Although it's definitely the fashion to bash Guate City into the ground, it's really a place worth checking out if you want to see how the country ticks. The much-maligned Zona 1 has some great little hotels and hostels, and I actually walked around even at night without a single problem. Yeah, someone tried to grab my cell phone in the central park as some fat, sleepy police looked on, but they were absolutely drunk enough to easily run away from. It was good exercise...

Zona 1 is deadly dangerous at night, crawling with thieves, and pickpockets roam during the day. There are also teams working to slash your backpack as you walk to the buses.

Unless you want to test dangerous and unpleasant waters, Guatemala has a lot better to offer than a dirty, dusty, violent city with few redeeming qualities.

The people that go there, and I know a few Guatemalan people that live in the city, or visit it frequently, either live in a relatively safe neighborhood, or go there for the drug and gang action. Theres a pretty rough and active gang and drug scene there. If you are one of their clan, I suppose you'll be welcome.

Some say that Zone 10 is safe, but it takes a bit of money to stay there.

Bottom line, there are many other Guatemalan cities that are much safer, and equally rewarding experiences if you're on a limited time schedule.

What is in Guat City?

A pretty stuffy stuffed animal museum, a zoo I've heard existed, and not much else to see or do save go to "inmigration' for new papers, or other such issues such as car passports or dog passports.

Best thing about Guate City is it{s only a $10 shuttle ride from Antigua!

Tandemmak seems to have joined BnA to pass on some extremely poor advice. He is either posting from a financial interest ( a tourist business/investment ), or from a lack of knowledge, or both.

Guatemala City is an open sewer. The zoo is the best in CA, and if you can afford $100+ per night in Zone 10 you might enjoy spending a night and a morning in the Capital. Beyond that, it is not worth the time, money, or danger. There are some people who enjoy slumming, but this is very dangerous slumming.

There is too much wonderful to see in Guatemala. Close your eyes, cover your mouth and nose, and get out of Guatemala City as quickly as the traffic jams will allow.

Well, Guate-hating will never go out of style... all I'm giving are my experiences, yeah it's seedy and rough around the edges but there's plenty of restaurants and clubs open late, a cool, historic Chinese restaurant on the market street, two nice vegetarian restaurants within a few blocks from the park (one directly on it – El Rey Sol). People live, work, go to school and shop in Zona 1 every day, and there's a big market street that is basically pedestrianized. Yeah there's thieves about, yes it's the only place I've ever had a physical confrontation in the country (just a drunk trying to grab my phone), but it's certainly not an 'open-sewer,' and that's just a silly blanket dismissal of an interesting part and vibrant part of the city.

Maybe you can tell all these travelers about their bad judgement:

http://www.travelpod.com/s/posada+belen

It's a fantastic place with a lot of heart and I guess you can accuse 85% of the travelers on Trip Advisor of working for it too... there's at least 4 other nice little hotels within a few blocks of it and lots of restaurants and clubs where you can meet locals (since everyone is cowering in Zona 10, there's very few foreigners out).

Another worthwhile, historical choice:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... lands.html

No it's not the place to wander around flashing pearls and sip martinis on the terrace, or even for people who get nervous easily really, but obviously it's an area that many people legitimately enjoy. (Disclaimer: I own all the hotels in Zona 1).

Seriously, everyone's opinion is valid... I'm not going to accuse you of having unsavory business relations in Antigua just because you're raging on poor old Guate

Actually meant to post the Tripadvisor link for Belen:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... lands.html

And again, it's an awesome little place – absolutely recommended. I think staying in Zona 10 at all just sounds... tacky. All down to personal preferences, and naturally some people will want to give the city a miss. Just not all.

Seriously, it seems like a fad or something for inexperienced travelers to rip on Guate City because they feel so confident they can use every expletive they know to describe it and sound superior. Ask those people what part of the center the actually KNOW, though, and it turns out they've just driven through some sketchy neighborhoods to get to their cush little Antigua romper room. "Oh it was just so terrrrrible! I saw a man with scary tattoos!"

Again, not saying there are not dangerous parts and situations (that are easy to avoid from if you're alert), but accusing people who appreciate it of being into drugs or gangs and dragging out every gnarly word in the book for the place... that can perhaps be given a rest, it's overdone. For those who want to get a real feel for how the country works, it's worth visiting.

...I also don't think Mark Twain would've approved of either of you basing so hard on poor old Guate, but sadly he's not around to say.

Ahhh Juan3, I forgot that YOU were the one going on about the awful "gutter Spanish" of the indigenous people. A real Guate expert, you.

