Guatemala

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Contents 1 Basic Facts 2 Border Crossing Information 2.1 Entry Requirements 2.1.1 Necessary documents 2.1.2 Costs 2.1.3 Procedure 2.2 Exit Requirements 2.2.1 Necessary documents 2.2.2 Procedure 2.3 Individual Experiences 3 Roads and Driving 3.1 Topes 3.2 Driving Etiquette 3.3 Road Conditions and Updates 3.4 Gas Prices 4 Camping and Hotels 4.1 Antigua 4.2 Lago Atitlan 4.3 Chichicastenango 4.4 Coban 4.5 Flores 4.6 Tikal 4.7 Quetzaltenango 4.8 Rio Dulce and Livingston

[edit] Basic Facts

• Population: 13,000,000
• Capital: Guatemala City
• Fun fact: During the Quema del Diablo or Burning of the Devil celebration in the market town of Chichicastenango, men wearing suits of fireworks dance through the people with streets sparks shooting into the crowds.

Don't let the recent history of Guatemala, including bloody civil wars and cruel dictators of the 1970s and 1980s, scare you off from visiting. The people of Guatemala are some of the friendliest you may find in Central America. Explore the archeological wonders in Northern Guatemala such as awe-inspiring Tikal, enjoy the friendly Garifuna culture on its small Caribbean coast, wander the gorgeous colonial streets of Antigua, observe the thriving Mayan culture in San Andres Xecul, or shop-till-you-drop in the huge market of Chichicastenango. You'll leave with great memories and start planning your next visit as soon as you get home.

[edit] Border Crossing Information

[edit] Entry Requirements

[edit] Necessary documents

Canceled Mexican Vehicle Import Permit

Guatemalan Fumigation Reciept

Guatemalan Vehicle Import Permit

Guatemalan car permit

• Passport
• Vehicle Title
• Proof of cancellation of Mexican vehicle import permit: Importancion Temporal de Vehiculos - Certificado de Retorno

[edit] Costs

• Q18 fumigation
• Q10 tourist permit
• Q40 for vehicle import permit

Fees schedule to change at the whimsy of the border official

[edit] Procedure

It is wise to change Mexican pesos to Guatemalan quetzales before you arrive at the border, as the people offering to exchange money will not likely give you a favorable rate. After completing the necessary paperwork in Mexico, proceed into Guatemala where you may need to have your car fumigated. After paying Q18 to have the car sprayed (count the change they give you carefully, they may ´accidentally´ forgot to give you correct change), proceed to the migracion station with the proof of fumigation document. After examining and stamping your passport, you will pay for a tourist permit permisso 131 rp, which costs 10 quetzales. Next at the aduana the officer will inspect your car and ask to see you car title, passport, and the receipt showing that you canceled your Mexican vehicle import permit. You may also need your driver's license. You will get a receipt to bring to the Banrural nextdoor to payment for the necessary documents. After paying Q40, return to the aduana with proof of payment, where you will receive your vehicle import sticker for the window. They will also stamp your passport to indicate that you have imported a vehicle.

[edit] Exit Requirements

[edit] Necessary documents

• Passport
• Guatemalan Vehicle Import Permit

[edit] Procedure

Exiting Guatemala is a fairly simple process. You will show the border officials your passports and vehicle import permit documents. The countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua are part of the CA-4, and for a period of 90 days tourists should be able to travel between the 4 countries without paying any fees (vehicle import permits are a separate issue). If you do not plan on driving back through Guatemala in the near future, surrender the sticker-permit you placed on our windshield when you entered Guatemala, and ensure that the stamp in your passport is cancelled. If you do plan to return within 90 days of your entry date, ask them to leave your permit "open" and not stamp you out. The process is fast, efficient, and free.

[edit] Individual Experiences

People's experiences vary depending on crowds at the border, corrupt or honest border officials, and rules can also change. People's individual experiences are included here.

[edit] Roads and Driving

[edit] Topes

In Guatemala, speed bumps are called topes or tumulos, and you will find a large amount of them on many roads, sometimes unmarked.

[edit] Driving Etiquette

The drivers in Guatemala tend to be more aggresive, especially trucks, chicken buses, taxis, and combis.

