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Guatemala Travel Risk Level

Level 3 — Reconsider Travel

Guatemala faces an elevated risk from terrorism and drug-related violence, with the US State Department issuing a Level 3 advisory. There was no change to the advisory level.

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Government travel advisories

The headline risk level reflects the US State Department and UK FCDO advisories. France Diplomatie and Germany's Auswärtiges Amt apply more conservative criteria and are shown below for additional context.

US State Department

Level 3 · whole-country level
There was no change to the advisory level. The “terrorism” risk indicator was added. Advisory summary was updated. Reconsider travel to Guatemala due to crime and terrorism . Some areas have higher risks. Please read the full Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: San Marcos Department due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Huehuetenango Department due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Zone 18 in Guatemala City and the city of Villa Nueva due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Advisory summary 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 emp
Higher-risk regions — Level 4 (Do Not Travel): San Marcos Department due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Huehuetenango Department due to crime and terrorism by cartels, gangs, and criminal organizations. Zone…
View full US advisory →

UK FCDO

See our travel advice before travelling · whole-country level
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: within 5km of the Mexican border from the Pacific Coast up to and including the Gracias a Dios crossing to the towns of Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia in the department of Huehuetenango Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel to these areas . Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice . Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO : travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Higher-risk regions — Advise against all but essential travel: FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: within 5km of the Mexican border from the Pacific Coast up to and including the Gracias a Dios crossing to the towns of Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio…
View full UK advisory →

France Diplomatie

Heightened vigilance · whole-country level
France Diplomatie : vigilance renforcée sur l'ensemble du pays (jaune).
View full FR advisory →

Germany Auswärtiges Amt

Travel advice (Reisehinweise) · whole-country level
Auswärtiges Amt: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (general travel and security advice); no travel warning in effect.
View full DE advisory →

Active disaster alerts (GDACS)

flood · Magnitude 0
Green flood alert in Guatemala
On 09/07/2026, a flood started in Guatemala, lasting until 12/07/2026 (last update). The flood caused 0 deaths and 2 displaced .
Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:40:35 GMT · 2w ago

Health alerts (WHO)

No active WHO health alerts for Guatemala at this time.

Global & regional health alerts (WHO)

Cross-border outbreaks and pandemic-scale alerts that affect travellers regardless of destination.

Global · Chikungunya
Chikungunya virus disease- Global situation
2025-10-03T11:25:30Z
Global · Mpox
Broader transmission of mpox due to clade Ib MPXV – Global situation
2025-12-05T19:00:00Z
Global
Seasonal influenza - Global situation
2025-12-10T19:00:00Z
Global
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus - Global update
2025-12-24T05:38:07Z
Global · Mpox
Mpox: recombinant virus with genomic elements of clades Ib and IIb – Global situation
2026-02-14T19:00:00Z

Recent risk-level changes

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to travel to Guatemala?

Guatemala is currently assessed at Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) based on the US State Department and UK FCDO advisories. There was no change to the advisory level.

What is the current US State Department travel advisory for Guatemala?

The US State Department currently rates Guatemala at Level 3 — Reconsider Travel — for the country as a whole. Specific areas carry a higher level (Do Not Travel). There was no change to the advisory level.

What is the current UK FCDO advice for Guatemala?

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently advises: "See our travel advice before travelling" for Guatemala as a whole. It advises against travel to parts of the country (Advise against all but essential travel). Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

What is the current France Diplomatie advice for Guatemala?

France Diplomatie currently advises "Heightened vigilance" for Guatemala as a whole. France Diplomatie: vigilance renforcée sur l'ensemble du pays (jaune).

What is the current Germany Auswärtiges Amt advice for Guatemala?

Germany's Auswärtiges Amt currently advises "Travel advice (Reisehinweise)" for Guatemala as a whole. Auswärtiges Amt: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (general travel and security advice); no travel warning in effect.

Other countries at Level 3