Guatemala is not the easiest country to negotiate for travelers with a mobility issues. Although many sidewalks in Antigua have ramps and cute little inlaid tiles depicting a wheelchair, the streets are cobblestone, so the ramps are anything but smooth and the streets worse.
Many hotels in Guatemala are old converted houses with rooms around a courtyard; such rooms are wheelchair accessible, but the bathrooms may not be. The most expensive hotels have facilities such as ramps, elevators and accessible toilets. Transportation is the biggest hurdle for travelers with limited mobility: travelers in a wheelchair may consider renting a car and driver as the buses will prove especially challenging due to lack of space. Antigua-based Transitions www.
Haggling is pretty much a national pastime in Guatemala. Don't haggle in small stores and restaurants; always haggle in markets and with taxi drivers. The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on current hot spots. Bear in mind that these sites are updated occasionally and are obliged to err on the side of caution β the vast majority of travelers visit Guatemala and don't experience any of the reported problems.
Australia, New Zealand and Ireland do not have diplomatic representation in Guatemala; their nearest embassies are in Mexico City. Guatemala has no regional, area or city codes; just dial the eight-digit number from anywhere in the country. On entry you should simply have to fill out straightforward immigration and customs forms.
In the normal course of things you should not have to pay a cent. However, immigration officials at land border sometimes request unofficial fees from travelers. To determine whether these are legitimate, you can ask for un recibo a receipt. You may find that the fee is dropped. When in doubt, try to observe what, if anything, other travelers are paying before it's your turn Q10 is the standard, nonstandard fee. Normally customs officers won't look seriously in your luggage and may not look at all.
