Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvltxt/GUATEMAL.TVL

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Guatemala - Travel Warning
June 24, 1994

The United States Department of State warns U.S. citizens about possible
dangers of travel to Guatemala.  Unfounded rumors that foreigners are
involved in the theft of children for the purpose of using their organs in
transplants have led to threats and incidents of mob violence in several
parts of the country.  However, these incidents have not occurred in the
traditional tourist destinations of Tikal, Antigua, Panajachel,
Chichicastenango, Quetzaltenango, Rio Dulce, Puerto Barrios, Santo Tomas De
Castillo, Puerto Quetzal, and tourist/business sections of Guatemala City.
Adoptive parents in particular should exercise caution.  U.S. citizens
should avoid traveling alone and should restrict their travel, even in large
cities, to areas that are frequented by tourists or business people.  In
particular, travelers should avoid contact with Guatemalan children.  U.S.
citizens in Guatemala are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in
Guatemala City.

No. 94-025

This replaces the Travel Warning for Guatemala dated March 30, 1994, to note
that certain areas of the country have not been affected by the incidents
prompting the warning and to provide additional guidance to U.S. citizens
who travel to Guatemala.

Guatemala - Consular Information Sheet
September 30, 1994

Warning:  The United States Department of State warns U.S. citizens about
possible dangers of travel to Guatemala.  Unfounded rumors that foreigners
are involved in the theft of children for the purpose of using their organs
in transplants have led to threats and incidents of mob violence in several
parts of the country.  However, these incidents have not occurred in the
traditional tourist destinations of Tikal, Antigua, Panajachel,
Chichicastenango, Quetzaltenango, Rio Dulce, Puerto Barios, Santo Tomas de
Castillo, Puerto Quetzal, and tourist/business sections of Guatemala City.
Adoptive parents in particular should exercise extreme caution.  U.S.
citizens should avoid traveling alone and should restrict their travel even
in large cities to areas that are frequented by tourists or business people.
 In particular travelers should avoid contact with Guatemalan children.
U.S. citizens in Guatemala are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy
in Guatemala City.

Country Description:  Guatemala has a developing economy and a democratic
government.  Democracy and constitutional rule were suspended in late May
1993 but were quickly restored.  Except for luxury hotels in Guatemala City,
Panajachel, Chichicastenango and Flores (Tikal), tourist facilities are not
fully developed.  Road conditions throughout the country are poor.

Entry Requirements:  To travel to Guatemala, U.S. citizens must have a
passport and either a visa or a tourist card.  U.S. citizens must carry
identification at all times.  Visas are available from the Embassy of
Guatemala at 2220 R Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 745-
4952, or Guatemalan consulates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, New
Orleans, New York, Houston or Chicago.  Tourist cards can be purchased upon
arrival at the airport or Guatemalan border, or at the airport departure
gate for flights from the U.S. to Guatemala.

The government of Guatemala requires all U.S. citizens, without exception,
to have a valid passport in order to depart Guatemala.  U.S. citizens whose
passports are lost or stolen in Guatemala must obtain a new passport and
present it together with a police report of the loss or theft to the main
immigration office in Guatemala City to obtain permission to depart
Guatemala.  An exit tax must be paid upon departure from the Guatemala City
airport.

Areas of Instability:  Although negotiations are continuing between the
government of Guatemala and guerrilla leaders to end a 33 year armed
conflict, there are still occasional encounters between Guatemalan Army and
guerrilla forces in the departments of El Quiche, Northern Alta Verapaz,
Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Peten, Escuintla, Suchitepequez, Santa Rosa and
Sacatepequez.  There are occasional guerrilla roadblocks on the roads
between Guatemala City and the border of El Salvador, as well as along the
Pacific coast.  However, visitors to major tourist destinations rarely come
into contact with guerrilla or military forces.

