Guatemala Travel Risk Overview
Official US advisory · Level 3
Reconsider Travel
This decision takes precedence over the analytical baseline composite.
Is Guatemala safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Guatemala scores 64/100 on our travel risk index (Elevated). The US State Department rates Guatemala Level 3 (Reconsider Travel, updated 12 Mar 2026); the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (updated 13 Aug 2026); Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Guatemala has a Travel Risk Calculator score of 64 out of 100 (elevated risk tier); city-level files are available for 60 cities. The score combines five layers (security, crime and scams, health and medical access, natural hazards, current alerts) built from government advisories and open data. This page also covers nine safety categories (crime, disease & health, government advisory, political & civil unrest, natural disaster & weather, transport & route, environmental, digital security, money safety), the current US State Department advisory, GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices for Guatemala, recent news headlines, plus links to every city we have an editorial file for.
Run a personalized Guatemala assessmentAI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 14, 2026
Guatemala maintains an elevated baseline safety risk with a US State Department advisory level of 3. Travelers should also be aware of ongoing drought conditions affecting the country and a Level 1 global dengue health notice.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
How safe is Guatemala to visit in 2026?
Guatemala is currently under a US State Department Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory. That official decision takes precedence. The 64/100 elevated baseline composite remains visible only as analytical context and must not be read as permission to disregard the advisory. The full live US State Department advisory text for Guatemala, current GDACS disaster alerts, CDC health notices, and recent news headlines are shown in the Live conditions section below. For city-specific files (Guatemala City, Villa Nueva, Santiago Atitlán), see the City Risk Files section below — they include neighborhood-level scam patterns, transport notes, and medical-access details where available.
Country score
Driven by: security (70/100) and crime and scams (78/100).
Guatemala's score of 64 is higher than the scores of 86% of the 241 countries we cover.
Data file
| Source | Editorial regional baseline 2026-05-15 (GPI + State Dept advisory + WHO health/transport + INFORM disaster) |
|---|---|
| Last updated | 2026-05-18 02:25:55 |
| City files | 60 |
Assessment memory
Anonymous assessments help Travel Risk Calculator identify which country and city files deserve deeper review.
| Saved assessments | 0 |
|---|---|
| Average composite | No saved signal yet |
Score layers
Safety categories
Official Government Travel Advisories
Cross-referenced official travel advice from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, normalized to a unified 1–4 risk scale.
Department of State
Reconsider travelto Guatemala due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have higher risks. Please read the full Travel Advisory. Some areas of Guatemala have highe…
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO travel advice for Guatemala. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.
Global Affairs Canada
Natural disasters and climate section – added information on El Niño
UK content contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canadian advice provided by Global Affairs Canada under open government terms. US advice provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.
Entry Requirements & Local Laws
Official travel advice summary from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
🛂 Entry Requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Guatemala’s current rules for the most common types of travel. The authorities in Guatemala set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Guatemalan Embassy in the UK. Passport validity requirements To enter Guatemala, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least 2 blank pages. Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to. You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. Dual nat
Summary of UK FCDO advice, updated Aug 13, 2026 · Full requirements →
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Travel Advisory Level History
Historical official advisory level changes over time.
Protests, Strikes & Closures This Week
Verified recent event reports monitored for Guatemala within the last 7 days.
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Digital Camera World · Oct 12
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UNREST Suriname files CONCACAF complaint over alleged racist abuse in Guatemala - Caribbean National WeeklyCaribbean National Weekly · Oct 11
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Peace Brigades International-Canada · Oct 10
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oneindia.com · Oct 10
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Türkiye Today · Oct 10
What Changed This Month in Guatemala
Chronological record of verified security, advisory, health, and hazard updates over the past 30 days.
- Jul 3, 2026 GDACS Alert Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador (orange).
- Oct 2, 2026 CDC Notice Level 1 - Global Dengue (Watch).
- Sep 23, 2026 CDC Notice Level 2 - Global Polio (Alert).
- Oct 7, 2026 Score Change Acatenango risk score moved from 68 to 69 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 7, 2026 Score Change Alotenango risk score moved from 67 to 68 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
- Oct 7, 2026 Score Change Agua Blanca risk score moved from 68 to 69 (Daily recalculation (scoring v2)).
City Risk Files in Guatemala
Showing 60 destination files with city-specific safety data in Guatemala, ranked by demand and population.
