Guatemala Travel Advisory 2026

Current U.S. State Department advisory

Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip. Advisory as of March 11, 2026.

Official source: travel.state.gov

US vs UK: how the advice compares

🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov

Level 3· Reconsider Travel

Level 3 of 4 · as of March 11, 2026

🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)

Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country

Last updated June 17, 2026 · gov.uk advice

Latest UK update note: “Removal of information about Tropical Storm Cristina.”

See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.

Advisory level timeline

March 11, 2026 — current
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Guatemala since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.

Is Guatemala safe? What the official advisory says

to Guatemala due to crime and terrorism . Some areas have higher risks. Please read the full Travel Advisory.

Some areas of Guatemala have higher levels of gang-related violence. Crimes include robbery, carjacking, drug trafficking, assaults, and murders. Local law enforcement often struggles to address serious crimes. This leads to low arrest and conviction rates.

Tourists can become victims of opportunistic crimes such as scams and extortion.

There is risk of terrorist attacks and other terrorist activities from cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations in San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, and the city of Villa Nueva. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s Country Reports on Terrorism to learn more.

Tourist Assistance Program

Guatemala offers the Tourist Assistance Program (ASISTUR) to protect tourists.

ASISTUR partners with tourist police (DISETUR) in popular areas like Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Quetzaltenango, Puerto Barrios, and Coban.
Dial 1500 or +502-2290-2810 anytime from a Guatemalan phone number. You can also message them on WhatsApp at +502-5188-1819 . Their emergency call center operates in Spanish and English.
You can request a security escort if your group feels unsafe.

U.S. government employee travel restrictions

U.S. government employees and their families are not permitted to travel to the San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City, and Villa Nueva due to safety risks.
U. S. government employees can travel to other parts of Guatemala and visit popular destinations like Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and the Pacific coast areas in Santa Rosa and Escuintla. However, U.S. government employees should avoid driving outside Guatemala City at night. This is due to poor lighting and safety risks.
Outside of Zone 18 and Villa Nueva, U.S. government employees and their families can travel throughout Guatemala City, including at night.
U.S. government employees may not use white taxis or public transportation, like “chicken buses.” This is due to the high chance of crime and injury.

Condensed from the official State Department advisory of March 11, 2026 — read the full advisory before you travel.

Guatemala travel advisory FAQ

What is the current travel advisory level for Guatemala?

As of March 11, 2026, the U.S. State Department rates Guatemala at Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip.

What does Level 3 mean?

Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) — Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The State Department recommends reconsidering any trip.

When did the Guatemala travel advisory last change?

The current advisory was published on March 11, 2026. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.

Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Guatemala?

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (last updated June 17, 2026). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.