Guatemala City Travel Forum

Hey guys, I'm a Canadian college student planning a trip to Central America this Sept. or Oct. I'd love to hear from you if you are either planning to visit this area as well, or if you have been before and have some advice for me! I'm interested in volunteering in the area, especially with kids like in an orphanage or elementary school. If you have any ideas or experiences please let me know! Are Guatemala city/Antigua safe for female travellers alone? Any helpful hints? Please let me know! cassiopia_100@yahoo.com

I don't know if they're up and running yet but I'll copy a link below to a new website called "Orphan Islands". They're planning to help needy children in Guatemala, they may have some volunteer work coming up?



Here's the link:

http://www.orphanislands.org

I'm a female and I've been to Guatemala twice in the last 2 years. Once for a month, and once for 2 1/2 weeks and I didn't have any problems. But, I took the small "took-tooks" (small taxis for one or 2 people) in Antigua at night. My first night there I had about 5 policeman following me and closing in on me, but luckily I got to the house I was staying at before they got any closer. Even the police can't be trusted in Guatemala. Needless to say, I took my mase with me every night after that and had it ready, but any time after 8:30 or 9pm, I didn't walk by myself but would take the little took-tooks. Even in a group, be careful walking at night and cross the street if there is anyone on the side you're coming on. I had 2 friends from Germany, a guy and girl walking home one night late and they had two guys running after them with a knife - they walked right by the guys who tried stabbing them both. They were ok because they could run faster than the guys, but that just shows that they'll attack sometimes even if there is a guy along! But, all in all, Antigua is safe and one of the greatest towns in the world, I think! You feel totally safe there in the daytime. It's just like any city where you wouldn't walk around late at night by yourself or you'll open yourself up to problems.

I was in Guatemala City last September with 8 other people from the US as guests of the Tourist Bureat. We were told not to walk anywhere at night, even in a group as large as 8 people. During the daytime we were advised to stay in "Zone 10" - the streets in the city are divided into Zones and Zone 10 is the wealthier part of the city. We were also told not to trust just any taxi driver, so we only used taxis approved by the Hotel doorman. You will see security guards standing outside banks and businesses, and often riding on trucks, with machine guns.

I felt very safe in Antigua because it is a huge tourist attraction, but didn't stay there at night.