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guatemala city, gt

This won't be much more than a definition of what Guatemala City is. To be honest with you it is not dissimilar from the rest of the Central American large capital cities. It's kind of the worst. As compared to the rest of the big cities in Central America it's not the worst. But it's one of the worst. The city is essentially void of redeeming qualities. It's dirty, can be dangerous if you are in the wrong areas, there's very little to do or see, it's crowded, the traffic is awful, and it's not very pretty. However, as a traveler it is going to be nonetheless a very important landmark if you are traveling around Guatemala.  ​ The airport is here, many of the public buses will go through here. Shuttles will go through here, etc. So it's important to know where this is, and some of the logistical nuances.  ​ I have a recommendation for a hostel here that you can stay at if you need to do an overnight or something for a flight, but other than that I would say Guatemala City is generally a place that you can pass right through. Don't spend more time here than you need. Get in, get out. That's that. With that being said I am sure there are hidden gems throughout the city. Latch onto a local, and they could show you some cool stuff. — As with everywhere.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

  • LOCATION - Guatemala City or typically just referred as 'the city' or 'la ciudad' is pretty centrally located in the country. The reason it's an important landmark is two-fold — the airport is here, but it's also within relative proximity to most of the places you will want to go as a visitor to Guate. The drive to Antigua is only 45 minutes, and if you are going directly to the lake you can get there in as little as 2 hours. Since people typically just use Guatemala City as a starting off point, by either flying in or getting dropped off there by a bus, I will go into a few of the transportation methods to get out of the city. ​​

    • To Antigua -

      • Shuttle - Probably the most popular destination after flying into Guatemala City. The shuttle will take you directly from the airport to Antigua. They can be booked right here. The ride is going to take an hour-and-a-half, and you will be picked up from the airport. It's easy — not the cheapest, but safe and easy. ​

      • Chicken Bus - If you are feeling more adventurous and want to travel the way the locals do, you can take public transport, or a chicken bus. The chicken buses in Guatemala are the best in Central America. The owners take pride in their buses, they are all usually very intricately designed and painted, usually named, and it's a cool experience. But not for the faint of heart or the wary traveler. The bus will cost you a few dollars, and the ride will probably take 2 hours. You can pick up the chicken bus to Antigua here. I wouldn't really recommend this if you don't speak Spanish and aren't experienced traveling in Latin America. It can be daunting. 

      • Uber/Taxi - The easiest, fastest, and most expensive would just be to get a taxi or an Uber. With no traffic, the ride will take you about 45 minutes. It's going to cost about $25-30. So if you are traveling in a group, Uber will actually be cheaper than the shuttle. And faster. 

    • Neighborhood to stay in - Guatemala City is big, and can be daunting. I would recommend staying in Zone 4. It's an upscale kind of modern neighborhood with restaurants and shops. That's where my hostel recommendation will be. Here is a helpful Culture Trip article on the areas of Guatemala City. 

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  • ACCOMODATION - I wouldn't spend more than a night here if I were you, but if you have to stay in Guatemala City for an overnight or something like that then below is a good option. 

    • Tequila Sunrise Hostal - Located in the trendy Zone 4, it's an easy, safe and comfortable little hostel to pass the time. ​

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  • NIGHTLIFE - I don't know anything about the nightlife here. Occasionally I heard of big raves and parties in the city, but I never went to them. 

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  • SIGHTS - I didn't see anything, but there's a few things that people go see. Nothing that interesting though. Some museums. A plaza. Big city stuff.

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  • SURFING - Middle of a big stinky city. No waves.  

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