Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America; there were 4,914 violent deaths in 2018. Although the majority of serious crime involves local gangs, incidents are usually indiscriminate and can occur in tourist areas. Despite the high levels of crime, most visits to Guatemala are trouble-free.
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Are US citizens allowed in Guatemala?
U.S. government personnel and family members are free to travel within Guatemala City with the exception of zone 18 and the municipality of Villa Nueva. The following zones in Guatemala City are of elevated concern to Embassy security staff due to crime: 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17, 19, 21, and 24.
Are people in Guatemala friendly?
The people are super friendly
The local Guatemalans are some of the friendliest people in all of Central America! Wander into a bar or head to a salsa club and you are bound to be chatting with a friendly group of locals in no time at all.
What places to avoid in Guatemala?
Avoid the known crime hotspots in Guatemala City: Zones 1, 3, 6, 18 and 21. Several tourists have reported being robbed at gunpoint while climbing the volcano at Volcan de Agua and also on walking tracks throughout the country. Tourist buses and shuttle buses are occasionally robbed at gunpoint.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
Spanish
Is Guatemala a third world country?
In summary, Guatemala is a third world country. Even though it is a beautiful country with plenty of attractions, it continues to struggle with the effects of its long civil war. During the cold war, Guatemala was not a part of the east and west conflict.
What are some bad things about Guatemala?
Public Security, Corruption, and Criminal Justice
Violence and extortion by powerful criminal organizations remain serious problems in Guatemala. Gang-related violence is an important factor prompting people, including unaccompanied children and young adults, to leave the country.
What should you not do in Guatemala?
Here are 11 things you should never, ever do in Guatemala.
- Don’t take photos of locals without asking.
- Don’t get scammed at the border.
- Don’t skip Guatemala City.
- Don’t assume ATMs will be around.
- Don’t wear sandals to Tikal.
- Don’t be scared of the police.
- Don’t expect good coffee to be ever-present.
How bad is life in Guatemala?
Guatemala suffers from a serious housing crisis. More than half of citizens have inadequate housing and land rights remain an issue, with around 1 percent of the population owning 60 percent of the land. Many families live in homes with dirt floors with parasites which cause different illnesses.
What is the safest country in Central America?
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is consistently rated as the safest country in all of Central America and the Caribbean – an awesome piece of news for anyone looking for a tropical paradise to escape to.
What is the safest city in Guatemala?
Safest Places in Guatemala
- Safest place. Antigua Guatemala. Antigua Guatemala is a colonial gem, filled with narrow cobblestone streets, jacarandas, 16th-century ruins, and bright, infectious culture.
- Great adventure getaway. Xela (Quetzaltenango)
- A diverse paradise. Lake Atitlán.
Is it safe to walk around Guatemala City?
In fact, Guatemala City has many areas where it’s friendly and safe to walk around in during the day.Many Guatemalans feel like they’re in another country when they walk around it. Despite being only a few miles away from the favelas and shantytowns, Paseo Cayala feels like it’s light-years away in comparison.
What religion is practiced in Guatemala?
Religion in Guatemala is fairly complex, with traditional Mayan spirituality still very much a presence, particularly in the highlands, along with Catholicism and the more recent incursions of Evangelical Christianity. In much smaller numbers, Guatemala’s Jewish population is centered in Guatemala City.
Is English spoken in Guatemala?
English is recognized as a co-official language even in Guatemala, where it is the first tongue of many inhabitants of Izabal Department. But a movement is afoot to make it the second tongue of all educated Guatemalans.
Is Guatemala religious?
The U.S. government estimates the total population at 16.9 million (midyear 2019 estimate). According to a 2016 survey by ProDatos, approximately 45 percent of the population is Catholic and 42 percent Protestant. Approximately 11 percent of the population professes no religious affiliation.
What is the biggest problem in Guatemala?
Public Security, Corruption, and Criminal Justice
Violence and extortion by powerful criminal organizations remain serious problems in Guatemala. Gang-related violence is an important factor prompting people, including unaccompanied children and young adults, to leave the country.
Is Mexico richer than Guatemala?
make 2.4 times more money. Guatemala has a GDP per capita of $8,200 as of 2017, while in Mexico, the GDP per capita is $19,900 as of 2017.
How much money does the average Guatemalan make?
The average salary in Guatemala City is of around 4200 Quetzales, or roughly 550 USD.
Why is Guatemala so violent?
According to the US Department of State, Guatemala’s high murder rate is caused by four principal factors: an increase in drug trafficking; a growing prevalence of gang-related violence; a heavily armed civilian population; and a weak and incompetent police/judicial system.
Is Guatemala a good place to live?
Although compared to Southeast Asia, Guatemala isn’t cheap, it’s definitely affordable and the cost of living is relatively inexpensive compared to the U.S. Imported goods are pricier, but you can live comfortably buying local products and fresh in-season produce from the mercado.
Is Guatemala a friendly country?
After the decades-long civil war that ended in 1996 but stained the country with a reputation for violence, Guatemala has had a slow political and economic recovery. Throughout the 21st century, it’s grown as a tourist destination, and Guatemalans often extend warm and friendly welcomes to visitors.
