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Guatemala

Guatemala has a rich and distinctive culture from the extended mixing of Spanish settlers and the Maya people who are native to Central America. This diverse history and the natural beauty of the land have created a destination rich in interesting and scenic sites. Guatemala is very tough land—you can experience dense jungles, mountainous terrain with volcanic activity, other seismic activity (earthquakes, mudslides), and hurricanes.

Cities

 * — Capital and largest city with many amenities
 * — Colonial Spanish capital of Central America, a, and the most popular among tourists
 * — Island city capital of Petén, good starting point to access Mayan ruins of Tikal.
 * — Border city which is the main crossing point to Belize
 * — Gateway to Lake Atitlán, a beautiful and busy tourist area
 * — Caribbean seaport with speedboats to and from Belize
 * — Pacific seaport
 * — Second largest city, in the western highlands. Commonly called "Xela".
 * — River gateway in Petén

Other destinations

 * — visit some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in Guatemala, where you're more likely to encounter archaeologists than tourists
 * — still being uncovered, the adventurous few who visit this massive early Maya site will discover a cradle of Mayan civilization
 * — these Mayan ruins in the Central Highlands are an easy day trip from Guatemala City or Antigua
 * — a stunningly beautiful volcanic lake surrounded by picturesque Mayan villages, visitors may find themselves staying longer than anticipated
 * — located on the Pacific coast, Monterrico is known for its volcanic black sand beaches and annual influx of sea turtles
 * — an impressive Classic Maya site
 * — surrounded by National Parks, Rio Dulce checks a variety of boxes for the outdoor adventurer: jungles to trek, rivers to swim, and ruins to explore
 * — a swimmers paradise; this series of stepped, turquoise pools is perfectly situated atop a natural limestone bridge
 * — long considered the largest of Maya ruins, this impressive site is often the reason folks choose to add Guatemala to their itineraries

Pre-Columbian
The first evidence of human settlers in Guatemala goes back to at least 12,000 BC. Sites dating back to 6500 BC have been found in Quiché in the Central Highlands and Sipacate, Escuintla on the central Pacific coast. Archaeologists divide the pre-Columbian history of Mesoamerica into the Pre-Classic period (2000 BC to 250 AD).

El Mirador was by far the most populated city in pre-Columbian America. The El Tigre and Monos pyramids each have a volume greater than 250,000 cubic meters. Mirador was the first politically organized state in America.

The Classic period of Mesoamerican civilization corresponds to the height of the Maya civilization, and is represented by countless sites throughout Guatemala, although the largest concentration is in Petén in the Northern Lowlands. This period is characterized by heavy city-building, the development of independent city-states, and contact with other Mesoamerican cultures. This lasted until around 900 AD, when the Classic Maya civilization collapsed. The Maya abandoned many of the cities of the central lowlands or were killed off by a drought-induced famine. The Post-Classic period is represented by regional kingdoms such as the Itza' and Ko'woj in the lakes area in Petén, and the Mam, K'iche', Kaqchikel, Tz'utujil, Poqomchi', Q'eqchi' and Ch'orti' in the Highlands. These cities preserved many aspects of Mayan culture, but would never equal the size or power of the Classic cities.

Colonial era
After arriving in what was named the New World, the Spanish mounted several expeditions to Guatemala, beginning in 1519. Before long, Spanish contact resulted in an epidemic that devastated native populations. During the colonial period, Guatemala was an Audiencia and a Captaincy General of Spain, and a part of New Spain (Mexico). It extended from the modern Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas to Costa Rica. This region was not as rich in minerals (gold and silver) as Mexico and Peru, and was therefore not considered to be as important. Its main products were sugarcane, cocoa, blue añil dye, red dye from cochineal insects, and precious woods used in artwork for churches and palaces in Spain.

Post-independence
On September 15, 1821, the Captaincy-general of Guatemala (formed by Chiapas, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Honduras) proclaimed its independence from Spain and its incorporation into the Mexican Empire, which was dissolved two years later. After the collapse of the first Mexican Empire Guatemala formed part of the short-lived United Provinces of Central America. Guatemala's "Liberal Revolution" came in 1871 under the leadership of Justo Rufino Barrios, who worked to modernize the country, improve trade, and introduce new crops and manufacturing. During this era coffee became an important crop for Guatemala. Barrios had ambitions of reuniting Central America and took the country to war in an unsuccessful attempt to attain this, losing his life on the battlefield in 1885 against forces in El Salvador. From 1898 to 1920, Guatemala was ruled by the dictator Manuel Estrada Cabrera, whose access to the presidency was helped by the United Fruit Company.

On July 4, 1944, Dictator Jorge Ubico Castañeda was forced to resign his office in response to a wave of protests and a general strike, and from then until the end of a murderous civil war in 1996, Guatemala was subject to a series of coups with massive attendant civil rights abuses. State-sponsored murders of students, human rights activists and the ethnic Mayan peoples, gained Guatemala a terrible reputation around the world. In 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton stated that the United States was wrong to have provided support to Guatemalan military forces that took part in the brutal civilian killings.

Since the peace accords in 1996, Guatemala has witnessed successive democratic elections.

Climate
Guatemala's climate is diverse and varies according to the country's geography. In the lowlands, the climate is tropical and hot, with afternoon thunderstorms that usually reduce the heat a little. In Puerto Barrios, on the Caribbean coast, average temperatures range from 20.1 °C (68.3 °F) in January to 29.5 °C in March, reaching 3,075 mm (121.1 inches) of rain per year. In the mountains, the climate is generally slightly cooler and tends to be less rainy, reaching just 802.1 mm (31.59 inches) in Quetzaltenango. In Guatemala City, the average maximum temperatures is 27 ºC (80.6 ºF) in the months of April and May and lows of 13.2 ºC (55.8 ºF) in January and 2.3 ºC (36.1 ºF) in Quetzaltenango. In the highlands, the rainy season runs from May to October. Due to Guatemala's location between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, the country is vulnerable to hurricanes.

Visitor information

 * Visit Guatemala website

Entry requirements
The following nationalities do not need a visa to visit Guatemala: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, United Kingdom, Vatican City, Venezuela.

Valid passports are required of everyone except citizens of the following Central American countries: Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador. There is a treaty of free movement between those countries, similar to the Schengen agreement in Europe.

Proof of onward travel is often required by airlines however rarely checked by officials to gain a visa when flying into Guatemala.

By plane
Guatemala's main airport, La Aurora International Airport, is in Guatemala City. International flights arrive mostly from the other Central American countries, United States, Mexico, Colombia and Spain. The airport is a glass-and-concrete edifice with modern shops and duty-free shops that you might expect in any large city. Food options may be somewhat still limited, however. American Airlines, Avianca, Copa, Delta, and United all offer service to Guatemala, albeit at high prices. Iberia also serves Guatemala City.

Guatemala's secondary airport is situated in Flores, Petén. This small airport receives flights from Guatemala City and neighboring Belize.

By car
From Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador access is via the Pan-American Highway. Road access is also possible with more difficulty from Belize.

By bus

 * From Belize. Multiple companies have express buses from Belize City to Flores (Guatemala), passing through San Ignacio and Xunantunich, with connections to Guatemala City. A cheaper alternative is a local Belizean bus to the border town of Benque Viejo, a taxi to the border and onward from Melchor de Mencos to Flores by colectivo, or taxi to Tikal.

There are several bus companies connecting Guatemala to neighboring countries of El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Belize. Some of the companies continue onwards towards through the rest of the Central American isthmus towards Panama via San Jose and Managua from San Salvador and Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula. International buses are usually first class pullman services in newer Marcopolo, Mercedes or Volvo type of coaches and operate on limited schedules (usually early morning departures) with limited number of stops. Except Adrenalina Tours and Grupo ADO addresses given are in Guatemala City:

By boat
There are several ferries to and from Puerto Barrios and Livingston, and Punta Gorda, Belize.

By bus
If traveling by bus, there are two classes of buses. The pullman (first class) buses (pullman, expreso, especiales, primera clase), if available, are usually direct routes and are the best option for most. These buses vary in the quality of vehicles. They range from the older MC coaches (older Greyhound buses from the U.S.) to the newer single or double deck Marcopolo or Volvo coaches and anything similar in between. They are comfortable, have washrooms/toilets and will generally show movies, which may or may not be in English with Spanish subtitles (or vice versa) with reserved seating. Others may even offer a drink and a little snack. They may make limited scheduled stops (semi-directo) at specific places en route otherwise they make no stops en-route. They operate on limited schedules and usually from their own offices or terminals rather than from a central bus station in the cities they serve. The first class pullmans are more common on the route between Guatemala City and Flores and on to neighboring countries but also from Guatemala City to Coban, Huehuetenango, Chiquimula and Quetzaltenango (Xelaju) as well.

The most common option are the second class buses (chicken bus, camionetas, autobuses de parrillas, polleros, mini-bus, microbus); the more ubiquitous are the decommissioned U.S. school buses painted in all sorts of funky colors and patterns. Other second class buses exist in a Toyota Coaster mini-bus, a smaller Toyota "HiAce" van (referred to as "microbus" or "minibus") or a pick up truck (picop) or some similar type of vehicle that functions the same way as the "chicken bus". Second class bus routes are more frequent and reach more places for a cheaper fare than first class pullman but they also take considerably longer to travel over longer distances (such as from Todo los Santos to Guatemala City) with multiple stops and maybe multiple transfers. They are the most common way for most to travel in and they get crowded with everything and everyone crammed in. Large cargo and luggage usually get placed on and tied to the roof, including live chickens going to market, hence the term "chicken bus". To a visitor riding along, the bus may appear to be full but to the driver and his ayudante (helper or conductor) there's always room for another person even if the space is just a sliver between two people. If it's physically impossible to squeeze on more people there's always room up on the roof or cling on from the outside as the bus barrels down the road. The chicken buses operate from a central bus terminal (Terminal de Autobuses) which usually is nothing more than open lot next to an informal market with no ticket offices. You just walk into the lot, hop on and grab a seat. Once the bus is underway and start picking up others along the streets an ayudante will eventually come around to collect the fares (usually Q10 per hour) and he's usually very good at knowing who paid and giving change, which may not come right away. Check with fellow passengers on what the fare is to a particular destination as it may be more or less than Q10.

