Traveling to Guatemala????

Question

i am going to guatemala....

should i exchange the american dollar for the guatemala money???

what should i go see???

what should i buy???

how can i be safe????

Answer 1

Dear traveler,

You could exchange your money beforehand, but it would be expensive in the airport.  It's probably better to exchange after you arrive unless you see that the exchange rate is doing something unusual.  If you bring traveler's checks, there are a few banks in La Antigua that accept them, but it is not easy and usually you must wait.  Many travelers simply take some cash, exchange it at a local bank and put the remainder in a hotel safe or other safe place, or use their debit card to take money out of ATMs in Guatemala City, Panajachel, or Antigua.  Obviously, if you are going to a more remote area of Guatemala, this presents a different challenge.

Go see Lake Atitlan and take a boat tour across to some of the more remote villages.  Go visit some of the ruins at Iximche, Mixco Viejo, and if you have more time, the ruins in the Peten; Zaculeu, however, is overrated.  Be sure to catch the Chichicastenango weekly market.  If you can, climb one of the volcanoes (Agua, maybe).  There are some interesting coffee plantation tours and macadamia nut tours close to La Antigua.  Last, check out the weaving...many tourists like a visit to San Antonio Aguas Calientes.  You could spend years in Guatemala and never see 1/2 of what it has to offer.

Buy a hammock and cool pottery in Panajachel, a woolen blanket in Momostenango, a wonderful reverse weave huipile (overshirt) in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, pillow covers and matching coverlets, wooden masks or ironwork in La Antigua, and, well, you could again spend all your money buying things in Guate, too.  To be safe...most of Guatemala would be characterized as safe.  If you are not traveling with a group or even with a companion, the best idea is to keep your original passport and most of your money in a safe place in your hotel/lodge and very little on you.  Next, avoid wandering around at night since there is very little lighting outside of main plazas.  Last, do as the locals do if at all possible--whether in dress, behavior, or eating and drinking customs (if not offensive to your own religious or cultural habits).