Travelers to the Americas can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. Bottled water and beverages are generally safe, although you should be aware that many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking or driving at night. If you plan on buying property, or making other investments in Guatemala, seek legal advice in Canada and in Guatemala. Vlogging to Better Your Brand in Central America, Is Guatemala City Safe? They are frequently involved in major road accidents, and serious crimes occur on board. U.S. government personnel and family members are prohibited from traveling to/throughout the above-mentioned areas for personal travel but are permitted to travel throughout the rest of Guatemala, including tourist destinations such as Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitln, and Pacific coast areas in the Santa Rosa and Escuintla Departments. TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: No for stays of up to 90 days. #Informacin | Ante la posibilidad de que ingrese un grupo masivo de personas migrante a territorio guatemalteco, recordamos los requisitos sanitarios de ingreso al pas. Anyone interested in traveling for medical purposes should consult with their local physician before traveling and visit the. The southwestern department of San Marcos at the Guatemala-Mexico border and the zone at the border with Belize are especially affected. Falling ash may also disrupt flights at La Aurora International Airport. The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). VACCINATIONS: Required: Honduras currently requires travelers arriving from or traveling to Panama and every nation in South America to present proof of yellow fever vaccine. For more information, see Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers. If you travel by bus: Hotel-associated taxis and yellow cabs (taxis amarillos), which operate in Guatemala City, are considered safe. U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, Visit Travel.State.gov for More Information, U.S. Embassy Guatemala webpage on COVID-19. U.S. government personnel and family members are free to travel within Guatemala City except for zone 18 and the municipality of Villa Nueva. If you intend on hiking, including on volcanoes: Coastal waters can be dangerous. In effect, the above is all that remains of the previous Guatemala Covid entry requirements in effect in some form or another since September 2020 when it reopened to travelers. As a friend in Guatemala City tells me, the government is desperately trying to deflect corruption charges. There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Read the entire Travel Advisory. In the event of an injury, appropriate basic medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. Restaurants and Bars: Open with restrictions . Photographing children and women, especially in areas with Indigenous presence, may result in exacerbating this fear. 122 documents in the last year Trade Adjustment Assistance . Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally. There are four active volcanoes in Guatemala. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad. To make travel safe and convenient for users, we'll update the page when countries and regions make official announcements about travel. The spiking of drinks is a problem in tourist areas, especially in Antigua. Beginning January 5, at 12:01AM ET, there are new requirements for air passengers 2 years of age and older traveling to the United States from China, Hong Kong, or Macau, and those traveling from Seoul, Toronto, and Vancouver who have been in China, Hong Kong, or Macau in the past 10 days. If you are involved in a driving accident that results in injury or death, you may be taken into custody until responsibility for the accident is determined. Vaccination to enter Guatemala is now mandatory for foreign (non-citizen/legal resident visitors from January 10, 2022. It can also be sexually transmitted. Guatemala Directorate General of Migration, Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad, potential entry requirements related to yellow fever, Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), International Child Abduction: A Guidebook for Left-Behind Parents, Canadian embassies and consulates by destination, Hurricanes, typhoons, cyclonesand monsoons, Active storm tracking and hurricane watches and warnings, https://www.Canada.ca/Canada-And-Guatemala, municipalities in Guatemala and Escuintla departments, departments along the borders with El Salvador and Honduras, dont display signs of affluence, especially upon arrival at the airport, where travellers have been followed and robbed or carjacked en route to Guatemala City and Antigua, keep laptop computers, mobile phones and other personal electronic devices out of sight, and refrain from using them in public, ensure that your belongings, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times, carry only a copy of the identification page of your passport and enough money for the day, if threatened by robbers, do not resist: hand over your valuables and cash immediately, Avoid travelling alone, especially at night, Avoid excessive alcohol and narcotic consumption, as it can make you a more vulnerable target for criminals, Travel only through official border crossings, Cross only during the daytime and allow enough time to reach your destination or a major city before dark, pay careful attention when others are handling your cards, use ATMs located in public areas or inside a bank or business, avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature, cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN, check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements, Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place, Follow the instructions of local authorities, Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations, Avoid travelling alone, with informal guides or with strangers, even if they appear friendly and helpful, never do so alone and always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company, buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation, ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity, stay informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard, inform a family member or friend of your itinerary, know the symptoms of acute altitude sickness, which can be fatal, obtain detailed information on hiking routes before setting out and do not venture off marked trails, Dont swim alone, after hours or outside marked areas, Consult residents and tour operators for information on possible hazards and safe swimming areas, choose a well-established and reputable company that has insurance, make sure safety equipment, such as helmets and life jackets, are available and in good condition, make sure your travel insurance covers the recreational activities you choose, avoid challenging rivers, such as the Cahabn, Los Esclavos, Nahualate and Naranjo rivers, if you dont have previous rafting experience, mudslides and rock slides during the rainy season, which can also affect main highways in mountainous regions, the road from Guatemala City to the Atlantic Ocean (CA-9), the isolated dirt roads near Lake Atitlan, drive with