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Destination Guides - North America / Guatemala
Travel Advice on Health, Climate, Local Info, Customs and Laws
| Travel Advice/Warnings |
| Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. Some areas are safer than others but care should be exercised generally. Crime has been targeted at tourists, take sensible precautions for personal security and security of valuables at all times. Kidnappings are not uncommon. |
| Vaccinations & Health Alerts |
| Carry travel insurance information with you at all times or it is unlikely that you will receive medical treatment. It is recommended that you vaccinate against Hep A, Polio, Typhoid and carry proof of Yellow Fever if travelling from an infected country. Malaria is prevalent in low lying areas and Dengue Fever is endemic. |
| Seasonal Climate |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Temp (c) |
16 |
17 |
19 |
20 |
19 |
18 |
18 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
15 |
| Rainfall (cm) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
27 |
22 |
18 |
26 |
16 |
3 |
1 |
|
| The climate is affected by altitude, the coastal regions and the north east are hot and tropical. The high plateau is temperate. The rainy season lasts from May to September. |
BBC - Weather Centre - Forecast for Guatemala City, Guatemala
| Friday |
Max Temp: 26°C (79°F), Min Temp: 17°C (63°F), Wind Direction: S, Wind Speed: 6mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1011mb, Humidity: 51%, Sunrise: 05:50CST, Sunset: 18:06CST |
| Saturday |
Max Temp: 24°C (75°F), Min Temp: 17°C (63°F), Wind Direction: SE, Wind Speed: 2mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1010mb, Humidity: 67%, Sunrise: 05:50CST, Sunset: 18:06CST |
| Sunday |
Max Temp: 25°C (77°F), Min Temp: 17°C (63°F), Wind Direction: NE, Wind Speed: 4mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1010mb, Humidity: 50%, Sunrise: 05:50CST, Sunset: 18:05CST |
(by the BBC Weather Centre in association with the Met Office) |
| Local Customs/Laws |
| Carry a photocopy of your passport. You should avoid openly changing large amounts of money and make sure valuables are kept out of sight. Ask permission before taking photographs of locals as some can be suspicious. You are advised to take US Dollars as this is the only foreign currency that is widely accepted for exchange. |
| Getting Around |
| You should pay particular attention to your security at the border areas with Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. Internal flights are the safest mode of travel as hold-ups and robberies are common. Avoid travelling by bus as violent crimes do occur, use only metered taxis and be aware not many of the roads are able to cope with the heavy rain. |
| Public Holidays/Festivals |
| New Year on 1 January, Lent which commences on 17 February, Semana Santa in the run up to Easter which falls between 2-5 April 10, Labour Day on 1 May, Army Day on 30 June, Assumption on 15 August (Guatemala City), Independence Day on 15 September, Revolution Day on 20 October, All Saints on 1 November, and Christmas Day on 25 December. |
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| Visa Requirements |
| Guatemala is part of the Central America Border Control Agreement (CA-4). Under the terms of this agreement, British tourists may travel within any of the CA-4 countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Nicaragua) for a period of up to 90 days, without completing entry and exit formalities at Border Immigration checkpoints. This period begins at the first point of entry into any of the CA-4 countries. Fines are applied for travellers who exceed this 90 day limit, although you may apply for an extension of up to 30 days before the 90 days limit expires. You must have 6 months validity remaining on your passport and an onward ticket. |
| British Embassy Details |
| Avenida La Reforma 16-00, Zona 10, Edifico Torre Internacional, Nival II, Guatemala City Tel: (502)2367 5425-9 |
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