Guatemala - Getting Started

Getting Started

Traveling in Guatemala requires little detailed planning. Bus transport around the country is plentiful (if rarely comfortable!). For many trips all you need to do is show up at the bus station and hop on the next bus. Accommodations are equally easy to find: unless you have your heart and mind set on one chosen hotel, booking ahead isn't usually necessary. The major exception to all this is Semana Santa (Easter week), when the whole country takes a holiday and you need to book rooms, and often transport, in advance.

Guatemala is a country for any budget. It's popular with backpackers because you can survive on just a few dollars a day, but it also has many appealing mid-range lodgings and restaurants offering comfort and quality at good prices.

DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT...

• Checking the visa situation.
• Checking governments' travel advice.
• Warm clothes for chilly highland nights - at least a sweater or light jacket and a pair of fairly warm pants (eg denim).
• A flashlight (torch) for exploring caves, ruins, and your room when the electricity fails (as it often does).
• A mosquito net, if you're planning an extended jungle adventure or will be sleeping in cheap rooms without screens.
• Insect repellent containing DEET, for wet-season travels. You may want to take medication against malaria, too.
• A small towel, for rooms without one.