If you have Guatemala in your sights in the near future, and you plan on traveling, or visiting soon, here are some small tips that you can use, when you plan your next visit.

Getting There

The most common way to get to Guatemala from the US would be by air.  There are only a few airports in the US that fly directly to Guatemala, such as, Houston, Dallas, LAX, New York, Atlanta and Miami.  Therefore, there is a good chance you may have a layover during your trip.  It is important to plan your Guatemalan arrival for daytime hours.  The La Aura airport in Guatemala City is very clean, modern, and nice, but is not always safe at night.  When you leave the airport there is a very large group of indigenous people standing outside waiting for arrivals.

Places to visit

Although Guatemala is not an extremely popular tourist site for Americans there are many places to visit.  Antigua is a colonial city in Guatemala and is very beautiful.  There are many old churches to explore and quaint little restaurants and shops to enjoy.  There are also 3 active volcanoes in Guatemala, including a water volcano.  You can visit the volcanoes and climb all the way to the top on your own or with the help of a guide.  At the top you will see hot lava oozing from the volcano.  The Pacific coast of Guatemala is unique because of its black sand due to the volcanic ash.  On the Eastern side of the country are the Mayan ruins of Tikal in the rainforest and the water falls of Semuc Champey.
Where to stay

There are many nice, modern hotels in Guatemala City and Antigua, but not so great hotels in other areas of the country.   I have stayed at the Westin Camino Real and Grand Tikal Futura in Guatemala City and they are both very nice.   Also, in Antigua and throughout the country there are many hostels for travelers to stay at.

The Climate

The Climate of Guatemala changes drastically as you move around the country.  Starting on the Pacific coast, it is very hot and humid all year long.  As you move through the mountains and into Guatemala City, the humidity drops away and temperatures are much more tolerable in the 70’s, most of the year.  Then as you move across the country to the East it once again gets hot and humid.  The rainy season throughout the country is from April to October.  During this time it may rain everyday for weeks at a time.