ESSENTIALS - Guatemala - page 664

scratches, dings, and dents. They'll inspect it again when you return the vehicle. Any new
damage (or previously undocumented damage) might cost you dearly.
Neverleaveavehicleparkedonthestreetovernightandneverleavepersonalbelongings
inside an unattended vehicle.
Taxis
Taxicabs are available in almost any town or city. In smaller towns, the best way to find a
taxi is in the central square, or parque central. In Guatemala City, taxis are available at the
Zona 10 hotels, shopping malls, or (as a last resort) can be hailed from street corners. It's
always best to call a cab, as certain city zones get more taxi traffic and not all companies
are reliable. Highly recommended is Taxis Amarillo Express (tel. [phone]); you must
call for a cab and will need an exact address for pickup. They are one of the only compan-
ies to use taxi meters. As a final word of caution, the U.S. Embassy discourages travelers
from hailing cabs off the street in Guatemala City.
In smaller towns and villages, you'll also find the Asian-style tuk-tuks , or motorized
rickshawspoweredbyamotorcycleengine.Theseofferalower-costalternativetostandard
taxicabs and are great if you're traveling without luggage over short distances.
Ifyouneedtogetaroundfordaysatatime,itmightbeworthrentingataxibythedayor
week.Thisisparticularly thecaseinGuatemala City,wheretherearemanyneighborhoods
tucked into the varied terrain and certainly some places you'll wish to avoid. Many taxi
drivers are willing to negotiate a daily or hourly rate, somewhere in the vicinity of $10 an
hour or $75 a day. You can often get a really good deal if you negotiate for multiple days.
Most Guatemalan taxi drivers are friendly and helpful, making great sources of conversa-
tion to gauge opinions on issues of daily life for the average Guatemalan. It seems almost
everyone has a friend or a friend of a friend who is a taxi driver, and they may be able to
recommend someone to you. I can personally vouch for the services of Yosaray Ramírez
(tel.[phone],[e-mail]).YosarayspeakssomeEnglishandhas
lived in the U.S. He is also a great option for trips to Guatemala's interior.