General tips
When/where to go
Best time to visit: The dry season is from November-April, and this is usually considered the best time to visit, but temperatures are usually pleasant year-round, ranging from 72°F to 90°F. Rainy season is from May-October.
Where to go:
- Antigua: Colonial town, Guatemalan food, learn Spanish, jump off point for the Acatenango and Pacaya hikes.
- Lake Atitlan: Water sports, lake-town hopping, relaxing.
- Tikal: Mayan ruins surrounded by jungles.
- Semuc Champey: Beautiful swim spot but not an easy location to get to.
Getting Around
You can take a taxi straight from the Guatemala City Airport to Antigua or other nearby cities. To get from city to city, book a shuttle through a travel agency or (for the more adventurous) take a chicken bus. A chicken bus is a brightly colored, recycled school bus, usually crowded to the brim and driving at turbo-school bus speeds. Not for the faint of heart. It is also common practice to hitch a ride on someone’s pick-up truck for a small fee.
Tuk-tuks are 3-wheeled taxis, great for traveling shorter distances within a city. On the lake, water taxis are called lanchas. Always ask the price of the ride before getting on to avoid getting jipped (although you will quickly learn there is a Guatemalan price and a gringo price for everything).-
Language
Language: The official language of Guatemala is Spanish, although there are over 20 different Mayan languages also spoken across the country. We overheard some Kaqchikel in the northern part of Lake Atitlán. Those involved in tourism will often know a little English, but knowing even a little Spanish can go a long way and is often appreciated.
Greetings: Guatemalan people are extremely friendly! It is customary to exchange some form of “hello” when passing by anyone. Common phrases to use are “hola” or “buenas”.
Here are some basic Spanish phrases that you can use on your travels:
- Hola: Hello
- Buenos días: Good morning
- Buenas tardes: Good afternoon
- Buenas noches: Good evening
- ¿Cómo está? How are you?
- Gracias: Thank you
- Por favor: Please
- ¿Cómo te llamas? What’s your name?
- Me llamo ***: My name is ***.
- ¿Dónde está…? Where is…?
- La calle: The street
- El baño: The bathroom
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? How much does it cost?
- ¿Tiene…? Do you have…?
- ¿Habla inglés? Do you speak English?
- Mucho gusto: Nice to meet you
For more travel Spanish phrases, check out this blog post by Fluentu.com.
Food/Money
Money: Throughout Guatemala the main currency used is the Quetzal (GTQ). At the time we went (Oct 2021) $1.00 = Q7.70.
Tipping: Tipping is not expected for most small exchanges, but 10% is expected at restaurants. Check your bill as this may be automatically added at some venues.
Haggling at marketplaces and with taxi drivers is considered normal. From what we’ve read, starting about halfway of asking point and making your way up seems to be a good rule of thumb.
Foods to try:
- Tostadas: A toasted tortilla with a variety of toppings. Different at every place you try them.
- Chuchito: Like a tamale but wrapped in corn leaves.
- Elote: Grilled corn with a variety of toppings.
- Arroz Con Leche: Sweet hot rice + milk drink, usually topped with cinnamon.
- Atol blanco/de elote: a hot, sweet. corn-based drink. Mostly found in mountain towns.
- Rellenitos: A boiled plantain stuffed with black bean paste, covered in sugar and cinnamon.
For more on eating in Guatemala, check out Lonely Planet’s guide on food and street snacks.
Health/Safety
Water: Most water is not safe to drink, unless marked as drinking water or filtered. We travel with our own BeFree water bottle and use this to filter water into our water bottles for the day.
Street Food: We love to eat street food! But you should always take caution to prevent catching a gastrointestinal bug. Avoid anything that may have been washed in unfiltered water, such as salads or ceviche. Consuming undercooked meats, dairy or mayo products that look like they’ve been sitting out, and old refried rice can also lead to GI illness. Exercise caution and choose a place that appears to be using good hygiene and prepares your food in front of you (rather than prepared beforehand).
Safety: Remember that parts of Guatemala remain very impoverished with some areas (such as Guatemala City) having high crime rates. We were told to avoid Guatemala City. Antigua felt very safe, although we read to be careful after 11pm when bars and clubs start letting the drunkies out. We were advised to be careful in parts of Atitlán as petty robberies do occur (usually by kids carrying machetes… although, everyone in Guatemala carries a machete) such as when walking from Jaibalito to San Marcos and particularly on Sundays. Leave precious valuables at home. Always speak to locals if you are uncertain, as they are well aware of the ever-changing situation.
COVID-19
As of October 2021, asymptomatic US citizens with proof of vaccination can enter Guatemala without a COVID test.
You will need a negative antigen or PCR (within 3 days of boarding your flight) to return to the United States. These requirements change frequently, so make sure you check each country’s guidelines before booking travel.
As of Oct 2021, the current pandemic situation in Guatemala is that the majority of the population remains unvaccinated. Activism groups are trying to promote preventative measures such as handwashing and mask compliance. Masks are required on public transportation and in crowded spaces.
We were able to obtain a same day 1-hour COVID antigen test in Panajachel at Laboratorio Asuncion (not open on Sundays).
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