Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Car & Motorcycle
You can drive in Guatemala with your home-country driver's license or with an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Guatemalan driving etiquette will probably be very different from what you're used to back home: passing on blind
curves, ceding the right of way to vehicles coming uphill on narrow passes and deafening honking for no apparent reas-
on are just the start. Expect few road signs and no indication from other drivers of what they are about to do. Do not pay
any attention to turn signals - they are rarely used and even more rarely used to indicate a turn in the direction they
would seem to be. Hazard lights mean that the driver is about to do something foolish and/or illegal.
A vehicle coming uphill always has the right of way.
Túmulos
are speed bumps that are generously (sometimes oddly)
placed throughout the country, usually on the main drag through a town. Use of seat belts is obligatory, but generally not
practiced.
In Guatemala driving at night is a bad idea for many reasons, not the least of which are armed bandits, drunk drivers
and decreased visibility.
Every driver involved in an accident that results in injury or death is taken into custody until a judge determines re-
sponsibility.
If someone's car breaks down on the highway (particularly on curvy mountain roads), they'll warn other drivers by
putting shrubs or small branches on the road for a few hundred meters beforehand. Annoyingly, they rarely pick them up
afterwards, but if you're driving and you see these, it's best to be cautious and slow down.
Rental
While car hire is certainly possible, if you're sticking to the main sights, logistically it is rarely a good idea - Antigua is
best seen on foot, the villages around Lake Atitlán are best visited by boat, and the distance from either of those to Tikal
makes it a much better idea to catch a bus or fly. That said, for freedom and comfort, nothing beats having your own
wheels.
There are car hire places in all the major tourist cities. To rent a car or motorcycle you need to show your passport,
driver's license and a major credit card. Usually, the person renting the vehicle must be 25 years or older. Insurance
policies accompanying rental cars may not protect you from loss or theft, in which case you could be liable for hundreds
or even thousands of dollars in damages. Be careful where you park, especially in Guatemala City and at night. Even if
your hotel does not have parking, they will know of a secure garage somewhere nearby.
Motorcycles are available for rent in Antigua and around Lake Atitlán. Bringing safety gear is highly recommended.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking in the strict sense of the word is generally not practiced in Guatemala because it is not safe. However, where
the bus service is sporadic or nonexistent, pickup trucks and other vehicles may serve as public transport. If you stand
beside the road with your arm out, someone will stop. You are expected to pay the driver as if you were traveling on a
bus and the fare will be similar. This is a safe and reliable system used by locals and travelers, and the only inconvenien-
ce you're likely to encounter is full to overflowing vehicles - get used to it.
