Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in Guatemala if it's a GSM phone. The Tigo frequency is 850 MHZ. Your phone's SIM
card will need to be replaced with a Tigo SIM card, available for about $7. If your phone
is locked, you will need to have a technician perform a
flasheo
to unlock it, costing about
another $7. Most places selling cell phones can do this for you. You can buy talk time al-
most everywhere, available by buying cards in various denominations, which you then call
in and have credited to your account. After your trip, you can put your original SIM card
back in your phone.
If you're an iPhone enthusiast, or if your cell phone uses the latest 3G technology,
you'll be happy to know that both Movistar (
www.movistar.com.gt
)
and Claro
(
www.claro.com.gt
)
sell iPhones locally. All three carriers have 3G networks with various
plans to suit your needs, and with prices comparable to those in the United States. These
companies also offer videophone service for phones equipped with this feature.
Internet
Internet access is widely available in most cities and tourist destinations throughout the
country. You'll have no trouble finding places to check your email or surf the web. Hourly
rates are usually in the $1-2 range.
Newspapers and Magazines
Prensa Libre
is Guatemala's most widely circulated newspaper and is highly respected.
You can find the online version at
www.prensalibre.com.gt
.
Other excellent newspapers
include
Siglo XXI
(
www.sigloxxi.com
)
and
elPeriódico
(
www.elperiodico.com.gt
)
. All of
these are tabloid, rather than broadsheet, in format. A tabloid in the sense of being filled
with plenty of yellow journalism, scandal, and not much else of use is
Nuestro Diario,
which nonetheless seems to be somewhat popular in the country's interior. Guatemala's re-
spectable newspapers are an excellent source of information and make a great way to prac-
tice reading Spanish. They have a long tradition of investigative reporting and have done
a wonderful job of uncovering numerous scandals Guatemala's corrupt politicians would
probably get away with (at least without public knowledge) were it not for the work of
these intrepid journalists. Journalism can still be a dangerous occupation in Guatemala,
though press freedom has come a long way since the dark times of the civil war.
Published in Antigua, the monthly
Revue
magazine has tons of helpful tips and contact
information for hotels, restaurants, and businesses in Guatemala as well as parts of Hon-
duras and El Salvador. There are also well-written stories on topics of interest to locals and
visitors alike. It's available in tourist shops, hotels, and restaurants free of charge.