Robberies of the buses are frequent along the highway in the countryside and in the capital itself. Usually several people, one or more in the front, middle and back of the bus get up, take out their guns and announce a robbery or simply a group of people -or even children- surround you and demand your possessions from you. Sometimes this is part of the regular routine of the bus drivers, sometimes even the drivers organize these robberies.

A third option many travelers opt for is the tourist shuttle which costs 5 to 15x more than buses but they are more comfortable to ride in and quicker in getting there. They can be in a Toyota HiAce van, a larger Toyota Coaster minibus or some similar type of vehicle. They can make scheduled stops for bathroom and eating breaks at a restaurant en route but otherwise they run non-stop. They typically connect between different popular tourist destinations such as Antigua, Guatemala City, La Aurora Airport, Panajachel, Chichicastenango (on market days), Lanquin, San Cristobal de las Casas, Ruinas de Copan, etc. Tickets on these are available at the travel agencies in the tourist towns they serve. Pick-up and drop off may be at a their office where everybody meet at or is pre-arranged for pick-up and drop off at hotels and hostels.

See the By bus under Get in in the above and in the Guatemala City article for a list of available bus companies.

By plane
Regular domestic flights only operate between Guatemala City and Flores  on Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG) and Avianca (formerly Taca Regional and Aviateca). TAG also offer flights from Guatemala City to Puerto Barrios.

By car
Road safety is poor, especially on highways. Roads are in relatively poor condition, except for main roads. During the rainy season, the condition of roads deteriorates considerably.

Driving at night should be avoided. When driving, doors should be locked and windows closed.

Buses and cars are also being robbed on busy main roads in the middle of the day. Criminals posing as police officers have also committed robberies and rapes.

Guatemalan Traffic Police (in Spanish)

Guatemalan Traffic Police on Facebook (in Spanish)

Talk
Spanish is the official language of Guatemala and is spoken by almost everyone in the main tourist destinations. In villages more off the beaten track, most people may only speak a Maya language, perhaps with some broken Spanish. Doctors, teachers, lawyers, police and other professionals in such areas will speak Spanish.

The local vernacular is Guatemalan Spanish, which has extensive loanwords from Mayan languages and has different grammatical rules. The most familiar form of Spanish spoken among good friends is the "tú" and "vos" form, but varies between regions. It is considered rude and very informal if used with someone that you do not know. As a tourist, it is safer to stick with the "usted" form. However, don't be surprised if some homestay families and some language teachers jump right into using the "tú" or "vos" form. If they do, you may respond in kind.

Over twenty-one indigenous languages are spoken, especially in the rural corners of the country. The most commonly spoken indigenous languages are K'iche' (the second most widely spoken language in the country), Q'eqchi', and Kaqchikel.

See
Maya ruins are the key attractions in the country and the most notable are El Mirador, perhaps the cradle of Maya civilisation, and Tikal.

Volcanoes
Guatemala has a lot of volcanoes, many of them over 3,000 m high.

 * Volcán de Pacaya (2500 m) - this is an active volcano about 30 minutes outside of Antigua. Some days it will not be accessible as the volcano may be too active to observe safely. Bring a jacket since it will be windy and cold at the top (although the ground will feel warm) and wear long pants as the volcanic rock can easily give you a nice cut. Tour guides can be organised from Antigua.  Until a significant eruption in late May 2010, you were able to walk right up to see real lava and even roast hot dogs and marshmallows over it.  Although trips are still common and travel agencies still boast this possibility with pictures of tourist doing so in the past, this is no longer possible.

If you decide to travel to Pacaya alone the prices are quite reasonable. Approximately Q25 (US$3) entrance to the park. At the entrance to Pacaya National Park you will be required to have a local guide, licensed by the park to take you to the top of the volcano. There are two separate entrances to the park, the first located in the town of El Cedro and the second in the town of San Francisco. The El Cedro route is an easier climb, around 2 hours up & 1 hour down the volcano. The San Fracisco entrance is a few miles further past El Cedro. It's a bit of a steeper climb. The entire park is patrolled by local police and soldiers - it is quite safe. Locals also offer horses to bring you for around Q125 (US$15) which if you're not into hiking is a great alternative. These are offered to you when you begin your ascent. There are washrooms, snacks and drinks available for sale at both entrances as well. Secure parking is available for those traveling without a tour group.

Do
Guatemala is rich in natural beauty and travel opportunities, it's a country that offers so much to those willing to step off the beaten track for a little while. Many of the country's natural areas are preserved as national parks and biosphere reserves.

Antigua Guatemala is often regarded as the travellers' hub, a crumbling, picture-perfect Central American town ringed by volcanoes. From here you can take a hike up Volcano Pacaya, take a bus to the bustling market of Chichicastenango, or sip some coffee in a street-side cafe and watch the world go by.

Lake Atitlan (or Lago de Atitlán) is another frequent stop on any visitors itinerary. A volcano-rimmed lake with plenty of backpacker hostels and Mayan villages that dot the shores.

Flores in Guatemala's wild north is a tourist friendly island in the middle of Lake Petén Itzá. From here you can take a bus ride to one of the best preserved Mayan ruins in the world, Tikal. Howler monkeys and dense jungle make walking around the ruins an adventure.

Rio Dulce The Rio Dulce is a majestic emerald river, sandwiched between Belize & Honduras, which sweeps out to the Caribbean. The Rio Dulce area consists of two towns on either side of one of the largest bridges in Central America, Fronteras & El Relleno. Rio Dulce is a haven for sailors and backpackers, with plenty to do and to see. Finca Paraiso is a hot springs waterfall which is like having a spa day in the jungle; Castillo San Felipe de Lara is a historical fort site and an inexpensive way to spend the afternoon touring the castle and swimming in Lake Izabal. The many species of Birds & Animals (including manatees) makes Rio Dulce a great spot for birdwatchers, animal lovers & fishing fans.

Money
The local currency is the quetzal (Q, ISO code: GTQ) which is named after the national bird, which has ancient and mythic connotations even today. U.S. dollars are widely accepted and can be exchanged in most small towns. ATMs can be found in the major towns but do not expect to find them in every tourist spot. It is fairly easy to find your self in a town without an ATM or a place to change money.

Do not expect to be able to easily exchange travelers checks to Guatemala. You might find a few places willing to accept checks issued by American Express but all other types are universally turned down. Even major banks in Guatemala City do not accept Visa travelers checks.

It is common to use U.S. dollars in tourist areas. You will most likely have difficulties in changing other currencies than U.S. dollars, but euros are becoming increasingly common.

Coins of Guatemala are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and 1 quetzal. Banknotes of Guatemala are issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 quetzales.

Shopping
It is common to bargain for most purchases in the open air market. Though you may be able to bargain in other places, be aware that chain-owned shops have fixed prices (you are no more likely to bargain in a Guatemalan Radio Shack than an American one). These are some characteristically Guatemalan things you might consider buying here:
 * Ron Zacapa Centenario — Guatemala's prize-winning rum
 * Fabrics and traditional textiles — Traditional Mayan blouses are known as huipiles (whi-peel) and skirts as cortes. Be aware that these are almost always entirely handmade and prices for a high-end huipil may be as high as Q1000.
 * Jade — there is large jade working factory in Antigua, but it is course a very stone.
 * Coffee — touted as one of the best-tasting varieties in the world
 * Cardamom — Guatemala is the largest exporter in the world and Coban is the main centre of this trade.
 * Worry dolls — These are tiny, handcrafted dolls made by the indigenous Mayan artisans in the Guatemalan Highlands.

Eat
Typical food:
 * Kaq Ik
 * Pepián
 * Jocom
 * Quichom
 * Tortillas and tortillas de harina. Maize tortillas are served with most meals.
 * Frijoles negros - stewed black beans
 * Caldos - beef broths
 * Tamales - steam-cooked corn meal, with a variety of fillings, wrapped in banana leaves
 * Rice 'n beans (Garifunafood in Puerto Barrios)
 * Tapado, ceviche and other fishmeals
 * Churrascos

A typical breakfast is frijoles and rice with coffee of course.

The type of food really depends on how much you want to spend and what type of place you want to spend it at. You can get almost any type of food at the main tourist locations. In the aldeas (small towns) your choices are mostly limited to those items listed above. Guatemalan food differs from Mexican food in that it is a lot less spicy, and chillies are generally served in a separate dish from the main course to be added as desired, rather than included in the food.

Drink
Popular Guatemalan beers are Gallo (lager, by far the most popular with Guatemalans), Victoria, Brahva (a light pilsner style), Moza (dark bock), Cabro, Monte Carlo (premium), and Dorada. Don't be surprised if you get salt and lemon with your beer. It's a custom to put some salt on the toes of the bottle, and screw out the lemon in the beer. Sometimes it is mixed with V8 vegetable juice, and the concoction is called michelada.

Guatemala produces a number of rums, including the superb Ron Zacapa Centenario which is aged up to 30 years.

Tequila is a very popular drink in Guatemala.

If you order a bottled drink, you will normally get a tissue to clean the bottle. Coca-Cola and Pepsi-type products are available, plus many from local soft drink manufacturers.

Sleep
You will likely find cheap hotels (~US$10-15 a night) in every town or village in Guatemala. In the main tourist areas, there are also many high quality hotels (US$200 a night).

Hostels with shared rooms are available in more than 15 towns and villages throughout the country. Very good rated hostels cost about US$6-15 (March 2022).

Learn
Guatemala is a great place to learn Spanish. The prices are low, and Guatemalan Spanish is considered pleasing. Antigua has the most Spanish schools and is also the most popular place for tourists. But if studying Spanish is your main concern, you might be better off elsewhere, because you can actually go around in Antigua for a whole day without hearing anything but English.

Because of this, many language students head towards Quetzaltenango in the Western Highlands, where a wide range of language schools also offer Spanish language courses (some quite inexpensive). Another alternative is San Pedro la Laguna, seated by Lake Atitlan.

Work
There are various volunteering opportunities around the country. If you want to be useful to the local community, it is always a better idea to spend some time understanding what are the real needs of said community, instead of paying to help. If an organization only wants your help if you pay them, then what they really want is your money, not your help. Find a grassroots organization, school or community hall that would like your time and help there instead, or leave a small donation in kind or money.

