Guatemala is located in Central America and shares borders with Mexico, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The country has access to two main waterways: the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The capital, Guatemala City, is located in the south of the country.
Guatemala's largest airport, La Aurora International Airport, is located near Guatemala City. It is one of the largest airports in Central America and offers direct flights to Madrid, as well as locations throughout North America and South America.
Bus tours are available for travel by land. You can also rent a car or motorcycle, but you are required to purchase local insurance.
Guatemala has three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua, a site of preserved 8th century Mayan statues; Antigua Guatemala, a ruined city and former capital of Guatemala; and Tikal National Park, a rural attraction with intact Mayan temples, palaces and monuments. In addition, the Maya Biosphere Reserve, the second-largest rainforest on the continent, is a popular spot for ecotourism.
Visitors can also explore Guatemala by boat, learn Spanish at one of the country's language immersion schools or visit seven volcanoes throughout the country.
Several prominent travel sources, including the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City and the Lonely Planet guidebook, caution that tourists are frequently the targets of crime in Guatemala. Robberies are prominent, particularly along heavily traveled tourist routes and trails. Travelers should exercise caution and keep valuables safe and hidden, or leave them at home.
According to the CIA World Factbook, drug trafficking is also a major concern in Guatemala. Be wary of strangers who ask you to look after or carry items for them, and always alert the police if you are concerned for your safety.
Guatemala's civil aviation authority was upgraded from a Class 2 to a Class 1 ranking by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2007. This means that the country is now in compliance with international air travel regulations.
In 2010, the Global Peace Index ranked Guatemala as 112th most peaceful country, out of 149 nations. Neighboring countries in Central America--Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador--had similarly low rankings, owing to political unrest in the region.
