Guatemala Travel Blog

In Guatemala, you can find one of the most important Maya ruins: Tikal. A highlight of any trip to Guatemala is witnessing the sunrise on one of the temples. When the rainforest awakens and the howler monkeys start to scream, with perhaps a puma sneaking around... these are the experiences you'll be talking about for a long time to come.

Guatemala is also home to volcanoes (even active ones), Lake Atitlán, and the beautiful colonial city of Antigua.

Here you will find our travel reports with experiences in Guatemala.

Here I've summarized a few things that are useful for your travel planning.

The national currency of Guatemala is the Guatemalan Quetzal (Q). 1 Quetzal equals 100 Centavos. 1 Guatemalan Quetzal is roughly equivalent to 11 cents. It's best to use an app like Currency (iPhone) for currency conversion. Roughly speaking, 1 Euro equals about 8.60 Quetzals.

I withdrew cash with my credit card immediately upon arrival in Guatemala. Withdrawals and payments in local currency went smoothly thanks to my DKB Bank credit card.

We paid with a credit card wherever possible to avoid carrying too much cash. However, in some places, there is no internet, so everything must be paid in cash. Be sure to find out in advance if you can transfer money via wire transfer (accommodations) or if you need to carry cash.

Currently, the best free credit cards for travel are the DKB Bank Debit Card, GenialCard (Hanseatic Bank), and the TF Bank Mastercard Gold. With a combination of at least 2 of these cards, you can almost always withdraw money from ATMs abroad and pay locally without incurring foreign transaction fees!-> Here you can find all tips and my experience for the best travel credit cards in comparison.

I'll say it like it is: In Guatemala, you are in trouble without basic knowledge of Spanish. If you want to communicate with locals, I advise you to learn the most important words before the trip.

You can learn quickly with an online course from Babbel. With Babbel, you can learn the essential words in Spanish in no time. That way, you'll be able to communicate on-site and not feel completely lost. Don't rely on people speaking English on-site. In Guatemala City or the larger tourist areas, you might get by, but without Spanish knowledge, you're at a disadvantage.

Here you can learn Spanish online with Babbel (I have extensively tested alternatives - including free ones - and have always returned to Babbel. I now have a lifetime flat rate for all languages.) I constantly refresh my language skills so that I can chat with locals while traveling.

Most visitors arrive in Guatemala by plane. The international airport is located in the capital, Guatemala City. You can also fly to Flores from Mexico. However, there are not many international connections here.

Currently, the Spanish airline Iberia is the only airline that flies directly from Europe to Guatemala. For other airlines, you will have to connect in the USA or Mexico. For flights over America, you will need an ESTA visa.

If you are also returning from Guatemala to Germany, you will need to pay an airport tax at the airport. However, this is currently relatively inexpensive.

I book flights on Skyscanner.

I personally traveled from Belize by bus and boat. The onward journey was an adventurous route by bus and boat to Mexico.

There are bus connections from all four neighboring countries of Guatemala. These vary greatly in quality as they are operated by private providers. Traveling by bus is, however, the cheapest mode of transport. If you want to visit the Maya ruins in Tikal from southern Mexico or Belize, this is the fastest transportation option.

Travelers from Germany do not need a visa for Guatemala. However, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. As a tourist, you may stay in the country for 90 days with a tourist visa.

For Guatemala, I recommend the Travel Know How Guatemala. It is currently the only travel guide in German that is fairly up-to-date. I have used the official website of the tourism board in Guatemala (Spanish) for information, which you can have translated in your browser (Google).

Are you traveling through several countries like we did (Mexico, Belize,...) in Central America? Then you should buy the Lonely Planet Central America Guide.

I am often asked how dangerous a trip to Guatemala actually is. I have never felt unsafe. Once, I felt uneasy when I realized that smugglers and refugees were sitting with us in the small bus to Mexico. Nothing happened, but it could have turned out differently.

I don't want to sugarcoat it either: the country is still very poor and is still plagued by drug cartels and violence. Therefore, I would advise you to follow the tips of locals and avoid places that they also avoid.

As a tourist, you can still move safely in the country. Traveling in Central America always comes with a bit of adventure. My experience was not bad. If you heed the general safety tips, nothing should happen to you.

In general, you can travel to Guatemala all year round. However, I recommend the dry season from October to May. This way, you can also be active and hike in the higher elevations with pleasant temperatures. However, avoid the summer vacations, as many locals and Americans travel to Guatemala during that time. Accommodation prices are then more expensive.

The climate varies significantly in different regions. In the dense rainforest of the north, it is always quite hot and humid. In the cultural center (the highlands around the capital and Antigua), the climate is temperate. Pleasantly warm during the day, but it can get very cool at night.

Do you want to always receive the best travel and insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, or subscribe to my newsletter for regular updates and exclusive tips.

♥ Do you enjoy my tips? Say thank you with a coffee ☕️ My articles are the result of intense research, personal experiences, and honest recommendations - all without AI. I write them so that you can plan your travels stress-free and with real, tested tips. If you like my work and just want to say thanks, I appreciate a small tip in my virtual travel fund. Every contribution helps me continue to independently create high-quality content for you. Thank you!

Trust is important: In some of my articles, you will find referral links (affiliate links). If you book or buy something through one of these links, it costs you nothing extra - but I earn a small commission. This way, you can support me effortlessly and help keep this blog alive. Thank you for being part of my community and sharing my passion for authentic travel!