Guatemala is open to tourists from most countries. Visitors are required to bring proof of a negative PCR COVID test result taken at least 72 hours prior to departure.
Guatemala does not allow the entry of travelers who have been in the United Kingdom or South Africa in the 14 days prior to their arrival. Returning nationals must undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Disclaimer: Travel restrictions and governmental regulations can change rapidly and the information below might be outdated within a few hours. Therefore, double-check all information with your embassy or on official websites. Traveling Lifestyle does not take any responsibility for your decision to travel.
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Guatemala Reopening – Latest Updates
April 27 – Guatemala launches a new Guatemala-New York City route
A few days ago, Guatemala officially launched a new Guatemala/New York City route operated by JetBlue. The airline will have 1 flight per day between Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
“Growing JetBlue’s presence in Latin America and the Caribbean is key to our continued success internationally and Guatemala City service will play an important role in maintaining our leadership role in the region,” said Andrea Lusso, vice president network planning, JetBlue.
Guatemala is one the few countries accepting American tourists at the moment.
March 27
Guatemala has received its first shipment with 81,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, through the COVAX mechanism. The country expects to receive 6.6 million vaccines from the same program so they can reach its objective of immunizing 20% of its population.
“These are the first vaccines received and acquired with our own funds to strengthen the COVID-19 vaccination process. With these doses, we hope to complete the first phase of our vaccination plan for front-line personnel in the public, private, and Social Security systems,” said Dr. Amelia Flores, Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance.
So far, the country has administered 0,5 doses per 100 people.
Who is allowed to enter Guatemala now?
All countries, but visitors from the UK and South Africa are allowed to enter Guatemala. Standard visa rules and regulations apply.
Which airlines are resuming flights to Guatemala?
- Miami and Dallas operated by American Airlines
- Houston, Washington, Newark operated by United
- Atlanta operated by Delta
- San Salvador operated by Avianca
- Madrid operated by Iberia
- Mexico City operated by Aeromexico
- Fort Lauderdale, Orlando operated by Spirit Airlines
- Houston operating by Spirit Airlines (starts in NOVEMBER)
Is Guatemala safe to visit during COVID?
That depends on the visitors’ own health and willingness to comply with biosafety measures. Guatemala has a CDC travel advisory level 3, which means it is not considered to be safe to visit during COVID-19.
In general, the CDC tends to be very cautious on its approach to travel, discouraging even interstate travel in the US. Depending on the traveler’s overall health and age, they should reconsider non-essential traveling to Guatemala. (Source: CDC.gov)
Is the border between Mexico and Guatemala open?
Yes, the border between Mexico and Guatemala is open with the standard visa procedure. Proof of a negative COVID PCR test is required to enter either country.
Are the land borders of Guatemala open?
The Guatemala-Mexico border crossing has been restricted due to political unrest. Likewise, Guatemala-Belize border will remain closed due to the lack of control over the pandemic according to the Belize government.
Is there a curfew in Guatemala?
No, the curfew has been lifted.
COVID-19 Situation in Guatemala
As of April 27 Guatemala has reported 223,025 COVID-19 cases, and 7,453 deaths caused by the virus.
Should people travel to Guatemala at the moment?
La Aurora international airport has been open for international visitors since September.
In the light of this good news, some world travelers may consider the time has come for them to include this often ignored Central American destination on the list of tropical places to escape in 2021.
It is important for visitors to be thoroughly informed about the pandemic and the political unrest situation in the country before they run to grab their passports and start dreaming of beautiful beaches, nice cold drinks.
Guatemala is determined to bounce back after the pandemic’s negative economic impact
Travelers may have heard of Guatemala as a Central American country sadly famous for the security issues it experienced in the past, which prompted the US Department of State to publish a travel advisory for US nationals to exercise extreme caution when visiting.
Despite its reputation, in recent years the country has been silently improving its economy, security rates and increasing its tourism. Their efforts appeared to have been hindered when the pandemic hit, halting the economy and delaying Guatemala’s goals for the future.
However, the resiliency of the country is unwavering and just a few days ago, the government presented an ambitious inter-institutional joint plan to foster tourism and other commercial sectors in the aftermath of COVID-19. This new strategy for the promotion of tourism has 7 central pillars,
- International trade promotion
- Active search for business opportunities
- Monitoring of product admissibility processes
- Foreign direct investment attraction
- The promotion of Guatemala as a tourist destination
- Support in international events
- Strengthen the market intelligence management system
In order to achieve these things, national authorities have reportedly announced that they are working on the opening of commercial counseling offices in Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.
The best thing about all this seems to be that the country is truly coming together around a common strategy. Just a few weeks ago, “The Center for Corporate Social Responsibility -CentraRSE-” launched a high profile talk featuring national authorities, decision-makers, and CEO’s to discuss strategies, perspectives and opportunities that may contribute to sustained economic growth.
Guatemalan officials’ strategy in these times of crisis is to double down on their efforts and perhaps see the opportunities arising from a tragedy that has shaken bigger and more stable countries.