Guatemala
Guatemalan businessmen tend to be rather formal and conservative. Normal courtesies should be observed and appointments should be made. Punctuality is appreciated and calling cards can be useful. Most business is conducted in Guatemala based on personal relationships. Guatemalan business executives and government officials place great importance on personal contacts with suppliers. U.S. suppliers should be prepared to have a local representative or distributor and to travel to Guatemala personally. Travelers often are surprised at the accessibility of key decision-makers and by the openness and frankness of local buyers.
Spanish is the official language in Guatemala. Many firms are accustomed to working in English. However, correspondence is preferred in Spanish. Catalogs and technical literature should be provided in careful translations. Promotional material should be in Spanish. Though many private and public officials speak and read English, many technicians and engineers do not. Guatemalans are extremely receptive to technical presentations that are educational rather than sales oriented.
Business hours for commercial and industrial firms are from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday through Friday and 0800-1200 Saturdays. It is not unusual for some offices and businesses to be closed during lunch hours.
Widespread poverty and violence combine to produce a level of crime that is a serious concern for tourists and residents alike in Guatemala. The safest means to visit Guatemala is as part of a reputable tour organization, though small tour buses also are occasionally targets of crime. There is no evidence, however, to suggest that foreigners criminals specifically target visitors or residents as many Guatemalans are victimized on an equally regular basis. As a result vigilante killings are on the rise in Guatemala.
Guatemala City's central business district (Zone 1) has a notoriously high crime rate. The section of Zone 1 between 4th Avenida and 8th Avenida from the Cathedral to 18 Calle is are favorite areas for muggers and other violent criminals and should be avoided at night. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers frequent the Central Market. Crime also is a growing problem at the Parque Minerva in Zone 2, an area that is particularly unsafe for unescorted women. Rape and assaults of women are on the rise and have taken place on public transport.
In Guatemala City, restrict travel to daylight hours. Do not carry large bags or expensive cameras and equipment and do not wear sunglasses or jewellery. Ensure personal belongings and travel documents are secure at all times. Carry only a copy of the identification page of your passport and sufficient funds for the day.
Visits to Tikal National Park, especially the ruins, should be undertaken with official guides or organized tour groups. Avoid the less-travelled paths and areas of Tikal. A number of foreigners have been violently attacked, robbed, and raped.
Travel should be avoided on the isolated small dirt roads near Lake Atitlán. The safest route to Lake Atitlán is via the Pan-American Highway (CA-1) and Sololá, although this is where most disturbances occur. Boulders and tree trunks may be left on the road following a demonstration, posing a threat to drivers. Avoid travelling on the Godinez road to Panajachel as it is dangerous and rarely patrolled by police. Armed robberies against vehicles with foreign plates occur frequently on the Pacific Coast Highway (CA-2).
Do not hike in the Pacaya and Agua volcano areas without a reputable guide. Day road trips from Antigua are discouraged due to unsafe vehicles, irresponsible drivers, and unregulated tour operators. Robberies, violent assaults, and rapes have occurred in national parks, at the Cerro de la Cruz (outside Antigua), at the Volcán de Pacaya, and at Biotopo Cerro Cahui (close to Hotel Camino Real in Petén). When hiking in remote areas, carry few personal belongings, stay with the group, and do not carry your passport or large amounts of cash. Travel to some tourist sites, such as Quirigua or Mixco Viejo, is best done through a reputable tour operator.
It is dangerous to climb volcanoes, particularly Pacaya volcano near Antigua and Guatemala City, where tourists have been murdered, robbed and raped. Cerro de la Cruz Park in Antigua has been the site of murder, rapes, stabbings and robberies of foreign tourists. Armed car theft is a serious problem, although persons who offer no resistance when confronted by armed thieves are usually not hurt. Highway travel has generally exposed visitors to increased risk of violent incident. Highway robberies by armed thieves have increased significantly over the past year and have occurred in all parts of the country. Tourist vans have been a particularly susceptible target.
Kidnappings for ransom are prevalent in Guatemala. There have been at least thirteen kidnappings during the past three years involving foreign residents of Guatemala. Two of the victims were murdered. The Guatemalan government has had some success in its fight against kidnappers, but is still struggling in its battle against common crime. A special tourist police force has been deployed in the Antigua area, and military forces have been deployed in some areas to support civilian police.
Those who offer no resistance when confronted by armed thieves are usually not hurt.
Allow enough time for border crossing formalities in order to arrive at a major town before dark. Many border posts close for lunch and at dusk. To avoid excessive charges at border crossings, ascertain the correct fees from the Guatemalan embassy or consulate ahead of time. It may be difficult to obtain police assistance. Police forces lack resources and may expect payment.
Do not approach or photograph children and women, since many people in Guatemala fear that children are being kidnapped for adoption or for theft of vital organs. Violent incidents involving foreigners have been reported.
There are many first class hotels in Guatemala City and throughout the country. Among the hotels, the Ritz Continental and Pan American are recommended if a hotel in Zone 1 of the city is required, but because of the serious crime problems in the zone, most travelers prefer hotels in Zone 4, 9 and 10. Among the preferred hotels: The Ramada Conquistador (Zone 4); El Dorado Americana, Princess and Cortijo Reform (Zone 9); the Camino Real, Guatemala Fiesta, and Residencial Reforma (Zone 10). Hotel space is limited and reservations should be made and confirmed prior to arrival.
Telephone IDD service is available. Country code: 502. Outgoing international code: 00. Basic telephone service is easily available at most hotels and offices in Guatemala City. Generally, calls can be placed to the U.S. without any problem. Calls can be placed through the hotel operator (via the Guatemalan Telecommunications Company-GUATEL) or directly (calling card or collect) via AT&T (dial 9999190), MCI (dial 9999189) and Sprint (dial 9999195).
Electricity is at 110 volts AC, 60Hz. There are some regional variations.
115-125 volts AC, 60Hz. There are some regional variations.
A,B,G,I
There is a variety of restaurants and cafes serving a wide selection of cooking styles including American, Argentinian, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Mexican and Spanish. There are many fast-food chains and continental-style cafes. The visitor should note that food usually varies in price rather than quality and some of the cheap eateries are amongst the best.National specialty:
• Kac lc (soup made from turkey and seasoned with samat (a herb from Alta Verapaz).
• Guacamole.
• Flan de Naranja (orange-flavored flan).National drink:
• Coffee.
• Quetzalteca (an extremely potent
raw cane spirit). Tipping:
10 per cent is normal in restaurants where service has not been included..Nightlife
In Guatemala City in particular, there are nightclubs and discos with modern music and dance, featuring national and international artists. Guatemala is the home of marimba music, which can be heard at several venues. In the cities, the marimba is a huge elaborate xylophone with large drum sticks played by four to nine players. In rural areas the sounding boxes are made of different shaped gourds (marimbas de tecomates). There are regular concerts throughout Guatemala. There are also theaters and numerous plays in English and other cultural performances. Films with English and Spanish subtitles are often shown in major towns. The most important museums and art galleries are found in Guatemala City, la Antigua Guatemala and Tikal National Park.
