Antigua is a well known and loved destination near Guatemala City. It is growing as a tourist destination because of it’s calm and safety, and has more tourist supported activities. It is not unusual to walk amongst people in the town who speak English. The city is fairly small and the central area is well policed. There are plenty of locals and visitors on the streets day and night, although as with all tourist destinations across the world, walking extremely late hours of the night is not recommended. As with any travel protocol, we advise not to stray far from the center of the city and after dark, use only taxis or ubers for traveling distances.

International destinations all require a passport with at least six (6) months’ validity. American and Canadian passports do not require a visa to enter Guatemala. Customs entry forms require a destination address and length of stay. Your hotel of choice will serve as your address. No shots nor inoculations are required to enter the country.

You will receive a customs form from te flight attendant while on the plane. You’ll need your flight number and passport number to complete this form. Make sure you mark “Turismo” (you’re officially a “tourist”), and be certain you have this completed before leaving the airplane. Visit "About Guatemala" under the Photos tab to find a picture of a sample customs form filled out.

When you get off the plane, simply follow the signs that say "Immigration" or "Migracion." First your passport is checked. Have it open to the picture page and wait until it gets stamped.

Proceed around the corner to the baggage claim. Make sure you have your baggage ticket.

If you travel with only a carry-on, it. can take as little as a few minutes to get through both immigration and customs - or a half hour or more, depending on lines. With checked bags, allow for more time, as you will need to wait for your bags to clear to arrivals baggage claim. There will be agents who will check that the luggage is yours by your luggage claim check. For your added security, there is usually a check point wit X-Rays for all bags before you exit the airport.

If you book through our recommended agency, CTA Travel, Justin will assure you have the latest information on process and transportation from the airport, as well as around the beautiful city of Antigua. More information to come on this website, also, re shuttle pickup at the airport!

He should wear a dark or light color suit and tie.

She should wear a long gala dress. Since is a daytime wedding we suggest for your dress pallet light colors, floral stamps. And if desire you can add a hat as special touch, since we expect it to be sunny.

During the month of May, the sun in Antigua will set around 6:00pm and temperatures will drop to around 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

For a small country, Guatemala has many climate zones and two seasons, the dry season (November - May) and the rainy season (June to October)

Antigua: Temperatures will range between 75° and 80° F during the day, and 55° to 60° F at night.

Guatemala City: Average temperatures in February range between 55° and 75° F

Tikal: Hot, humid and tropical from 85°-90°F during the day and 60°F at night

Atitlán: 80°F during the day and 50°F at night

Although Antigua offers public transportation, we encourage all guests to use name brand shuttles and cabs to get around. When taking a cab, make sure it is a yellow cab (Taxi Amarillo), or simply ask your hotel concierge to call one for you.

Some trusty websites for getting around are Yellow Taxi - Amarillo Express

Additional tours can be booked through Adrenalina Tours

Guatemalan currency is the Quetzal, ~Q7.00 to $1.00. Currency Exchange is safest at the airport or at a local bank.

Most retailers accept major credit cards including Visa, Master Card and American Express. Diners Club and American Express sometimes might have a harder time being accepted at smaller retailers. If purchasing at a local market you should haggle for the best price.

Most restaurants in Guatemala will already include a tip in your final bill. Tip, or "propina" is usually 10% of the consumption and will be totaled into your check. If you receive exceptional service, you can always leave something additional, although it is up to your discretion!

Contrary to popular belief, Guatemalan food is not traditionally spicy. Although you may find a chef with some extra pep up his sleeve, 9 times out of 10, your food will not arrive to table spicy. If you are looking for some heat, here are some spices to give your food a kick: Chiltepe, Chile Cobanero and Habanero, Chile Escabeche, Chile Verde. Simply ask that either be added and enjoy!

In case of any emergencies, please contact the Fire department, dial 123 from a local phone. You can also visit the

US Embassy in Guatemala

Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Telephone: +(502) 2326-4000

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(502) 2331-2354

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Send us an email! We are always updating our website and any questions you may have, someone else may be asking, too. We’ll make sure we add your inquiries, with answers, to our site. To visit Guatemala’s tourism department page, you may also click HERE

They have some pretty cool 360 virtual tours!

Email to Justin Dolan for any additional questions you may have

justind@ctatravel.com

Thanks for sharing this adventure with us.

Love,

B+L