Guatemala

Guatemala is a great place to explore Mayan temples that rise at high angles above the jungle in the north of Tikal. To the southwest you can enjoy Lake Atitlán which is surrounded by volcanoes and traditional villages. The Spanish colonial city of Antigua is also a great place to visit while in Guatemala. I hope this short summary of Guatemala will help you plan your trip.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season is from November to April. The wet season rainfall in tourist areas only lasts for a couple of hours a day, so Guatemala can be visited all year round.

Things to do and see

1. Ancient ruins of Tikal are a UNESCO World heritage site. Surrounded by Jungle are Mayan temples, you can spend the day learning about Mayan culture and traditions.
2. Pacaya Volcano is the most active volcano in Guatemala. The volcano is popular amongst tourist to hike, once at the top you can look down at the craters boiling Lava.
3. Visit Cultural Triangle Yaxha Nakum Naranjo National Park, where you can hike a Mayan Pyramid to watch the sun set.
4. Chichicastenango Market is a large colourful market where vendors sell everything from medical plants to food and fabrics, a great place to eat and take great photos of local life.

Food

The staple diet in Guatemala is rice, beans, and tortilla, although fresh seafood is very popular on the Caribbean coast, generally cooked in coconut milk as a soup. There are plenty of lovely restaurants in the larger cities such as Guatemala City and Antigua.

Transportation

Air: There are no direct flights from London to Guatemala, domestic flights are limited.

Roads: The roads connecting all the main cities are well maintained. In the rural areas’ roads are not as maintained. Drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Rail: There are no rail services in Guatemala.

Taxi: Taxis are metered, Tuk Tuk taxis are also very popular.

Ferry: Regular boats operate between Puerto Barrios and Livingston.

Bus:Most people travel by bus, The U.S yellow school buses are regularly used as a form of transport. They are cheap to use but can be overcrowded and there is no air conditioning. For long distance journeys the U.S greyhound buses are used.

Visa

Visas are not required by all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays up to 90days.

Language

The official language is Spanish. 23 other indigenous languages are also spoken. English is spoken only in the main tourist areas.

Money

The official currency in Guatemala is Quetzal (GTQ) named after the national bird. Dollars are also excepted. International credit cards are accepted in most shops and hotels but may include a 7% surcharge. There are many ATMs in the major cities. In more rural areas try and carry enough cash.

Tipping

Tipping isn’t common in Guatemala. However, some restaurants often add 10% service charge to the bill.

Social etiquette

You may want to take pictures of the traditionally dressed indigenous people in Guatemala, however, be sensitive and ask permission first. When entering a religious establishment, it is recommended that you dress respectfully.

Adaptor

There are two plugs associated with Guatemala.

Wifi

High speed internet is available in all major cities.