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Cerro de la Cruz Antigua Guatemala
6 Reviews There will be tour guides wandering the parque, but they will ask for money to take you up to the cross. The tourismo police escort tourists for free 10am/3pm each day. Or better yet, walk up there...
See All 25 Warnings Or Dangers in Antigua Guatemala
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This is the most thorough security advisory site on the internet. Information is updated regularly and it is effective at instilling a sense of caution and preparedness.I use a risk/reward model. Is the benefit worth the risk. Is it worth taking a shortcut at night to save time or hailing a cab for example.
If the police are not available, call the Guatemalan office of Assistance to Tourists ASISTUR. Even if the police are available, call them anyway24 hours per day, 7 days per week. ASISTUR has three phone numbers: 1500, 2421-2810, and 5578-9836. I have no information on this service- . I'll find out more on my next visit.Always contact your embassy if there is any trouble. In the old days if you were a US citizen this was a joke - but things have changed a lot at the US embassy which is definitely under new management.
This is the title of an excellently researched and clearly written report published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in May of 2007. The report analyzes criminal activity in Central America, how it grows, what nourishes it and why it is so difficult to control.The footnotes alone are worth the read- especially for anyone who has commercial interests in the region.PDF DOWNLOAD 2 MB
Demonstrations vary in size and composition. Spontaneous demonstrations should be avoided. Altogether different are the organized demonstrations with shouted slogans, banners and loud speakers. (See photos added to this tip) Many are held at the Congress Building (9th Avenida) near the National Palace or downtown near the Bank of Guatemala/Municipal Complex. The mood is generally light. Defiance is generally expressed by masked spray painters who are ignored by the police. (It's easier just to repaint the walls a day later). This photo (see web address below for write up) shows a demonstration (Feb 10 2005) opposed to CAFTA and GM crops because Guatemalan farmers cannot compete against US subsidized corn and beans- genetically modified or not.The man on the left is labor leader and human rights activist Nery Barrios- director of UASP and the speaker to his right is a member of Congress-...
What a change a new administration makes. The US EMBASSY PAGE for Guatemala is well designed and easy to navigate. Someone has done some deep down cleaning- it shows and you should take a look. Links galore for emergencies, non-emergencies, citizen services, medical, travel warnings, sending money, residency transportation and more.
GUATEMALA'S VIOLENT DEATH RATE LOWEST IN FIVE YEARS25% of all murder victims are other criminals. For tourists, robbery is the foremost concern. LATEST FIGURESIn 2011 5618 Guatemalans died from violence or 15 per day. 82% of these (4600) died by gunfire. Guatemala City with 1/4 of the population had 60% of all violent deaths.In 2010: 6502 deaths by violence were recorded or 18 per day.In 2009 The Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Forenses (Inacif) reported a daily rate of 17 for a total of 6,292 For 2008 The Human Rights Prosecutor's Office reported 18 murders daily. . Guatemala 's murder rate in 2007 was 44:100,000 or 16 murders daily- this represented a 65% increase over the previous five years -2006 to 2001- and was 10 times the US murder rate. Guatemala's neighbor EL SALVADOR has a murder rate of 60:100,000Guatemala's neighbor HONDURAS has an even higher rate of 82:100,000Guatemala's...
HUMAN BOTFLY (Beef Worm)Bot Flies are picked up in rural areas characterized by grassland, pasture, and cattle. The normal host for a bot fly is a cow. Humans are a delicacy.Botfly eggs are commonly transported and deposited while you are asleep by mosquitoes, spiders etc. The Larvae (or "warbles" in English) painlessly burrow through broken skin- such as a mosquito bite. The Larvae secure themselves with two "tail" hooks as well by the rough ridges encircling the body (see photo) SYMPTOMSThe first symptom is intense itching. You'll feel something solid under the skin and soon see a bump with a tiny hole on the skin- this is the punctum through which the larva breathes and discharges waste. Its contractions cause the third symptom- episodes of VERY EXTREME PAIN lasting ten minutes several times a day. Hot compresses and massaging will not help. If you do nothing, in two months the bump...
Guatemala ranks second globally for death either by malnutrition or alcohol, fourth globally for death by violence and sixth globally for death by drugs. Don't be afraid but don't be foolhardy. If every male in sight sports a tattoo you are probably in the wrong place. However, on the truly amazing side, Guatemala ranks 175th for death by auto.LISTED IN ORDER OF DEATH FOR GUATEMALA1) Pneumonia 2): Heart attack 3) Violence- (Guatemala ranks FOURTH globally)4) Stroke5) Diabetes6) Liver Disease - Guatemala ranks ELEVENTH globally7) Diarrhea8) Malnutrition - Guatemala ranks SECOND globally9) Injuries (auto and falls not included)10) Kidney failure11) Tuberculosis12) Hypertension13) HIV14) Breast CANCER (Guatemala ranks 74 globally)15) Peptic Ulcer Disease (Guatemala ranks FOURTH globally)16) Lung Disease17) Alcohol -Guatemala ranks SECOND globally18) Maternal complications19) Prostate...
Widespread and Repeated Warnings about going to the overlook to enjoy the panorama of Antigua Guatemala and the majestic spectacle of Volcan Agua should not be ignored. BUT DO GO. But go during the day and better if you have company. You can also use the Tourist Office facing the Central Jardin Plaza to be escorted (their schedule not yours)Make sure you are not being followed.If you are still uncertain about going.... plan your vist in the morning--- Sunday morning is extra safe.
There are sporadic reports (it's hard to say if the same event isn't the source for multiple reports) of customers drawing out money and being followed.In one case, (obviously well organized) motorbikes or scooters were used to force a car to pull over. In another case, three cars were used. One to identify the victim leaving his home and getting into his car, another to block the victim's car and a third to pull the victim out and into the escape car. Obviously, no figures are available regarding kidnapping and ransom- People on business in Guatemala will find that danger doesn't match many other places in the world but it's definitely not risk free. Guatemala does not have a trained police force and the courts take years - if ever- to settle cases. Hiring private security is the only option.Guatemala has a police force (PNC) of 20,000.Private security guards number over 40,000....
Palacio de Dona Leonor Antigua Guatemala
6 Reviews and 42 Opinions On a business trip we stayed at the Palace Hotel Dona Leonor. I really liked the decoration of the...
Jungle Lodge Parque Nacional Tikal
4 Reviews and 154 Opinions We stayed two nights here, choosing it because of its nearness to the ruins. The plan was to be able...
Barcelo Premium Guatemala City Guatemala City
1 Review and 198 Opinions Nice hotel in a comfortable safe neighborhood in Zone 9. An easy walk to the Los Procures Mall and...
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Q: My husband and I want to go to Guatemala for 5 weeks starting the last week of March 2012. We had planned to travel all over and...
A: I have two good friends that travel to Guatemala frequently. One supports an orphanage, the other does general social work with kids in the area. Both find the...
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