All visitors are recommended to have a return or onward ticket. Passports should be valid for at least the period of intended stay.
Americans: United States citizens must hold a valid passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration Office.
UK nationals: British citizens and British Overseas Territories Citizens must hold a valid passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the
Immigration Office. Other passport
holders require visas and a valid passport.
Canadians: Canadian nationals must hold a valid passport, but no visa is required for stays of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration Office.
Australians: Australians must have a valid passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible, through the Immigration Office.
South Africans: South African nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration Office.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals must hold a valid passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration Office.
New Zealanders: New Zealand nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days. One extension for a further 90 days is possible through the Immigration Office.
Health
There are a number of health risks associated with travel to
Guatemala and travelers are advised to take the latest medical advice at least three weeks prior to departure. Malaria is prevalent in the low-lying areas outside
Guatemala City and dengue fever is endemic. Visitors should be careful what they eat and stick to bottled water. Guatemalan hospitals are unlikely to give medical treatment unless the patient has medical insurance or can pay up front. Good travel insurance is therefore essential. State-funded hospitals are best avoided. Travelers should only use private clinics where possible. A yellow fever certificate is required from travelers entering the country from infected areas.
Safety
The rate of violent crime is exceptionally high in the country. There has also been a relatively high rate of violent attacks on tourists, especially in remote places and in the capital, Guatemala City, especially after dark. Visitors need to be particularly vigilant in the central Zone 1 of Guatemala City where most of the cheap hotels and bus terminals are, and in all parts of the city at night. There has been an increase in crime targeting tourists arriving at Guatemala City airport and traveling to hotels in the business district of Zones 9 and 10; visitors should be extremely alert when leaving the airport. Pick-pocketing and petty theft are common in tourist areas and market places. An increase of armed robberies targeting tourists has also been reported in
Antigua. Many robberies take place on the cheaper buses when traveling on the tourist routes from Guatemala City to Antigua, and from Antigua to Panajachel; keep all belongings close at hand. There has been an increase in reported incidents of attacks, including the rape of female passengers, on buses during the day on main routes. Hold-ups by armed gangs occur frequently on city and long distance public buses; visitors are advised not to use them if possible. Armed robberies on minor roads around
Lake Atitlan have taken place and visitors are advised to use the boat services between towns on the lakeshore. There have also been armed attacks on tourists at
Tikal and on the approach road from Flores to Tikal. Guatemala's rainy season between April and November usually brings about heavy rain and flooding, mudslides and hurricanes. Fuego volcano is very active and climbing it is not advisable at present.
