Visas, Embassies & Border Crossings
In Guatemala City we went a little mad searching for the immigration office because we couldn't find it in the phone book and neither could other people, so the address should be handy: Ministerio de Migracion, 41 Calle 7-36 Sona 8, tel. 47513980/4751302. From the city center, take bus 71 or other buses heading for "Terminal" and get off on Bolivar, just before the bridge (puente) near the Shell fuel station. Walk in the street beside the fuel station you will see a blue building on the left; that's it! Passport/extensions 8am-noon.
Marc en Mirjam - NL (Nov 98)
For travellers arriving in Huehuetenago, Guatemala from Mexico using the Ciudad Cuauhtemoc/La Mesilla crossing. Better rates for pesos to quetzales on the Guatemalan side but in any case it's best to change at the border. However, for those arriving in Huehuetenango with a load of useless pesos, the ONLY place in town which will change these is Camicard on 5a Avenida 6-00, Zona 1. There are Visa ATMs in Huhuetenango, cunningly hidden their addresses are: Multibanco on 6a Avenida, west of the junction with 4a Calle, opposite is the internet cafe. Industrial on 6a Avenida junction with 1a Calle, to the side of Texaco.
Simon Burchell - (Jan 98)
In Guatemala City we went a little mad searching for the immigration office because we couldn't find it in the phone book and neither could other people, so the address should be handy: Ministerio de Migracion, 41 Calle 7-36 Sona 8, tel. 47513980/4751302. From the city center, take bus 71 or other buses heading f9r "Terminal" and get off on Bolivar, just before the bridge (puente) near the Shell fuel station. Walk in the street beside the fuel stationand you will see a blue building on the left; that's it! Passport/extensions 8am-noon.
Marc en Mirjam - NL - Nov 98
The El Salvadoran embassy is located at 4a Avenida 13-60 Zona 10 tel 366 6147.
Scott Hemphill (May 98)
I was surprised to see that the departure tax is now up to $20 US. Fortunately travelers check are accepted.
Barry Blackburn (July 98)
I had to pay $20 at the airport in Guatemala to go to Belize City. And about 7.50 Belizian dollars at the northern border of Belize with Mexico again.
Patricia Hofmeester - Netherlands (Aug 98)
Be aware that the rules in Tikal have changed: hours are now being enforced to open at 6am - no one to enter for sunrise unless with a guide... Ruins close at 6pm, and the guards get you off the temples and out - before the total sunset. For more info, write
-Nancy
ecovision@inter.net.gt
www.cyberwebsite.com/vision
Nancy - GUAT (Mar 99)
A few interesting points arose from our visit to Tikal It no longer seems possible to sleep on top of Temple 4. We tried to, but the guards came up shortly after dark and escorted us out of the park. This was in spite of the fact that we tried to bribe them the standard fee of $5 (US) each. The reason for this is that apparently their supervisor sometimes comes out later on in the evening and checks the tops of various temples himself. The guards did say though that we could sleep in complex P if we so desired, but there you would not get such a good view of the sunrise.
Alastair Sewell - ENG (Sept 98)
The Wednesday/Sunday market in Chichicastenango: It is a beautiful little town with a mostly indigenous population, but nowadays the items in the market are mostly geared towards tourists. Nothing wrong with that, really, since it is all locally made. However, there will also be a LOT of tourists there. I had an embarrassing experience while I was trying to bargain in Spanish with a vendor: Another American came up to the booth, asked the price of an item (in English), the vendor told him the price (in Quetzales), and the tourist asked him to repeat the rpice for him in dollars (and when told, sneered and walked away). The math is not difficult, at about Q6 to $1. The vendors will deal with you in dollars, but you won't get as good a price. It is definitely worth it to do the math yourself! And remember, the price they tell you at the outset is about twice what you should pay! Another tip: Shop with a friend. You can usually get a deal if you buy two of anything at any given booth.
