Guatemala Country & Tourist Information

Location
Central America.

Area
108,889 sq km (42,042 sq miles).

Population
13 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
119.3 per sq km.

Capital
Guatemala City.
Population: 942,348 (2002).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Spain in 1821. Head of State and Government: President Oscar Berger Perdomo since 2003. Recent history: The most recent polls in December 2003 brought victory for the Frente Republicano - Guatemalteco (FRG) for a second consecutive term. The FRG and the Plan por el Adelantamiento Nacional (National Advance Party, PAN) now dominate Guatemalan politics. Only now has the Government been prepared to admit that its predecessors, especially the Rios Montt regime, were responsible for massive human rights abuses: this is still a central and highly sensitive issue in Guatemalan domestic politics. Abroad, the main issue facing the country remains the dispute with neighboring Belize, over which Guatemala has territorial claims; 1993 saw the signing of a non-aggression pact by the two Governments, and as a concession, Belize granted the Guatemalans access to its maritime facilities. The following year, however, the Guatemalan government reasserted its territorial claim at the UN; in 2000, it did so again, claiming half of Belize’s current territory. Despite international mediation efforts, relations between the two remained tense. Then, in September 2002, the Organization of American States (the main pan-regional political alliance) brokered a draft settlement of the dispute which may form the basis for a permanent accord.
Under the 1986 constitution, legislative power is vested in a single-chamber elected assembly with 80 members directly elected every four years. The President, also elected every four years, holds executive power.

Language
The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken in tourist areas and major hotels and restaurants. 22 indigenous languages are also spoken.

Religion
The constitution guarantees freedom of worship, but 60 per cent of the population are Catholic. Most of the remaining population are Protestant. Some indigenous communities hold services combining Catholicism with pre-Columbian rites.

Time
GMT - 6.

Electricity
115-125 volts AC, 60Hz. There are some regional variations.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 502. Telephone calls to Europe are slightly cheaper between 1900 and 0700.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. Coverage is increasing in Guatemala; consult network operator for details.

Internet
Internet is available in large towns; there are several Internet cafes in Guatemala City and the main tourist areas.

Media
Freedom of press is good in Guatemala and the press tends to freely criticize Government policies. However, journalists may face intimidation because of their reporting, such as anonymous threats. Media is dominated by privately-run outlets. Four of the country’s national TV channels share the same owner, thus perhaps biasing TV broadcasting. They have also been criticized for being pro-Government.


Post
Regular airmail to Europe takes 12 days.

Press
Publications include Diario Centroamérica, La Hora, El Periódico, Prensa Libre and Siglo Veintiuno. English-language publications include Central America Report, Guatemala Weekly, The Review and Siglo News.

Radio
La Voz de Guatemala is a Government-owned radio station. Emisoras Unidas de Guatemala, Radio Continental, Radio Nuevo Mundo and Radio Panamericana are commercial stations.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
5-8 Apr Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
30 Jun Army Day.
15 Aug Assumption (Guatemala City only).
15 Sep Independence Day.
20 Oct Revolution Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
24 Dec Christmas Eve (afternoon only).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve (afternoon only).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
20-24 Mar Easter.
1 May Labor Day.
30 Jun Army Day.
15 Aug Assumption (Guatemala City only).
15 Sep Independence Day.
20 Oct Revolution Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
24 Dec Christmas Eve (afternoon only).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve (afternoon only).

Contact Information:

Guatemala Tourism Institute (INGUAT)
Centro Cívico, 7A Avenida 1-17, Zona 4, Guatemala City 01004, Guatemala
Tel: 2421 2810 or 1 801 464 8281 (toll-free within guatemala) or 1 800 464 8281 (in the USA).
Website: www.visitguatemala.com

Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in the UK
13 Fawcett Street, London SW10 9HN, UK
Tel: (020) 7351 3042.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 1000-1700; 1000-1600 only for walk-in queries (consular section).
The embassy also handles tourism queries.

Embassy of the Republic of Guatemala in the USA
2220 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 745 4952.
Website: www.guatemala-embassy.org


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