Guatemala

SAFETY: adequate
The legacy of the civil war that ended in 1996 is a large number of weapons in circulation, widespread and violent petty crime, and police forces that are often corrupt and unreliable. It is advisable to rely on experienced operators and guides, and to avoid travelling outside the tourist circuits, travelling independently, using old and overcrowded public transport, or venturing into the outskirts of cities. Evening and night-time journeys, crowded places and street demonstrations should also be avoided. The rainy season can strike the whole country with particular violence and cause serious disruption. The country lies in a seismic zone.

TRANSPORT: adequate
Guatemala is well connected to the whole region. The intercity bus network is fair (choose only the top categories), whereas the unpaved road network is in poor condition and the railway network is sparse. Several stretches of river can be travelled by boat (Río Dulce, Lake Atitlán, Río de la Pasión). It is possible to enter overland or by sea from neighbouring countries.
Main airports: Guatemala City.
Main ports: Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomás de Castilla.

ACCOMMODATION: adequate
There is a fair choice of accommodation, though not always up to international standards; the situation is better within the tourist circuit and along the coasts.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of Guatemala – Location: Central America. Borders: Mexico to the north and north-east, the Pacific Ocean to the east and south-east, El Salvador to the south, Belize, Honduras and the Caribbean Sea to the west - Time zone: UTC – 6, 7 hours behind Italy, does not observe daylight saving time – Area: 108,890 sq km – Capital: Guatemala City – Population: 12,728,000 – Religion: 75% Catholic, 6% Protestant, 6% indigenous beliefs – Languages: Spanish (official language), indigenous languages, English understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: Quetzal (GTQ). There are no currency restrictions – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted in the main cities and large establishments; elsewhere local currency – Exchange: exchange and payments are easiest with US dollars.

ELECTRICITY: 120 V and 60 Hz – Sockets: types A, B, G (bring an adapter).

DOCUMENTS: passport with 6 months’ remaining validity; no visa is required for tourist stays of up to 90 days. For stays of more than 90 days a residence permit must be requested from the consulate – Driving: Italian driving licence – Cars: local third-party motor insurance.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 00502 – GSM: network available in urban areas only. Standards: GSM 1900/850/900. Local operators: Comcel, Sercom, Telefónica Móviles. – Internet: available in the main cities and in top-category hotels – Web domain: .gt – Emergency numbers: fire brigade 122/123, police 110/120, ambulance 128, Red Cross 125.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: as regards the laws on the use or trafficking of narcotic substances, prostitution and offences against minors, severe criminal penalties including imprisonment are in force. Homosexuality is legal, but the country is very conservative and not particularly tolerant, so great discretion is advised.

HEALTH: no vaccinations are required; malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the tropical forest areas (north), as are hepatitis A and B and typhoid vaccinations. Dengue (or haemorrhagic fever) is periodically endemic (rainy season). The health situation is not good and public facilities are generally rather poor; in the main cities there are some good but expensive private facilities. Beware of the effects of altitude, which can cause difficulties in mountain areas.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year’s Day; 6 January, Epiphany; Holy Week; 1 May, Labour Day; 30 June, Army Day; 15 August, Guatemala Day; 29 August, Postal Workers’ Day; 15 September, Independence Day; 20 October, Revolution Day; 1 November, All Saints’ Day; 8 December, Immaculate Conception; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Banks: Mon-Fri 09.00-13.00, Sat 10.00-13.00 – Post offices: Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00, Sat 9.00-12.00 Shops: Mon-Sat 10.00-19.00 (variable) – Offices: Mon-Fri 9.00-17.00 Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: tropical, conditioned by the mountain ranges. Below 900 metres, average monthly temperatures range between 21 and 27 °C throughout the year. Between 900 and 1,500 metres the monthly averages fall to between 16 and 21 °C. Areas between 1,500 and 2,700 metres record monthly averages of between 10 and 16 °C. Above 2,700 metres temperatures are on average very low. Semi-desert conditions prevail in the valley of the Motagua river, while rainfall exceeds 3,800 mm a year on the volcanic ranges facing the Pacific Ocean and along the northern and eastern slopes of the sierra. The rainy season is concentrated between November and April, but moisture-laden trade winds from the Caribbean bring rain in practically every month of the year to the northern and eastern ranges. Risk of storms and hurricanes between September and October.

Monthly min/max temperatures (in °C)

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/mm of rainfall

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY
Embassy and Consulate of Guatemala
Via Colli della Farnesina 128 - 00194 Rome - Tel. 06/36299091 – Fax 06/3291639
E-mail: embitalia@minex.gob.gt

INGUAT (Instituto Nacional Guatemalteco de Turismo)
Via Prassilla, 152 - 00124 Rome - Tel. 06/5090393/50911312 – Fax 06/5053406
www.visitguatemala.com

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN GUATEMALA
Italian Embassy
12 Calle 6-49, Zona 14 – Ciudad de Guatemala – Tel. 00502 23669271 – Fax 00502 23673916
ambguatemala.esteri.it – E-mail: ambasciata.guatemala@esteri.it