlines offering direct flights from/to Tunisia

Airline	Low-cost solution	From	To

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

The condition of the road network is average, even poor, but it is being improved on the two-way sections connecting the capital with the main cities of the country. Traffic conditions are difficult (numerous old private or public vehicles, badly maintained, plus a total disrespect of traffic rules). Driving at night should be avoided.  There are several car rental companies but whatever you do, always lock doors from the inside when driving.  At night, avoid driving in high risk neighborhoods.  With regard to taxis, never hail a cab from the road, always go through the travel agency or the hotel.  There are some false taxis which rob tourists or kidnap them for ransom.

Road maps

Guatemalan road map (Spanish only)

Find an itinerary

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

The west of Guatemala is frequently visited because of its Mayan sites.This mountainous region has splendid landscapes and historical sites.  Guatemala has a very rich history which is shared between the pre-Colombian and colonial periods.  For those passionate about archeology, certain excursions allow them to explore the sites: Archeological sites.  For more information on the historical sites, click on this link.

Cultural

There are quite a few pre-Colombian art museums in Guatemala.  The tourism office also recommends the Coffee tour: a tourist circuit based on the country's riches: INGUAT.  For more information on the cultural sites (museums, photo galeries, scientific and technical centers...) see the Tourism Institute  website.  For information on all museums : ILAM (Spanish only).

Nature

The country has a number of parks and protected areas.  For the list of these and how to get to them refer to: Tourism Institute.

Religious

The Tourism institute recommends religious tourism which involves following the "eastern religious route".  See link: INGUAT.

Thermal

See the list of  thermal stations in Guatemala

Beach

It is possible to swim on the Caribbean side, famous for its clear sand and it crystal clear water; or on the pacific side where the sand is black due to volcanic activity.

Outdoor activities

Suggested sporting activities are: golf, surfing, rafting, sport fishing, mounteneering, kayaking, mountain trekking and caving.  See link: INGUAT

Shopping

Guatemala City is the best place to shop.  There are also handicraft markets: INGUAT

Tourism organizations

Guatemala Tourism Board

Eating

Food specialties

The classic dish is composed of rice, kidney beans (frijoles con arroz), a little bit of avocado, sliced tomatoes and a piece of well 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 roast chicken (pollo asado), which holds no surprises and is usually good. The coffee is excellent, as is the local beer (Gallo, Moza or Dorado) and the brown rum (Ron Zacapa Centenario or Ron Botrán Añejo).

Drinks

Brown rhum, local and national beers.

Paying

Domestic currency

Guatemala Quetzal

ISO Code

GTQ

To obtain domestic currency

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

Possible means of payment

Visa and Mastercards are accepted in the shopping centers. Have some cash for all average sized shops.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

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

Speaking

Official language

Spanish

Other languages spoken

There are 22 dialects in Guatemala amongst them is the Quiche, the Kakchiquel, the Quekchi, the Mam, the Garifuna as well as the Xinka.

Business language

Spanish and English.

Getting some knowledge

See the basic vocabulary website: Spanish lessons.

Free translation tools

Babel Fish - Free English-Spanish-English texts and web page translation
Systran - Free French-Spanish-French texts and web page translation
Diccionarios.com - Free Spanish-English-French Dictionary
Translated - Free translation arabic-spanish-arabic
TV5 - Free translation arabic-spanish-arabic
lexicool - Free dictionary arabic-spanish-arabic

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: May 2012