Guatemala - couple of questions on travel

I am travelling to Guatemala from mid-November for 3 weeks. Plan to
start in Guatemala city and travel to Antigua and the region around
it, Tikal and the surrounding area.

Plan to hike as well.

I would welcome any feedback on safety of travel or tips from any
people who have travelled there.

Harjinder wrote:
I am travelling to Guatemala from mid-November for 3 weeks. Plan to
start in Guatemala city and travel to Antigua and the region around
it, Tikal and the surrounding area.

Plan to hike as well.

I would welcome any feedback on safety of travel or tips from any
people who have travelled there.

Guatelama City does not have a lot to offer the tourist. I wouldn't plan a
whole lot of time there.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation.

I went from Mexico La Mesilla border to Guatemala
exchanged 7 buses and it took me 13 hours to arrive at Atitlan
no problem at all
they have usa school buses.. accomodating 8 persons where normally 4 persons
sit.
Atitlan is a very nice place to stay.
went agian by local bus to Antigua.
there are places in Antigua where the police
accompanies tourists
but never had problems
there was police accompanying tourists going to the volcano.
took a bus from Antigua to Copan ( honduras )
took a bus from Antigua to Tikal / Flores
no problem

Guatemala city looks the biggest criminality problem.

I heard stories about petty theft..
a norvegian student being robbed of his rucksack
while sitting at a computer for internet connection..

I guess small criminality is there. but no more than in other parts of the
world.
I found the people of Guatemala very friendly
and warm.
I am of the opinion that guatemala deserves
long visits.
It is a nice country .
prices are about 50% cheaper than in mexico.
if a person wants. there are sepcial buses for tourists. they cost more and
are giving more confort.
"Harjinder" ha scritto nel messaggio
om...
I am travelling to Guatemala from mid-November for 3 weeks. Plan to
start in Guatemala city and travel to Antigua and the region around
it, Tikal and the surrounding area.

Plan to hike as well.

I would welcome any feedback on safety of travel or tips from any
people who have travelled there.

Guatemala definitely has serious crime problems, as do some of the other
central american countries. I suggest you review the websites below for
specific advice.

There are several web sites with security information for
travelers and tourists. The ones that I am aware of are
listed below. I urge people to review the information on
these web sites, compare the recommendations of the various
countries to each other, and compare the various government
recommendations to any personal opinions expressed on the
internet.

The four government web sites below include security and
other travel information for virtually all the countries in
the world, including each other.

USA - http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

UK - http://www.fco.gov.uk

Canada -
http://voyage.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/destinations/menu_e.htm

Australia -
http://www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice/advices_mnu.html

The following web sites offer personal or other views on
security.

Mexico Mike talks about security on Mexico's highways on
www.mexicomike.com

Personal reports for some countries in latin america are
available from the South American Explorer's club -
www.samexplo.org

http://www.beingsafe.info/ claims to list global travel
advisories.

Some travel agents and some employees of large companies may
have access to private security report services. Some
travel web sites will also have some limited security
information, such as www.latinamericatravel.com. Note that
most good guidebooks will also discuss security, and may
offer security advice specific to the town or area.

If you are aware of any other english-language security
information on the web, please let me know.

IN FRENCH - EN FRANCAIS

The Canadian information is also available in French, at the
website above.

The French government has their own web site with security
information, in French. http://www.diplomatie.fr/voyageurs

Richard Ferguson


Harjinder wrote:

I am travelling to Guatemala from mid-November for 3 weeks. Plan to
start in Guatemala city and travel to Antigua and the region around
it, Tikal and the surrounding area.

Plan to hike as well.

I would welcome any feedback on safety of travel or tips from any
people who have travelled there.

Hi Harjinder,

Just returned from 3 weeks Guatemala (also traveling aroung, something
similar like you're planning to do). I visited
Antigua-Panajachel-Xela-Coban-Lanquin-Flores/Tikal-Rio Dulce. I didn't
suffer any problems with safety/robbery/pickpocketing myself, though I
heard a few story of people who had been pickpocketed in a crowded
chickenbus, so be careful for that. I also heard a second-hand story of a
couple of tourists climbing a vulcano around lake attitlan (San Pedro)
being robbed by 5 people with machetes just a few weeks back. The Lonely
Planet warns against visiting the graveyard in Antigua and walking the
beach of Livingston without protection, but did not have any problems
myself (without protection). I think in general it's safe, just be careful
and don't advertize your jewelery and expensive photo-equipment.

Concerning visiting in mid-november: there are presidential elections coming
up Nov.9. Minor to major unrest may be a result of this, because one of the
candidates is the former dictator Rios Montt who may try to take some
actions with military support if he doesn't like the result of the
election. This may not become a big issue, but there is a small chance,
just follow the news on these elections closely. In the most likely case
there will be some unrest around the central plaza's in the big cities, so
if you see lots of people and police & military gathering there, avoid
those places.

Best,


Harjinder wrote:

I am travelling to Guatemala from mid-November for 3 weeks. Plan to
start in Guatemala city and travel to Antigua and the region around
it, Tikal and the surrounding area.

Plan to hike as well.

I would welcome any feedback on safety of travel or tips from any
people who have travelled there.

--
Bas vd Meer


Now is the time for all good men to come to.
-- Walt Kelly