Is Antigua, Guatemala Safe? 9 Tips for Safe Travel in Guatemala

Last Updated on October 17, 2024

Guatemala is often associated with crime and violence. In talking with people, I’ve found this reputation keeps some from considering traveling there. 

It’s true that the crime rate in Guatemala is on the higher end – particularly in Guatemala City. But this shouldn’t dissuade people from visiting this Central American country. 

Crime in the capital city doesn’t mean that the entire country has high crime rates. In fact, most of the tourist trail throughout Guatemala is very safe. Including Antigua! 

Antigua was the first stop on my Guatemala itinerary. It was one of my first trips to Central America, and if I’m totally honest, I was a bit nervous! In telling people about the trip, many brought up the unsafe reputation that Guatemala has. 

Antigua, and the rest of Guatemala, showed me otherwise. I felt totally safe throughout my trip.

Is Antigua Safe to Visit? 

In my experience, yes, Antigua is safe to visit. According to local people I chatted with in Antigua, the biggest risk you’ll face in Antigua is petty crime like pickpocketing and theft – both of which are a risk, anywhere in the world. 

However, as with traveling anywhere, it’s important to check for local updates before and throughout your trip, because safety conditions in Antigua have the potential to change quickly. 

It’s also important to note that in many cases, safety is a perception. During my time in Antigua I felt safe, but that is from the perspective of a white, hetero woman (that’s me!) who was accompanied by her partner. I’m one woman – I can’t speak for all. 

It’s impossible to generalize safety for all women and people, because my experience was influenced by my identity, which includes gender, sexual identity, race, privilege, and more. 

So although I felt safe, I can’t speak for women who look different than me, have different backgrounds than mine, or women who travel solo in Antigua. 

The best way to get a sense of safety? Ask people who actually live there. I did this, and was assured that Antigua is safe aside from petty crime. It’s also always a good call to ask someone who looks like you, is from where you’re from, and has been to Antigua what their experience was. 

Guatemala is worth visiting, and in my experience, it was safe. If you’re interested in visiting, do your research, and ask people in your own community what their experiences were in Guatemala. Chances are, you’ll gain the confidence to go yourself!

Quick Facts About Antigua for Travelers

Before diving into safety tips for Antigua, let’s go over some interesting historical facts about this Guatemalan city.

• Antigua is a town located about a little over an hour west of Guatemala City. It has a population of over 30,000.
• Antigua was at one time the most important seat of the Spanish colonial government between Mexico City and Lima. The city was founded in 1527 as Santiago de Guatemala. 
• Over the course of hundreds of years, multiple natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions destroyed the city. This prompted authorities to order the relocation of the capital to a safer location, which became Guatemala City, the county’s capital today.
• Antigua was the cultural, economic, religious, political and educational center for the entire region, until the capital was moved. But this means there are historic buildings and ruins in Antigua, left from its influential past. 
• In 1979, Antigua was declared a World Heritage site by Unesco. 
• Something Antigua is known for is its Spanish schools. This is a popular city for foreigners to spend a few weeks in, doing an immersive Spanish language course. Want to learn Spanish? Antigüeña Spanish Academy was recommended to me as the best school in the city!

Antigua Safe Areas for Visitors

In my experience, the entire city of Antigua is safe. My partner and I comfortably walked all throughout the city, including in the less touristy areas, without ever feeling unsafe or even nervous. 

Areas to Avoid in Antigua

There are no specific areas of Antigua that should be purposefully avoided. However, there are some areas that you should be especially careful in, to avoid petty crime like pickpocketing. 

Crowded places like the markets, and popular areas around Parque Central are often very busy with tourists. This makes them target areas for pickpockets. 

You don’t need to be afraid to visit these areas of Antigua. Just be aware of what is going on around you, and keep an eye on your personal belongings when you’re in crowded areas. Make sure your bags are zipped up and secure, and if you can, keep your bags in front of you. 
In my experience, this advice is true of anywhere in the world.

Pickpockets exist in basically every city around the world, so it’s best to make it a habit that you’re cautious and aware, whenever you’re anywhere that’s crowded. 

How to Seek Help in Antigua 

Now that you know areas you should avoid in Antigua, let’s discuss what you should do in the event you need help from police, firefighters, or medical. 

Should you need medical attention, there are a few medical centers and hospitals in Antigua. The most recommended is Hospital de San Pedro. It’s private, and so service is typically fast, and the reviews are generally positive. This hospital is central, so it can be reached by walking or by taxi. 

In case of emergency in Antigua, Guatemala, here’s the numbers to dial:

• Police: 110 / 120.
• Medical assistance: 122 / 123.
• Firefighters: 122 / 123.

When I traveled to Antigua, I made sure to have these numbers saved in my phone. This way, I had easy access to them, just in case. 
Ensure you have purchased travel insurance prior to arriving in Guatemala, in case of an emergency, particularly medical.

If anything goes wrong health-wise, insurance is peace of mind that you’ll be reimbursed for the costs spent in a medical center or hospital. 

9 Essential Tips For Safe Travel in Guatemala

I’ve covered the question, “is Antigua safe?” Now, let’s cover 8 Guatemala safety tips to keep in mind. 

1. Be Cautious At Night

One of the main safety tips I heard from locals living in Antigua is to avoid walking around late at night. This is especially true if you are a woman traveling solo. 

Antigua tends to shut down early in the evening. At night, most businesses are closed. This means that the streets become quite empty, and you can find yourself totally alone in dim lighting. 

