South & Central America
Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History
Visa Requirements – Holders of UK passports do not require a visa for entry into Guatemala but you should have a full passport with a minimum of six months validity from the date of your return to the UK.
Health Requirements – There are no mandatory vaccinations required for entry into Guatemala although Tetanus, Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis are recommended. We strongly recommend that you contact your doctor or the MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad) Travellers Health Line on 0870 60 62782 or their website at www.masta.org for all professional medical advice.
Time – Guatemala is 6 hours behind GMT. There is no daylight saving time.
Money – The currency of Guatemala is the Quetzal and the US Dollar became an official currency in 2001.
Most major credit cards are accepted by hotels and some shops, but note that a surcharge of up to 7% can often be added. Most major credit cards such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted through most of the country although Travellers cheques are not so redily accepted these days.
There are cash machines throughout the capital as well as in Antigua, Panajachel and Flores, which can give cash on a Visa, MasterCard, Plus or Cirrus card.
Flights
|
Airline |
Route |
Frequency |
Via |
|
Iberia |
Heathrow/Guatemala City |
Tue, Thur, Sat |
Madrid |
Climate - a rough guide
Guatemala is known as ‘The Land of Eternal Spring’ with mild temperatures throughout the year, but there are, however, a few exceptions.
Temperatures vary with altitude and in most of the highland regions, at altitudes between 1300 and 2100 metres, the temperatures range between a pleasant 62 and 82F. At altitude above 2100 metres it can get much colder at night.
In the lowlands and on the coast it does get much hotter with temperatures above 86F throughout the year and humidity is high.
The winter is the rainy season in Guatemala lasting from May to October, with the rain usually being a short, tropical downpour in the late afternoon and then clearing in the evening, so it is still perfectly possible to travel at this time.
The summer or the dry season, is between November and April, and this is probably the best time to visit. Strangely, despite it being the Guatemalan summer, temperatures in December and January are the coolest at night, and snow and frost at higher altitudes are not unheard of. By March the temperatures rise and April and May are the hottest months of the year.
Please note also that in recent years the traditional seasons in Guatemala, as elsewhere in the world, have become less predictable than before, so the above is just a guideline.
When To Go
In order to enjoy the best weather throughout the country, then the best time to visit is in the summer from November to April. This is when you should experience warm, sunny and clear days throughout the country. The highlands can be a couple of degrees cooler, but you will still enjoy clear blue skies and fresh sunny days.
Guatemala City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Temp (F) 73/ 53 77/ 53 80/ 57 82/ 57 84/ 60 80/ 60 78/ 60 78/ 60 78/ 60 75/ 60 73/ 57 71/ 55 Rain (in) 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.2 5.9 10.7 7.9 7.7 9.0 6.8 0.9 0.3
Temp (Fahrenheit) = Average Maximum Temperatures (day/night)
Rain (inches) = Average Monthly Rainfall
