Guatemala Retreat:  Safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In the area we travel, and in the 12 years we’ve been traveling to Guatemala, I’ve never felt threatened. 

 

If one travels to any large city in the US, there is crime.  I wouldn’t walk the streets at night in some places, and it's the same in Guatemala.  There are areas in Guatemala City one shouldn’t go to (I.e. I wouldn’t feel safe in Compton, CA), and since we’ve not spent much time getting to know Guatemala City, we don’t spend any time there in our retreats.  And, we’ve crafted our retreats for the utmost safety: 

 

- private drivers 

- traveling in groups 

- safe towns: Lake Atitlan and Antiqua are the 2 top tourist areas of GT. (where our house is: Santa Cruz, it’s safe, full of expats, and the locals know the value tourists bring to their economy). 

-  the 4 towns we visit: Panajachel (the largest around the lake); Santa Cruz, San Pedro and San Juan have a great mix of locals and expats and has a high number of travelers. 

- we also travel with local indigenous folks, that also provides a layer of protection. 

- and we ask folks to respect the local culture.  Wear appropriate clothing, arrive/depart at the same time as others in the group.

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