Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Foreigners' Office;
2411-2411; 6a Av 3-11, Zona 4, Guatemala City;
8am-2:30pm Mon-Fri) , with
all
of the
following:
»
One black and white passport-sized photo on matte paper
»
A valid passport
»
Two photocopies of the first page of your passport and one of the page where your entry visa was stamped
»
A credit card with a photocopy of both of its sides (or photocopy of US$400 worth of travelers' checks)
»
A ticket out of the country or proof of flight reservation (on Travel Agency letterhead, signed and sealed by a Travel
Agent)
Extensions can take up to a week to process, but this period is also very flexible - it's worth asking about before you
start the process.
Citizens of some Eastern European countries are among those who do need visas to visit Guatemala. Enquire at a
Guatemalan embassy well in advance of travel.
Visa regulations are subject to change - it's always worth checking with a Guatemalan embassy before you go.
If you have been in the CA-4 for your original 90 days and a 90-day extension, you must leave the region for 72 hours
(Belize and Mexico are the most obvious, easiest options), after which you can return to the region to start all over
again. Some foreigners have been repeating this cycle for years.
Volunteering
If you want to get to the heart of Guatemalan matters, consider volunteer work. Opportunities abound, from caring for
abandoned animals to writing grant applications to tending fields. Travelers with specific skills such as nurses, doctors,
teachers and website designers are particularly encouraged to investigate volunteering in Guatemala.
Most volunteer posts require basic or better Spanish skills and a minimum time commitment. Depending on the or-
ganization, you may have to pay for room and board for the duration of your stay. Before making a commitment, you
may want to talk to past volunteers and read the fine print associated with the position.
An excellent source of information on volunteer opportunities is Quetzaltenango-based
EntreMundos
(
7761-2179;
www.entremundos.org
; 6a Calle 7-31, Zona 1; 2-5pm Mon-Thu) . You only have to visit their websites
to see the huge range of volunteer opportunities that exist. Many language schools have close links to volunteer projects
and can introduce you to the world of volunteering. The best worldwide site for volunteer positions (with many Guatem-
ala listings) is
www.idealist.org
.
Women Travelers
Women should encounter no special problems traveling in Guatemala. The primary thing you can do to make it easy for
yourself while traveling here is to dress modestly. Modesty in dress is highly regarded, and if you practice it, you will
usually be treated with respect.
Specifically, shorts should be worn only at the beach, not in town, and especially not in the highlands. Skirts should
be at or below the knee. Going braless is considered provocative. Many local women swim with T-shirts over their
swimsuits.
