Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Major international airlines fly into Guatemala City and Flores. Most flights to the country pass through the North American hub cities of Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Houston, Mexico City or Miami.

There's an airport-departure tax of around 30.00 and a variable land-departure or sea-departure tax, depending on your point of exit.

To enter the north of the country by land means coming from Mexico on lengthy bus or train journeys. Buses from El Salvador travel directly to Guatemala City, while buses from Honduras and Belize stop at the border. You can also enter Guatemala by sea, traveling from Punta Gorda in Belize to Puerto Barrios or Lívingston. There's also a boat from Lívingston to Omoa in Honduras.

Getting around

Currently, the only domestic flights are between Guatemala City and Flores. Buses link most places cheaply and relatively painlessly, although roads in El Petén often turn into muddy mires or disappear altogether during the rainy season. Chicken buses are the beat-up local buses that stop for anyone, and there are more luxurious long-distance buses such as the pullman class. Faster minibus shuttles operate between some of the more popular tourist sites and major towns. Some national parks, and the Caribbean town of Lívingston, are only accessible by boat. River trips, such as the Río Dulce, can be great experiences.

Visa information

Citizens of most countries no longer need either a visa or a tourist card to enter Guatemala. Depending on the country you come from, stays are limited to 30 or 90 days. Since 2006 Guatemala has been part of the CA-4, a trading agreement with Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. Upon entry to the CA-4 region, most travelers are given a 90-day stay for the entire region, which can be extended once at the Departamento de Extranjería (Foreigners' Office; 6a Av 3-11, Zona 4) in Guatemala City.