You might want to think twice before traveling to this Central American tourist hotspot.
The U.S. Department of State recently issued a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” advisory to U.S. travelers thinking about traveling to the Central American nation of Guatemala.
The advisory cautions travelers who are considering visiting Guatemala to avoid traveling to certain areas due to crime.
“Some areas of Guatemala have problems with gangs, robbery, carjacking, drug trafficking and violence,” the advisory reads. “Local law enforcement may not always respond well to serious crimes, leading to low arrest and conviction rates. While tourists are not usually targeted, they can still be victims of opportunistic crimes.”
There are some areas of Guatemala that are under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest level of travel warnings. They include the San Marcos Department, Huehuetenango Department, Zone 18 in Guatemala City and Villa Nueva.
Some areas frequented by tourists are still available for American tourists to visit, including Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán and the Pacific coast areas in Santa Rosa and Escuintla.
The State Department advises those who do decide to travel to Guatemala to take the following precautions:
You can find more ways to stay safe if you’re traveling in Guatemala here.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
Nadine Yousif and Ali Abbas AhmadiBBC News, TorontoWatch: Canadian liquor store clears out US alcohol in response to tariffsNot long after the US imposed their
Home » Philippines Travel News » Vietnam, Thailand, and Philippines Among Top Asian Destinations Most-Searched by American Travelers, Driven by Surge in Viet
Will Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods entering the U.S. affect tourism at home, tarnishing ties Canadians and Americans have shared for decades? It's a fair qu
Expectations that President Donald Trump will soon bar Afghans and Pakistanis from entering the United States has set off panic among Afghans who were promised