There has been a significant increase in terrorist incidents, especially
during  periods surrounding key political events, such as special elections,
or highly publicized stages of peace negotiations.  In the past six months,
explosives have been detonated at electrical, television, and radio towers
near Guatemala City and in the departments of Santa Rosa, Escuintla, and
Chimaltenango.  Smaller explosive devices have been detonated or have been
deactivated by police agents in various businesses, newspaper offices, and
shopping malls in Guatemala City.  While most of the explosions have
occurred at night and have resulted in relatively few deaths and injuries,
the timing and character of any future incidents cannot be predicted with
certainty.

Medical Facilities:  A full range of modern medical care is available in
Guatemala City, but medical care outside the city is limited.  Guatemala's
public hospitals have experienced serious shortages of basic medicines and
equipment, with some hospitals on the verge of bankruptcy.  Care in private
hospitals is generally adequate for the most common illnesses and injuries.
Cholera is present in Guatemala.  Doctors and hospitals often expect
immediate cash payment for health services.  U.S. medical insurance is not
always valid outside the United States.  Travelers often find that
supplementary medical insurance with specific overseas coverage is useful.
Additional health information may be obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control's international travelers hotline at [phone].

Crime Information:  Violent crime is a serious and growing problem
throughout the country.  Crime victims have sometimes complained of
inadequate assistance from the police.  Considering the rising trend in
violent crime and its unpredictability, no area can be definitively
characterized as "always safe."  Incidents of armed attacks of tourists have
occurred in a variety of areas at all times of the day or night.  Visitors
who suffer criminal assaults are encouraged to contact the Consular Section
of the U.S. Embassy (or the duty officer after hours) for advice and
assistance.

Pickpockets and purse snatchers are prevalent in Guatemala City, especially
in the central market area.  Valuables left unattended in automobiles,
regardless of whether the vehicle is locked and/or in an apparently safe
area, may be in jeopardy.  Robberies of pedestrians by thieves armed with
guns or machetes appear to be on the increase, even in the wealthier
sections of the city.  Armed car theft is also a serious problem.  Persons
who offer no resistance when confronted by car thieves are usually not hurt.
 There are occasional armed robberies on city buses and tour group buses.
Non-political kidnappings are on the rise but have not yet affected any
tourists.

The colonial city of Antigua, located about 30 miles from Guatemala City, is
generally considered safe and is a popular destination for tourists and
students.   Pickpockets and purse snatchers are also prevalent in Antigua
and a special tourist police has been reestablished to reduce crime against
tourists.  Persons walking, jogging or biking on roads leading out of
Antigua or to Cerro de la Cruz Park risk the possibility of attack and
robbery by armed thieves.  Female tourists were also raped in 1993 at Cerro
de la Cruz Park and in the town of San Felipe, near Antigua.

The towns of Panajachel (on Lake Atitlan) and Chichicastenango (site of a
popular Indian market) are generally safe, but pickpockets are prevalent in
the markets and cafes.  Travel by boat from Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan
and other towns around Lake Atitlan is dangerous in the late afternoon
because of frequent bad weather conditions on the lake.  It is dangerous to
climb Guatemala's volcanoes, especially Pacaya.  Two Americans died on
Pacaya in 1991, and many tourists, including those traveling in large
groups, have been the subject of violent armed robberies.  Several female
tourists were also raped.  Hiking alone in less populated areas can also be
risky.  A German female tourist was savagely attacked by a machete wielding
thief in 1993 on a trail between the towns of Jaibalito and Tzunana on the
north side of Lake Atitlan.

The Mayan ruins at Tikal and the nearby city of Flores (capital of the Peten
Department) are generally safe provided that visitors fly to Flores and then
travel by bus or tour van to the ruins.  Road travel in the rest of Peten
Department is difficult.  Road conditions are poor, telephones, police and
medical assistance are usually unavailable, and highway bandits are often
active, particularly on the road between Tikal and the Guatemala-Belize
border at Melchor de Mencos.

