Guatemala carries real risk: the US State Department tells you to reconsider travel to the whole country because of crime and terrorism, and not to travel to San Marcos Department at all. Canada asks for a high degree of caution, and the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel only to a strip along the Mexican border and three towns in Huehuetenango.
At Safe to Go, we track daily travel advisories from three governments to cut through alarming headlines. US government staff may visit Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal and the Pacific coast in Santa Rosa and Escuintla, so those places sit outside the areas the US bars.
Where the Warnings Concentrate across Guatemala
Government travel warnings for Guatemala concentrate heavily along border frontiers, specific urban districts, and targeted departments. The UK FCDO also reports armed attacks or robberies on most tourist routes between Guatemala City, Antigua, Tikal, Petén and Lake Atitlán, so the main sights are not free of risk.
The US State Department warns travelers not to visit San Marcos Department due to crime and terrorism linked to cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. United States government personnel are barred from traveling to San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, and the city of Villa Nueva. In contrast, official personnel may visit destinations like Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, and Pacific coast areas in Santa Rosa and Escuintla, provided they avoid driving outside Guatemala City at night.
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 5 kilometers of the Mexican border from the Pacific Coast up to and including the Gracias a Dios crossing, citing sustained gang-related violence. The British advisory also warns against non-essential travel to Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista, and La Democracia in Huehuetenango. Canada maintains regional advisories under a general recommendation to exercise a high degree of caution.
- San Marcos Department: The US State Department says do not travel there because of crime and terrorism, and the UK FCDO warns of violent crime in Ixchiguan and Tajumulco.
- Huehuetenango Department: Excluded for United States personnel, with British warnings against traveling within 5km of Mexico or into Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista, and La Democracia.
- Guatemala City Outer Zones: The United States bars its personnel from Zone 18 and Villa Nueva, while British authorities urge caution in Zones 6, 7, and 8, and recommend using chain hotels in Zones 18 through 25.
- Border Crossings: High caution applies along borders with Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize, where travelers should use only officially recognized crossing points.
Risks Visitors Face on Roads and in Transit
Violent crime and opportunistic theft represent threats to visitors throughout Guatemala. British authorities note that Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America, with incidents involving armed robbery, carjacking, sexual assault, and gun violence taking place across cities and highways.
Local law enforcement often struggles to address serious crimes, which the US State Department says leads to low arrest and conviction rates. Criminals posing as police officers have conducted theft, extortion, and sexual assault. Check ATMs for tampering, and change money in hotels, banks or foreign exchange offices where you can. Express kidnappings are common, and many start in taxis hailed from the street, so let someone you trust know where you are, especially after dark. Warn family at home to check with you before sending money to Guatemala.
Public buses are the form of transport the UK FCDO tells you to avoid. Public buses, commonly known as chicken buses or repainted US school buses, are frequent targets of gang extortion and armed attacks. Drivers face lethal violence, while the vehicles are poorly maintained, overcrowded, and operated at dangerous speeds. Private intercity coach services and tourist corridors between Guatemala City, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Petén have also experienced armed robberies.
- Avoid Public Buses: Use radio-dispatched taxis (usually yellow), Uber where available, hotel taxis, or pre-paid taxi vouchers from the INGUAT office in the airport arrivals terminal.
- Protect Belongings: Keep valuables out of view, avoid wearing jewelry, refrain from carrying large amounts of cash, and use hotel safes for laptops and cameras.
- Navigate Specific Road Risks: Avoid the Godinez bypass between Guatemala City and Panajachel via Patzún, and avoid the road connecting Cocales to San Lucas Toliman due to road conditions and crime.
- Use Water Transit: When traveling between settlements along Lake Atitlán, boat services between towns on the shore may be a safer alternative.
- Handle Checkpoints Carefully: Always carry official identification, cooperate fully with police and military personnel, and carry your original passport or a certified copy in San Pedro La Laguna.
How Government Advisories Compare on Guatemala
The US and UK warnings overlap in Huehuetenango and San Marcos, but the US warning covers the whole country while the UK names only a border strip and three towns. The live panel above shows today’s level for each government, which updates daily.
The United States urges citizens to reconsider travel nationwide, pointing explicitly to cartel terrorism, gang-related violence, and violent crimes like carjacking and murder. The British government does not apply a blanket warning against visiting Guatemala, choosing instead to advise against all but essential travel to the Mexican border strip and named towns in Huehuetenango. Canada maintains a general caution baseline, pairing it with regional advisories.
If you want to evaluate nearby options, you can explore whether Costa Rica is safe, review how Belize and El Salvador compare, or study our list of the safest countries in Central America.
| Government Source | Overall Baseline | Areas Warned Against | Primary Cited Risk Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider Travel | Do not travel: San Marcos Department | Gang violence, carjacking, cartel terrorism, low conviction rates |
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country | Within 5km of Mexican border, select Huehuetenango towns | Violent crime, express kidnapping, armed highway robbery, road blocks |
| Not published | High Degree of Caution | Targeted regional advisories | Not published |
Safety Precautions before and during Your Visit
United States citizens can register travel plans through the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Check our methodology to see how advisory updates affect destination verdicts.
Guatemala operates specialized resources for international visitors facing security difficulties. The US State Department describes the Tourist Assistance Program (ASISTUR), which works with the tourist police (DISETUR) across Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Quetzaltenango, Puerto Barrios, and Coban. Travelers can request a security escort by dialing 1500 or +502-2290-2810 from a local phone, or by messaging +502-5188-1819 on WhatsApp for bilingual English and Spanish assistance.
Never take photographs of children or adults without express permission, particularly in Quiché, Petén, San Marcos, and Chiquimula provinces, where fears over child kidnapping have triggered violent attacks against foreigners. The UK FCDO notes there is no mountain rescue service and that local tour organisers tend to underestimate the risks. Get travel insurance that covers your itinerary, planned activities and emergency expenses.
How to Verify Conditions before You Depart
Check conditions just before you set off, because the UK FCDO says demonstrations and strikes can start with little or no notice. Protesters may block roads and public facilities, including the international airport.
Review the live advisory panel above, and follow our latest advisory changes for any change from the three governments. If you are debating between multiple destinations across the Americas, use our tool to compare destinations side by side before locking in non-refundable flights.
Before each road journey, check that your route avoids the areas the US and UK name. INGUAT, Guatemala tourist agency, gives up-to-date security information, and its PROATUR service advises on routes around Sololá, Panajachel and Lake Atitlán. Download our free travel safety checklist to keep these contacts with your documents. Guatemala is a poor fit if you plan to ride public buses or travel at night, which both the US and UK advise against. Our verdict would soften if the US stopped asking travelers to reconsider the whole country, and harden if the UK FCDO added tourist routes to its warnings. To compare, see our index of every country’s safety status.