[edit] Road Conditions and Updates

(Updated: December 13, 2008)

Around Lago Atitlan The road from San Pedro La Laguna to Santiago Atitlan is unsafe according to a local person, claiming that the road swings far around the Volcan San Pedro and into an area that was once a Guerrilla training ground. This area is still an easy ambush road for persons to be attacked. The roads from Panajachel around the lake to San Marcos La Laguna are well travelled and pose no threat.

Antigua to Lago Atitlan Some guides will recommend not driving the direct route between Antigua and Lago Atitlan which winds through Patzicia and Patzun. This route is now safe due to an increased police force in the area due to the desire to keep tourism dollars flowing.

Highway 1 Highway 1 from the border in Mexico to Quetzaltenango (Xela) is in great shape - you will find this road in better shape than most roads in Mexico. Highway 1 from Quetzaltenango (Xela) to Antigua is in construction to turn the road into a four lane highway. This will cause delays and dangerous situations due to poorly marked constructions signs. It is advised to follow other vehicles since the road will change from a four lane highway to both directions of traffic sharing one side of a 4 lane highway without good signs indicating the change. You will also encounter hazardous low shoulders and low visibility due to dust.

[edit] Gas Prices

Gas prices are expressed in the units of the specific country. 12/20/08:

Price is in Guatemalan Quetzales per liter Regular: Q27/gallon Conversion: 1L=0.26 gallons, 1Q=$7.7 (US)

[edit] Camping and Hotels

[edit] Antigua

The Tourist Office in Angtigua offers free secure parking at the far south end of Calle 6 near the bus terminal. This is a great option in a town where most hotels that offer parking are expensive.

The police/ tourist office offers free secure parking. It is at the far south end of Calle 6. (Near the bus terminal). The officers at the lot were very friendly when we asked about it. I'll post if we have any problems for the night we are parking here, otherwise, it's a good find in a town that is otherwise muy caro!

Casa Santa Lucia #2 has very simple, clean rooms with hot water for $25/night. It is on the busy street of Calz de Santa Lucia, between 2a Calle Poniente and Calle de la Recoleccion, so the rooms can be quite loud if they're on the street side. Parking in their gated compound is an extra $5/night.

[edit] Lago Atitlan

Hotel Luna Llena in Panajachel is newly constructed, has bright clean rooms with hot water, and parking in their fenced hotel area for $25/night. It is a little tricky to find as it is on an alley behind the restaurants on Calle del Lago on the Playa Publica, so ask at any of the restaurants and they can direct you to the hotel.

[edit] Chichicastenango

Posada El Arco is a great guesthouse, and they have a couple of spots to park your car in their gated lot. Call ahead for reservations - they book up before the Thursday and Sunday markets. 7756-1255, 4a Calle 4-36.

[edit] Coban

Hotel La Paz is super cheap and has secure, gated parking. It's about $10, and you get what you pay for - clean rooms, but cold water and bare walls. 7952-1358, 6a Av 2-19, Zona 1.

[edit] Flores

Flores is actually a small island connected with a causeway. There is not any secure parking, but Hotel Mesa de Los Mayas (phone and address) will allow you to park in the alley next to the hotel entrance where the hotel guard will watch the car (although he may be passed out drunk for some of the night). Don't leave any valuables in your car. The top floor rooms have nice views across the island. Callejón el Crucero y Avenida Reforma, 7867-5268, 5868-5068

[edit] Tikal

The National Park of Tikal has a large grassy campground with cold-water bathrooms for $4/night/person. It's pretty much at the end of the road on the right when you're driving into the park just before the large parking area. It's not a gated area, but there is a night watchman.

[edit] Quetzaltenango

The 2nd largest city in Guatemala often called "Xela" pronounced "shay-la" by the locals. Xela has dozens of hotels, guesthouses and a huge selection of Total Immersion Spanish schools. Tent Camping spots pretty much do not exist but if you are in an RV you might check out Hotel Del Campo outside of town on the road to Cantel. Also some of the gas stations might let you park for free overnight. City web resources: Xela Pages Stories about Driving to Guatemala Driving to Guatemala

[edit] Rio Dulce and Livingston

Livingston can only be reached by boat, but you can leave your car in Rio Dulce, and take a boat to Livingston. Secure parking and can be found at Bruno's. Parking is 25 Quetzales a day. You can also camp there for an additional $5/day, and they have high speed wireless in their nice waterfront restaurant where you can chat up the people that are yachting around the world to start planning your next travel adventure. This map will help you find Bruno's.

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