Antigua Guatemala Travel Forum

Hello. we are fom London.We will be in Antigua for a week in August, we have 4 children aged 3 to 11.
My husband is becoming very worried about safety as he hard the rate of children kidnapping is very high.
We plan to stay in Antigua most of the time, and we would like to go for day trips to Lake Atitlan and Tikal.
Are the roads safe to these places or is there risk of assault?
Has any of you travveled with kids there and which advice would you give?
Also do you recommend the kids get any immunizations?
thanks for your help Valentina

I went to Guatemala (and Antigua as well) in 1998 so my info can be not so updated. Anyway, the most dangerous place in Guatemala sounds to be Guatemala City. In Antigua I've never felt in danger. I'd prefer to travel with public transportation if you want to avoid unsafe places. They are not so bad. Do not miss Chichicastenago market of course. When I went there i've got the anti epatiti A immunification and i was taking tablets against malaria. I really dont know what to advise you for the kids; you might ask your hospital in your home town. Anyway a very goog insects spray is to be raccomended for both adults and kids, especially in Tikal.

You're in for a treat, Antigua and the rest of Guatemala is awesome. Guatemala City is touchy, be safe. But Antigua is extremely safe. The Lake also. Tikal is really far, like 8 hours by road. Also, go to the volcano, you can get a tour in Antigua. It's less than 1 hour away. Don't bother going to the beach, it's far and not worth it, the Pacific is rough, it's really hot, and not much to do.

I would go see a doctor regarding health issues and safety for your children before you leave.

I wouldn't worry about kidnappings. Just be aware of where they are and you'll be okay.

Enjoy.

If you ask the wrong people they're going to scare the hell out of you. I suggest you also post your question on the thorntree.lonelyplanet forum and make time to search and read the testimonials of recent travellers.I'd like to know where your husband heard or read all that stuff about children being kidnapped.

Antigua and Atitlan are both great for a family vacation – relaxed and beautiful. Try and spend 3 days at each. Traveling to Tikal would be a bore for your young children.
While at Atitlan try to stay next to the water. You can swim, sail and visit nice local markets. Look for my recommendation on "Chi Ya hotel" in San Juan. But as you are to use public transportation it may be easier for you to stay at one of the main destinations around the lake.
pili

The info on kidnappings is on the US Dept of State travel page for Guatemala
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html - under Safety and Concerns. I am pretty sure it is local children who are being kidnapped - a lot of this is rumor but the reactions of the locals is real so I advise to pretty much keep your distance around the local children.

This is also a good page to learn about health issues.

As long as your children do not look like locals and you are there to protect them, they are very unlikely to become one of the missing kids who are kidnapped and adopted off to the US. Don't worry. Plus, there are now more hurdles now against that crap. /

Tikal is too F-ing far to think about to include with a 7 day trip with three small children, unless you have an large abundance of money. Then fly.

Check travmed.com for immunization info.

I find Antigua to be tedious after a few days. I suggest NOT prepaying much on your hotel there. It IS a pretty good base for day trips and dead monasteries and such, but there's not much there unless you shop. Even then, you are likely to shop better in Pana up at Lake Atitlan.

here is a link to an article about proof of the kidnapping
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/AP/story/615459.html

That looks crazy...