I had set my sights on visiting Guatemala four years ago, hearing about this unique country with enormous differences and unparalleled beauty. Is It Safe For Women To Travel Alone To Guatemala?

Much to the chagrin of my family, who could not understand my desire to travel to a ‘third-world country, their words not mine, I gently corrected them that Guatemala was a ‘developing country and one that I very much wanted to explore.

So by myself, with no support from my family, I set out on a journey that took me to this Central American country that is centrally located bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, Honduras to the east and El Salvador to the southwest.

I immersed myself in the different cultures along the way and in the process learned some very valuable lessons on gratitude.

Is It Safe For Women To Travel Solo To Guatemala

I know what you’re thinking, so let’s start with the elephant in the room. After all, if I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times from family and friends: their concern about my coming to Guatemala alone.

Have you reviewed the travel advisories for Guatemala? Is it secure? What makes Guatemala so special?

I can only speak from my own experience and that of others I met while traveling, and the answer for me is a resounding yes. I read the travel advisories before embarking on my vacation, and the answer is a loud yes that I found Guatemala safe. In reality, I was never in a scenario where I was concerned for my safety.

And I can say that after taking public transportation and close to a hundred camionetas, also known as chicken buses, Tuk Tuk’s, taxis, buses, shuttles, and trekking hundreds of miles through the mountains and rural villages.

As to the question of why travel to Guatemala, where do I even begin?  The natural beauty, the mountains, and volcanoes, the ancient Mayan temples, and ruins, the colorful indigenous markets, the World Heritage sites, the cobblestone streets, the spectacular weather, the boundless recreational activities, need I go on?

I found Guatemala a country of contrast and a place of inconceivable beauty and warmth.

The months that I spent in Guatemala exploring ended up doing more for my character, education, and self-identity than any other single experience in my life.  Experiencing new cultures has allowed me to think in new ways and look at life through a different lens, a lens that has given me the freedom to be myself.

My advice to anyone woman wanting to travel to Guatemala is to go in with your eyes wide open, educate yourself and understand that it will more than likely be very different than what you are used to.

The process of staying safe in Guatemala, or any other country for that matter, is to be keenly aware of your surrounding and use common sense.

Arrive and depart your destinations during the day as opposed to the night.  Listen to your instincts, be respectful to those you encounter, and above all appreciate the people and the world around you.