 * Asociacion La Alianza Guatemala  welcomes enquiries from potential volunteers who want to help provide care and assistance to, and protect the human rights of, the children and adolescents who live on the streets of Latin America.
 * CARE is said to organise volunteer projects in Guatemala.
 * Casa Guatemala (in Rio Dulce) Houses, cares for and educates over 250 abused, orphaned or impoverished children from the Rio Dulce and surrounding villages. A low-cost volunteer program working with the Children's Village or helping at one of the local businesses which supports the Orphanage is available. Spanish classes are also available. Please visit the website for an application.
 * Entremundos is a registered non-profit organization that hosts a database of over 100 local opportunities, accessible for free on their website. They also offer various additional personalized volunteer services for a small donation which includes working with their volunteer coordinator to arrange possible opportunities for you. For more info email: volunteering@entremundos.org
 * Global Vision International (GVI), run a number of volunteering programs around Guatemala with indigenous communities. They include home stay, Spanish language classes, and other services.
 * Mayan Families Mayan Families is a small non-profit organization operating in the Highlands of Guatemala. Based in Panajachel, they operate a variety of programs to support and empower the Maya people of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding areas. The work of Mayan Families is supported completely through donations, which are tax deductible in the U.S.
 * Partners In Development (PID) is a non-profit organization that works to help the extreme poor of Guatemala. They build houses for families, provide small business loans, and offer sponsorship programs for children in need
 * Proyecto Mosaico Guatemala (PMG), will, for a fee of US$270, set you up with an organisation in Guatemala which needs a volunteer. They also can arrange a home stay, Spanish language classes, and other services.
 * Safe Passage/Camino Seguro welcomes enquiries from potential volunteers who want to empower the poorest at risk children whose families make their living at Guatemala's garbage dump by creating opportunities for fostering dignity via the power of education.
 * Some schools organise social projects as well. See, for example, the Guate Spanish school's entry under Quetzaltenango.

Cope
If traveling from Mexico, be aware that Guatemala does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Because Guatemala is generally to the east of Mexico, this creates the quite unusual situation of turning the clock back instead of forward while traveling eastward. Both southern Mexico and Guatemala are on the same time when Daylight Savings is not in effect.

Newspapers and Magazines for tourists:

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Stay safe
"Guatemala is a good place to commit a murder, because you will almost certainly get away with it."

- A United Nations official

Guatemala has a reputation for being a dangerous country — a reputation that's not entirely unwarranted, but the average traveller should not be too overly concerned or cautious of their surroundings.

A lot of the crime is drug and gang related, which, to a significant extent, doesn't affect tourists that much. As long as you apply a modicum of common sense and blend in with the locals, your visit will be trouble-free.

Understand that Guatemala is still recovering from a brutal thirty-year civil war and the war has badly impacted Guatemalan society in many ways; many Guatemalans have been pushed into poverty, economic conditions are far from ideal, and the rule of law is still weak. It'll take some time for things to get back to normal.

Crime
Guatemala is one of the most criminalised countries in the world; therefore the crime rate is high. Guatemala has one of the highest rates of violent crime in Latin America and reports of theft, carjackings, armed robberies, and sexual assault, are depressingly common.

As a visitor, you may instantly attract the attention of Guatemalan criminals because they normally assume that all foreign visitors are "wealthy". To deter the attention of Guatemalan criminals, don't display signs of affluence, don't flash electronic gadgets (cameras, mobile phones, laptops, and the like), and refrain from using electronic gadgets in public. Cell phone theft is the most common crime in Guatemala. Also, it is dangerous to travel at nightime. Doing so significantly increases your risk of being a crime victim.

In the unlikely event you have been threatened by a robber, do not feel tempted to resist or fight back. Cooperate with the robber and give them whatever they want from you. Tourists have been shot and killed for resisting criminals. You should know that many robbers are off-duty police officers.

While it may be tempting to experience a ride on a local bus, refrain from riding on public buses. Buses are routinely targeted by gangs and incidents of armed robbery are not uncommon on public buses. Some countries, such as the United States, forbid their diplomatic staff from using Guatemalan buses.

Express kidnappings are common in Guatemala. As obvious as it may sound, do not hail taxis on the street. Criminal taxi drivers may pick up their associates along the way and force you into doing something you're not comfortable with (e.g. forcing you to withdraw large sums of money from the ATM).

If you must get around a city, only use trusted, pre-arranged modes of transportation. Your hotel can help you out with this. You may also use radio-dispatched taxis (Taxi Amarillo) and Uber.

Do not travel to areas close to Guatemala's borders with Mexico, El Salvador, and Belize. Border areas see high levels of criminal and drug-trafficking activity and passing vehicles are routinely targeted by gangs who take people hostage, rob people at gunpoint, and demand ransom payments. You will immediately stick out like a sore thumb if you're driving a vehicle registered to a foreign country. There's very little law enforcement can do to help out; gangs operating in border areas far too powerful and influential to be dealt with.

Do not go to the most dangerous areas of Guatemala City (zones 3, 6, 12, 18, 19, and 21).

Corruption
Guatemala is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and the problem seems to be getting worse year by year. According to Transparency International, Guatemala is the third most corrupt country in Latin America. The country's rule of law is highly weak and corrupt.

The police are woefully ineffective and they are not to be trusted under any circumstances. Guatemalans themselves distrust the police force and often write them off as inefficient, corrupt, and abusive.

Their response to crimes is severely limited by bureaucracy, inadequate training, corruption, and a lackluster justice system. Don't expect to be taken seriously if you're a crime victim and expect no help if you're not competent in Spanish.

Miscellaneous
One of the best things about Guatemala is the abundance of natural beauty and numerous treks. Some of these are notorious for robberies (Volcan de Agua, trails around Lago de Atitlán, Volcán de Pacaya). Always ask around about the situation before embarking blindly. Inguat, locals, and fellow travelers are safe bets for information. Traveling in groups during daylight sometimes decreases the risk, but not always.

Traffic can be dangerous. You will encounter many one-lane roads (one lane each way) and drivers are apt to swerve back and forth, avoiding potholes and bumps along the way. There are also various multiple lane highways. Traffic in Guatemala City and surrounding metropolitan areas during rush hour is very slow, but general driving everywhere is usually very fast (average speeds of up to 100 km/h (60 mph) in some city roads).

Demonstrations and other forms of political protest frequently turn violent.

Stay healthy
Drink only purified water (Agua Pura Salvavidas is recommended by most of hospitals and hotels).

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that malaria risk exists in rural areas at altitudes lower than 1,500 m, with no risk in Antigua or Lake Atitlán. Preventative anti-malarial medication can and should be purchased ahead of visiting malaria-endemic areas.

Dengue fever is endemic throughout Guatemala.

Hepatitis A&B vaccinations are recommended.

Respect
Much of what is considered good manners in Latin and South America is applicable to Guatemala. The various tips found in the respect section of the Latin America article will come in handy when you visit the country.

Address people you don't know in a formal manner (Señor, Señora, Usted), and greet people in the following way: You'll encounter this in more suburban, rural areas. Native Guatemalans are raised to greet strangers formally.
 * day - "buenos dias", "feliz dia"
 * night - "feliz noche", "buenas noches"

Photography
Do not take photographs of children and/or women without explicit permission, especially if you're visiting indigenous communities. Doing so would get many Guatemalans to (incorrectly) think that you are either a kidnapper or a rapist. People have been attacked for doing this. In Guatemala, many children have been kidnapped and exploited on the black market, and sexual assault continues to be a heartbreaking social problem in the country.

In major cities, people are somewhat more open towards being photographed, but still, be cautious. If in doubt, always ask and respect the wishes of the person you wish to photograph.

Internet
Internet access is widely available. Even most of the more remote areas have some type of internet access available. Many larger areas also have WiFi. All of the Camperos chicken/pizza restaurants (which are numerous) offer free WiFi, as well as many other restaurants and cafes. Some hotels may also offer computer banks with internet access. Just ask and you eventually will find some sort of free access.

Mobile internet access
Use the local SIM cards (roughly Q25) and the prepaid access plans, which generally come in lots of data and include a number of minutes for domestic (and US) calls. There are only two mobile carriers in Guatemala: Tigo and Claro.

Tigo offers as of March 2022: • 1 week including 3.3GB for Q30 • 15 days including 5GB for Q50 Tigo Website with more options.

Claro has as of March 2022: • 1 week including 4GB for Q30 • 15 days including 6GB for Q50 • 30 days including 4GB for Q50 (without included domestic calls) Claro website for other rates.

Here is a table for the settings and activation options for the providers.

Phone
Guatemala's international calling code is 502. There are no area codes. Phone numbers all have eight digits.

The phone system isn't great, but it works. Tourists can call abroad from call centers, where you pay by the minute. It is also easy to purchase a calling card to use at public pay phones. The phones there do not accept money, so to use a public phone on the street you must purchase a telephone card. Typically, the cost is around Q8 for a 10 min call to North America. Cell phones are quite cheap and calling to the U.S. through one can get as low as US$0.08 a min. If you are planning to stay for a while and plan to use the phone, you should consider buying a cheap prepaid phone. Wireless nation-wide internet access for laptops is also available as a service from some companies. Telefónica has good coverage with their PCMCIA EV-DO cards.

Post
The postal system is traditionally not reliable and suspended accepting and delivering of almost all mail starting in 2017. This suspension of mail reportedly ended in April 2019.

As of November 2019, the post office still does not accept international bound mail. The post office does have an arrangement with DHL in which normal sized letters and post cards can be mailed from DHL offices for 20Q (a note from the post office may be required for DHL to honour this price). This mail is handled as regular mail once it leaves the country and is handed off to other countries' post offices.

Go Next
You can cross the land border to Belize, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras.

Guatemala City has direct low-cost flights to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico and to the United States. (updated March 2022)

title: Guatemala


text:
Guatemala City

Guatemala City is the capital of Guatemala, a country in Central America. With a population of around 3 million people, Guatemala City is the largest and most modern city in Guatemala. It can be interesting to visit "Guate," as it is also called by the locals, or la capital as much of the country calls it. Guatemala City has attractions and restaurants, often with few tourists. Sunday evenings' gatherings of hundreds of locals at the main plaza is certainly an unforgettable experience.

