Guatemala vacation and visitor guide with airport, airline, hotel and travel information. Guatemala offers one of the most exciting natural history destinations in the Americas. Consider this: a wildly varied land of virgin jungles, intermingled with beautiful lakes, rivers and volcanoes; caves, valleys and ravines; mountains and plateaus. Within its ecosystems are myriad species of flora and fauna, changing with a graduated climate whose average temperature is 68 °F.
Guatemala is served by La Aurora Airport (Airport Code: GUA) in Guatemala City. Direct flights are available from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York, Miami, Dallas and Houston. Guatemala is served by many USA and International airlines. Visit our Airports & Airlines section for more airport and airline information.
Guatemala's Pacific Coast is characterized by the volcanic black sand beaches found there. These are much like the beaches found on many South Pacific atolls. The best known of these beaches are found in the departments of Retalhuleu, Suchitepéquez, Escuintla and Santa Rosa. Among these beaches are La Empalizada, El Semillero, Zipacate and Hawai. In the Department of Escuintla, beautiful waterfalls add to the natural beauty of the caves at San Pedro Mártir.
For the visitor, it is important to note that many of the country's most beautiful and interesting natural regions are sites of enormous archeological importance, monuments of colonial architecture, and centers of traditional Indian culture. Such touristic assets add up to an unquestionably fascinating travel destination.
Travel in Guatemala is generally safe, but a relatively high level of violent crimes are committed against foreigners. Vehicle-jackings are almost an everyday occurrence, especially in Guatemala City.
Travellers are advised to avoid demonstrations and political gatherings; to avoid taking photos of children without parental permission, especially in remote areas where rumours circulate of child abductions by foreigners; and to keep abreast of the latest news developments.
Intercity travel after sunset should be avoided. Violent crimes have been known to occur during daylight hours too and in some cases affect entire groups of travellers.
People who take the time to Learn Spanish are able to better enjoy the culture, the people and feel more comfortable traveling.
Passport, Visa & Embassy Information
A valid U.S. passport is required for all U.S. citizens to enter Guatemala and to depart Guatemala for return to the U.S..
The Guatemalan embassy is located at 2220 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-745-4952.
The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is located at Avenida la Reforma 7-01, Zone 10, Guatemala City (tel. [502] 331-1541; fax [502] 331-8477).
Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings also are available on the Consular Affairs Internet home page: http://travel.state.gov. Consular Affairs Tips for Travelers publication series, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a safe trip abroad, are on the Internet and hard copies can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, telephone: 202-512-1800; fax 202-512-2250.
Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements, and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries.
U.S. citizens who are long-term visitors or traveling in dangerous areas are encouraged to register their travel via the State Department’s travel registration web site at https://travelregistration.state.gov or at the Consular section of the U.S. embassy upon arrival in a country by filling out a short form and sending in a copy of their passports. This may help family members contact you in case of an emergency.
