Travel advisory · GuatemalaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Guatemala.The warnings cover only these areas: 5 km strip along the Mexican border, Guatemala City, Zone 11, Guatemala City, Zone 12, Guatemala City, Zone 18, Guatemala City, Zone 19, Guatemala City, Zone 21, Guatemala City, Zone 24, Guatemala City, Zone 3, Guatemala City, Zone 5, Guatemala City, Zone 6, Guatemala City, Zone 7, Guatemala City, Zone 8, Huehuetenango Department, Izabal Department, La Democracia, Mixco, Petén Department, San Antonio Huista, San Marcos Department, Santa Ana Huista, Villa Nueva.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- 5 km strip along the Mexican border · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Guatemala City, Zone 11 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 12 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 18 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy, US
- Guatemala City, Zone 19 · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 21 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 24 · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 3 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 5 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 6 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 7 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 8 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Huehuetenango Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Izabal Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- La Democracia · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- Mixco · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Petén Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- San Antonio Huista · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- San Marcos Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Santa Ana Huista · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- Villa Nueva · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy, US
Also named by one government: Areas around active volcanoes (Germany), Agua Caliente border with Honduras (Canada), Alta Verapaz Department (Italy), Anguiatu border with El Salvador (Canada), Chiquimula Department (Italy), El Carmen border with Mexico (Canada), El Ceibo border with Mexico (Canada), El Corinto border with Honduras (Canada), El Florido border with Honduras (Canada), Escuintla Department (Spain), Guatemala City, Zone 1 (Canada), Guatemala City, Zone 13 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 17 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 20 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 22 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 23 (Italy), Ixchiguán (Italy), La Hachadura border with El Salvador (Canada), La Mesilla border with Mexico (Canada), Melchor de Mencos border with Belize (Canada), Quetzaltenango Department (Italy), San Cristobal border with El Salvador (Canada), San José (Escuintla Department) (Canada), San Pedro Ayampuc (Guatemala Department) (Canada), Siquinilá (Escuintla Department) (Canada), Tajumulco (Italy), Tecun Uman border with Mexico (Canada), Tiquisate (Escuintla Department) (Canada), Villa Canales (Guatemala Department) (Canada)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Mar 12, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Besondere Vorsicht walten lassen; keine generelle Reisewarnung (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | vigilance renforcée (en jaune) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in northern Central America, known for the Maya city of Tikal, the colonial streets of Antigua and volcanoes, including Volcán Tajumulco, the highest point in Central America at 4,220 metres.
Guatemala is a country in northern Central America, bordered by Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, with coasts on the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Honduras. Guatemala City is the capital and largest city, and its metropolitan area is the largest in Central America. The country has three main regions: the highlands, the Pacific coast south of the mountains, and the northern lowlands of Petén. Most major cities sit in the highlands and on the Pacific coast. Spanish is the official language, and twenty-two Maya languages are spoken.
Tikal, in Petén, was a powerful Maya city-state at its peak in the Classic period. It was the first mixed cultural and natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, declared in 1979. Antigua, the former capital, was devastated by the 1773 Santa Marta earthquakes, but its colonial ruins and streets remain. Lake Atitlán, ringed by volcanoes, is a highland stop for many trips. Guatemala has 37 volcanoes, four of them active, and the highlands lie along the Motagua Fault, so check current seismic and weather advice before you travel.
Five things to know before Guatemala
- Check the entry rule for your passport
Guatemala's migration institute lists the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and Spain as visa-exempt, and their governments give up to 90 days, counted across the CA-4 countries. British nationals need a visa for Honduras. Visa checker
- Fill in the online immigration form before each border
Guatemala asks travelers to complete an online immigration declaration before entering and leaving. Save the QR code or confirmation email to show at the border. Visas and entry
- Fly to Flores for Tikal
Tikal is a long road day from Guatemala City, so most visitors fly to Flores and continue by road to the park. Stay nearby if you want a sunrise entry. Tikal
- Book volcano hikes with registered guides
Overnight hikes on Acatenango, facing Fuego, get very cold. Go with a registered operator, bring warm layers and check the volcano conditions on the day. Antigua
- Ask for a receipt at land borders
Officials at some land crossings ask for unofficial entry fees. Ask politely for an official receipt, which usually ends the request.
Guatemala travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Colonial streets, volcano hikes and Spanish schools.
Read the guideLake AtitlánLake villages, boats between them and where to stay.
Read the guideTikalTickets, sunrise entry and getting there from Flores.
Read the guideGuatemala CityThe airport hub: four zones compared and the road to Antigua.
Read the guideQuetzaltenangoCool highland city for hot springs and volcano days.
Read the guideVisa checkerStay lengths and entry rules by passport.
Read the guideVisas and entryThe CA-4 shared stay and the online immigration form.
Read the guideGetting aroundTourist shuttles, domestic flights and chicken buses.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- GTQ 100
- Food
- GTQ 75
- Transport
- GTQ 10
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- GTQ 350
- Food
- GTQ 180
- Transport
- GTQ 50
- Sights
- GTQ 100
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- GTQ 700
- Food
- GTQ 400
- Transport
- GTQ 150
- Sights
- GTQ 250
When to go
- Best
- JanuaryDry, cool nights
- FebruaryDry, sunny
- MarchDry, warm
- AprilDry, hazy
- MayRains start
- JuneWet afternoons
- JulyWet, some dry days
- AugustWet
- SeptemberWettest
- OctoberWet
- NovemberRains ease
- DecemberDry, cool
Right now in Guatemala
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
23
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 92%
Guatemala
02:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today28°18°92%Monday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Tue28°16°90%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed29°17°71%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Thu28°17°57%Thursday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 57%.
- Fri28°17°67%Friday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 67%.
- Sat28°17°77%Saturday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 77%.
- Sun28°17°78%Sunday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 78%.
Updated 12:09 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 7.656 GTQ
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Guatemala
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Stories from Guatemala
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Guatemala FAQ
Do I need a visa for Guatemala?
The UK, US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Spain are all on the migration institute's visa-exempt list, with up to 90 days shared across the CA-4 countries. Complete the online immigration form before you enter, and check the visa checker for your passport.
How many days do I need in Guatemala?
Ten days covers Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Tikal with a flight to Flores. With a week, choose Antigua and the lake and skip the long trip north; add Quetzaltenango only if you want a cooler, quieter highland base.
Is Semana Santa a good time to visit Antigua?
It is the most striking time, with processions over carpets of colored sawdust, but also the busiest and most expensive. The dates move each year with Easter, so book rooms months ahead.
How do I get between Antigua and Lake Atitlán?
Tourist shuttles run daily and take about three to four hours to Panajachel, where boats cross to the other lake villages.
Is Guatemala safe for tourists?
Most visits to the main tourist areas pass without trouble. Use registered shuttles and taxis, avoid walking at night in Guatemala City, and read your government's current advice.