The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately
to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.  Useful
information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while
traveling abroad is provided in the  pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad."  This
publication, as well as "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America,"
is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington D.C. 20402.

Highway Travel:  Intercity travel after sunset (6:00 p.m.) anywhere in
Guatemala is extremely dangerous.  Even in daylight hours, there are
occasional incidents in which entire busloads of passengers are robbed
either by armed thieves who set up roadblocks or by thieves who pose as bus
passengers.  Roadblocks are occasionally set up by thieves posing as
military or police officers.  Assailants also sometimes force a car off the
road or stop in the middle of the highway in front of  the  intended
victims' car.  Large capacity rented vehicles and travel agency vans are
frequent targets of highway bandits.  If confronted by armed bandits, those
who accede to all requests without arguing are usually not physically
harmed.  Travelers who try to outrun a roadblock are sometimes shot.

When driving from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango, the
safest route is the Pan-American Highway (CA-1) through Chimaltenango and
Tecpan to the crossroads at Los Encuentros and then either CA-1 to Solola
and Panajachel or CA-15 to Chichicastenango.  Travel to Lake Atitlan on any
other road is dangerous.

When entering Guatemala by car from Mexico, most travelers use border
crossings at either Tecun Uman (Highway CA-2) on the Pacific coast or La
Mesilla (Highway CA-1) in the highlands.  During the January 1994 uprising
of the Zapatista guerrilla organization in Chiapas, Mexico, the La Mesilla
border crossing was closed.  Travelers should inform themselves of the
current political situation in Chiapas, Mexico before taking the CA-1/La
Mesilla route.

When traveling from El Salvador, the border crossing at Las Chinamas, El
Salvador/Valle Nuevo, Guatemala is preferred.  When entering Guatemala from
Honduras, the border crossings are at either El Florido or Agua Caliente.
With all cross-border travel, travelers need plenty of time to complete
border crossing formalities, which can be lengthy, in order to travel to a
major town before dark.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in
which they are traveling.  A 1992 anti-narcotics trafficking law in
Guatemala provides tough penalties for possession, use or trafficking in
illegal drugs.  Those arrested on drug charges, even for simple possession
of very small amounts, can expect to spend several months in jail before
their case is decided, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail
sentences and fines.

Public Transportation:  Maintenance and safety standards for operating
public buses and small airlines in Guatemala are not up to U.S. standards.
Guatemala's topography and climate can create unpredictable flying
conditions.  Public bus accidents due to equipment or human failure are
frequent.  Travelers may also encounter delays or be rerouted due to
occasional equipment failure at Guatemala City's La Aurora Airport.

Other Information:  Updated information on Guatemalan adoption procedures
and the U.S. immigrant visa application process is available from the
Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy.  Prospective adoptive parents are
asked to check with the Consular Section to be sure that their child's
adoption is complete before traveling to Guatemala to apply for their
child's immigrant visa.  Additional information is available from the Office
of Citizens Consular Services, Room 4817, Department of State, Washington,
D.C. 20520, telephone [phone].

Civil Aviation Oversight:  In April 1993, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration assessed Guatemala's civil aviation authority as not in
compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for
Guatemalan carriers operating to and from the U.S.  While consultations to
correct the deficiencies are ongoing, air carriers licensed by Guatemala are
permitted to conduct limited operations to the U.S. subject to heightened
FAA surveillance.  The FAA is not providing heightened surveillance for
operations to destinations other than the U.S.  For further information,
travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873.

Registration:  Americans who register with the Consular Section of the U.S.
Embassy in Guatemala City may obtain updated information on travel and
security within Guatemala.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala is located  at Avenida
Reforma 7-01 in Zone 10, Guatemala City, telephone [phone].
Consular Section hours for American Citizen Services are 8:00 a.m.-12:00
noon and l:00-3:00 p.m.

No. 94-228

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 2, 1994 to add
the town of Puerto Quetzal to the Warning paragraph.