Guatemala City
Tier AGuatemala
Villa Nueva
Tier BGuatemala
Santiago Atitlán
Tier BSololá
Lívingston
Tier BIzabal
Escuintla
Tier BEscuintla
Coatepeque
Tier BQuetzaltenango
Totonicapán
Tier BTotonicapán
Chicacao
Tier BSuchitepéquez
Cuilco
Tier BHuehuetenango
Jutiapa
Tier BJutiapa
Chiquimula
Tier BChiquimula
Esquipulas
Tier BChiquimula
Acatenango
Tier BChimaltenango
Lanquín
Tier BAlta Verapaz
Río Hondo
Tier BZacapa
Momostenango
Tier BTotonicapán
Pochuta
Tier BChimaltenango
Puerto Barrios
Tier BIzabal
Morales
Tier BIzabal
Chiantla
Tier BHuehuetenango
San Luis
Tier BPetén
Camotán
Tier BChiquimula
San Mateo Ixtatán
Tier BHuehuetenango
Playa Grande
Tier BQuiché
Mixco
Tier BGuatemala
Chinautla
Tier BGuatemala
Chimaltenango
Tier BChimaltenango
Uspantán
Tier BQuiché
Barberena
Tier BSanta Rosa
Aguacatán
Tier BHuehuetenango
Antigua Guatemala
Tier BSacatepéquez
Cuyotenango
Tier BSuchitepéquez
Santa Rosa de Lima
Tier BSanta Rosa
Cajolá
Tier BQuetzaltenango
Sipacate
Tier BEscuintla
San Bartolomé Jocotenango
Tier BQuiché
Chinique
Tier BQuiché
San Juan Tecuaco
Tier BSanta Rosa
Canillá
Tier BQuiché
San Pedro La Laguna
Tier BSololá
Pasaco
Tier BJutiapa
Cobán
Tier BAlta Verapaz
Huehuetenango
Tier BHuehuetenango
Ostuncalco
Tier BQuetzaltenango
Ciudad Tecún Umán
Tier BSan Marcos
El Progreso
Tier BJutiapa
Concepción Chiquirichapa
Tier BQuetzaltenango
Atescatempa
Tier BJutiapa
San Rafael La Independencia
Tier BHuehuetenango
San Francisco
Tier BPetén
Jalapa
Tier BJalapa
Villa Canales
Tier BGuatemala
Amatitlán
Tier BGuatemala
Chichicastenango
Tier BQuiché
Petapa
Tier BGuatemala
Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa
Tier BEscuintla
Senahú
Tier BAlta Verapaz
La Libertad
Tier BPetén
Comitancillo
Tier BSan Marcos
Poptún
Tier BPetén
All towns in Guatemala (199 additional local facts pages)
These localities carry verified regional geography, nearest hospitals, airports, and natural hazard records with the country baseline risk score.
Live conditions in Guatemala
Country-scoped real-time data — official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For city-specific weather and air quality, open any city page below.
Official travel advisory
Level 3 · Reconsider Travel
Guatemala - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Track Guatemala’s advisory
Get one email if the US State Department travel-advisory level for Guatemala changes. No account, unsubscribe anytime.
Traveller notes from government advice
LGBT+ travellers
Same sex sexual activity is not illegal, although there are no laws guaranteeing freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Same-sex marriages are not recognised in Guatemala. In Guatemala City, local people are largely tolerant of LGBT+ people. Outside Guatemala City, attitudes are more conservative. Showing affection in public may bring verbal and physical attacks, harassment and discrimination.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 13 Aug 2026. Full advice
Local laws and customs
Personal ID
It is a legal requirement to always carry ID. In most parts of the country, you can carry a copy of your passport’s photo page for identification purposes. In San Pedro La Laguna, Sololá, local authorities may not accept a copy and may fine or detain you if you cannot show your original passport or a certified copy. Always co-operate with military and police officers and be prepared for checkpoints.
Alcohol laws and bans
During specific periods (such as elections) alcohol sales may be banned or restricted during certain times.
Illegal drugs and prison sentences
There are severe penalties for drug trafficking and the use of drugs. Guatemalan prisons are overcrowded, violent, and dirty.
Taking photos without permission
Do not take photographs without permission, especially of children. This is particularly important in more remote areas such as Quiché, Petén, San Marcos and Chiquimula provinces. There have been attacks related to accusations and…
Read the full UK government advice
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 13 Aug 2026. Full advice
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Guatemala’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Guatemala set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Guatemalan Embassy in the UK.
Passport validity requirements
To enter Guatemala, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and at least 2 blank pages.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel.
Source: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 13 Aug 2026. Official entry requirements
Disaster alerts
Active Disaster Alerts
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Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador ORANGE · country-wide · 2026-07-03
The Drought notification level is Orange.
“~N km away” = event centroid within ~500 km of this location; “country-wide” = a national/regional alert that may not be near this specific city. Source: GDACS · fetched 2026-10-16 03:37:34 UTC
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
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Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
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Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
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Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
No recent national headlines were returned for Guatemala. This is not evidence that conditions are quiet; check local and official sources.
Automated safety monitor
Recent safety-relevant news for Guatemala
Headlines are an early-warning monitor, not risk assessments. Verify material developments with official authorities and the linked publisher.
