Round trip Guatemala – What to expect?

Guatemala is often seen and portrayed as one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America. Especially compared to countries like Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Yet you notice very little of this when you travel through Guatemala. You may have to travel a little differently here and there than you are used to, but this does not make the trip any less fun. Are you curious about what to expect from a trip through Guatemala? Read it here.

Official documents for a trip through Guatemala

You don't really need that much to enter Guatemala. Of course you must have your passport with you and a vaccination certificate. You may also be asked for an exit ticket as soon as you enter the country. This was not the case with us. Since August 15, 2022, a vaccination or test certificate no longer seems to be necessary, but keep an eye on this yourself before you leave. https://www.centralamerica.com/guatemala/ can come in really handy.

TIP: Buy a Onward ticket as a valid exit ticket, if you are not yet sure when and how you will leave the country again.

Accommodations and transportation

Accommodations in Guatemala are of good quality for a reasonable price. You can expect air conditioning and a hot shower everywhere. What is different from, for example, Nicaragua. The service and the breakfast that you sometimes get are also good. Have a look here for a hotel or hostel for your trip in Guatemala.

In terms of transportation, you may have to make some adjustments when traveling through Guatemala. It is strongly advised not to travel by public transport. People are regularly robbed here. Don't be put off by this, because there is a very good replacement: traveling by shuttle. This is of course more expensive than traveling by public transport. But it is your best option. In addition, uber is also available in some places in Guatemala. So you can also use this for short trips.

Activities and tours

Guatemala is very lively and there is a lot to do. Especially places like Antigua and Lake Atitlan are full of tourists from all over the world. There are many fun and cool tours to book, such as: climbing the Acatenango or the indian nose. But less intense activities such as visiting Hobbitenango or kayaking on Lake Atitlan are all possible. There are also a lot of tour operators everywhere with the same tours, so it's useful to compare here and there before booking anything. The only thing that was not possible when we were in Guatemala was to book a shuttle from Guatemala to Tulum or Cancun (Mexico). 

Safety during a trip in Guatemala

As I mentioned earlier, Guatemala has a poor reputation when it comes to safety. I certainly won't deny or downplay this, but it doesn't have to affect your trip at all. And it definitely shouldn't stop you from taking a trip around Guatemala. Personally, we never felt unsafe in Guatemala for a single moment. Especially in Antigua and San Pedro (near Lake Atitlan), there are so many other tourists that you're unlikely to walk the streets alone. Using shuttles instead of public transport will certainly contribute to a feeling of safety and is therefore highly recommended.

Wildlife and nature

Guatemala is very green. On the way with the shuttle you drive through very beautiful nature reserves. In addition to many beautiful forests, Guatemala also has many volcanoes. Antigua, for example, is located between 3 large volcanoes. So there is no shortage of beautiful nature and views.

In Guatemala you'll also spot an incredible number of birds. From birds of prey to the cutest little birds. You also have a decent chance of spotting spider monkeys in the jungle. The vast jungle around Tikal is full of groups of spider monkeys. Coatis can often be found here too. What's a bit less fun is that Guatemala also really has a lot of stray dogs. We really came across dozens of stray dogs everywhere. You'll of course find these throughout Central America, but in Guatemala there's a noticeable bit more.

Locals

The locals in Guatemala are very friendly. This certainly contributes to the safe feeling that I described above. Locals didn't speak English very well, but despite that they did their very best to communicate with you. They always tried to help you with everything and really liked it when you greeted them or started a conversation.

Climate and weather

The weather in Guatemala varies greatly by location. The west of Guatemala is not that warm at all, around Antigua and Lake Atitlan it is between 20 and 25 degrees. The middle, round Lanquin it is already a bit warmer, about 30 degrees. The north, especially Flores, is a lot hotter. When we were there in April it was about 43 degrees in Flores. There was a heat wave at the end of the dry season. But keep in mind that it can get very hot. Since the differences can be so large, it is therefore useful to pack a little bit of everything.

The best time to travel through Guatemala is actually from November to April. April and May are the hottest months at the end of the dry season. The rainy season starts at the end of May, which ends around the end of October. 

Covid during a tour of Guatemala

Guatemala does not seem to have suffered much from Covid. Basically everything is still open. Not many hotels, restaurants or shops seem to have gone out of business. There are also not many restrictions. The only thing is that you often have to wear a mask in public areas. Occasionally there is also a thermometer and something to disinfect your hands, but this is often no longer used.

Guatemala is certainly a very cool country to travel through. So are you still looking for a plane ticket to Guatemala? Click here!