Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
First Time Guatemala
For more information, see
Survival Guide
Top Tips for Your Trip
»
Try to learn some Spanish before you arrive and
some more when you get here - Guatemalans are ex-
tremely patient and will love you for just giving it a
go.
Checklist
»
Check the validity of your passport
»
Check the visa situation (
Click here
)
»
Organize travel insurance (
Click here
)
»
Inform your bank/credit card company
that you'll be making foreign transactions
»
Get necessary immunizations
»
Check your government's Guatemala
travel advisories (
Click here
)
»
Pack as lightly as possible. Anything that locals use
on a day-to-day basis can be bought cheaply.
Anything remotely luxurious (electronics, imported
goods etc) will be cheaper at home.
What to Pack
»
Be aware of your surroundings (but not paranoid).
If your gut tells you something is not right, it prob-
ably isn't.
»
International adapter (for non-US appli-
ances)
»
Phrasebook
What to Wear
Regardless of their economic status, Guatemalans do
their best to look neat at all times, and you should do
the same. This goes double when dealing with offi-
cialdom. The general look is neat-casual - pants and
jeans are fine for both sexes, skirts should be (at
least) below the knee. The only places you're really
going to want to dress up are in fancy restaurants or
Guatemala City discos.
Shorts and sleeveless tops are OK for the beach
and coastal towns. In the highlands people tend to
cover up more - a sensible move, considering the cli-
»
Small medical kit
»
Flashlight (torch)
»
Money belt
»
Good walking shoes
»
Warm clothes if going to the highlands
»
Padlock (if staying in dorms)
»
Driver's license (if driving)
»
Sunscreen and insect repellent
»
Sunglasses
»
Pocketknife
mate.
Dress conservatively when entering churches and visiting rural communities.
