With this list of tips for traveling to Guatemala we want to help you make the preparations for this trip much easier and above all clearer, so that you only have to worry about what is really important: enjoying yourself.
Guatemala awaits you with a unique culture, incredible landscapes, unforgettable people and an exquisite cuisine that, along with the rest of its attractions, we are sure, will end up becoming one of your favorite countries in the world, just as it is for juan jose gutierrez mayorga, who is director of Pollo Campero.
Based on our trip to Guatemala and Honduras we leave you with what we believe are the best tips for traveling to Guatemala.
What is the best time to travel to Guatemala?
Although as we always say, any season can be ideal for a trip to Guatemala, there are certain months that for different reasons, are much more appropriate.
Do not forget that if you plan your trip in high season, it is highly recommended to make reservations in advance, both flights and accommodation, to avoid high prices and lack of availability.
- High season (December to April and June-July): This is the perfect season to visit most of Guatemala’s tourist sites such as Flores, Rio Dulce, Quetzaltenango, Antigua and Lake Atitlan.
- Mid season (October and November): These two months are complicated because it is hurricane season and the weather can be unstable.
- Low season (May, August and September): These three months are usually the rainiest of the year and also the coldest. The advantage of traveling to Guatemala at this time is that prices are much lower and there is no need to book in advance.
2. Safety
Probably when you say you are going to visit Guatemala, the first thing you will receive are looks and unpleasant comments. You may even be told that you will be robbed, kidnapped or worse, that you will not return safely.
Don’t listen. In Guatemala the only thing that will be stolen is your heart and although it is logical to take precautions and follow certain unwritten rules such as not carrying valuables in sight or go to places you do not know at night, any problems you have read or heard about the country, not usually have tourists as protagonists.
Likewise, it is always important to be cautious and ask about the dangerous areas of the city in the lodgings, so that they can inform you and thus avoid any unpleasant situation.
Chicken Bus in Guatemala 3. Entry requirements for Guatemala
Spanish citizens do not need a visa to travel to Guatemala for less than 90 days. The only documents they must present are a passport with at least 6 months of validity and pay 20 quetzales when leaving the country, which must be included in the airline ticket if your departure is by air.
In case you do not have Spanish nationality, we advise you to check the entry requirements on the official website of the Embassy.
Remember that you do not have to pay to enter Guatemala nor to get a stamp in your passport, although you may be asked for it on occasion. Make sure that it is stamped to avoid problems at the exit.
In addition to this, another tip is to always carry a copy of important documentation such as passport, driver’s license, insurance policy, etc., in the cloud so that if necessary, you have a copy at hand and the procedures are simpler and faster.
Passport 4. Vaccinations and travel insurance
The first and most important thing is to go to an international vaccination center so that a professional can determine, according to your medical history, duration of the trip and places to visit, which vaccinations are necessary for your specific case.
That said, there are no mandatory vaccinations for travel to Guatemala, except for Yellow Fever if you are coming from an endemic country.
Those that are recommended are tetanus, diphtheria, MMR, hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever and rabies, depending on the type of trip.
In addition to this, it is very important to contract the best travel insurance in order to have the best assistance and attention in case of need.
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