Understand
Guatemala City is in the department (territorial division) of Guatemala, and it's the capital of the country. All the main highways start at Kilómetro 0, inside Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (National Palace), in Centro Histórico (Historic Center).

Guatemala City became the capital after Antigua Guatemala had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1773.

Tourist information

 * INGUAT, 7 Avenue 1-17, Zone 4. Travellers have mixed reports about the service being unreliable here at the official travel office. There is little written material You can get some nice posters for Q6 (quetzales), and if you bring your own blank CD, they will copy some marimba music for you.

Although it holds a repelling reputation for violent crime, Guatemala is also known for its good-natured, friendly citizens.

By plane
There are daily international arrivals from the US, México, El Salvador, Honduras (San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa), Costa Rica (San José), Nicaragua (Managua), and Panamá and less frequent arrivals from Spain. The only available domestic flights are with Avianca (formerly TACA Regional) and TAG from Flores near Tikal. The number of arrivals are in parentheses:
 * Aeroméxico: México City (3)
 * American Airlines: Miami (3), Dallas (1)
 * Avianca: Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, México, San José (3), El Salvador (3), San Pedro Sula (2), Tegucigalpa (1), Flores (2), Cancún. (most outside Central America and Guatemala via San Salvador)
 * CM (Cielo Maya) Airlines: San Pedro Sula (1)
 * Copa Airlines: Panamá (5), Managua (2), San José (2).
 * Delta Air Lines: Atlanta (1), Los Angeles (1).
 * Iberia: Madrid (direct 3 times a week). (Rest of the week via San Salvador, San José, or Panamá. No fifth freedom rights for travel within Central America, meaning they cannot take on passengers who only want to travel from San Salvador or Panama to Guatemala City.)
 * JetBlue: New York City-JFK
 * Sosa Tegucigalpa (1 M-F) and San Pedro Sula (1 M-F)
 * Spirit Airlines: Ft Lauderdale
 * Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG): Flores, Puerto Barrios, Belize City, Roatan, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, San Salvador Ilopango
 * United Airlines: Los Angeles, Houston (3), Newark (on Saturdays), Washington Dulles
 * Volaris/Volaris Costa Rica: Cancun, Guadalajara, Mexico City, San Salvador & San Jose CR
 * Wamos Varadero & Madrid

If you need to change money or withdraw cash from an ATM, do so before exiting customs. There is no currency exchange or ATMs located past customs in international arrivals. You would need to go upstairs to Departures for these services.

There are always taxis at the airport. They operate with fixed prices (around US$12 from the airport to Zona 10) that are 2-3 times higher than what you would pay for the same distance with an ordinary taxi. If your hotel is in Zona 10, chances are high that there is a free shuttle service.

Regular shuttles run to Antigua each day, several times a day from 06:00 to 20:00 (prices US$8–12 per person).

There is also a bus route operating the road that passes the airport that will take you to Zona 10 at around La Reforma and 12 Calle. If you are going to the old city center (Zona 1), many buses go that way from La Reforma or from 7 Avenida that runs in parallel with La Reforma, one block away. The red city buses are not safe due high incidences of crime against the driver and passengers. It is recommended passengers use taxis locally.

By car
Central American highways CA-1 and CA-9 run through Guatemala City.

CA-1 is part of the Pan-American Highway and comes from the border with Mexico near Tapachula through the western highlands. Within the city, CA-1 is first Avenida Roosevelt, then Boulevar Liberacion and then Bulevar Los Proceres. It then becomes Carretera an El Salvador outside of the city and it leads to the Chinamas border with El Salvador.

By bus
Being the national transportation hub there are various bus lines going into and out of Guatemala City in all directions, from around the country, and from neighboring countries at varying distances. Most foreigners coming into the country would most likely fly in but it's also possible to travel from various cities in the U.S., through Mexico, to Guatemala City; and from Panama through the Central American isthmus by bus.

The city has four major bus stations based on the compass points. They are:

La Terminal in Zona 4 is closed as a bus station and only functions as a large (informal) marketplace.

The pullman companies and some chicken bus companies have their own terminals in Zona 1 near the old train station (Museo de Ferrocarril), a dodgy area. It is best to get a taxi to get around there especially after dark. There are other bus stations in Zona 10, 11 and in other parts of the city, some of which are in better areas. Some of the same companies have an additional presence in either Centra Norte or Centra Sur in addition to their own terminals:

Get around
The city is divided into 21 zones (zonas). Zona 1 is the old historic center. Here are the national palace, the presidential palace, the cathedral, the main plaza, and the Central Market. South of Zona 1 is Zona 4, with many of the official buildings like the national bank, the national theatre, and the tourist board (INGUAT). Farther south is Zona 10 and Zona 9, divided by Avenida La Reforma. Zona 10 hosts most of the high class hotels, restaurants, bars, shopping facilities. A small part of Zona 10 is called Zona Viva (the lively zone) because of its nightlife.

If you walk, make sure to do so accompanied.

By bus

 * Transmetro is Guatemala City's bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The fleet consists of (green) modern buses that have fixed stops and partly run on dedicated lanes, avoiding other traffic. Stops and vehicles are guarded by municipal police.  The system has six lines, numbered 1, 2, 6, 12, 13, and 18. Service on each line begins between 04:30 and 17:30, and ends between 20:00 and 22:00. You must pay using a "Citizen's Card", which is available from the machines at each bus stop. It costs Q20, and includes 5 free trips. Subsequent trips are 1Q each (2023).  There is also a prepaid bus card system called Transurbano that is being implemented in the metro area.
 * Transurbano (blue & white) buses provide slower service on more routes. To use this system you have to buy a pre-paid card from special booths, such as in Zona 1's Plaza Barrios, the CentraNorte bus terminal and the Zona 10 TransUrbano office on Av La Reforma. Cash is not accepted on board. It has surveillance cameras, and panic buttons in the units, which communicate directly to police officers.
 * The old red city buses, los rojos, are hotbeds of violent robbery and extortion, and should only be used in an emergency.

By taxi
There are two kinds of taxis: the ones with a meter and the ones on which you have to agree on a price before the trip. Of the metered taxis, the best service is given by Taxis Amarillo (yellow cabs). It is not possible to hail them in the street so you have to call 1766. They will demand an address (they can sometimes by quite picky about getting an exact address: look around at nearby houses, and give the correct zona) and normally a telephone number, so it might be wise to have someone call on your behalf from a restaurant or so. With Amarillo, every trip is logged, and riding is considered safe.

The other kind of taxis are white. With these you have to negotiate a price, and as you are a foreigner, they most likely will demand more than the normal fare. Normally, the white taxis should be cheaper, but unless you negotiate well, the yellow taxis might actually be the cheaper choice. It is also the question of safety. There are approximately 800 unlicenced and stolen white taxis circulating the city. If you do find a white taxi who is decent, the driver will be happy to give you a card and pick you up if you call in advance; many locals who can afford the odd taxi have their favorite "taxista" whom they call, and the drivers themselves can refer you to another reliable driver should they be busy. The minimum price for a metered cab ride is Q25.

 * Blanco y Azul: 360 0903
 * Blanco y Azul: 360 0903

The ride hailing service Uber operates also in Guatemala City.

See

Antique churches provide the capital city with a very special historic and architectural touch, such as Cerrito del Carmen, Catedral Metropolitana, Calvario, Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Yurrita, and Iglesia de la Merced. The archaeological site of Kaminal Juyú is in this capital city, which according to specialists, is a city buried under one of the most commercial areas of the city, comprising Zona 7 and Zona 11.

Do
Recreational activities can be done as well, from climbing volcanoes (Agua and Pacaya), to swimming in several recreational facilities, as well as water sports in Lago de Atitlán (lake).

For recreation, you can visit 4 Grados Norte: pedestrian roads that offer great entertainment, commerce and cultural activities, and Zona Viva, an area of Zona 10 that has become the main center for nightlife. Guatemala City is an urban center with cultural diversity, cosmopolitan as well as traditional, in which traditional and folkloric abundance stands out, with legends such as El Cadejo or La Llorona. The city offers the tourist all the services and commodities and is normally the center of operations to set out to any of the other destinations in the Republic.

Cinema
 * Shopping at the Central Market
 * Every Sunday hundreds of People stroll at the Main Plaza ("Plaza Mayor") in Zona 1, where music, arts and food is provided
 * Los Proceres
 * La Pradera
 * Miraflores.
 * Tikal Futura
 * Pradera Concepcion. Newest cinemas in Guatemala with IMAX Theater

Football Tour

Language schools

 * Instituto Austriaco Guatemalteco - Österreichische Schule
 * Instituto Austriaco Guatemalteco - Österreichische Schule
 * Instituto Austriaco Guatemalteco - Österreichische Schule
 * Instituto Austriaco Guatemalteco - Österreichische Schule
 * Instituto Austriaco Guatemalteco - Österreichische Schule
 * Instituto Austriaco Guatemalteco - Österreichische Schule

University courses
Some of the universities give courses open to the public. Check out their websites for more information.
 * Universidad Rafael Landivar
 * Universidad Francisco Marroquin
 * Universidad Del Istmo
 * Universidad del Valle
 * Universidad San Carlos

Other studies

 * Intecap, Calle del Estadio Mateo Flores, 7-51 zona 5. Tel: +502 2410 5555. An organization created since 1960 for job training. You can learn Guatemalan cuisine, International cuisine, carpentry, mechanics, basic and industrial electricity, electronics, mechatronics, English as a foreign language, dairy processing, meat processing, welding, painting, computer programming, web design, database administration, hair stylist, administration, mansonry, hotel administration, bartender, barista, tailoring of garments, hand crafting, bakery, etc.

Work
If English is your native language (with Spanish as your second language), you might find work as a private English tutor or translator. Look at the classifieds in Prensa Libre.

Buy

Guatemala is famous for its textiles. In the city you should be able to find textiles from all over the country. If you are particularly interested in Guatemala or the Maya, you might find books (in Spanish) here that are hard to get anywhere else. For books in English, you get better prices at an online bookstore like Amazon in most cases.

