North America
Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.
I entered this country using my US tourist visa, which allowed entry without a separate visa.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
| S.No | Date | Details (Notes) | Category | Unit | Cost / Unit | Amount | Currency | Amount (NPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | — | — | Accommodation | — | — | — | — | 250.00 |
| 2 | — | — | Food & Dining | — | — | — | — | 120.00 |
| 3 | — | — | Activities | — | — | — | — | 30.00 |
| 4 | — | Free | Activities | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | — | — | Transport | — | — | — | — | 40.00 |
| 6 | — | — | Transport | — | — | — | — | 60.00 |
| 7 | — | ~150/night | Accommodation | — | — | — | — | 450.00 |
| 8 | — | ~120/day | Food & Dining | — | — | — | — | 360.00 |
| 9 | — | Free | Activities | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | — | Guide + transport | Activities | — | — | — | — | 400.00 |
| 11 | — | — | Activities | — | — | — | — | 50.00 |
| 12 | — | Free | Activities | — | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | — | — | Transport | — | — | — | — | 30.00 |
| 14 | — | — | Connectivity | — | — | — | — | 50.00 |
| 15 | — | — | Insurance | — | — | — | — | 35.00 |
| 16 | — | — | Miscellaneous | — | — | — | — | 100.00 |
| 17 | — | — | Miscellaneous | — | — | — | — | 40.00 |
| 18 | — | — | Transport | — | — | — | — | 80.00 |
| 19 | — | — | GTQ 2,060 + USD 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 2,095.00 |
Last updated 5 days ago
All travelers must fill out an electronic immigration and customs declaration form before entering and exiting Guatemala. You will receive a QR code to present at the airport. Keep a printed or electronic copy. A 90-day stay is granted on arrival.
The currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ), roughly 7.50 GTQ per $1 USD. Carry cash in quetzales for markets, transport, and small shops. ATMs inside banks are the safest for withdrawals. Request small denomination notes as change is scarce in rural areas.
Guatemala offers the Tourist Assistance Program (ASISTUR) and tourist police (DISETUR) in popular areas like Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Tikal, and Quetzaltenango. They can assist with directions, safety concerns, and emergency situations.
A departure tax of $30 USD (or equivalent in quetzales) must be paid when leaving Guatemala by air. Check if your airline includes this in the ticket price. Have cash ready if it is not included.
Avoid Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva due to high crime. Do not travel near unofficial border crossings. Use authorized transport, especially at night. The main tourist destinations (Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Tikal) are well-patrolled.
Guatemala produces world-class coffee. Visit a coffee finca near Antigua or in the highlands to see the bean-to-cup process. Buying directly from farms supports local communities and ensures the freshest product. Antigua is surrounded by prime coffee-growing regions.
Last updated 5 days ago
📍 Guatemala City and Antigua
Arrive in Guatemala City and visit the National Palace of Culture and the Metropolitan Cathedral on the central plaza. Travel to Antigua Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by volcanoes, and wander its cobblestone streets lined with colorful colonial buildings. Visit the ruins of the Cathedral of Santiago and enjoy dinner in a courtyard restaurant near the Parque Central.
📍 Antigua
Hike up Cerro de la Cruz for a panoramic view of Antigua with Volcan de Agua as the backdrop. Tour a local coffee finca to learn about Guatemalan coffee production from bean to cup. Explore the Santa Catalina Arch, the most iconic landmark in Antigua, and browse the Nim Po't textile market for handwoven Mayan fabrics.
📍 Lake Atitlan
Drive to Lake Atitlan, often called the most beautiful lake in the world, surrounded by three volcanoes. Take a lancha boat to the indigenous villages of San Juan La Laguna to see traditional Mayan weaving and natural dyeing, and San Pedro La Laguna for its bohemian cafes. Return to Panajachel for sunset views over the lake with Volcan San Pedro silhouetted against the sky.
📍 Tikal, Peten
Fly to Flores and drive to Tikal National Park, one of the largest archaeological sites of the Maya civilization. Climb Temple IV, the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas, for a view above the jungle canopy. Explore the Great Plaza flanked by Temple I (Temple of the Grand Jaguar) and Temple II, listening to howler monkeys echo through the ancient city.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
Rich, thick stew with roasted spices, seeds, and chicken, considered Guatemala's national dish.
Corn dough with meat filling wrapped in banana or corn leaves, steamed for celebrations.
Sweet plantain dough stuffed with black beans and fried until crispy on the outside.
Spicy turkey soup with roasted tomatoes, chillies, and achiote from the Q'eqchi' Maya tradition.
Crispy fried tortillas topped with guacamole, salsa, black beans, and shredded meat.
Last updated 2 weeks ago
One of the largest archaeological sites of the Maya civilization, featuring towering temples rising above the jungle canopy in the Peten region.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A stunning volcanic crater lake surrounded by three volcanoes and traditional Mayan villages known for weaving, coffee growing, and indigenous culture.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A UNESCO World Heritage colonial city surrounded by volcanoes, famous for its cobblestone streets, ruined churches, and the iconic Santa Catalina Arch.
📍 Open in Google Maps →A natural limestone bridge with a series of stepped turquoise pools in the middle of the jungle, considered one of Guatemala's most beautiful natural wonders.
📍 Open in Google Maps →Last updated 2 weeks ago
A glimpse into our favourite moments from Guatemala.
Aerial view of a Guatemalan highland town with the towering cone of Volcán de Agua rising dramatically behind - one of Guatemala's most iconic volcanoes looms over the colonial rooftops in this breathtaking Antigua valley panorama
