# Is Guatemala as much of a hellhole as the State Dept says it is? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 16, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627 "2006-10-16T14:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/1 "2006-10-16T14:16:36Z")
I’ve been told I need to teach another class in another country this month, this time in Guatemala. If you read the consular information report here: [http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis\_pa\_tw/cis/cis\_1129.html](http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html) it sounds basically like I should go ahead and plan on being robbed or killed. It’s especially disturbing to read of police or people dressed like police hanging out at the international airport to snatch up business travelers. Anyone have any experience with doing business in Guatemala City (AFAIK, I will not be outside of the city)? Should I not worry? Or should I buy additional comprehensive life insurance now, and go this weekend to pick out a burial plot? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/2 "2006-10-16T14:39:26Z")
Hm… can’t give you Guatemala-specific info, but are you going to have a local baby-sitter? I’ve worked in a few unsafe places and always had a baby-sitter who made sure to point out the safe places and hours as well as giving me numbers to call for someone to come with me if I wanted to go anywhere. I’m a reasonably attractive unmarried woman, which in Latin American countries means I’m more likely to be bothered by local guys but also less likely to get picked up for fights than if I was a guy (and other locals may come to my defense if I’m _too_ bothered). Being white is taken in some barrios as a sign that you have money, a local guide should be able to tell you what places to avoid. My basic rule: if the place looks like a shithole, it’s one. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/3 "2006-10-16T14:53:15Z")
I know I’ll be traveling with a sales manager, who is Mexican and speaks Spanish fluently. I do not know if I will have an escort of any other kind right now. I have no intention of touring the area at all (or even leaving Guatemala City), just teaching my class, having a business meeting or two for future work, and going back to my hotel. However, there is a non-zero chance that the clients will take me to a construction site - in that case I reckon we’d have escorts. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/4 "2006-10-16T15:04:13Z")
My friend does field work in a more remote part of Guatemala and does spend some time in Guatamala City and she never mentioned being fearfylfor her personal safety. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/5 "2006-10-16T15:07:00Z")
It’s sad to hear that it’s become a dangerous place. I was there in 1976, so any political info I might have would be hopelessly out of date. We were teaching the locals how to put together metal Butler Huts after the big earthquake, because most of the schools were destroyed. I can tell you that the climate was pleasant because of the altitude, the food was good, and the people treated us well. On the weekend, you can drive out to Lake Amatitlan (or was it Atitlan - I get them mixed up) to relax or take in a Sunday soccer game at the stadium. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/6 "2006-10-16T15:08:22Z")
In general, I find the State Dept. is way over the top in its warnings to travellers. I’ve been to Guatemala and liked it very much. If you are going to be in the city and staying in a western style hotel, it won’t even be that uncomfortable. If you go, you really should do a day trip to some of the Mayan ruins, they’re amazin. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/7 "2006-10-16T15:14:34Z")
For comparison, here is the [Canadian](http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=112000) government’s info on Guatemala. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/8 "2006-10-16T16:19:47Z")
[QUOTE=madmonk28] In general, I find the State Dept. is way over the top in its warnings to travellers. [/QUOTE] I agree with this completely. In my experience, State Department warnings have little to do with the actual reality encountered by most visitors to many countries. If they issued equivalent warnings for the US, you would probably figure it was impossibly dangerous to visit Washington DC or Miami. This said, Guatemala is a very poor country and there are undoubtedly some places that could be dangerous. The best thing to do is to get local advice when there, and avoid places that residents warn you against. The average visitor who stays at an international hotel, uses taxis to get around, and avoids visiting poor neighborhoods should have no problems. Having a local “minder” or escort could be a good idea, at least for visits to field sites. I am going to Guatemala in two weeks for a conference in Antigua. I’ll be interested to see what the country is like these days. I visited it in 1977 and 1979, traveling by local buses and staying in very cheap hotels, and at that time not speaking Spanish all that well. Even though this was in the midst of the civil war, I had no problems then. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/9 "2006-10-16T16:23:52Z")
We spent 10 days there in ‘99 for a kids’ soccer tournament. We were in Atitlan, Guatemala City, Antigua and Tikal. We had a lovely time and no problems. The land was beautiful and the people were friendly. We did witness petty crime in Guatemala City. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-guatemala-as-much-of-a-hellhole-as-the-state-dept-says-it-is/376627/10 "2006-10-16T16:32:56Z")
I have not been to Guatemala for twenty years. At that time, they were having a Civil War. It had been going on for as long as anyone could remember. I have never encountered a greater dichotomy between Ruling and Ruled Classes anywhere in Latin America. The soldiers I was with were brutal, but worse, they were casually brutal, without even noticing. It creeped me out. Still, this is very old information.