Located in Central America, Guatemala is probably one of the most diverse countries in the world. If you are traveling to Guatemala soon, these are the 15 things you should know before visiting this incredible country.
1 – Always have cash with you
An essential thing you should know before traveling to Guatemala. Guatemala is not as developed as European or North American countries, so you’ll find many places where cards are just not accepted (or, in some places, you will be charged a fee that can go up to 10%). That’s why you should always make sure to have cash in the local currency (quetzal) with you.
You won’t have problems finding ATMs in the biggest cities, like Antigua and Panajachel in Lake Atitlan, but if you adventure into more remote destinations like Flores or El Paredon, you will struggle to find an ATM. To give you an example, the closest ATM to El Paredon is located in a neighboring town 40 minutes away and you need to take a tuk tuk to get there.
2 – Moving from one town to another takes time – an important thing to know before traveling to Guatemala
If you look at a map, you’ll see that all the destinations look pretty close to each other. Don’t let this fool you. Antigua and Panajachel in Lake Atitlan are separated by 80 kilometers, but it will take you at least 2 hours to drive from one city to the other.
The same applies to all route trips. The thing is that most roads run through mountains and hills, which makes driving really slow. So keep this in mind when planning your trip and always expect delays. This is not just because of the land but also because Guatemalan drivers like to make random, unplanned stops along the way which make every trip even longer.
Check out this article to get all the information about getting to Antigua from the international airport.
3 – Door-to-door shuttles are relatively cheap and will save you a LOT of time
The best way to travel around Guatemala is by tourist shuttle. These are small vans that provide a door-to-door service, which means that they pick you up at your hotel in one city and drop you off at your hotel in your next destination. Prices are fairly low and they will save you TONS of time. There are public buses (called chicken buses), which are a cheaper way to travel, but it will take you many additional hours to arrive at your destination.
4 – It’s safe
Central America has a bad reputation for being unsafe, but after traveling solo for 6 weeks, I was surprised to see how safe Guatemala was. You still have to take some precautions, but they all boil down to having common sense. Don’t leave your stuff unattended in public spaces; don’t walk alone during the night―you know, things you shouldn’t be doing in any country.
5 – Avoid Guatemala City
This is one thing you should know before traveling to Guatemala. The capital, Guatemala City, has really nothing special to offer. It’s pretty ugly, to be honest, and the true beauty of the country resides in its lovely towns and jaw-dropping nature.
6 – There are black-sand beaches
Everyone knows there are black-sand beaches in Hawaii and Iceland, but did you know Guatemala has some spectacular black-sand beaches as well? They are located on the Pacific coast and they owe their color to volcanic material. It is on this coast that you’ll find my favorite place in Guatemala, El Paredon. Read this article to find out everything that this laid-back beach town has to offer.
7 – The Mayan ruins (Tikal) are much more impressive than the most popular Mayan ruins in Mexico
Today, a bit over 50% of Guatemala’s population are Mayans. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit one of the best-preserved ruins of this civilization. Contrary to the ruins you’ll find in Mexico, which are packed, in Guatemala, only a few tourists visit the ruins of Tikal.
These impressive constructions are located in the middle of the forest; I promise you’ll feel like you are time-traveling to ancient Mayan times. To visit this archeological site, you should go to the city of Flores and either take a tour or go by your own means to enjoy the ruins. Read this article to find out everything you need to know before visiting the lovely city of Flores. And read this article to get all the information you need to visit Tikal.
8 – It is one of the few countries in the world where you can hike an active volcano
Have you ever dreamed of having lava right in front of your eyes? This was the one and only reason I came to Guatemala. Right outside Antigua you’ll find volcan de Fuego (Fire volcano), an active volcano that erupts, on average, 12 times per hour. Yes, you read that right―12 times per hour. You can see the lava coming out of the top of the volcano from Antigua itself, but to get the best views, you should hike Acatenango volcano, which is just right in front of Fuego.
To do this, you should book a tour with one of the companies that have a base camp on the top of Acatenango. On the tour, you’ll hike up to almost 4000 meters and you’ll camp there. From the base camp, you have a straight, direct view of Fuego. You can read everything you need to know before embarking on this adventure in this article.
Alternative: If you decide that this hike is not for you, you can hike Papaya volcano instead. This is an easy, family-friendly hike where you’ll see old traces of solid lava and roast marshmallows with the heat that comes up from the volcanic floor (FYI: in this hike you won’t USUALLY see fluid lava).
9 – If you take a night bus, you’ll freeze
I don’t recommend taking buses at all, but if you do, and it happens to be a night bus, take as many warm clothes as you can with you. I’m not joking; it was freezing the whole drive, and all Guatemalans had big, winter blankets with them.
10 – It’s absolutely possible to travel on a budget
Guatemala is one of those countries where you can easily travel on a budget. You’ll find hostels for 10 dollars a night, shuttles starting at 18 dollars, meals for 3 dollars. Even tours, which are usually expensive in other countries, are absolutely affordable here. Make sure to check this article to read the best Guatemala Itinerary!
11 – Not many hostels have a kitchen
I love to cook while I’m traveling, but I was quite surprised to find out that most hostels in Guatemala don’t have a kitchen. And this is especially true for some smaller towns like El Paredon and Lanquin. If cooking your own meals is essential for you, always check the hostel description and the services that they offer to see if they have a kitchen.
12 – Check that the accommodation you book has hot water in the shower
You won’t find this information in the accommodation description, but you’ll certainly find it in the guests’ comments. Temperatures drop at night in cities like Antigua and Lake Atitlan because of the altitude, so you’ll want to make sure that you can take a hot shower at the end of the day.
13 – Bring warm clothes!
This is one important thing you should know before traveling to Guatemala. As I mentioned before, because of the altitude, temperatures drop a lot during the night, so pack some warm sweaters and leggings in your luggage.
14 – There’s so much more than Antigua and Lake Atitlan
Yes, Antigua and Lake Atitlan are outstanding and you should by no means skip them, but Guatemala has so much more to offer. From the incredible black-sand beaches in El Paredon to the ruins of Tikal, the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey and the Caribbean vibes of Livingston, dare to explore outside the most common tourist destinations and you’ll find some hidden gems that not many people get to know.
Check out these articles about El Paredon, Flores and El Remate to read more about these three impressive locations that not many tourists visit! You can also find the best Guatemala Itinerary here.
15 – Be patient when ordering food
In some remote places like El Paredon and Lanquin, be ready to wait a considerable amount of time when you order food. As many restaurants are run by local families, they cook everything at the moment and you might be waiting for your food for more than half an hour. Be patient, relax and enjoy the laid-back vibes of Central America.
You might also like:
- El Paredon Guatemala – Ultimate Guide
- Accommodation and Food in El Paredon Guatemala
- Itinerary for Guatemala’s highlights (7 days, 10 days and 15 days)
- 16 Top Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala
- The Best Things to Do in Flores Guatemala
- El Remate Guatemala – Ultimate Guide to this Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination
- Acatenango Hike Complete Guide
- Is Tikal Worth Visiting? Ultimate Tikal Guide
- Is Hobbitenango Worth Visiting? Complete Hobbitenango Guide
- Guatemala City Airport to Antigua Guide
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