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You
have chosen a destination which offers a friendly welcome, natural wonders,
spectacular scenery, fascinating Indian villages and water sports. To
help you in planning for your trip, we offer the following information.
Climate
And Seasons
"The
Land of Eternal Spring" enjoys a temperature of about 75 F (20 C)
all year round. In the coastal areas and along the beaches, it may reach
as high as 100 F. In the highlands nights are quite cool. It is advised
that the visitor bring a sweater or jacket to wear after the sun sets.
The rainy season, in the central highlands, is from June to October and
is characterized by clear skies before and after the showers.
Clothing +
Casual
clothes - slacks, jeans, shorts, etc. - are appropriate for almost all
daytime and evenings activities. Slightly dressier clothing is appropriate
for evenings out in Guatemala City restaurants and nightclubs.
Useful
items to include in packing list
For Highlands
(Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Antigua)
Lightweight plastic raincoat / umbrella (June - October)
Sweater or jacket
Sneakers or hiking boots
Extra pair of sneakers (These may get wet)
Camera and plenty of film
For
Tikal you must add
Suntan lotion, sunscreen, wide brimmed hat and sunglasses
Mosquito repellent
Luggage
It
is handy to take a small bag for overnight excursions to tikal. We suggest
a fold-up expandable type that can be carried in your large suitcase.
A backpack is a necessity for those who plan to do a lot of bird watching
or hiking through the jungles.
Documents
United
States citizens need only a valid passport for travel to Guatemala. Others
should contact the Guatemala Consulate for entry requirements.
Currency
And Exchange Rate
The
currency of Guatemala is the QUETZAL, but U.S. dollars, traveler's checks
and major credit cards are accepted as payment in many hotels and shops.
The exchange rate fluctuates, so check with local tour guide upon arrival
in Guatemala for current rate.
Taxes
And Tips
As in most countries, taxes are unavoidable and tips are given on the
basis of the quality of service rendered. The amounts suggested for tips
in this section are a guideline for appropriate tips for average to good
service. Note: It is helpful to carry a small quantity of US $1 bills
for tips and easy change.
Hotels:
A 10% tax is levied on all room charges. Bellboys and maids are generally
tipped for their services on the average of $.50 per bag and $.50 to $1.00
per room per night of accommodation respectively.
Restaurants:
There is a 10% sales tax and 10% gratuities usually added to restaurants
bills. It is customary to leave an additional 5% - 10% for good or excellent
service.
Tour
guides and drivers: On group tours, the average tip for a tour guide
is $3.00 to $4.00 per person for full day tours and $2.00 per person for
half day tours or 10% of tour cost. The drivers tip is usually half of
what is given to the guide. For private car tours, guides generally receive
at least $10.00 per full day tour and $5.00 per half day.
Airports:
On international departures there is an exit tax of about US$ 20.00.
Valuables
We suggest that while touring or shopping you leave your passport and
the bulk of your money in the hotel safe; only take with you the money
you intend to spend or exchange at that particular time. It is also helpful
to take a copy of the picture page of your passport to carry in your wallet
because it is sometimes needed to exchange traveler's checks. This copy
can also be useful in the event your passport is lost or stolen.
Health
No inoculations are required for travel to Guatemala, but anti-malaria
tablets are recommended for extended stays in the jungle.
Electric
Current
The electric current is the same as in the United Sates, 110 volts AC.
Time
Differences
The hour in Guatemala is the same as Central Standard Time in the United
States. Daylight savings time is not observed.
Language
The official language is Spanish, but English is spoken in most hotels,
restaurants, shops, and markets in the cities and tourist destinations.
In addition some 20 autonomous languages are spoken in highland regions.
Business
Hours
Banks: 8:00am/3:00pm Monday - Friday
Shops and Shopping Centers: 8:00am/1:00pm and 3:00pm/7:00pm Monday - Saturday
Commerce and Industry: 8:00am/12:00pm and 2:00pm/6:00pm Monday - Friday
Some businesses are open on Saturdays.
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