Practical A–Z

EU Citizens & Swiss

Germans, Austrians, and Swiss do not need a visa for Guatemala. You will receive a stamp upon entry for 90 days (part of the CA-4 agreement, which also includes Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua — the 90 days apply to all four countries together!). Required: passport (valid for at least 6 more months), return or onward flight ticket (sometimes required, rarely checked).

CA-4 Agreement

Important: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua form the CA-4 area. Your 90 days begin as soon as you enter one of these countries — regardless of crossing borders in between. If you want to stay more than 90 days: briefly exit to Mexico or Belize and re-enter (72h outside the CA-4 area recommended).

Customs

Allowance: Personal items, 2l of alcohol, 80 cigarettes or 500g of tobacco. No import of fresh food, plants, or animal products. Upon departure: archaeological artifacts and antique textiles may not be exported.

Mobile Internet

No EU roaming in Guatemala! A local SIM card is cheap and straightforward: Tigo and Claro are the largest providers. SIM cards are available at any kiosk and in provider shops (bring your passport). Price: about 5–10€ for SIM + 3–5 GB data. The 4G network works well in cities and tourist areas, but can be patchy in rural Petén and the Verapaces.

Wi-Fi

Almost all hotels, hostels, restaurants, and cafes in tourist areas offer free Wi-Fi. The speed varies greatly — in Antigua and Flores: good. In remote areas (Lanquín, Santa Cruz at Atitlán): slow to non-existent. Enjoy the digital deceleration!

Spanish

English is basically spoken in tourist areas (Antigua, Flores, Panajachel), but off the tourist paths, you will hardly get by without Spanish. Guatemala is one of the best and cheapest places in the world to learn Spanish: Private lessons with a tutor, 20 hours per week, including host family with 3 meals, from 120€/week in Antigua or Xela (Quetzaltenango). Invest at least a week — it will enrich your entire trip.

Useful Apps

• Google Maps: Works offline (download maps beforehand!) and is the best navigator for Guatemala.
• Uber: Works in Guatemala City and sometimes in Antigua. Cheaper and safer than street taxis.
• WhatsApp: THE means of communication in Guatemala. Hotels, shuttles, tour guides — everything runs via WhatsApp.
• Maps.me: Good offline maps with hiking trails and POIs for Guatemala.

Health

Guatemala requires a bit more health preparation than European destinations. At least 4 weeks before departure seek travel medical advice. Recommended vaccinations:

• Mandatory: None (Yellow fever only when entering from endemic areas).
• Recommended: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies (with close animal contact), refresh tetanus/diphtheria/polio.
• Malaria: Risk in Petén (Tikal, Flores) and on the Caribbean coast — low, but present. Malaria prophylaxis after medical consultation. Alternatively: consistent mosquito protection.
• Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya: Transmitted by daytime mosquitoes (Aedes). No vaccine, mosquito protection is the only prevention.

Drinking Water

Tap water is NOT drinkable! Always buy bottled water (Agua Pura, in stores 3–5 GTQ for 1.5l), filter water (LifeStraw, SteriPen), or boil it. Be cautious with ice in drinks and washed salad in simple comedores. In tourist restaurants: usually safe.

Altitude Sickness

The highlands are at 1,500–2,500 m, the volcanoes go above 4,000 m. Rapid ascent (e.g., Acatenango tour, Tajumulco) can cause altitude sickness: headaches, nausea, dizziness. Acclimatize slowly, drink plenty, descend if symptoms occur.

Safety

Guatemala has a safety issue — particularly Guatemala City is among the most dangerous cities in Central America. However, as a tourist, you are much safer in most travel regions than statistics suggest if you follow a few rules:

Safety Rules

• Avoid or pass through Guatemala City quickly — most tourists only need the airport and the shuttle to Antigua.
• Do not travel alone on remote streets or paths at night.
• Carry valuables discreetly: no flashy jewelry, camera not openly around the neck, phone not in the pocket. Carry money distributed.
• In case of a robbery: do not resist. Material things are replaceable.
• Chicken buses on certain routes (especially Guatemala City) can be risky — check current travel advisories.
• Tourist police (PROATUR): Reachable at 1500 (free) — they help with thefts, assaults, and language problems.

Basic Equipment

• Layers: The highlands have "eternal spring" during the day (18–25°C), but cool nights (10–15°C). Light clothing + warm jacket/fleece for the evening. In Petén: only light, breathable clothing.
• Rain jacket: Useful year-round, essential in the rainy season (May–October).
• Hiking boots: A must for volcano climbs and Tikal — waterproof, ankle-high, broken in.
• Sandals/Flip-Flops: For the lake, the beach, and hostels.
• Sun protection: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen SPF 50 (the highland sun is aggressive!).
• Insect repellent: DEET spray (30%+), especially for Petén and the Caribbean coast. Hardly needed in the highlands.

For the Acatenango

• Warm clothing: Thermal underwear, fleece, windproof jacket. At night at 3,700 m, it drops below 0°C!
• Gloves & Hat: Seriously — many travelers underestimate the cold.
• Headlamp: For the night ascent.
• 3+ liters of water: Nothing is available for purchase at the top.

Miscellaneous

• Power adapter: Guatemala uses Type A/B (US plug, flat, two-prong). You need an adapter! Voltage: 120V — chargers for laptops and phones usually work universally (100–240V), but hairdryers and other 230V devices need a voltage converter.
• Travel pharmacy: Imodium (diarrhea is likely!), electrolytes, paracetamol, band-aids, disinfectant, mosquito spray.
• Copies: Keep a copy of your passport and important documents separately + digitally (Cloud/Email).
• Water bottle with filter: LifeStraw Go or Grayl — saves plastic and money.