Visa/Entry

Required documents

The passport must be valid for the duration of the stay. The national driver's license is not a valid border document.
When entering from countries with yellow fever risk, an international yellow fever certificate is required, otherwise entry may be denied. The certificate must be at least 12 days old, as the vaccination protection is only valid after 12 days.

 

Entry without visa

No visa is required for entry. Travelers should definitely request the entry of a three-month duration of stay in the entry stamp, especially since a shorter duration of stay is often entered. It is also important to ensure that the passport is stamped on entry, otherwise there may be difficulties on exit. An extension of 90 days can be applied for at the immigration office. Guatemala is part of the C4 group (Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador) with a shared 90-day limit. An extension is possible in exceptional cases.

 

Vehicle Documents

Driver's License

The Austrian driver's license is recognized during the first 6 months of stay. The passport should also be carried. For stays longer than 6 months, the issuance of a Guatemalan driver's license is required.

 

Vehicle Importation

The import of a vehicle is 30 days. Temporary Import Permit can be solved at the border. The TIP is not registered in the passport.

 

Car insurance

Motor vehicle insurance is not required upon entry, but is strongly recommended. In the event of an accident with personal injury, all parties involved may be taken into custody until the facts of the case are clarified. 
A conclusion for an insurance in Guatemala (also valid in Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica is possible via "Todo Riesgo" online.

 

Camping

• Wild camping is basically possible in Guatemala, if you have no safety concerns.

• There are no pure campgrounds here, but many Finkas/Loges offer besides rooms and cabins also the possibility to camp.

 

Road network

• The main roads are the Panamericana, which runs from the Mexican border at Huehuetenango through Chimaltenango, Guatemala City, Cuilapa and Jutiapa to the border with San Salvador, and an asphalt road running parallel to the Pacific Ocean.

• The Carretera Interoceánica connects Puerto San José on the Pacific via Guatemala City with Puerto Barrios on the Atlantic. There are other well-built, but very winding mountain roads in the south of the country.

• Only about 1/3 of the entire road network is paved. Gravel roads and potholes are not uncommon even on longer stretches. Mountain roads are sometimes only one lane.

• There are sufficient gas stations everywhere; often only cash payment is possible.

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Sim cards

Cell phone network is well developed. Sim cards are already available at the border for tourists.

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Security

Security level varies by area. Increased crime directed against individuals is to be expected. 
Basically, we felt safe everywhere, even if the security situation is more difficult to assess than in Mexico, for example. 
However, general precautions are to be strictly observed.

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WLan

WiFi is available throughout the country. However, depending on the region, it is often extremely slow. 
Besides hotels, there is acceptable internet in many cafes and restaurants.

 

Spare parts

Spare parts and workshops can be found in Guatemala City for virtually all European brands. Smaller repairs can also be done in other cities. Prices for spare parts are sometimes significantly higher than in Europe.

 

Cost of living

Cost of living in Guatemala is much cheaper than in Europe, in terms of services and accommodation. Branded goods or even spare parts are often more expensive than in Europe.

 

Miscellaneous

Payment by credit card is not possible everywhere. Cash is still king, especially in smaller stores.