"GUATEMALA - CRIME SECURITY... " a Guatemala Travel Page by vaticanus

Guatemala is comparable only to itself...
a land of dreamscapes...
mysterious presences
and absences
Miguel Asturias
. . . . . .

Tourists visit Guatemala for its unforgettable beauty,
the colonial architecture of Antigua Guatemala,
the Mayan villages of the Highlands,
the volcanoes of Lake Atitlan
Caribbean Livingston and
Tikal

===============

A visit to this beautiful country- with sensible precautions- is well worth the extra care.

ALERTS

EL ESTOR (Lago Izabel) Gunmen fired on protesters at a Canadian nickel mine. Another attack targeted a van of protest leaders.

No one is threatening tourists but Canadian citizens should contact their consulate about travel in this area.

USE REGISTERED TAXIS IN GUATEMALA CITY. AVOID PUBLIC BUSES.

Authorities in Antigua Guatemala urge tourists to walk in groups from bars at night.

Adoptions info on this page.

=====================

Crime in Guatemala is associated with gangs, drug "cartels", revenge, land, corrupt business rivalry, rogue cops, kidnapping, robbery, drugs and women (1/10 of all victims (707 in 2007-728 in 2008) are women- only Russia has a higher rate). Guatemalans are the victims- TOURISTS RARELY- - BUT the number of REPORTS INVOLVING TOURISTS AND RESIDENT FOREIGNERS IS GROWING.

ECONOMY AND CRIME: Dollars sent home from Guatemalans in the US which constitute 12% of Guatemala's GDP are down 10%. Robbery and break-ins have become a remedy for lost income. Never carry documents and money in bags or exterior pockets or leave them in your room.
=====================

FOR A SAFE HOLIDAY:

1) Use express (Pullman type) buses or tourist vans.

2) Boats should be moored at marinas. Do not anchor at night on Lake Izabal.

3) Before visiting areas off the tourist track, (waterfalls, isolated ruins) ask store owners about safety and their suggestions if you require a guide.

4) In rural areas do not disturb Mayan altars (stones covered with candle wax and soot).

5) Taking photos of Mayan children has led to problems- stories of Westeners kidnapping children remain widespread.

6) IN RURAL AND URBAN areas do not wander around after dark when everyone is home and off the streets. In cities and towns with evening activities (markets, entertainment etc) leave when stores pull down their shutters- streets empty quickly!

7) Do Not Discuss Travel Routes, Schedules or Destinations with Anyone who Approaches You First. Always assume that what you discuss will be repeated.


GENERAL TRANSPORT: BUS, AUTO, VAN & PICK-UP


Use FIRST CLASS buses or the numerous commercial (tourist agency) vans- you'll get where you are going OK.

Tourists should ALWAYS use the Pan American Highway (CA-1) between Antigua Guatemala and Panajachel and AVOID BACKROADS.

Operators of "Chicken" buses (recycled US school buses) that connect to Guatemala City pay off gangs ("maras"). Tourists should use the private tourist vans and Pullman buses. (See Transportation Tips)

Driving a car is a steep learning curve. Roads (one lane in each direction) are congested with slow heavy and hazardous cargo trucks, speeding buses, motorbikes, and cars jockeying to pass one another on hills and curves. Night driving is less congested but watch out for pedestrians, animals, bicycles, etc.

In remote rural areas pickup trucks and vans provide transport.

See DRIVING IN GUATEMALA in my Transportation Tips


TOURISTS AND CRIME

The crime rate for tourists is 1:1500- on the high end for Central America.

If you are robbed and if you have insurance, OR if you have lost your passport, you MUST contact the police (PNC) for a report. A police report is needed to file a claim or to replace travel documents.

IF YOU ARE CONFRONTED BY THIEVES DO NOT - DO NOT- RESIST!
A man (Nov 4, 09) from Denmark was murdered by two thieves in a struggle over his camera.

Forty percent of crimes occur in or around Guatemala City where half of Guatemala's 13 million people live. Outside of the city your exposure to crime is SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. Most crime occurs in the poorer residential "zonas" that tourists only see when landing at Aurora Airport.

Daytime walking (6AM - 6PM) downtown and government centers is safe. Zona 1 Pullman Bus stations are safe also.

Stay well clear of accidents, crimes, arguments etc.

Vans at the airport can take you to Antigua. After 7PM I recommend REMAINING IN GUATEMALA CITY. Staying in Guatemala City the night before a flight out avoids an early AM rush hour drive from Antigua.

Avoid the 3000 municipal buses; always use licensed taxis. 139 bus drivers, attendants, and passengers have been murdered thus far this year.

Know where you are going. If you are lost, stop in a farmacia (drug store) for directions- the employees are better educated and they sell many items useful to travelers.

I repeat, use licensed taxis which are cheap, well regulated, and safe.

GUATEMALA CITY WEBSITE (it's excellent)
(in Spanish):
OFFICIAL CITY WEBPAGE


GUATEMALA MURDER RATE


For Guatemalans, kidnapping (118 reports this year) and murder are daily concerns. For tourists, these crimes are extremely rare. Robbery and assault are what concern you.

Guatemala 's murder rate in 2007 was 44:100,000 or 16 murders daily- a 65% increase in five years -ten times the US murder rate. One of every 1600 Guatemalans falls victim to murder every year. For 2008 The Human Rights Prosecutor's Office reports 18 murders daily. The Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses (Inacif) reports a 2009 rate of 17 for a total of 6,292. For the first month of 2009 there has been a 25% increase year over year.

Forty percent of all murders, according to President Colom (Feb 09) are related to narcotics: 26% by big trafficking outfits and 14% among street dealers.

Even President Colom has been accused of murder. The late Rodrigo Rosenberg said, in a video released at his funeral, that if he was murdered, it had been arranged by Colom. See video on YouTube. (May 13 2009)

MISC

WEATHER: Check www.wunderground.com for Guatemala's weather. Farmers have had a very bad year. Guatemala is requesting record levels of grain assistance.

BANKS: Never wait until the last moment to change money- you may find the line stretches out into the street when govt checks arrive.

ADOPTIONS: El Prensa Libre reports that adoptions dropped from 5000 in 2007 to 50 for 2008 with only 25 of those fully completed. Despite assurances that new programs will be up and running soon, the actuality is that the entire adoption process is at a standstill.

For one couple's stressful experience paste this address into your browser:
http://www.tribecatrib.com/news/2009/july/259_finally-home-after-triple-adoption-struggle-.html

Beneath the 150 or so families who trace their bloodlines back for centuries and who occupy the top tier of society and many of the top positions in government and business, Guatemala consists of two groups: Ladinos (Spanish and Indian descent) and Maya. This picture conveys the relationship of these two groups . Although Ladinos and Indians associate in trade and commerce, Ladinos carefully protect their superior status as government employees, store owners, and merchants. According to the CIA World Factbook 75% of the population is impoverished.

ATTENTION: FOR ADDITIONAL CRIME/SAFETY INFORMATION CLICK:
WARNINGS OR DANGERS TIPS