Textiles and artesania

 * In Nola, 18 Calle 21-31, Zona 10. Tel +502 2337 4498. M-F 08:30-18:30, Sa 08:30-13:30. Enormous selection of fabrics by the yard (prices from Q20-60 depending on quality/thickness). Wood, clothes, leather, ceramic, souvenirs, traditional costumes. You can also get clothes sewn there.
 * The artesania market, Zona 13.
 * Centro guatemalteco de textiles, 5 Calle 9-41, Zona 1. Ceramic, wood and fabrics by the yard (Q15-25). Can't compete with the selection at Lin-Canola, but cheaper. In the same street you will find more shops with fabrics in the same price range, but none with the selection of Lin-Canola.
 * Central Market, between 8 and 6 Calle/8 and 9 Avenida, Zona 1.
 * Central Market, between 8 and 6 Calle/8 and 9 Avenida, Zona 1.

Bookstores
You can rarely find travel guides for the region at these places (not even a Guatemala guide).

Shopping malls

 * La Pradera, Blv. Los Proceres, Zona 10

6 Avenida (Zona 1)
This street has undergone massive changes and is now free of street vendors. It is almost fully pedestrianized, and is best experienced on a Sunday afternoon or early evening. Several coffeeshops and restaurants.

Aurora International Airport
The airport is going through remodeling in phases. The first phase, the North wing, has been finished. It is a modern design with nothing to envy from airports in developed nations. Phase two will see the construction of the South wing. When finished, the airport is said to be the most modern and largest airport in Central America being able to tend to 32 airplanes of different sizes at one time.

One thing you should take home with you from Guatemala is the prize-winning rum Ron Zacapa Centenario. If you don't drink, somebody else is bound to be very happy for a bottle of this exquisite rum. The price tag is around US$45 for a full liter, slightly cheaper than at a supermarket. There are two duty-free shops. The fancy one everybody passes by on the way to/from the gates and one at the end of the terminal behind Gate 11. The latter one is about 20% cheaper for Ron Zacapa rum. If Ron Zacapa is still too expensive for your taste, you may find a bottle of Indita Aguardiente for Q50 more to your liking. The souvenir shops have some nice things if you need some last minute gifts before you leave the country (a bit more expensive than the markets, but not too bad). The books they sell at the airport are ridiculously expensive, double or triple price of a bookstore.

ATM
Visa is the most common credit card for use in ATMs. In the main shopping areas, especially in Zona 10, you should have no trouble finding an ATM that takes Visa.

all 5B atm's in Guatemala take Mastercard but 5B atm's have a fee of Q40 per Q2500.

There is a Visa/MasterCard ATM at the south side of the central plaza 8 Calle 5-36, a Visa-only ATM at 5 Avenida 9-39, and a MasterCard only at the corner of 5 Avenida/11 Calle, all in Zona 1.

ATM key pads can be oriented with the 9 at the top left with the numbers descending right and down, or with the 1 at the top left with numbers ascending. If you have a spatial memory and have memorized the motion of punching in your PIN instead of the actual numerical sequence, you might be in for a surprise!

Banks (international)
CitiBank or Citi is found throughout the country. The retail branch in La Antigua Guatemala is a fine place to bank and perform international transactions.

Fast food
You can find quite an array of American fast food restaurants (McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Wendy's, etc.) as well as Pollo Campero which is the most popular Guatemalan fast food chain. Fast food restaurants in Guatemala are very clean and accessible only to the middle class.

Street food
Though a little risky, there are great street vendors that offer a variety of good local foods. Just remember to scope out the one with the best hygiene. This is the most more local.

 * Shucos can be found in carts that are usually parked in between "Estadio del Ejercito" and "Campo Marte" zona 5. They are comparable to a super charged hot dog with guacamole, meats such as "longaniza", "chorizo", and bacon. Just make sure you get the one with everything (Con todo).
 * Mangoes or cucumbers with salt, pepitoria & limón - you can also get sliced fruit such as mangoes with "pepitoria" (roasted, crushed pumpkin seeds), salt, and lemon in a small clear bag. Or sliced oranges from carts all over the city.
 * Gauchitos are also good cart foods. They are basically a pattie with scrambled egg, "chimichurri" and some dressings on a bun. You can find them in various places throughout the city. One favorite is on the "Mirador" on Carretera an El Salvador. It sits adjacent to Cafesa, diner like restaurant, on an outlook overlooking the city. You can order a "Súper Gauchito", a soda, and sit and admire the hustle and bustle of the city below.
 * Atol de Elote is a very local and custom drink made from a corn (maize) base. It's somewhat sweet and a drink you must try. It's very rich so if you're not too hungry you can substitute it for a meal. The best place to try it is on the outlook on the other side of the city leaving towards Antigua. Just before you get to San Lucas. Its also another place where you can sit and admire the city from atop a mountain.

Carretera a Antigua Guatemala

 * Restaurante La Abuelita, the best homemade food in San Lucas.

Zona Viva, between Avenida La Reforma, 6 Avenida, 16 Calle and 10 Calle in Zona 10 is the best place to find restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Zona 10/Zona Viva

 * Donde Mikel, 6A Avenida 13-32. Great place for steak and shrimps. Often full, so book in advance, or show up early. +502 2363 3308
 * Pizzeria Vesuvio, Blvd. los Proceres 3-35, close to Los Proceres shopping mall. Great pizza made over open fire. +502 2323 2323
 * Saint Honore, Hotel Intercontinental, 2 Avenida, Zona 10. Maybe the best coffee in Guatemala City. Serves cakes and small dishes. Expensive.
 * Zürich, 6 Avenida 12-52, Zona 10. Swiss bakery with cakes and chocolate. Also serves breakfast and lunch.
 * Friday's, 12 Calle 1-25 Zona 10, Edificio Géminis 10 and 8 Calle 26-55 Zona 11, Parque Comercial Las Majadas and at Pradera Concepción shopping mall; the same as the ones in the USA.
 * JalapeñoHabanero, 16 Calle 432. Serves excellent tacos for Q20-28 per set of three. Try the spicy pulled pork tacos. The crowd is a mix of hip locals and foreigners.
 * Chili's, 14 Calle 4-69, Zona 10. Big burgers and Tex-Mex style food. Slow service.
 * Saint Honore, Hotel Intercontinental, 2 Avenida, Zona 10. Maybe the best coffee in Guatemala City. Serves cakes and small dishes. Expensive.
 * Zürich, 6 Avenida 12-52, Zona 10. Swiss bakery with cakes and chocolate. Also serves breakfast and lunch.
 * Friday's, 12 Calle 1-25 Zona 10, Edificio Géminis 10 and 8 Calle 26-55 Zona 11, Parque Comercial Las Majadas and at Pradera Concepción shopping mall; the same as the ones in the USA.
 * JalapeñoHabanero, 16 Calle 432. Serves excellent tacos for Q20-28 per set of three. Try the spicy pulled pork tacos. The crowd is a mix of hip locals and foreigners.
 * Chili's, 14 Calle 4-69, Zona 10. Big burgers and Tex-Mex style food. Slow service.
 * Chili's, 14 Calle 4-69, Zona 10. Big burgers and Tex-Mex style food. Slow service.

Zona 1

 * Altuna, 5 Avenida 12-31, Zona 1. Stylish interior. Spanish and Basque cuisine, seafood and paella.
 * El Rey Sol , 11 Calle 5-51. Vegetarian restaurant, good value. +502 2232 3516
 * El Rey Sol , 11 Calle 5-51. Vegetarian restaurant, good value. +502 2232 3516
 * El Rey Sol , 11 Calle 5-51. Vegetarian restaurant, good value. +502 2232 3516

Carretera an El Salvador

 * San Ángel, Carretera an El Salvador. Great view of the city, especially at night; security is very tight, so you can eat with no worries. Try the lomito and the one called Mar y Tierra (Sea and Land): you get a large steak and big shrimps.

Santa Catarina Pinula (suburb just above Zona 10 and the airport)

This town is historically famous for its pork products, and the best tasting, cleanest, most authentic place around is "La Cabanita" which is a quarter block directly south of the cathedral. Fresh "carnitas" Guatemalan style, plus "chicharrones", "longanizas". If you're a fan of those exotic dining-gems from the Food or Travel channels then you'll love this place.

Supermarket and food markets

 * Super Del Barrio Discount. supermarkets all over Guatemala city
 * Despensa Familiar Discount. has 181 stores.
 * Max Despensa has 45 stores.
 * Paiz has 27 stores.
 * Walmart Supercenter has 10 stores.
 * Dollarcity Discount. has 100 stores.
 * Central Market, between 8 and 6 Calle/8 and 9 Avenida, Zona 1
 * Econo Super, Discount. Av Reforma/16 Calle (close to Obelisco), Zona 9
 * Gourmet Center, Blv. Los Proceres, Zona 10
 * Tiendas, little grocery stores (with any name imaginable) that you can find all over the city; you can get soft drinks, beer, bread, candy, combs, razors, pens, toilet paper, any kind of snack you can think of, phone cards (some of them), etc.; cash only
 * Wal-Mart (Supermarket), Pradera Conception mall, Pan American Hwy (CA1) near Colnia Los Flores

Drink

 * Bodegita del Centro, 12 Calle 3-55, Avenidas 3/4, Zona 1.
 * El Portal, inside the complex (entrances from 8 Calle, 9 Calle and 6 Avenida) facing Parque Central, Zona 1. Supposedly Che Guevaras favorite place when he lived in Guatemala City in the early 1950s.
 * El Portal, inside the complex (entrances from 8 Calle, 9 Calle and 6 Avenida) facing Parque Central, Zona 1. Supposedly Che Guevaras favorite place when he lived in Guatemala City in the early 1950s.

The gay circuit in Guatemala is somewhat extensive, and it is growing every day.

Sleep
Most accommodations in the Zona Viva are within a few blocks making location less important than amenities like airport transfers or breakfast. Check for hidden costs and taxes (22%) before booking.

Phone
There are phone booths spread out generously over the whole city. Most of them are from the company Telgua, some from Telefónica, and most take only phone cards. Look for the sign Ladatel or Telefonica both on the phone booths and the places that sell the cards.

