Guatemala

Guatemala offers volcanic highlands, ancient Maya cities and rich indigenous culture, with the best regions to explore including Tikal, Lake Atitlán, Antigua, the Guatemalan Highlands and the Petén rainforest.

Tikal National Park: Tikal’s towering Maya temples rise above the rainforest canopy in one of the most impressive archaeological landscapes in the Americas.

Lake Atitlán: Lake Atitlán sits within a volcanic caldera where travellers explore lakeside villages and mountain scenery.

Antigua Guatemala: Antigua’s historic streets and surrounding volcanoes create one of Central America’s most beautiful colonial cities.

Guatemalan Highlands: The highlands reveal traditional Maya culture across dramatic mountain landscapes and colourful markets.

Petén Rainforest: The remote Petén region protects vast tropical forest and important Maya archaeological sites.

The best time to travel to Guatemala for hiking, trekking and adventure touring is generally Nov–Apr, when temperatures are comfortable and conditions are favourable for exploring landscapes, national parks and cultural highlights.

Guatemala has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round, typically ranging between 24°C and 32°C (75°F–90°F). Most regions experience a dry season and a wetter season which influence outdoor travel conditions.

During the wetter season tropical showers refresh the landscape and create lush green forests and flowing rivers. While humidity is higher, this time can still be rewarding for adventurous travellers seeking vibrant scenery and quieter trails.

Guatemala is -6 hours behind GMT/UTC

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages

Guatemalan Quetzal

US dollars cash are by far the easiest foreign currency to exchange in Guatemala. We recommend you only take US$ notes from 2006 or newer, and with the new large-head design. Older or torn notes are not accepted in Guatemala.

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Electricity in Guatemala is 120 Volts, at 60 hertz. The most common pin type is A. (2 flat prong).

Australian, British, Canadian, United States and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa for entry into Guatemala for stays of up to 90 days.

You must complete an electronic declaration form before arriving and leaving Guatemala. You will then receive a QR code. Keep your QR code in order to present it to authorities upon your arrival or departure.

Electronic Declaration Form Guatemala: https://farm2.sat.gob.gt/declaDelViajeroGt-web/pages/public/declaracionJuradaDelViajero.html

Visa regulations change and you should be prepared for this. If you are stopping over or transiting other countries en-route to your destination, you should also check the visa requirements for that destination. It is your responsibility to obtain the necessary visas.

All other nationalities should check with your nearest embassy or consulate.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.