Guatemala Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

Central America.

Language

The official language is Spanish. There are also 22 indigenous languages.

Area

108,889 sq km (42,042 sq miles).

Time Zone

GMT - 6.

Electricity

115-125 volts AC, 60Hz. There are some regional variations. Plugs are the flat two-pin American type.

Population

13 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density

119.4 per sq km.

Capital City

Guatemala City. Population: 951,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government

Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Head of State

President Alvaro Colom since 2007.

Religion

About 60% of the population are Catholic. Most of the remaining population are Protestant. Some indigenous communities hold services combining Catholicism with pre-Columbian rites.

Recent History

President Alvaro Colom of the center-left National Union of Hope party defeated retired General Otto Perez Molina of the conservative Patriot Party in November 2007. Major campaign issues included policies for reducing Guatemala’s high crime rate and violence and the illegal migration of Guatemalans to the United States.

The massive human rights abuses of previous governments, especially the Rios Montt regime, is still a central and highly sensitive issue in Guatemalan domestic politics. Abroad, the main issue facing the country remains a territorial dispute with neighboring Belize.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +502. Most public phone booths accept phone cards.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is increasing.

Internet

Internet cafes are available in the main tourist areas.

Media

Guatemala has a free press and journalists openly criticize government policies. However, they may face intimidation because of their reporting, such as anonymous threats. Media is dominated by privately-run outlets. Four of the country's national TV channels share the same owner and have been accused of being pro-government.

Post

Regular airmail to Europe takes 12 days.

Press

• Publications include Diario Centroamérica, La Hora, El Periódico, Prensa Libre and Siglo Veintiuno.
• Central America Report is an English-language publication.

Radio

•La Voz de Guatemala is a government-owned radio station.
• Emisoras Unidas de Guatemala, Radio Continental, Radio Nuevo Mundo and Radio Panamericana are commercial stations.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
24 Dec Christmas Eve (afternoon only)
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve (afternoon only)

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
21 Apr - 25 Apr Easter
1 May Labor Day
30 Jun Army Day
15 Aug Assumption (Guatemala City only)
15 Sep Independence Day
20 Oct Revolution Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
24 Dec Christmas Eve (afternoon only)
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve (afternoon only)

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Apr - 9 Apr Easter
1 May Labor Day
30 Jun Army Day
15 Aug Assumption (Guatemala City only)
15 Sep Independence Day
20 Oct Revolution Day
1 Nov All Saints’ Day
24 Dec Christmas Eve (afternoon only)
25 Dec Christmas Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve (afternoon only)

Contact Information

Guatemala Tourism Institute (INGUAT)

Centro Cívico, 7A Avenida 1-17, Zona 4, Guatemala City 01004, Guatemala
Tel: 2421 2810 or 1 801 464 8281 (toll free within Guatemala) or 1 800 464 8281 (in the USA).
Website: www.visitguatemala.com

Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in the UK

13 Fawcett Street, London SW10 9HN, UK
Tel: (020) 7351 3042.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700; 1000-1600 only for walk-in queries (consular section).
The embassy also handles tourism queries.

Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in the USA

2220 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 745 4952.
Website: www.guatemala-embassy.org