There are 3 cellular airtime service providers in this country. GSM frequencies used are 850, 900, and 1900 MHz. If you have an unlocked cell phone that can use one of these three frequencies, you’ll find prepaid SIM cards for sale. Should your phone be of the wrong sort to use locally, very cheap prepaid phones with airtime are said to be available for as little as Q150-200.

Internet cafes

 * Global Net Cafe, Edificio Plaza Vivar, 6 Avenida/10 Calle, Zona 1. 1 room in the 1st floor and 4 in the 2nd. M-Sa 09:30-18:00. Q3.50/hour.
 * Cyber Blue, 1st floor, Edificio Plaza Vivar, 6 Avenida/10 Calle, Zona 1. M-Sa 08:00-18:00 Q4/hour, 18:00-20:00 Q6/hour. Scan, print, burn services.

Post office
La Dirección General de Correos y Telégrafos the government agency overseeing the post office (El Correo de Guatemala) serves as the post office for Guatemala. The main post office is in 7 Avenida/12 Calle, Zona 1. A stamp for a postcard to Europe costs around Q4. The postal system in Guatemala has a reputation for not being very reliable, and many Guatemalans have a post office box in Texas where they receive post, magazines and online purchases (brought to Guatemala by courier). You can buy stamps or post mail only at the post offices or its affiliates:

 * 7 Avenida/12 Calle, Zona 1
 * The airport, Zona 13
 * Av. Reforma/14 Calle, Zona 9

Stay safe
Guatemala City has a high level of crime. Crimes include carjackings on the road from the airport, robberies and assaults of tourist vans, ordinary buses and cars.

Even though it has a lot of crime, if you stay alert and follow good travel safety practices, you likely won't be exposed to any of it. Make sure you sharpen your street smarts and stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

If you experience a robbery, give away anything the robbers want. Though some would suggest to just stay inside in most places after sunset, at night you can have fun safely in Zona Viva (Zona 10), Zona 14, or 4 Grados Norte.

But despite some of its negative aspects, Guatemala City is the largest Central American capital city, and one of the most beautiful in Latin America, with varied and rich culture. It is important that visitors not return to their hotels too late, and that they don’t walk alone in dark places, but as long as they keep this in mind, they should have a beautiful stay.

Stay healthy
Guatemala City is at a somewhat high elevation (about 1500 m) in the mountains (plus the air is very polluted in Zona 1), so if you are coming from a location near sealevel, you might wish to plan to take it easy and get extra rest on your first day while your body adjusts to the altitude.

Also, make sure that any food that you eat is well-washed and well-cooked, or you might get quite ill.

 * Centro Médico, 6 Avenida 3-47, Zona 10., , . 24-hour service.
 * Hospital Bella Aurora, 10 Calle 2-31, Zona 14. Tel 384-3535. 24-hour service.
 * Hospital Universitario Esperanza, 6 Avenida 7-49, Zona 10..

Pharmacy
Pharmacies are all over the city.

Cope
If you have electrical equipment that need 220-240 V 50 Hz input instead of the country's standard 110 V 60 Hz, you can find a transformer at Electronica Panamericana, 3 Avenida y 11 Calle, Esquina, Zona 9. They have various models with prices depending on how much power you require. Q230 for a 500-watt transformer.

Also, in the smaller hotels and motels, the electrical outlets only take 2-pronged plugs. So, if you have a laptop that has a 3-pronged plug for the charger, for example, you'll need a plug adapter that will allow you to use the 2-pronged outlets.

Embassies
Being the national capital, Guatemala City hosts a lot of embassies. A majority of them are clustered in the areas east and northeast of the airport grounds in Zonas 10 & 14. There are others north of the airport runway in Zona 9 as well. A number of countries maintain a non-resident diplomatic representation to Guatemala from their embassy in Mexico City, Havana or elsewhere in the region while other embassies in Guatemala City are accredited as a non-resident embassy to Belize, Honduras and/or other neighboring countries in Central America. The following countries maintain an embassy in Guatemala City:
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina
 * 🇧🇿 Belize
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil
 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇹🇼 Taiwan
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba
 * 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
 * 🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇫🇷 France
 * 🇸🇻 El Salvador
 * 🇩🇪 Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras
 * 🇯🇵 Japan
 * 🇰🇷 South Korea
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
 * 🇵🇦 Panama
 * 🇵🇪 Peru
 * 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇸🇪 Sweden
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States
 * 🇺🇾 Uruguay
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Guatemala City


text:
Guayana

Guayana is a vast region in the south of Venezuela.

title: Guayana


text:
Guayaquil

Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador. This article also covers Durán, which is a UNESCO Creative City on the other side of the river.

Understand
Guayaquil is a sea port, and its personality derives much from that fact. Also, the climate is hot and humid. These two factors give the city a 'Caribbean' soul, where foreigners are usually well received, tropical music rules and seafood is a must do. An old travel book once counted the attractions in Guayaquil as one: "The Public Cemetery". Not so, anymore; the city has undergone a great change as a result of great efforts made by the city administrators. Now you can find great parks and green areas all over the city (for example Peñas and the Malecon), and the city has a new look which attracts tourism from inside and outside the country.

History
Guayaquil was founded on July 25, 1538 with the name "Muy Noble y Muy Ciudad de Santiago de Guayaquil" by Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Orellana. Before the city was founded by the Spanish, it was a native village. In 1600 Guayaquil had a population of about 2,000 people; by 1700 the city had a population of over 10,000.

In 1687, Guayaquil was attacked and looted by English and French pirates under the command of George d'Hout (English) and Picard and Groniet (Frenchmen). Of the more than 260 pirates, 35 died and 46 were wounded; 75 defenders of the city died and more than 100 were wounded. The pirates took local women as concubines. Quito paid the ransom demanded by the pirates with the condition they release the hostages and not burn Guayaquil.

In 1709, the English captains Woodes Rogers, Etienne Courtney, and William Dampier and 110 other pirates looted Guayaquil and demanded ransom; however, they suddenly departed without collecting the ransom after an epidemic of yellow fever broke out.

In October 9, 1820, almost without bloodshed, a group of civilians supported by soldiers from the "Granaderos de Reserva", a battalion quartered in Guayaquil, overwhelmed the resistance of the Royalist guards and arrested the Spanish authorities. Guayaquil declared independence from Spain, becoming the "Provincia Libre de Guayaquil". Today Guayaquil is the main port and financial center of Ecuador.

By plane
If you are planning to visit the Galápagos Islands, Guayaquil is the cheapest place from which to fly. There are two air carriers that will take you to the Galapagos Islands and to the Ecuadorean mainland: Avianca and LATAM which have non-stop daily flights. Departing from Guayaquil is cheaper than leaving from Quito ($375 vs. $500, Jan 2019); it's closer and most of the Quito flights make a stop at Guayaquil's airport for refueling and picking up passengers. An international departure airport tax is included in the price of the ticket.

By car
If you are driving, your horn is your best friend. Be careful, as the city is full of aggressive drivers, but if you are always on the defensive you won't get anywhere. Gas stations are full service.

You can also rent a car cheaply just outside the airport, paying around $40 a day (Apr 2019). Carmax is one of the less expensive yet reliable companies available. Avis and Europcar also have offices at the airport.

By bus
Cruz del Sur operate international bus services from Peru.

Within the city the local bus system is confusing but the locals will help you get where you want to go. It is also the cheapest way to get around the city as there is no metro system. For women it is safest if you sit at the front near the driver, but don't be alarmed, the bus is a safe way to travel around Guayaquil.

Guayaquil's bus terminal is well organized, but keep a close eye on your belongings. There are frequent connections to almost every destination in Ecuador. Keep your items close to you during the midnight check points. The police will steal valuables when the men leave the bus to be checked for weapons; this occurs on night busses around Ecuador.

By boat
Guayaquil’s port is the biggest in Ecuador. You can travel to the Galápagos Islands and other destinations from here.

By Metrovia
Metrovía is a modern bus rapid transit system that runs mostly from north to south and east to west of the city. The fare per ride costs 25 cents (as of 2017). You can use either cash or an electronic card (la Tarjeta Metrovía) to pay. It is a reliable and easy-to-navigate transport system; has modern buses and stops. It offers a good connection between downtown and to the main bus terminal and the airport. The Rio Daule terminal is across the street from the main bus terminal and some blocks away (around 15 minutes walking) from the airport. Match the code of the bus (e.g. T1, CS, T3) with the station where are you heading to, since not all buses stop at all stations. You can use the map posted at each station for this purpose. The following stations will drop close by to some tourist attractions: La Catedral, Las Peñas, Jardines del Malecón, Banco Central and Biblioteca Municipal.

By bus
Within the city the local bus system is confusing, but the locals will help you get where you want to go. It is also the cheapest way to get around the city as there is no metro system. For women it is safest if you sit at the front near the driver. The bus is not a good idea in Guayaquil. The boys take your cell phones and other items. Ask for a taxi at the hotel you are staying. Get the driver's ID and a business card from him. Not all yellow taxis are safe. Travel in pairs at night.

By taxi
Taxis range from "taxi amigos" (un-marked taxis you call to pick you up) to the standard yellow cabs. Taxi drivers will try to overcharge tourists. Nicer taxis are metered by GPS, but the majority of taxis do not have meters. Always agree on a price (or make sure the meter is running) before you get into a cab.

Cabify, a Spanish ride-hailing app, and Uber are available in Guayaquil. The apps provide guaranteed pricing, payment by credit card, and an English-language interface.

By car
You can also rent a car at one of the places just outside the airport. Prices range from $40 (Apr 2019). Anyone with a driver's license from their home country can drive as a tourist in Ecuador. However, if you are involved in a crash the police may take both drivers to jail until they sort everything out and decide what happened. Just take a taxi. It's the safest way to travel in GYE. Always take the taxi at night.

See
These places are located in the downtown area, near the main hotels and at the heart of the regenerated area, a very secure walk.