(and yes, I own a huge tourist complex in Zona 1... huge.)

Seriously, it seems like a fad or something for inexperienced travelers to rip on Guate City because they feel so confident they can use every expletive they know to describe it and sound superior.

I am not inexperienced, and I found it very sketchy. I also was there at night, and I can say it was sketchy. Not quite up to San Salvador standards, but bad enough. I have seen the city during the day, and had the honor of trying to get a friend of mine a passport stamp and travelling papers. The attempt failed because she was stymied the first day by bureacratic stupidity, and never bothered to go back to try again once the first roadblock was removed(they finally believed her when she said she was sleeping on a mini-bus when they crossed the border from Mexico. This took an entire day, and by the time we saw someone capable of helping us past the catch-22, the office hours were ended.) She wasn't too patient.

Juan3 is no inexperienced tourist. Felix is no inexperienced tourist. Felix has seen more of the Americas than most of us here, judging from his detailed posts. He's certainly seen more than I have. I just don't see the point of bashing people who aren't into gonzo backpacking, and going into relatively dangerous areas to prove how un-dangerous they are.

There are people who climbed the volcanoes in Guatemala when everyone said they were an invitation to robbery. Perhaps 9 out of 10 of these people went up and down with no trouble, but the other ones were robbed, stripped naked, and tied to trees. I've talked to them. That's why I say there are better places to be, safer, and just as rewarding. Queltzatenango is a perfectly nice city with lots of life in it, though clearly, it lacks the knifes edge of danger.

Most importantly, as we've said, there are better places to spend ones time in on a limited schedule besides a capital city in Central America. They tend to be the least attractive places to visit.

If you've seen a pickpocket operate in daytime, then clearly you're dismissing the danger as the cost of being in the city. Now, if anyone is reading this, here is a list of things to do if one MUST go to Guate, and one is not taking a bus out.

1. Stay in Antiqua and take the bus or shuttle into the city during the daytime. It's much safer during the day. Leave your passport and important papers, credit cards in your hotel, if its a safe place, if you can.

2. Take no backpack, dress in long pants and nicer shirt, no sandals. Its best not to be a tourist target. Sneakers are fine, everyone has them.

3. If you need to get to a place far away, take a cab. They're cheap enough.

4. get out before dark.

Thanks for the info if I DO have to stay in guat city, however.

Sorry, didn't mean to single out just you folks, I just find that people seem to really go overboard in their condemnation without much first-hand experience. I guess when ole' "gutter Spanish" Jose accused me of having "business interests" in the capital, I took a bit of umbrage... hard to imagine what kind of business I could possibly have that funneling a few B&A readers into the capital could help with (except for the fact that I DO own Zona 1).

I've definitely seen a pickpocket operating by day in Guate. Unlike in, say, Barcelona, where I saw at least a dozen(!) pickpockets operating during a single hour – they're quite amazing there, really. Pickpockets are everywhere, and also show up in Guatemala's awesome ferias, even in the remote countryside. Having some pants with a secure pocket in the front really goes a long way... leaving something in a loose pocket in the back is pretty much a request to have it taken. Just don't let anyone in your personal space, and don't be afraid to hop away quickly if someone ends up there.

And true, it's not the best place to go on a limited stay, absolutely... however, for someone who's traveled around the country a bit, has some extra time, and wants to see the heart of the country (and though some will deny it, it is the financial, intellectual, commercial, and and government center). In fact, it's really a must-experience. Yes, with caution, but that could be said about most places. It's fine to enjoy the clubs and restaurants at night, just use taxis.

IF you do go, the two hotels I listed above are obviously very, very popular with a certain kind of traveler. Again, I can't speak highly enough of Posada Belen, and one night there is enough to change most people's minds about the character of Zona 1. Also, I know that *no one* who has spent an evening in the pedestrianized Cuatro Grados 4 is going to knock it as any more dangerous than Antigua (granted, it's about 5 blocks by 10, but still... fun place). Bottom line, some people do stay, go out at night, and enjoy downtown Guate, partially because it's not inundated with tourists and nervous rich people like (ugh) Zone 10.

I'll admit that most times, I've gone into the city with minimal belongings, leaving them instead in Antigua. It was just a precaution, but I felt more secure and had a better time for it.

If you think that Xela lacks the "knife's edge" of danger, you've only seen the handle of it... that place also has some deadly rough neighborhoods, and I've heard some crazy stories as well, including one woman who was robbed in the bus station with a crowd of onlookers who did nothing. Walking around anywhere but a block or so from the central park after midnight is not advisable unless you can spot signs of danger and know how to run. That being said, I love Xela too and am here at the moment!

