Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Money
There are several banks, some with ATMs, on Parque Centroamérica, including Banco de
Occidente, on the north end of the park, where you can change cash dollars and travelers
checks. Banco Industrial, on the east side of the plaza, has a Visa ATM, while Banrural, on
its west side, has both a Visa and MasterCard ATM.
Laundry
Near the post office, at the corner of 5a Calle and 15 Avenida, Laundry 97 (tel. 7761-7923,
8 A.M.-8 P.M.) charges about $0.65 per kilo to wash and dry. Lavandería El Puente (7a
Calle13-29Zona1,8A.M.-6P.M.Mon.-Sat.)charges$2forafour-kilogramload,washed
anddried.Lavandería Puppy(2aCalle16-61Zona1,7:30A.M.-5:30P.M.Mon.-Sat.,9:30
A.M.-3 P.M. Sun.) charges similar rates for laundry washed, dried, and folded.
Medical Services
Private hospitals include Hospital Privado Quetzaltenango (Calle Rodolfo Robles 25-31
Zona 3, tel. 7761-4381/82), Hospital La Democracia (13 Avenida 6-51 Zona 3, tel.
7763-6760/62), and Hospital San Rafael (9a Calle 10-41 Zona 1, tel. 7761-4414 or
7761-2956), with 24-hour emergency service.
Emergency
For the firefighters
(bomberos),
dial 122 or 7761-2002. For the Red Cross (Cruz Roja),
dial 125 or 7761-2746. The Policía Nacional Civil (National Civil Police) can be reached
at 120, 110, or 7765-4991/2. The number for the Municipal Police (Policía Municipal) is
7761-5805.
Travel Agencies
Viajes SAB (1a Calle 12-35 Zona 1, tel. 7761-6402) is a good all-around agency for plane
tickets, tours to Tikal, and the like. Adrenalina Tours (13 Avenida and 4a Calle Zona 1,
Pasaje Enríquez, tel. 7761-4509 or 7767-2474,
www.adrenalinatours.com
)
is also recom-
mended for these and other services. Guatemaya Intercultural (14 Avenida “A” 3-06 Zona
1, tel. 7765-0040) is a good place for youth and student airfares as well as general travel
arrangements.
Language Schools
Xela has become increasingly popular as a place to learn Spanish, even rivaling Antigua,
and the days when Xela hosted few foreigners are long gone. Still, it's a much larger city
than any other in Guatemala, save the capital, and affords an opportunity for the foreign
population to more easily blend into their surroundings, providing an adequate Spanish-
language immersion experience. Schools in Xela were charging between $135 and $180