 * The . It is a long park beside the chocolaty Rio Guayas ("Guayas River"), with shops, an IMAX theater, gardens, and a beautiful view of the river and downtown. From north to south:
 * La Planchada - a bastion sort of point with cannons that could be fired at pirate ships.
 * MAAC : Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo Museum - contemporary art, ceramics, archaeological exhibits.
 * Cinemamalecón - 4k streaming in a 3D movie theater
 * LA PERLA "Rueda Moscovita" - ferris wheel
 * Jardines del Malecón Simón Bolivar
 * Hemicycle De La Rotonda - a tribute to the 1822 session between liberators Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.
 * Torre Morisca - 1930s octagonal clock tower.
 * Muelle "Barco Pirata - Henry Morgan" - where a touristy pirate ship docks.
 * Centro Comercial Malecón - riverside shopping center.
 * The is next to the "Estero Salado" (an estuary of sea water). Here you can enjoy fresh air and wonderful sunsets, lighted fountain and bridgeworks, with local food and market pavilion, and a safe parkway, with a few happy iguanas.
 * The renewed downtown area (Area regenerada), very secure to walk and look around:
 * - natural history, ethnography, local relics.
 * - 16th-19th century colonial paintings and artwork.
 * - several giant paintings on the outside of the building.
 * - home to hundreds of iguanas.
 * - park and column celebrating the centennial of the city's independence.
 * - archaeological displays pertaining to the area.
 * Las Peñas, where the city was founded, has been rebuilt and painted bright colors where most of Guayaquil's colonial buildings are.You can walk up the 400-odd steps lined with ice cream and snack vendors to the top from the Malecon Simón Bolivar (northern end of Malecon 2000), where you'll find a lighthouse called, museum called Museo El Fortín, and chapel called Iglesia del Cerro Santa Ana.
 * Santa Ana & El Carmen hills. You can see almost the whole city from here, particularly from the or
 * Santa Ana & El Carmen hills. You can see almost the whole city from here, particularly from the or
 * Markets. You can visit the where you can buy some very cheap souvenirs from all regions of Ecuador. Near the Malecon Simón Bolivar.
 * The north from the centre has a few impressive graves and statues and plenty of more normal graves. Worth a visit if you're into graveyards.

Other interesting places near Guayaquil:

 * , an interesting recreation of the early 20th century years of Guayaquil, the look, the people and the food. Includes a small zoo.

The following places are interesting to see if you are daring:
 * 6 de Marzo is an interesting street to visit about 10 blocks from the downtown area during the week before New Year's Eve, because the street is lined with "Años Viejos" or old years, papier-mâché figures ranging in size from about 30 cm (12 in) up to 3 m (10 feet) tall. These are often political, movie or cartoon characters.
 * Cocoa or banana plantations are located around Guayaquil city.

Do

 * "Captain Morgan", rides up and down the Rio Guayas aboard a pirate ship. You can catch it at Malecon Simón Bolivar. Bring out your inner pirate.
 * Traditionally, Salinas has been the main beach, but since 2008 General Villamil Playas has attracted a big part of the local and international tourism. Fishing, surfing, and other water sports. Many modern hotels and delicious sea food. Interesting night life. Wonderful whalewatching during June to September. These are both quite a distance from the city, along the coast.

Learn
Biblioteca Municipal de Guayaquil (Municipal Library of Guayaquil) serves as the public library of Guayaquil.

There are many language schools and some universities. Guayaquil is also home to the only U.S. accredited college in all of South America, Broward College, Ecuador.

Work
Lots of English speakers work at English academies or schools teaching English. Legally, they should have some kind of visa that permits them to work, but some schools don't pay much attention to the legal status of the teachers. Wages are not up to U.S. standards and hours can be rough (mornings, evening and Saturdays), but a passable living is possible. Some people come to Ecuador to work specifically because the economy is dollarized.

Buy
There are about 20 malls in the city. A nice place to buy is Via Samborondon.

 * Mall del Sol
 * Mall del Sur
 * Riocentro Norte
 * City Mall
 * Riocentro Los Ceibos
 * Riocentro Sur
 * Riocentro Entreríos
 * San Marino
 * Alban Borja
 * Garzocentro
 * Policentro
 * Village Plaza, near Riocentro Entreríos.

Besides that, there are several popular spots like:
 * Mercados Artesanal
 * La Bahia, just off the southern end of the Malecon Simón Bolivar. Huge market area full of shops and stalls of almost anything imaginable. Because it is so cheap you will have lower social class people and have to be a little careful with belongings.

Eat

 * There are many traditional dishes to try, such as encebollado, seco de pollo, ceviche, and caldo de salchicha.
 * There are also many international fast food chains throughout the city such as Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, McDonald's, Taco Bell and Pollo Tropical.
 * Parrillada del Ñato; foods such pizza, grilled meat, and more are served.
 * Chinese restaurants (Chifas) are found throughout the city, and their food is very good.
 * 'El Patacón' restaurant in Urdesa serves local cuisine, mostly based on verde (green bananas also known as 'Plátano Macho' in Central America).
 * Vegetarian food is not very common in Guayaquil, but there is a guesthouse in the Centro called Manso that serves quinoa and lentil hamburgers and other dishes that combine Ecuadorian ingredients in fast food format for veggies.
 * Vegetarian food is not very common in Guayaquil, but there is a guesthouse in the Centro called Manso that serves quinoa and lentil hamburgers and other dishes that combine Ecuadorian ingredients in fast food format for veggies.

Budget

 * There is a lot of great cuisine in Guayaquil's centre. If you are more daring, you can go to this downtown area, near 9 de octubre avenue; there are Chinese restaurants called "chifas" and local restaurants where you can eat the seco de pollo, caldo de salchicha, etc.
 * A myriad of more upscale shopping opportunities and bars can be explored around the Urdesa neighborhood, especially along its main drag, Victor Emilio Estrada. Wonderful small food carts are scattered throughout, called "Carretillas". Common on the streets, those with "Shawarma" (the Lebanese gyro) are particularly delicious. These abound, due to a large expatriate Lebanese community which has been a part of Guayaquil for almost a century.

Mid-range

 * Lo Nuestro has a good variety of traditional dishes.
 * You can also go to a restaurant where the best 'encebollado' is sold. The place is called "Encebollado cordero"; it is near the IESS.

Splurge

 * Samborondon is in the northeast of the city. There are a lot of restaurants with a great variety of food. Here you can find Japanese, Italian, American, and local food, too.
 * Taberna Libanesa is an excellent place, located just behind the Supermaxi, Via Samborondon. Cozy and elegant, with excellent Lebanese food. They serve lunch and dinner and have a few tables on the veranda of this upscale shopping center.
 * Urdesa. In the Victor Emilio Estrada you can found a great variety of good food and also a nice place to visit.

Drink
Great nightlife; you can go to 5 or more discos in one night, and don't need to travel much. The usual price for entering is $10-$15 consumable, depending on where you go.

Usually the parties there last to 04:00. but you can always find something else to do in this city. Visit the "Zona Rosa", located at the secure regenerated area, with several options of night life. Several brands of beer are available.

Sleep
The city has hotels for every pocket and decent hotel rooms can be had for around $10 a night.

Mid-range

 * Casa Boutique La Fontana. One of the best mid-range hotels in town, exceptional location, friendly staff, nice rooms, cable. Price is around $45 for a single, $50-55 for a double, but discounts are available. Córdova 918 y, Francisco Paula de Icaza esquina. +593 4-230-7230.

Northern suburbs

 * Ecuahogar, Av. Isidro Ayora (Sauces Uno * Mz F-31 * Solar 20 ), +593 2245357 email youthostal@telconet.net ). Basic, but expensive rooms with a ventilator and television. Bathrooms are shared. Two bread rolls with marmalade and a coffee for breakfast is included in the price. A night in a single room costs $12. It is far from the attractions area but near the airport and the national bus station (Terminal Terrestre).
 * Ecuahogar, Av. Isidro Ayora (Sauces Uno * Mz F-31 * Solar 20 ), +593 2245357 email youthostal@telconet.net ). Basic, but expensive rooms with a ventilator and television. Bathrooms are shared. Two bread rolls with marmalade and a coffee for breakfast is included in the price. A night in a single room costs $12. It is far from the attractions area but near the airport and the national bus station (Terminal Terrestre).

Connect
There are cyber cafes around to communicate with distant friends and relatives. These often have telephone booths for making VoIP phone calls. Some malls (Mall del Sol, Riocentro Los Ceibos) even offer free Wi-Fi in the food courts, in addition to free entertainment. Buy $30 worth of groceries at Mi Comisariato and get a two for one coupon to the movies.

Stay safe
Guayaquil is considered to be a dangerous place as of 2018. There is violent crime, and women travelers should be particularly careful. The port area and south Guayaquil are especially dangerous. Be aware in Plaza Centenario, especially when it is very crowded.

The U.S. Department of State warned in 2018 that:
 * "Visitors should exercise extreme caution in the downtown area and the southern part of Guayaquil. Tourist sites -- the Christ statue (Sagrado Corazon de Jesus) on Cerro del Carmen, the Malecon 2000, and Las Peñas -- though well-patrolled by police, are targeted by criminals hoping to prey on unsuspecting tourists. There have also been reports of armed robberies at restaurants in the Urdesa and Samborondon areas."

Always remain aware of your surroundings. Don't pay attention to anyone trying to speak to you on the streets, not even to wealthy-looking people or beggars. Avoid walking alone around the downtown area at night, especially off Avenue 9 de Octubre or well-lit areas. Don't flash money or valuable things in public. Never walk in suspicious areas. Guayaquil is especially dangerous at night, so avoid walking on streets at night.

Attacks have been reported where someone will distract the target so that the attacker can put a choke hold on the victim from behind and make the victim pass out in order to easily rob the person.

Use only official taxis, and radio taxis instead of hailing one off the street, as there have been many cases of robberies involving taxi cabs. Avoid wearing jewelry that is expensive or appears to be of high quality.

The only drinkable water is bottled water.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇴 Colombia Colombia
 * 🇩🇪 Germany Germany
 * 🇬🇷 Greece Greece
 * 🇮🇱 Israel Israel
 * 🇯🇵 Japan Japan
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands The Netherlands
 * 🇷🇴 Romania
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland Switzerland
 * Syria Syria
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico
 * United States of America United States of America

Go next
Other places that you can visit are the beaches at Playas which is about 90 minutes away, and the more popular Salinas beach which is about two hours away up the Via la Costa.