Over on "the other forum" someone just posted about a man who was robbed and stripped naked this week... right in the center of Antigua. Apparently he was "coming home from a bar," which says a lot. A lot of robberies depend on the way the target is walking or stumbling... if you can't pass a sobriety test, you're going to look mighty tasty those folks in the shadows.

There's much about Guatemala City that is unpleasant. This doesn't mean there aren't worthwhile things to do there, but the return isn't worth it, in my opinions. This is coming from someone who loves big cities that are often maligned by most - I love Sao Paulo, I love Mexico City, I love Naples. Guatemala City leaves me cold. I've had a few lovely lunches there, a couple of raging nights out on the town, but Zona 1? You've got to be kidding. It's not a place to let down your guard. In other words, it's not a place to relax. Any serious Guatemalaphile while obviously spend time there, but for most people, it's a place best avoided.

It is good to have contrarians on this forum, otherwise, we would all just be agreeing with each other, with little discussion. However, those who take the minority position must keep in mind that most of the people who read this forum will only be in a new country for a few days or weeks. They have saved for, and dreamed of, their vacation for months, and deserve to have the best advice possible to enable them to have a trouble free and enjoyable time.

Tandemmak,
Having a business or investment in Guatemala is wonderful, as it provides employment for locals. However, it has been my experience that often a business owner does not see things in the same light as others. I can name at least 5 different business owners who downplay the dangers of robbery in Guatemala, just because it hasn't happened to them yet (even though the two organizations,that are like a Chamber of Commerce for Guatemala City, have recently stated that approximately 50% of their members have been extorted, robbed, or kidnapped).

I feel the same way you do about camping. Some of my happiest times in my 20's were spent camping. You had a great time camping with locals, but that was due to local knowledge. Hostel rooms are too cheap to not to take advantage of their additional safety, if you do not have the advantage of camping with locals you know and trust.

Share with us your local knowledge and enjoyable experiences, but remember that most travelers do not have the time to spend trying to find a safe camping area or a decent place to stay in Zone 1.

Well probably the least experienced on Guatemala here but have a lot of experience with the infamous Trip Advisor you refer to & wouldn't believe much written there as they tend to banis the truth & just leave forum posts & reviews that are friendly to their advertisers.

The only capitol city (in North & CA)I have found that I would any amount of time in is Panama City but I dislike cities.

As I stated earlier even in Antigua (where I did spemd 3 months) take a cab at night.

IMHO it is bot serving the interests of the majority of readers at BnA to recommend Guatemala City or any other CA city with the exception of Panama as a destination.

Point taken Juan, I do think it's good to have opposing viewpoints though... honestly though I see B&A travelers as being a bit more independent then your average, say, Frommer-carrying tourist. And plenty of others who would certainly spend the time to get the right facts about camping (like the post below), which is still a very valid option in CA if one goes about it the right way.

Of Guate's Zona 1, Rough Guide, for example, says "Tentative signs of regeneration are emerging, with conservationists attempting to preserve the capital's heritage as clusters of new bars and cafes are opening in the city's historical buildings," and that the area, although not without dangers, is the "most exciting part of the capital." That was enough for me to get interested and disregard some of the more hysterical "you're gonna diiiiiiiie" warnings, and I am extremely glad that I did. No, it's not for all travelers, and certainly not for someone on a four day Antigua-Chichi-Pana blur tour, but hey, *I* came to B&A for advice a while ago before coming to the country, and I don't think I'm too atypical a reader.

As for TripAdvisor being "infamous," I think you could say that about pretty much any travel-related website at some point. Perhaps they've had some issues promoting their advertisers, but for a few little posadas in the center of Zona 1, this is definitely not the case. I have had pretty good experiences with that site, using it in conjunction with other resources of course. I can also vouch for both of the above hotels (especially Belen), though on the other hand I have also been referred to as "infamous," so, ya never know.

I guess debating the finer points of the danger/non-danger of CA locales will always go on... I, for example, don't have ANYthing nice to say about San Pedro Sula, while I happen really like Tegus. I also found Zona 10 in Guate very dangerous, for example – a high danger of being accosted by pushy doormen in tacky, "high-class" strip joints. Ahhhhhg run awayyyyyy! (Kidding, mostly...)

Glad to see this thread. I'm in my 20s traveling alone to Antigua to study and to visit the nearby areas. I'm glad to see that common sense will be about all I need to stay safe.