- General Man arrested in Guatemala charged with raping women on Fredericksburg trail - WTOP News wtop.com · Oct 15, 2026 14:51 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Man accused in 2 Fredericksburg rapes arrested in Guatemala - WJLA wjla.com · Oct 15, 2026 09:24 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Virginia rape suspect arrested in Guatemala - FOX 5 DC www.fox5dc.com · Oct 15, 2026 02:29 UTC · via Googlenews
- General UNESCO Director-General condemns the killing of journalist Evelio Lisandro López Sánchez in Guatemala - UNESCO www.unesco.org · Oct 14, 2026 20:46 UTC · via Googlenews
- Crime 233 people arrested in environmental crime crackdown across Latin America and Caribbean - Geographical geographical.co.uk · Oct 10, 2026 11:30 UTC · via Googlenews
- General Президентът на Панама след мощното земетресение : Страната е изправена пред голямо бедствие vesti.bg · Oct 10, 2026 06:45 UTC · via GDELT
- General Guatemala - Peace, Reconciliation, Democracy - Britannica www.britannica.com · Oct 10, 2026 05:00 UTC · via Googlenews
- Disaster Two powerful earthquakes and multiple aftershocks rock Panama - ABC7 Bay Area abc7news.com · Oct 9, 2026 22:33 UTC · via Googlenews
This country currently has a Level 3 US advisory. Compare the high-risk-country watchlist →
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Guatemala
The most weather-stable two-month window for Guatemala is December–January, when typical daily temperatures run from about 13°C to 24°C and monthly rain averages 8 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include hurricane season in June–November. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Aug 6, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Diplomatic assistance
Embassies in Guatemala City
Embassy of Mexico and Embassy of Spain and 3 other embassies are mapped in Guatemala City.
OpenStreetMap coverage is a location aid, not an official diplomatic directory. Before travel, save the address and emergency contact details published by your own foreign ministry.
Emergency Numbers
| Police | 110 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 128 |
| Fire | 122 |
| General emergency | — |
Backfilled from the public international emergency-number registry. The GSM standard 112 (and 911 in the Americas) is redirected to local emergency services on mobile networks in most countries. Verify locally on arrival.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Latest AI-assisted briefing for Guatemala
Official decision override: Reconsider Travel. Travelers heading to the Lake Atitlán region of Guatemala must account for official advisory guidance and local transport safety incidents, such as recent helicopter crashes on the lake.
Top risk drivers
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Helicopter Crash into Lake Atitlán
· transport
An Airbus H130 helicopter crashed into Lake Atitlán on October 8, 2026, during a flight from La Aurora International Airport, resulting in rescue and search operations involving the Guatemalan Army, police, and specialist divers.
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Official Reconsider Travel Advisory
· advisory
The destination is under an official Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory, reflecting elevated safety and security concerns.
-
Government advisory
· Advisory
Official advisories indicate caution.
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No airport transfer planned
· Transport
Unsolicited taxis are a recurring scam vector at major airports.
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No travel insurance
· Money/Health
Out-of-pocket costs after illness or theft can be significant.
Recent intelligence
- Airbus H130 Helicopter Crashes Into Lake Atitlán In Guatemala [source]
Live intelligence cited 8 public-source snippets. Every claim above is grounded in one of them — verify any specific detail by following the snippet links on the full assessment page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Guatemala safe to visit right now?
Follow the current official advisory. The baseline composite is analytical context and does not weaken that decision. Composite baseline: 64/100 (Elevated risk). Always cross-check with your home country's foreign-ministry advisory within 7 days of departure; the live US State Department advisory is shown above. Last refreshed October 2026.
What is the current travel advisory for Guatemala?
The current US State Department advisory level for Guatemala is shown in the Live conditions section above and is re-fetched every 6 hours from the official RSS feed. UK FCDO, Canada GAC, and Australia DFAT also publish advisories — for high-stakes trips, cross-check at least one foreign-ministry advisory in addition to your home country's. See our travel advisory guide for how to read each tier system.
Is it safe to visit Guatemala in October 2026?
For October 2026, the baseline composite for Guatemala is 64/100 (Elevated risk). Live data — advisories every 6 hours, disaster alerts every 30 minutes, health notices every 12 hours, news every hour — is shown in the Live conditions section above. For a personalized risk briefing for your specific trip and traveler profile, use the Travel Risk Calculator linked above.
How are these country-level travel risk scores calculated?
Each category is scored 0-100 from government advisories (US State Dept), crime indices, Global Peace Index data, WHO/CDC health context, and curated regional editorial knowledge. The composite is a weighted sum across nine categories — see /methodology for the full weight breakdown. Live data (advisories, news, disaster alerts, health notices) is layered on top of the baseline at request time.
Where can I find city-specific safety information for Guatemala?
City-specific files for Guatemala are listed in the City Risk Files section above. Each city page covers the same nine categories at city scope, plus city-specific scam patterns, transport-hub safety notes, medical-access detail, and (where available) neighborhood-level guidance. Use the header search to find a specific city directly.
When was this page last reviewed?
The baseline scores for Guatemala were last reviewed on May 18, 2026. Live intelligence (advisory, disaster alerts, health notices, news) refreshes automatically on the cadences described above.
Is this a substitute for an official travel advisory?
No. Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated risk information for planning purposes only. Always check your home country's official travel advisory and any health notices from your national health authority before traveling.
When is the best time to visit Guatemala?
December–January is the most weather-stable two-month window in the stored 1991-2020 normals. The most weather-stable two-month window for Guatemala is December–January, when typical daily temperatures run from about 13°C to 24°C and monthly rain averages 8 mm.
What is the rainy, hurricane, or severe-weather season in Guatemala?
hurricane season: June–November.
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.