car windows closed and doors locked at all times, be prepared to change your travel plans in case of roadblocks, dont go through roadblocks without stopping, even if they appear unattended, make sure the transportation provider is reputable and reliable before booking, confirm your drop-off location, because Guatemala City Council no longer allows some intercity buses to enter the city centre, Avoid boarding taxis at taxi stands or flagging taxis in the street, If using hotel taxis, request the service at the front desk and always look for the hotel logo on the car, When travelling by air, pre-arrange your pickup with your hotel prior to your arrival or use authorized airport taxis, Note the driver's name on the picture identification badges, as well as the licence number, Make sure the driver doesnt pick up other passengers along the way to your destination, Use ridesharing services from a trusted app only, Confirm the drivers identity and the licence plate before getting in the car, Enter Guatemala only through official ports of entry staffed by Guatemalan immigration officers, Use officially recognized docking and berthing facilities only. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive jewelry or watches. Is it safe to travel to Guatemala during the COVID-19 pandemic? The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. Check if you need one below. Trails are not always marked and weather conditions can change rapidly, even in summer. Series of tremors sometimes lead to evacuations of surrounding areas. PASSPORT VALIDITY: Passport must have six months validity. Medical staff may speak little or no English. Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips. You may request an extension of up to 90 days from the Guatemala Directorate General of Migration. Check local media for updates and traffic advisories. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination. Please visit the, If you are considering traveling to Guatemala to have a child through use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) or surrogacy, please see our. Guatemala - Scores for Women, Business and the Law 2023 You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. Care in private hospitals is generally adequate for most common illnesses and injuries, and many of the medical specialists working in them are U.S.-trained and -certified. Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. Especially if, as mentioned, its been relaxing restrictions, not adding to them. https://t.co/lgVJnpsK69, Central America Living (@VidaAmerica) December 24, 2021. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about, Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Illegal roadblocks are also frequent. Antidiscrimination laws exist, but do not include specific protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Scams are often initiated through Internet postings/profiles or by unsolicited emails and letters. Robberies of occupied vehicles are common in Guatemala City, often by two assailants on motorcycles who pull up alongside a car stopped at a traffic light. From Alaska and Hawaii, the best prices were to Guatemala City, while the cheapest place to fly from West Virginia was Madrid. The idea is, that if Guatemala introduces this rule, it might stop the thousands of Hondurans who pass through the country on their migration caravans up to the U.S.-Mexico border. Still, there are new restrictions as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check with your airlines, cruise lines, or travel operators regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions, including potential COVID-19 vaccine or testing requirements for countries you are transiting through. These restrictions were intended to limit the effect of impurities in the CNG, such as hydrogen sulfide, on the structural integrity of the steel used in the manufacture of the cylinders. As governments across the world loosen coronavirus restrictions and shift their approach to accepting Covid-19 as a manageable . Please visit the U.S. Embassys COVID-19 information page for more information on COVID-19 in Guatemala. Use of radio-dispatched taxis or Uber is far safer than hailing taxis on the street. For COVID-19-related entry requirements, please see the Health section below. Request security escorts, which are available for tourist groups, from the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (. There is no vaccine available for chikungunya. Hide Vaccines and Medicines U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. Do not take public transportation, including white car taxis. There is a significant difference between Guatemala City and the rest of the country. Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad. A day later, on August 12, Guatemala about-turned and abolished all this, making it the fourth country in the region after El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Belize to have zero Covid restrictions for travelers. Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others. Related disputes could take time and be costly to resolve. They can occur on the main roads leading to Guatemala Citys La Aurora International Airport. Zone 18 and Villa Nueva within the Guatemala Department Level 4: Do Not Travel. Bars in Guatemala are . Only limited exceptions apply. Travelers are allowed to enter Guatemala. Dont photograph children and women, especially in areas with Indigenous presence. Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America. For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Guatemala, in Guatemala City, and follow the instructions. Whether youre a business ownerRead More Vlogging to Better Your Brand in Central America, Pretty much every visitor toRead More Is Guatemala City Safe? New article about Northern Lights photography in M, Guatemala has reopened borders to tourists from these countries, Guatemala travel ban is in place for these countries, Check where to get a quick PCR test for travel near you. Guatemala Travel Restrictions 49.92% of citizens have been vaccinated Traveling from United States Traveler's COVID-19 vaccination status Fully vaccinated Outgoing to Guatemala Return to the United States Traveling from the United States to Guatemala Most visitors from the United States, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Guatemala. They are often reckless. For more info, visit our Affiliate Disclosure Page. If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. [READ MORE] Embassy Messages Alerts View Alerts and Messages Archive Quick Facts PASSPORT VALIDITY: Testing and vaccines are now a recommendation rather than a rule. Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Immigration authorities will determine the length of the extension. Guatemala Directorate General of Migration (in Spanish). Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. PROVIAL, a roadside assistance force, patrols most of the major highways in the country. Please visit the Embassy's COVID-19 pagefor more information on COVID-19 inGuatemala. Use radio-dispatched taxis (Taxi Amarillo), INGUAT-approved taxis from the SAFE stand at the airport, hotel taxis, vetted private drivers, or Uber. As a result, some may ask you to sit in the front seat to hide the fact that they are providing a rideshare service. For emergency services in Guatemala, dial 110. Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. As Costa Rica ends its State of Emergency this week, we update our guide to the remaining Covid measures around Central America. Published Feb. 15, 2022 Updated March 8, 2022. Most incidents are drug- and gang-related. However, the risk of tsunami can remain for several hours following the first tremor. They they removed this announcement from their website and social media. There are no restrictions, but if the passenger is carrying $10,000 or more, s/he will need to justify the income and the purpose, Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16 See ourRoad Safety pagefor more information. You dont have to present both. The most common types of accessibility may include accessible facilities, information, and communication. Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. If you fail to present your entry stamp when departing Guatemala, you may be fined and experience delays. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States. You can drive in Guatemala with your valid Canadian drivers licence. Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in Guatemala - updated 11 January 2022 Travel to Guatemala. The Guatemalan border with Mexico, in particular the northwestern corner of Petn, is a high-risk area due to large scale drug and alien smuggling. The final dose must have been administered at least two weeks before arrival in Guatemala. Guatemalas public hospitals frequently experience serious shortages of even the most basic medicines and equipment. Local tour companies might underestimate the risk of hypothermia. A tsunami can occur within minutes of a nearby earthquake. The currency in Guatemala is the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ). Forest fires occur between November and June. Maintain distance from local children and refrain from actions that could fuel such suspicions. Proof of vaccination is required if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country. Guatemalas National Tourist Assistance Program (PROATUR) provides 24-hour emergency assistance and routine guidance to tourists. They occur throughout the country, including in tourist destinations. Taxi Amarillo Express (yellow taxis) is a radio-dispatch taxi service reached by dialing 1766. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so. U.S. government personnel and their family members are prohibited from using these forms of transportation. Jamaica Travel Restrictions Effective April 16, 2022, travelers are no longer required to present a negative COVID-19 test result in order to board flights to Jamaica. Guatemala reopened its borders to international travel on September 18, 2020. Customs: Guatemalan customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Guatemala of items such as antiquities and other cultural property. Last Update: Reissued after periodic review without changes. Not all risks are listed below. The tourist centers of Antigua and Lake Atitln are both relaxed right now, with few to zero places demanding masks or social distancing. Several municipalities lack police presence, and local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. There is a risk of malaria in certain areas and/or during a certain time of year in this country. Travel to Guatemala Travel to Guatemala There are no COVID-19 restrictions in place for travel to Guatemala from Ireland. It does not apply between Canada and Guatemala. Passengers who are neither Guatemalan citizens nor Guatemalan residents will be required to present both of the following: These severe storms can put you at risk and hamper the provision of essential services. Criminals perceive foreigners as wealthy. If your passport is lost or stolen while you are in Guatemala, please obtain a new passport at the U.S. Embassy as soon as possible. Hurricanes usually occurfrom mid-May to the end of November. They may arrange security escorts for road travel or organized hiking activities. If you participate in demonstrations as a foreigner, you may face detention, deportation or denied future entry into Guatemala. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers are prevalent in major cities and tourist sites, especially the central market and other parts of Zone 1 in Guatemala City. Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. pic.twitter.com/ev811IFmg4, Migracin Guatemala (@MigracionGuate) January 7, 2022. Effective March 11, 2022, the Government of Guatemala has modified the COVID-related entry requirements for travelers to Guatemala: Passengers who are Guatemalan citizens, foreigners, residents, accredited diplomats, or airline crew whose final destination is Guatemala must now present only one of the following: Immigrants. Expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation, information, and general infrastructure, and common in lodging and communication. Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to criminal incidents resulting in a low arrest and conviction rate. Eruptions may occur at any time. Public facilities are often understaffed and experience shortages of basic supplies and medication. Incidents of armed robbery occur daily on public buses. All travelers aged 10 and over must show proof of a negative Covid test (PCR or antigen) taken within three days of arrival in Guatemala. U.S. citizens are advised not to hail white-car taxis on the street in Guatemala City. Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada* It is important to note thatcountry entry requirementsmay not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. The level of risk also varies between regions in a country and can depend on the elevation in the region. Do not travel if you have any Covid symptoms. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination. Demonstrationsoccur frequently. Traffic Laws: Valid U.S. drivers licenses are accepted for the first 30 days of a visit, and international driving permits are accepted for extended stays. Travelers have experienced carjackings and armed robberies upon leaving the airport. It is recommended that you contact the nearestdiplomatic or consular officeof the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements. The risk may vary between regions of a country. James Dyde is the editor of centralamerica.com. We recommend traveling to and from hotels, resorts, and fishing charters via road from Guatemala City during daylight hours only. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section). Beware of strong currents, riptides, and undertows along Guatemala's Pacific coast beaches, as well as at Lake Atitlan. Dengue in the Americas August 15, 2022 Dengue is a risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Well it's now official - From January 10, 2022, you'll need to prove full vaccination status to . Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctors prescription. Medication should be purchased in consultation with a medical professional and from reputable establishments. Secondary roads in those areas are poorly maintained and have experienced higher incidents of robbery, rape, and armed assault.