Question 1

How does planning with a specialist work?

Accepted Answer

Tell us a little about who's travelling, when, and what excites you, and one of our Guatemala-based specialists will get in touch, usually within one working day. They'll sketch a first route and talk it through with you by email or a call, then refine it until every hotel, guide and transfer feels right. There's no charge for planning and no obligation to book. Once you travel, the same specialist stays with you on the ground until the day you fly home.

Question 2

Do I need a visa to visit Guatemala?

Accepted Answer

Most travellers holding passports from the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia and New Zealand don't need a visa and are granted up to 90 days on arrival. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and have a blank page for stamps. Requirements can change, so we always recommend checking your government's travel advice before you book flights; we'll flag anything relevant to your nationality while planning.

Question 3

What is the CA-4 agreement and does it affect my trip?

Accepted Answer

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua share a border control agreement known as CA-4. Your 90-day allowance covers all four countries combined, rather than resetting at each border, and the clock starts when you first enter any of them. For most trips this makes no difference, but if you're adding Copán in Honduras or travelling the region for several months, it's worth planning your dates around it. Belize and Mexico are outside CA-4 and are counted separately.

Question 4

Is Guatemala safe to visit?

Accepted Answer

The places travellers go, such as Antigua, Lake Atitlán, the highlands, Tikal and the Verapaces, are well established and welcoming, and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free. Like anywhere, sensible precautions matter: keep valuables discreet, avoid walking alone at night in larger towns, and don't use public chicken buses between regions. Our trips use vetted private drivers and guides throughout, and your specialist monitors local conditions and is reachable around the clock while you're travelling.

Question 5

Will the altitude affect me?

Accepted Answer

Antigua sits at around 1,530 m and Lake Atitlán at about 1,560 m, which most people barely notice beyond feeling slightly breathless on hills for a day or two. Quetzaltenango (around 2,330 m) and the summit of Acatenango (3,976 m) are a different matter. We build itineraries that start low and climb gradually, and we schedule volcano hikes a few days into your trip so you're acclimatised. Drink plenty of water, go easy on alcohol at first, and tell us about any heart or respiratory conditions.

Question 6

When is the best time to visit Guatemala?

Accepted Answer

The dry season, from November to April, brings clear skies, crisp highland mornings and the best volcano views, which makes it the most popular time to travel. Semana Santa (the week before Easter) is extraordinary in Antigua but books out months ahead. That said, Guatemala is genuinely a year-round destination: the 'land of eternal spring' rarely gets cold or uncomfortably hot in the highlands, and the green season has its own rewards.

Question 7

Should I avoid the rainy season (May to October)?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. In most of the country the rain tends to arrive as an afternoon or evening downpour, leaving mornings bright and fresh, and the landscapes are at their most lush. There are fewer visitors and better hotel availability, and many people find it a lovely time to travel. September and October are typically the wettest months, when roads can be affected and some hikes are less rewarding, so we plan more flexibly and keep big outdoor days in the mornings.

Question 8

How do we get around Guatemala?

Accepted Answer

Most of our guests travel by private driver, which is the most comfortable, flexible and safest option on mountain roads; your driver can stop for viewpoints, markets or a coffee whenever you like. Shared tourist shuttles are an option on popular routes for those who prefer them. For Tikal and Petén, a domestic flight from Guatemala City to Flores takes around an hour and saves eight or more hours on the road. Around Lake Atitlán, private boats (lanchas) are the way to hop between villages.

Question 9

How fit do I need to be to hike Acatenango?

Accepted Answer

Acatenango is a genuinely tough overnight hike: roughly 1,300–1,500 m of ascent to base camp at around 3,600 m, on steep, loose volcanic trails that take five to seven hours. You don't need mountaineering experience, but you should be comfortable hiking for several hours on consecutive days. Porters can carry your pack, which makes a big difference, and our private hikes go at your pace. Your reward is watching Volcán de Fuego erupt through the night, one of the great sights of Central America.

Question 10

How much should we tip?

Accepted Answer

Tipping is customary and genuinely appreciated. In restaurants, 10% is standard; check the bill first, as some places add a 'propina' automatically. For private guides, a common guideline is US$10–20 per person per day, and US$5–10 per person per day for drivers, adjusted to the service you received. Your specialist will share a simple tipping guide before you travel so there's no guesswork.

Question 11

What currency is used, and can we pay by card?

Accepted Answer

Guatemala's currency is the quetzal (GTQ). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, better restaurants and larger shops, while markets, small cafés, boat taxis and village vendors are cash only. ATMs are easy to find in Antigua, Panajachel, Flores and Guatemala City; use machines inside banks or shopping centres during the day. US dollars are accepted in some tourist businesses, but often at a poor rate, so it's best to carry quetzales for day-to-day spending.

Planning

Entry & borders

Safety & health

Getting around

Activities

Money