Guatemala City Travel Forum

I plan on traveling to guatemala i just a few weeks & will be staying w/ family that I have there. I will only be in the area around Guatemala city/Antiqua. I got my shots today, but still wonder what else to look out for. My mother said she got sick when she went down there even though she was careful. One member of my family is a doctor, but I am still concerned about health and safety. Is it likely that I will get sick even though I take precautions w/ food and water? What about shower/bath water?
I read that bottled water (and also canned drinks) would be safe. Is it? Or should I just boil all of my drinking water myself?Should I try to bring food from the US to get adjusted to the change there (and slowly build my immunities by gradually shifting my diet)? I am curious to hear of any other American travelers (or any travelers not from that region) experiences on being healthy or not.

IMHO - just bring immodium and enjoy!! Don't stress out, locals eat the food, and drink the water and still have a pulse ... you will too :)

You need to drink bottled water. See http://www.travmed.com/trip_prep/m_p_care_items.htm
for a list of suggestions, but I don't think you will need a water filter. I think it is best to eat at popular local places that depend on repeat customers. If you wander into a place that is almost full and you are the only non-local there, it is a good sign.

I always buy some Cipro when I get there to have it handy, but Levofloxacin is looking good, per travmed.com.

Hep. A and typhoid are the only vaccines I am getting to prepare for my travels in Guat. I'm sure you already have taken care of that...but really, I find any place too far from home the germs will be a bit different. Stick to bottled water, and avoid tap even for brushing your teeth for the first bit. Watch out for ice too, or cups washed in tap that are not dried. You can boil water yourself too...that kill almost everything. I'm unsure on this, but can you get through customs with food from the US? Just eat at resterants that look popular by locals and clean, and enjoy the trip. I always got a bit sick from the Watermelon juice in Mex. but it was too good to pass up, so you give and take.

Best of luck

Just curious--Is your family in Guate the people from Knoxville who moved there from Rio Dulce last year?

Anyway been to Guate City & Antigua 3 times. Did not get shots for anything and ate local food and drank local water. Antigua's water is safe. Comes from wells on hillside with no development upslope of well field.

Only place I ever became violently ill from water or food was in Wyoming!