Quito is about a 7-hour drive (less than an hour flight also for about $125 round trip, September 2009)

Cuenca is about a four hour drive (half-hour flight for about $120 round trip, September 2009) through beautiful and interesting scenery, including a mangrove preserve, cocoa and banana plantations, cloud forests and mountains.

Not too far out, perhaps 30-50 minutes, there is a beautiful cocoa plantation where they also make chocolate. The owners entertain tour groups by serving cocoa juice and plantain snacks before you are taken on a tour of the cocoa plantation right up to the final chocolate tasting. You are then entertained with a delicious local lunch. Absolutely fabulous! It is past the orchids farm on the same road. The cost is $110 per person when booked via tour operator Canodos. The tour operator is essential if you don't speak Spanish.

International buses
There are several bus companies that cross the border to Peru that are available from Guayaquil. Most services stop close to the main cities along the Panamericana motorway; such as Machala, Tumbes, Máncora, Piura and all the way to Lima.

 * CIFA: They have a stand inside the main terminal, within the international section. Usually this is the company that provides the cheapest services and a popular choice among backpackers. They have several departure times a day and different services. Procure the direct service that goes to your desired destination, since some services do stop a lot along the way. Their buses might have somewhat low cleaning standards.
 * Ormeño : Buses leave daily around 11:00 close to the main bus terminal, where their office is located. Just go to the terminal, ask for the office of Ormeño and walk 5 minutes outside the terminal. Ormeño has been in business for several years. Unfortunately, the buses were never renewed and are known for bad services, so air conditioning might not work. In case one should have problems at the Peruvian border, the bus drivers might not wait until the formalities are done.
 * Ecuatoriano Pullman : Departs everyday at 23:00 from the main station, where their stand is also located at the international section.

Nevertheless, other companies like Ruta De America and Caracol can be valuable alternatives. Routa de America goes from Guayaquil to Lima every Sunday. Call their office in Quito for more information.

title: Guayaquil


text:
Guayaramerín

Guayaramerín is in the northeastern part of Bolivia.

Understand
Guayaramerín is separated from Brazil by the Mamoré River.

By taxi
Take a shared taxi from Riberalta. In dry season, you can come as well by shared taxi from Trinidad or San Joaquin (the latter is Bs. 180, 7 hr, may be overnight). The bus (and shared taxi) terminal is out of the town, quite far away.

By plane
Guayaramerín has a small airport serviced by Amaszonas and EcoJet.

By boat
If you're adventurous and have time, come to Guayaramerín by boat via Mamore river from near Trinidad (3-7 days, depending on the water level; ask in Trinidad) or even Santa Cruz department (Puerto Villaroel).

Get around
The town is small enough to reach most places on foot. Mototaxis (Bs. 4-5) and tuk-tuk (Bs. 10) are available.

Small boats take you on the five minute trip across the river into the Brazilian border town of Guajará-Mirim.

See
The port at Mamore river.

Eat
In the market.

Go next

 * Riberalta – A town at the junction of two big rivers. Has characteristic red soil and interesting surroundings.
 * Guajará-Mirim in Brazil – Take a boat across the river.

title: Guayaramerín


text:
Guaymas

Guaymas is a city in Sonora, Mexico. The city is mostly an industrial port and is the principal port for the state of Sonora. Nearby San Carlos and its beaches are major tourist attractions.

Understand
Guaymas sprawls over several towns in between rocky outcroppings -- among them Guaymas, San Carlos, San Jose de Guaymas and Empalme. Guaymas the central part is a natural harbor completely ringed by beautiful rock cliff formations, beaches, and the Sea of Cortes and numerous islets. Around 2006 the malecon (harborfront) was built, though it tends to be quiet rather than busy and services the private boating community. The central town is a working city with a fishing/shrimp fleet. The entire state including Guaymas is known for its excellent, fresh seafood. Guaymas is a port city and ships to many places in the world. It is a major naval port for the Mexican military, and has an industrial zone. Like many Mexican towns, it has a pleasant central square (zocalo), however, places towards the bus station look run down -- don't let this scare you, people are helpful and friendly and it is a safe place to visit and or live. Spanish, of course is the main language; but there are people in the service industries that speak English due to proximity with San Carlos. San Carlos is an American expat retirement community. Some of the cruise lines are beginning to stop in Guaymas. Nevertheless, Guaymas in winter still feels a bit too chilly for some, including tropical plants, which tend to be able to tolerate and grow in the zone that begins in Los Mochis/Topolobampo area about 350 km south on the main highway. As Los Mochis isn't geared to tourism and Topolobampo is tiny, many opt for areas well south such as sweltering Mazatlan. An alternative is to cross the gulf to Loreto.

Climate
The municipality has a hot, dry climate with maximum temperatures averaging 31 °C and minimum temperatures averaging 18 °C. Maximum temperatures can reach 50 °C during the summers and from June to October ocean temperatures are around 30 °C.

By train
not available at this time.

By bus
The cost of the bus varies by company and service. Costs range from M$50 (pesos) from Ciudad Obregon and Hermosillo by 2nd class service. Luxury services TAP and Tufesa stops on the main road in town, Serdan, close to where it reconnects with Garcia Lopez, the main highway between Culiacan and Hermosillo. The rest of the buses including Estrella Blanca Group cluster around Calle 14, a few blocks south of Serdan. This bus station open 24 hours a day.

Get around
Understanding Guaymas is simple. There are 2 main roads -- the highway and Serdan. Streets and Avenues are either north or south and are numbered.

Rent a car or use the city wide bus system which costs M$5 per trip (less than US$0.50). There are lots of taxis available at a reasonable cost and many of the drivers speak some English. Trips to San Carlos (~10 km away) cost M$12 per trip, leaving from the central market, one block south of Serdan.

See

 * Guaymas has some architectural attractions such as the Temple of the Sacred Heart, Church of San Fernando (nineteenth century), Plaza de los Tres Presidentes, Plaza 13 de Julio, the old Bank of Sonora, the monument to the fisherman, monument to Benito Juárez, the Palacio Municipal, and Plaza de Tres Presidentes.
 * Malecon: walkway along the bay in centro Guaymas.
 * Statue of La Pescador (Fisherman Statue) along the Malecon.
 * New Marina in centro Guaymas.
 * Visit former jail being refurbished (looks like a castle -- near the EB bus station)

Do

 * Fishing, water sports, beach, cycling, boating, hiking (blaze your own trail).
 * Every year there is a carnaval in February.
 * Free Pearl Farm Tour
 * Hike up to Tetakawi (Goats Tits Hill) for a view.
 * Hike up to radio towers.
 * The Carnival of Guaymas is a well-attended annual carnival, which has been held since 1888. It begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and ends at the stroke of midnight of the beginning of Lent. Events are held in several locations with a number of events, such as the yearly parade, extending over multiple days. It begins with the Quema del malhumor or Hoguera, when an effigy of something or someone who has displeased the public is burned. Other major events include concerts by regionally and nationally known artists, a multi-day parade with floats and the election of the King and Queen of the Carnival.

Buy

 * There are large supermarkets nearly every other block, including a Walmart and Sam's Club.

Budget

 * Lucaritas: Grilled Tortas at the stand by all the busline terminals. Yummy.
 * La Barca de Guaymas: Typical Mexican dishes.  Very tasty.  Turn north off of Serdan on Calle 9, it is about 1 block.

Budget
Tons of places to stay are off the main highway between San Carlos and Guaymas. Many places also offer long stays.

Mid-range
Lots of mid range accommodations in San Carlos catering to retired Americans and/or their families.

Stay safe
Hot water to soothe stingray stings, as hot as you can bear - heat deactivates the poison.

The Guaymas/San Carlos area has not been immune to violence seen in other parts of Mexico: in March 2018 a police commander was shot and burned while driving his vehicle in Guaymas. This was followed by a shooting of even greater scale in August 2018 when 5 police officers were shot and killed.

Go next

 * Cajón del Diablo, a biosphere reserve between Hermosillo and Guaymas.
 * San Carlos, American retirement town 10 km from Guaymas, very quiet expat suburban community sprawling across the beachfront, lively in some bars at night.
 * Empalme, next town over.
 * Los Mochis, Sinaloa where there is another nice beach.
 * Bahía de Kino, Sonora.

title: Guaymas


text:
Gubbio

Gubbio is a lovely small walled medieval city in Umbria in central Italy. It is located to the northeast of Perugia on the slopes of Monte Ingino. The city's history dates back to the Pre-Roman era.

By train
In a country well-served by railways Gubbio is unusual in that the closest station, on the Rome-Ancona line, is 18 km away at Fossato di Vico station. There is a bus service from there. An alternative is to take the train to Perugia and take a bus from there (40 km).

By car
If coming from the north coast (e.g. if you were driving down the coast from Venice) leave the A14 Autostrada at Fano.

From the north on the A1 Autostrada, exit at Arezzo. From Rome and the south exit the A1 at Orte and follow signs to Perugia and then to Gubbio.

By plane
The airport at Perugia has flights from Milan and London Stansted.

Get around
Within the walls, traffic is restricted, so be prepared to walk, if you are physically able.

 * The Funivia. This is a very basic cable car in which you stand in a two-person cage. It takes you from the center, near Porta Romana, up to the Basilica of St. Ubaldo.

Do

 * The Festa dei ceri is a fantastic representation organized every year on 15 May. It consists of a crazy race of three big wooden candles, each weighing around 300 kg, in the narrow streets of the city.

title: Gubbio


text:
Guánica

Guánica is a coastal town of 14,000 people (2020) in the Porta del Sol region of Puerto Rico.

Get in

 * San Juan: Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
 * Aguadilla: Rafael Hernández Airport
 * Ponce: Mercedita Airport

By car
Guánica is on Highway 116, between San Germán and Ponce.

Get around
You pretty much need your own wheels to explore the area around Guánica.

Do

The main reason to visit Guanica is the beaches. Take Route 333 south from the town to reach them. Caña Gorda Beach is the only one with facilities, but it's only open Tuesday-Sunday.

From San Jacinto, just past Copamarina, you can also hop on a ferry excursion to Gilligan's Island (aka Cayo Caña Gorda), an undeveloped piece of paradise with white sandy beaches, snorkeling and mangroves.

Eat

Go next

 * La Parguera — seafood and more beach, 15 km to the west

title: Guánica