There are some bars and clubs that are open late, which of course, you might want to check out. If you do, I recommend going to them with a group so that you have a buddy system walking back to your hotel or hostel.If possible, instead of walking, take a taxi or tuk-tuk back to your accommodation.

Cerro de la Cruz is a viewpoint up on a hill near Antigua, and it’s a popular spot for watching the sunset. If you do head up for the sunset, be sure not to linger around afterward. It’s not recommended to be on the hill or the trail leading up it after dark.  

2. Practice Cultural Sensitivity in Guatemala

Having awareness about Guatemalan culture, and being sensitive to Guatemalan cultural norms is not just about safety – it’s one important way you can be a responsible tourist.

Guatemalan culture is characterized by a fusion of Spanish and Indigenous influences. Here are some key tips for following Guatemalan etiquette. 

• Guatemalans take titles like “doctor” seriously. Whenever possible, these formal titles should be used when addressing a person in discussion or in writing. 
• You should not take photos of Maya people without their permission. It’s considered offensive, and has the potential to intrude upon their spiritual beliefs. 
• Guatemala is in many ways a formal, conservative country. You’ll notice that many Guatemalan women wear traditional dress, and local men tend to wear pants rather than shorts. In general, people cover up. Given this, I recommend avoiding showing too much skin. For example, avoid crop tops and go for breathable linen pants instead of shorts. 

3. Update Your Travel Vaccinations

Before traveling to Antigua (and the rest of Guatemala), ensure your routine vaccinations are all up to date. You’ll also want to check your local country’s travel guidelines, or contact a travel clinic, to see if there are additional recommended vaccines.
 
For example, people traveling to Guatemala from countries where yellow fever is present, are required to be vaccinated against yellow fever. You may also want to inquire about vaccination against rabies, hepatitis, and medication for malaria prevention. 

4. Purchase Travel Insurance For Your Trip

No one wants things to go wrong on their trip, but sometimes accidents happen. Whether it’s a long flight delay, lost luggage, or a health issue, travel insurance will have your back. 

Travel insurance provides support, compensation, and medical care when things go wrong while traveling. Depending on your policy, it can provide support and compensation if your luggage is lost, if you slip and break a bone, or if you need to return home early due to an emergency in the family. Basically, it’s a financial safety net for your valuables and for emergencies. 

5. Be Cautious of Mosquitos

There are a couple mosquito-borne viruses present in Guatemala. Dengue Fever, Zika Virus and Chikungunya are carried by mosquitoes there, and the risk is present year-round. 

Mosquitos carrying these viruses are present mainly in the lowlands, urban areas, jungles, and beaches. 

These viruses can lead to very unpleasant illness and disease, so it’s important to be aware of it, and take some simple steps to avoid mosquito bites. You can protect yourself by using insect repellent, and wearing long pants. 

6. Keep An Eye on Your Luggage and Belongings

While in Antigua and the rest of Guatemala, don’t lose sight of your luggage, backpack, or other valuables. Particularly in crowded places, you’ll want to be aware of your surroundings and avoid leaving your things anywhere, unmonitored. 

It’s also always a good idea to reduce the amount of luggage you’re carrying with you. Pick pockets will often look for tourists who are carrying a tangle of bags, because when you’ve got lots of things, it’s harder to keep an eye on it all. 

7. Carry Cash For the Day

Regardless of where I am in the world, I only ever carry the amount of cash I will need for a day. The remainder of cash that I have is left in my hotel room, hotel safety box, or hostel locker.

I recommend practicing this in Antigua. That way, if you are pickpocketed, or simply lose your wallet or bag, you won’t have lost all of your cash. 

What about credit cards? In my experience, it’s not worth it to use them in Antigua. Most of my purchases (food, bus tickets, water) were small ticket items. Using a credit card to pay for such a small bill isn’t worth the hassle.

I used my credit card to pay for larger bills, like hotel stays. Aside from that, I left my credit cards in my hotel and hostel rooms throughout my trip, rather than taking them out for the day with me. 

8. Keep Up With the Latest News 

For updates, you can set up Google Alerts for Antigua and Guatemala. You’ll then receive email updates with the latest news. In my own travels in Guatemala, I found this helpful for keeping up with the latest in local news. 

It’s always a good idea to register your trip with the government in your home country. Being Canadian, I always use Registration of Canadians Abroad. 

It’s a free service that allows the Government of Canada to notify you in case of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home. The service also enables you to receive important information before or during a natural disaster or civil unrest.

It’s also worth following La Policía Nacional Civil (National Police) at @PNCdeGuatemala on X for updates on crime, gang activity and potential natural disasters. Just note that these updates are in Spanish. 

9. Purchase Mobile Data So You Can Stay Online

While in Guatamala, you’ll want to have a mobile data plan. Mobile data will help you with navigation, and translating on the fly. I find that knowing I have a means to research things and communicate in my pocket always adds to my feeling of safety while traveling.

You can get online with an easily with a quick-to-install eSIM through Airalo. What I appreciate most about Airalo’s eSIM is its simplicity. You can quickly select and activate an Airalo eSIM for Mexico through the Airalo app. Selecting, downloading, and activating your eSIM takes less than 5 minutes, and it’s easy to top up your eSIM if you run out of data.

You can get started with an Airalo eSIM, right here.

Final Thoughts on Traveling Safely in Antigua

It’s totally normal to have fear or hesitation before traveling somewhere new. Especially in the case of Guatemala – a country that has a reputation for being unsafe. 

So, is Antigua safe? In my experience yes. That said, it’s always good to do research about safety from the perspective of your identity.

Remember that there is crime everywhere, and as long as you take the necessary precautions, that shouldn’t deter you from exploring and seeing the world.