Lake Atitlan

Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Guatemala page at Yoogo.

Guatemala's currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ). US dollars are widely accepted at tourist-oriented hotels and larger restaurants, but smaller establishments, markets, and rural areas operate almost exclusively in cash Quetzales, so it is advisable to carry local currency. ATMs are available in major cities and tourist towns such as Antigua and Panajachel, though machines in smaller villages can be unreliable.

Safety conditions vary considerably by location. Major tourist destinations such as Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Flores, and Tikal are generally well-visited and have tourist police presence, while certain zones of Guatemala City and border areas carry higher risks. Petty theft is the most common concern in tourist areas, and checking your government's current travel advisory before and during your trip is advisable.

The most common options for travellers are tourist shuttle minibuses, which connect all major destinations with door-to-door service, and the colourfully repainted school buses known as chicken buses (camionetas), which are the cheapest way to travel between towns. Tuk-tuks serve short hops within towns, while lanchas (small boats) are the main way to move between villages on Lake Atitlan. Domestic flights link Guatemala City to Flores for those heading to Tikal.

The dry season from November to April is generally considered the most comfortable time to visit, with clear skies, warm days, and cooler evenings in the highland areas, making it ideal for visiting outdoor sites such as Tikal and hiking around Lake Atitlan. The wet season (May to October) brings afternoon rains, lush green landscapes, fewer tourists, and lower hotel rates, with mornings typically remaining dry. The Christmas and Semana Santa (Holy Week) periods are peak travel times with higher prices and larger crowds.

Spanish is the official language and is spoken across the country, understood by around 93 per cent of the population as a first or second language. Guatemala also recognises 21 Mayan languages, the most widely spoken of which are K'iche', Q'eqchi', Mam, and Kaqchikel, and these remain in everyday use in highland and rural indigenous communities. Basic Spanish phrases are helpful outside Antigua and other tourist hubs, where English is spoken at many hotels and tour operators.

Most travel health authorities recommend that visitors ensure routine vaccinations are current and consider additional vaccines for hepatitis A, typhoid, and hepatitis B before travelling. Travellers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission are required to present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate. Tap water is generally not safe to drink outside major hotels, so bottled or treated water is the standard precaution throughout the country.