DON’T... Climb any of the volcanoes, even with a guided group. It’s not your cameras or your money we’re worried about -- it’s you.
DO... Climb the hills near Todos Santos (in the northwest region of Guatemala). It’s one place where we haven’t heard about robberies.
DON’T... Travel on public buses at night.
DO... Watch all your belongings when riding public buses in daytime, and when walking between bus terminals in Zone 1 of Guatemala City.
DON’T... Climb Cerro de la Cruz (a hill on the outskirts of Antigua), even with a group.
DO... Climb the ruins of La Merced Church. It’s an equally beautiful view of Antigua.
DON’T... Walk around alone after 9pm. Take a taxi or ask someone to escort you home.
DO... Feel safe walking around Central Antigua during the day. The Tourist Police is on hand to assist you.
DON’T... Visit the Antigua Cemetery. Recent robberies have made visiting the dead a less attractive proposition.
DO... Report all incidents of crime to your country’s embassy and the police. Come to us and we will phone your embassy free of charge.
DON’T... Carry around large sums of money, especially at night.
DO... Register your passport with your country’s embassy. We will fax a copy of your passport and registration info -- for free!
DON’T... Take backroads, e.g. the road from Antigua to Escuintla or the backroad from Antigua to Lake Atitlán.
DO... Stay on well-traveled routes when traveling to tourist destinations. Make sure you trust your tour operator or shuttle bus driver.
DON’T... Try to resist in an attempted robbery.
DO... Carry a copy of your passport, not the original. Keep the original and your cash/travelers cheques in a safe place.
DON’T... Wander around the lakefront of Panajachel or the Pacific Coast beaches (e.g. Monterrico) late at night.
DO... Be careful of the riptides at Monterrico beach.
DON’T... Walk from Livingston (Carribbean coast of Guatemala) to Los Altares.
DO... Take a boat -- it’s a beautiful trip.
DON’T... Wear a lot of expensive jewelry.
DO... Try to conceal expensive cameras or video equipment.