This small Central American country is located in southern Mexico: surrounded by Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, Guatemala is a multiple land with an ancestral history. A true cultural mosaic, the land of the Mayans is made up of a thousand landscapes, each with its own character. It is undoubtedly the ancient site of Tikal that we think first, a temple celebrating the gods of Mayan civilization nestled in the heart of the jungles with the lush vegetation of the Petén of the north of the country, populated by jaguars, howler monkeys and multicoloured butterflies. Then the immense Lake Atitlán comes to mind, on whose shores thrives a myriad of villages dominated by volcanoes. But these are just a few Guatemalan gems. Guatemala's tour guide will take you to the four corners of the country, from the cornfields of the Highlands to the powerful waves where pelicans surf on the Pacific coast, from the Alta Verapaz coffee region and the natural and crystal clear pools of Semuc Champey, to the Caribbean tranquility of Livingston, a small Garifuna village on the east coast, accessible only by waterway. And what about the splendid colonial city of Antigua, including the city centre with its cobbled and colourful streets full of good addresses and picturesque churches, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site... Between pre-Columbian architecture, breathtaking natural sites (concentrating jungles, mountains, heavenly beaches, volcanoes) and the good mood of the Chapines, the inhabitants of Guatemala, a stay in this part of the world is certainly a good choice!

What to visit Guatemala?

When to go to Guatemala?

To the question "When to go to Guatemala?", many Europeans on holiday answer between July and August, which is the high tourist season (hotel rates tend to rise), despite the rainy season which runs from mid-May to mid-October. Travellers also flock between mid-December and mid-January to enjoy the holidays in a much milder climate than in summer, but also on the occasion of Semana Santa (Holy Week, preceding the Easter weekend), but here again, prices explode. If you go to Guatemala between September and the first half of October, you will enjoy much cheaper housing rates, but chances are that the rain will not spare you, because that's when tropical depressions hit the Mayan country. The best time to travel to Guatemala is therefore during the dry season, from November to mid-May, taking care to avoid the Christmas and New Year holidays. When to go to Guatemala? From early November to mid-December and from mid-January to mid-May (be careful, though, winter is harsh in the heights), except Easter week.

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Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

With a tropical climate that includes two seasons, a dry season (November to mid-May) and a wet season (mid-May to October), Guatemala's weather varies greatly. September and early October are the rainiest time of the year, while the hurricane season (Caribbean area) runs from July to October. The temperature in Guatemala also depends on the area where you are located: while it is hot all year round on the coasts, winters are cold in the mountains.

Jan.
12° / 23°
Feb.
12° / 25°
Mar.
14° / 27°
Apr.
14° / 28°
May
16° / 28°
June
16° / 27°
Jul.
16° / 26°
Aug.
16° / 26°
Sept.
16° / 26°
Oct.
16° / 24°
Nov.
14° / 23°
Dec.
13° / 22°
Budget

The currency in Guatemala is the quetzal (Q), whose small denominations are particularly useful to pay for the small expenses of daily life. Guatemala is one of the cheapest countries in Latin America and the cost of living is about half that of France (markets, hostels, transportation, etc.). The services for tourists correspond to cheap prices in France. Guatemala remains globally very accessible to small budgets.

Procedures

For a stay of less than three months, EU nationals do not need a visa and do not pay any entry fees. A Guatemalan exit tax of US$30 is theoretically applied ñ when not included in the flight ticket. Even if it is rare that one must pay it, it is still preferable to keep this sum or its equivalent in Quetzal when leaving. In addition, an exit tax of about 20 Q is to be paid before leaving Guatemala by road. Be careful, however, as the majority of flights to Guatemala from Europe via the United States pass through the United States, Europeans must then carry a new biometric passport. In addition to this, you will need to complete the ESTA form on the website https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov and pay an administrative fee of US$14.

Health

There is not much to worry about in terms of health in the cities of Guatemala. However, insect bites are easily infected in tropical areas. Malaria risks exist below 1,500 meters in some rural areas. Before leaving, make sure you are up to date with your DTP vaccine. The yellow fever vaccine is mandatory if you come from a country in America where the disease is present. Tap water is not safe to drink.

Mosquitoes. Rare in the highlands and in the mountains of the south, they literally swarm in the low-lying areas where a hot and humid climate prevails, such as in the department of Petén, on the Caribbean coast or on the Pacific coast. Some precautions should be taken to protect yourself from them in order to fully enjoy your stay in Guatemala, in places as wonderful as Quirigua on the banks of the Motagua River, Tikal and Uaxactun in the heart of the tropical jungle.

How to go to Guatemala? Our advice & tips

For a full stay, allow two weeks. There are many tourist agencies offering organized trips, and although Guatemala is only one-fifth the size of France in terms of area, travel between the two coasts can be long due to winding roads that are not always paved. If you have less time, focus your stay on one area: Antigua and the Pacific, Atitlan and the highlands, Tikal and the Petén or the Caribbean coast.

Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destination

Guatemala is perfectly suited to independent travelers and, provided that the high tourist seasons are avoided, it is quite possible to build your itinerary as you go along, depending on the encounters and opportunities. From a security point of view, Guatemala City should be avoided by solo travelers, without becoming paranoid. One should simply avoid ostentatious signs of wealth. The rest of the country is safe and the inhabitants welcoming.

The bus network covers the whole territory very well (saving the cost of renting a car) and the different companies are divided into three categories, from the most to the least comfortable (and expensive): the luxurious express buses, the first class buses and the gleaming and colorful chicken-buses. On Lake Atitlan and to get to Livingston, you can take a motorboat, while to get around town you can take a cab, an uber or a three-wheeled tuc-tuc.

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Pictures and images Guatemala

Carte en relief. Abdesslam Benzitouni
Lac Petén. Simon Dannhauer - iStockphoto
Arco Santa Catalina. ThKatz - Fotolia
Santiago de Atitlán. meunierd / Shutterstock.com

Discover Guatemala

When to travel?

To the question "When to go to Guatemala?", many Eur...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

With a tropical climate that includes two seasons, a dry season (November to mid-May) and a wet season (mid-May to Oc...
Read more about it

Budget

The currency in Guatemala is the quetzal (Q), whose small denominations are particularly useful to pay for the small...
Read more about it

Formalities

For a stay of less than three months, EU nationals do not need a visa and do not pay any entry fees. A Guatemalan exi...
Read more about it

Health

There is not much to worry about in terms of health in the cities of Guatemala. However, insect bites are easily infe...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

Guatemala is perfectly suited to independent travelers and, provided that the high tourist seasons are avoided, it is...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

For a full stay, allow two weeks. There are many tourist agencies offering organized trips, and although Guatemala is...
Read more about it

Getting around

The bus network covers the whole territory very well (saving the cost of renting a car) and the different companies a...
Read more about it

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