Guatemala
Republic of Guatemala
Central America · GTM
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Guatemala
Guatemala is one of Central America's strongest high-payoff routes for travelers who want colonial cities, Maya sites, and dramatic volcanic landscapes in the same trip. It works best as Antigua plus one or two major additions such as Lake Atitlan, Tikal, or Semuc Champey, rather than a full-country loop that spends too much time moving.
Popular For
Things To See
- Antigua Guatemala
- Lake Atitlan
- Tikal
- Semuc Champey
- Chichicastenango
- Flores
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- November through March is the easiest broad season for a first trip.
- Distances can be slower than they look, so short itineraries should pick just one or two major additions beyond Antigua.
- Guatemala rewards travelers who decide early whether the trip leans more toward highlands and culture or toward archaeology and longer transfers north.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Guatemala.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Guatemala Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Guatemala.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Population
- 18,079,810
- Area
- 108,889 km²
- Region
- Central America
Languages
- Spanish
Currency
Guatemalan quetzal (Q)
GTQ
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
42.8
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 45.1
- Restaurants
- 38.8
- Rent
- 16.0
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Guatemala City (14.62°N, 90.52°W).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
25/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 35/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.662
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.013
- 10-year change
- +0.029
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.934
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.480
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.626
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (4)
- 🏛️
National Archaeological Park Tak’alik Ab’aj
Inscribed 2023
- 🏛️
Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua
Inscribed 1981
- 🏛️
Antigua Guatemala
Inscribed 1979
- 🌍
Tikal National Park
Inscribed 1979
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 20.1%
- Forest cover
- 32.6%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 16
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 19
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
36/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
78/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
There was no change to the advisory level. The “terrorism” risk indicator was added. Advisory summary was updated. Reconsider travel to Guatemala due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have higher risks. Please read the full Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: San Marcos Department due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Huehuetenango Department due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Advisory summary Some areas of Guatemala have higher levels of gang-related violence. Crimes include robbery, carjacking, drug trafficking, assaults, and murders. Local law enforcement often struggles to address serious crimes. This leads to low arrest and conviction rates. Tourists can become victims of opportunistic crimes such as scams and extortion. There is risk of terrorist attacks and other terrorist activities from cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations in San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, and the city of Villa Nueva. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s Country Reports on Terrorism to learn more. Tourist Assistance Program Guatemala offers the Tourist Assistance Program (ASISTUR) to protect tourists. ASISTUR partners with tourist police (DISETUR) in popular areas like Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Quetzaltenango, Puerto Barrios, and Coban. Dial 1500 or +502-2290-2810 anytime from a Guatemalan phone number. You can also message them on WhatsApp at +502-5188-1819. Their emergency call center operates in Spanish and English. You can request a security escort if your group feels unsafe. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees and their families are not permitted to travel to the San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, and Villa Nueva due to safety risks. U. S. government employees can travel to other parts of Guatemala and visit popular destinations like Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the Pacific coast areas in Santa Rosa and Escuintla. However, U.S. government employees should avoid driving outside Guatemala City at night. This is due to poor lighting and safety risks. Outside of Zone 18 and Villa Nueva, U.S. government employees and their families can travel throughout Guatemala City, including at night. U.S. government employees may not use white taxis or public transportation, like “chicken buses.” This is due to the high chance of crime and injury. Visit the U.S. embassy in Guatemala City’s website. You will find local resources, like legal help and medical services. You will also find information on residence and work permits, and driver’s licenses. It also covers rules about bringing weapons into Guatemala. Risks in specific areas San Marcos Department - Level 4: Do Not Travel Do Not Travel to San Marcos Department due to risk of crime and terrorism. U.S. government employees and their families cannot go to the San Marcos Department for personal travel. Do not travel to San Marcos Department for any reason. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Some towns do not have enough police. Local officers may not have the resources to handle serious crimes. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Huehuetenango Department - Level 4: Do Not Travel Do Not Travel to Huehuetenango Department due to risk of crime and terrorism. U.S. government employees and their families cannot go to Huehuetenango Department for personal travel. Do not travel to Huehuetenango Department for any reason. There is a risk of violence in the state from terrorist groups, cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Some towns do not have enough police. Local officers may not have the resources to handle serious crimes. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva - Level 4: Do Not Travel Do Not Travel to Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva due to risk of crime and terrorism. U.S. government employees and their families are not allowed to travel to or through Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva. This is due to the risk of violence from terrorist groups, gangs, and criminal organizations. Do not travel to Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva for any reason. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. If you decide to travel to Guatemala: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get important updates and alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate. Enrolling helps the U.S. embassy or consulate contact you or your emergency contact in an emergency. Review our information on Crime Abroad and for Victims of Crime. Review our information on Terrorism and Travel to High-Risk Areas. Never leave drinks unattended in bars and restaurants. Decline invitations from strangers to private parties. Consider staying in hotels that have secure parking, doormen, and professional security staff. Use trusted taxi services like Taxis Amarillo Express, Taxi Seguro, or Uber. Only use INGUAT-approved taxis from the “SAFE” stand at the airport, hotel taxis, or vetted private drivers. Avoid public transport and white taxis, as well as “chicken buses.” Do not hike trails or volcanoes without a qualified local guide. Robberies can happen and getting help can be difficult. Avoid using public ATMs. Do not show signs of wealth like expensive watches or jewelry. Try not to use your phone in public. Drivers and motorcycles often do not stop for crosswalks, streetlights, or stop signs. Make sure vehicles come to a complete stop before crossing. Review the Country Security Report for Guatemala. Review the Traveler’s Checklist and make a plan for emergencies. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the latest Travel Health Information for Guatemala. Whether you’re a first time or frequent traveler, use the International Travel Checklist. We highly recommend that you buy travel insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancelation coverage.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data