Beginner's Guide To Guatemala For First-Time Travelers

Guatemala is a spectacularly diverse country recognized as the heart of the Mayan Civilization. It's home to volcanos, lakes and rich Mayan History.

Apart from the obvious highlights like Mayan Ruins and iconic tourist locations like Antigua, the food cuisine is one of the most impressive in Central America.

Getting Around Guatemala

There are a few ways of moving around Guatemala:

1. Chicken Buses - daily buses that also connect to some nearby towns
2. Coach Buses - more comfortable than buses and has bathroom
3. Private Shuttles - pricier than buses but faster and more secure

Guatemala Buses

While on the Guatemala chicken buses, you’ll be surrounded by a bit of chaos with locals cramming in during rush hours and low income locals finding super creative ways to make a living.

On my trip I saw a guy selling chewing gum, chocolate and one guy even sold a vegetable peeler. He did so good that he got a handful of sales.

My guess is that locals respect the hustle and pay it forward. It still makes sense to keep your guard up and keep your belongings safe while using your phone at a near minimum.

Safety in Guatemala

It may be easy to describe most countries in safety but it's complex for Guatemala. Areas like Lake Atitlán or Antigua are very safe. It's so safe that you can walk at night as a solo traveler at these locations.

Then there's Guatemala City where even locals avoid. I've personally been to the capital city and while there are main areas that feel relatively safe, it feels like people are always on guard here.

A general rule is to avoid the outskirts of city and to only walk in highly trafficked areas. And of course, it's best to keep walking at night at a minimum.

About Author

Everything written on this blog is based on first-hand experience or knowledge as a local living in Belize. No fluff, just honest information.