Seven Things to Consider Before Visiting Guatemala

“Guatemala is, by far, one of the best countries I have ever visited. I visited with two friends for a Girls Trip & would say its calming nature makes it a unique travel destination.....”

If you are looking to visit Guatemala soon and don’t know where to start planning, feel free to check out my Travel Itinerary to the country which includes a full, detailed list of housing, food, and activity recommendations in both Lake Atitlan and Antigua with pricing, and things to know! The itinerary is 11 pages in total and you can email or write to me on Instagram, Etsy, or email (stampedbyhaby@gmail.com) with any questions, comments, or concerns you have about planning your trip to the beautiful country.

Here are 7 Things to Consider Before Visiting Guatemala to make your trip more seamless:

1. It Is Not Much of a Party Destination - In my honest opinion, Guatemala is not quite the place to go if you are looking for a party-heavy travel destination. While the party scene is available, it is not as grand as let's say places like Cancun. It is more of a place to go for a chill, relaxing Girls Trip or Baecation. The slower pace and nature of the country truly reel you in and make you want to stay and relax forever!

2. The Locals Are Very Friendly & Helpful - This is not a common theme across all the countries I have traveled to, so whenever I experience kind people in a country I try to note that. The locals in Guatemala were very sweet, kind, and helpful! During my time in the country, I felt safe and supported. It was comforting knowing that if my friends and I needed to ask a question, people would be open and willing to help us.

3. Everyone Does Not Speak Spanish - Guatemala has a great indigenous history and in many places, especially in Lake Atitlan, people only speak their local indigenous languages. However, this is not to say that speaking Spanish is not helpful because it very much is! English will not get you very far in this country since it is not widely spoken. All in all, bring a friend who speaks Spanish if possible and if that is not possible, learning some common phrases will take you a long way.

4. Tuk Tuk or Ubers Are Available for Transportation - Tuk Tuks are small decorated cars that are popular forms of transportation in Guatemala. In Lake Atitlan, boats are heavily used to go from one reion to another (Lake Atitlan has different regions all connected by the lake).

5. The Roads Can Be Very Bumpy - Guatemala, in my opinion, is not the place for heels. In Antigua, the roads are made out of pebbles so it can be VERY bumpy, even when you are inside a Tuk-Tuk or Uber. All in all, stick with flats or sneakers in this country for a more enjoyable time and so you're not stumbling all over the place.

6. No Visa or Travel Adapter Needed (If Coming From The United States) - This was one of the best parts about planning the trip! The outlets were the same as the ones in The United States, and being able to go without a visa meant one less thing to worry about while planning your trip.

7. Two Popular Cities Are Lake Atitlan and Antigua - Antigua has more of a city-like feel while Lake Atitlan gives more of a lake vibe, calming and relaxing feel. I would say that Antigua has more of a party feel and Lake Atitlan is where you can get to be in nature and participate in lake and water activities like kayaking, hiking, etc!

All in all, I would highly reccomend taking a trip to this country. I think that unconventional travel locations can be so rich in culture, history, and provide such a great opportunity to learn about parts of the world that are not always explored. I hope you enjoy it if you are able to visit & don’t forget to continue stamping the world!