Alpha M. Schram - US (Aug 98)
Within Chichen Itza, I'd suggest visitors not miss Akab-Dzib to see the elaborately carved lintel... the short walk to the building kept almost everyone away. The interior pyramid of El Castillo was worth the climb; traffic is strictly regulated now so that only a certain number of visitors are admitted at any given time (I have heard ti was a free for all in the past). Fortunately (for their preservation) and unfortunately (for up-close study), access was restricted to the Temple of Warriors and many other buildings; the only two we climbed were El Castillo and El Caracol. Work is continuing on the Ossuary. The Tzompantli is good, but Uxmal's is quirkier, with its fun upside-down skulls with their hair hanging down.
Lindsay S. Koehler - US (Aug 98)
There are time differences throughout the Yucatan-Guatemala-Belize region, at least in summer. The state of Quintana Roo is one hour ahead of the rest of Mexico which in turn is one hour ahead fo Guatemala nd Belize. Thus, when it is 4 pm in Palneque, Chiapas, it is only 3 pm in Flores, Guatmeala and belize (even though they lie more or less due east!) , but 5 pm in Chetumal.
Jacob Seligmann & Gitte Nielsen - Denmark (Aug 98)
Be aware that (in Antigua at least) ten percent is often automatically added to the bill in restaurants for the tip. Often they just tell you at the caja without actually writing it on the bill. This can result in sloppy service going rewarded, but more often the service is excellent and you feel like tipping anyway. It just rankles when the choice is taken away from you.
Eve Eidelson (May 98)
I stayed in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala for one month and during that time Iwent on two amazing treks with Quetzaltrekkers, a trekking company that organizes hikes to Lago Atitland and to the two volcanoes Santa Maria and Tajamulco every weekend. All profits go to a project for streetkids and kids at risk, Escuela de la Calle, and the guides work as volunteers. They earn almost enough to fund the project completely.
The first trek was to the Tajamulco volcano, a moderate 2 day trek to the highest point in Centram America. It cost me 200Q (approx 35 dollarS) and it was definitely worth all the money-the guides were helpful and friendly, the food was excellent and the view from the top was fantastic. I liked it so much that I decided to to go on the trek to San Pedro. Lago Attitlan as well. This hike is about 55 km long and lasts 3 days and I would characterize it as challenging (at least for me!). But it's an incredible trip-you hike through remote villages where no other gringos come, you have beautiful views all along the way, play soccer with the indigenous kids and swim in the lake at the end before you take a bus back to Quetzaltenango. The price is 300Q (approx 50 dollarS) which includes food, bus fares, tents and additional equipment such as sleeping bag and boots if you need it (as for other trips as well). Quetzaltrekkers also do a tour to Santa Maria, the volcano near Quetzaltenango-unfortunately I didn't have time to do it, but I heard only good things about it. It is a 2 day trek, where you sleep on the top in full moon light.
All in all I can't recommend Quetzaltrekkers highly enough-they make wonderful treks and they support an extrememly important project which could not survive without their help. They can be contacted at Casa Argnetina's, Diagonal 12, 8-37, Zona 1, Quetzaltenango, tel 761 24 70, e: quetzaltrekkers@hotmail.com
Marie Juul Peterson (Aug 98)
Rio Dulce: Backpackers is operated by the Casa Guatemala home for abandoned, malnourished and orphaned children. All of their profits go directly to support their children's home on the Rio Dulce. [Backpackers is] situated right on the water's edge with a beautiful view of the Rio Dulce, and its spacious deck is a great place to trade travel tales, read or simply unwind while quenching your thirst with a less than a buck rum and coke.
The price for a dormitory room is 25Q, space for a hammock 15Q, the hammock another 10. I paid 50Q for a room with a bath situated over the water and fell asleep listening to its gentle lapping at the underpinning pillars. The entire place is kept spotless by the older charges from Casa Guatemala who do the daily housekeeping.
Casa Guatemala also provides free board and room for volunteers who pledge to a three month tour of duty at the orphanage. All the volunteers I talked to loved their tour of duty and the chance to help the children. They all used the opportunity to improve their Spanish fluency as well. Backpackers makes it easy to connect with others wanting to join up and cut costs for different adventures. email: casaguatemal@guate.net, fax: 502-331-9408.
Blaise - US (April 98)
GUATEMALA
