Guatemala Quetzal
Guatemala uses the quetzal as its national currency. The quetzal is the singular, with the plural being quetzals, or in the Spanish form, quetzales. The Bank of Guatemala (Banco de Guatemala) issues and regulates the currency. Each quetzal is divided into 100 centavos.
In coins the currency takes the form of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavo pieces and then 1 quetzal. Notes are issued as 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 quetzales.
On international markets, the currency is identified by the letters GTQ and its name is derived from the quetzal bird, which was a bird that in former times was so prized that its feathers were actually used as a unit of currency. So the name has historic links.
History of the Quetzal
The quetzal was introduced as early as 1925, when it was brought in to replace the Guatemalan peso, a currency that had been in use in Guatemala since 1859.
Ever since 1925, the quetzal has been the only currency in use and despite the fact that many of its neighbours have experienced significant problems with their currencies, the quetzal remains relatively aloof from any difficulties and is generally regarded as quite a stable currency.
Getting Hold of Guatemalan Quetzals
Getting hold of Guatemalan quetzals is not a very straightforward process!
If you want to use a debit or credit card to get hold of money from an ATM machine, you should be aware that many ATMs will simply reject a debit card, although credit cards are more readily acceptable.
However, you should not rely on using a credit card alone. This is predominantly because if you lose your card or it is stolen, it is extremely difficult to get a replacement. Many courier firms will simply refuse to courier a card to Guatemala and so you could find yourself having serious problems, if you do lose or have your credit card stolen and you have no other means of paying your bills.
ATMS are relatively plentiful, particularly in towns and cities, but for security's sake, try to use an ATM at the hotel or in a crowded shopping centre. Travellers are also advised that it is best not to withdraw too much money at once, since if you are seen taking out a huge amount of money you may be targeted by thieves.
Traveller's cheques are a good idea, because they are generally regarded as being safer than cash. However, you do need to keep a record of all the cheque numbers and keep this separate from the cheques, so you can be sure that you can have replacement cheques issued if they get lost or are stolen.
Traveller's cheques should be taken in the form of US dollars, since these will be easier to change. It is also possible to exchange dollars quite freely within most of the tourist areas, but outside of these areas, you will have to use quetzals.
If you want to play it extra safe, then take in some dollars, some traveller's cheques and a credit card and do not keep them all together. Thus if the worst happens, you will still be able to lay your hands on some cash!
Safety Issues
Generally you will hear tow different opinions about safety in Guatemala. The first is from a seasoned traveller who has been there several times and never had any problem. The second is from a tourist or traveller who has been subjected to an armed robbery or, perhaps, one of the four travellers who was kidnapped in 2008. The first view is that Guatemala is basically a safe country and that people should stop calling it a dangerous country to visit. The second view is that it is extremely dangerous and that travellers should be on their guard at all times.
Possibly the true viewpoint lies somewhere in the middle. But there are two facts to bear in mind. One is that Guatemala has one of the highest crime rates in the world, (not just in Central America) and the second is that many hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to Guatemala each year and do not have any problems. So the moral of the tale is, to some extent, just be mindful of the potential for crime and keep your wits about you at all times!
One of the best pieces of advise that travellers are given, is that if someone does try to mug you or rob you, then simply give in to their demands. It does have to be said that travellers have actually been killed for trying to resist a mugger and it really is not worth taking that risk. So be sensible and don't opt for any heroics if you are challenged.
Night time travel is a real risk, so make sure that you don't have to venture out at night. In addition, you should not use buses in Guatemala City, since these are often robbed by armed gangs and if they see westerns get on board the bus, they may be more tempted to attempt a robbery.
One of the things that people often visit Guatemala for is the range of amazing experiences to be had in terms of trekking and hiking, but sometimes the remoteness of these trails make them ideal spots for robbers to lay in wait. So always check out how safe an area is before you go walking there.
Finally, one thing that you should be very sensitive to is taking pictures of children. People may assume that you are a kidnapper who is trying to equip themselves with information about their child, prior to staging a kidnap attempt. So be aware that they are sensitive because they live with the very real risk that their children may indeed be kidnapped and try to avoid taking photos of children, particularly in villages.
Spending Quetzals
Guatemala offers very good value for money and there are lots of different price ranges available in everything from cheap street vendors selling food (not usually recommended) right up to quite sophisticated dining. Accommodation also ranges from very basic to quite luxurious hotels. The more expensive hotels tend to be located in areas that are generally regarded as safer, so if you can, spend the extra cash and go for a hotel that is as expensive as you can afford.
In some of the tourist areas, prices are quite high for Guatemalan standards, but this is commonplace in tourist hotspots. Guatemala offers some stunning archaeological sites and ruins of the Mayan people, so in these areas, you can expect to pay a little more.
There are some volcanoes that can be visited in Guatemala and these are obviously free sites and if you are on a very tight budget, then you should take advantage of the sights that Guatemala City has to offer, as well as the beaches near Guatemala, such as Monterrico, which is the closest beach and has scorching hot, black volcanic sand that is, during most of the day, too hot to walk on!
For others whose budget can stretch a little further, there are some fantastic little villages and towns to explore, as well as lakes and mountains. In some ways, Guatemala really has got the lot. One area which is quite a pull for visitors who can get there, is the small village of Todos Santos, which is near the border with Mexico. Many people here still wear traditional dress and speak some of the indigenous languages. It is culturally a very interesting place to visit, even though at times, there seem to be too many visitors for such a small village.
If you have the time and can make it to the Caribbean Coast, just to the eastern side of Guatemala, then take a trip up here. It is very different from the rest of Guatemala and you can even have a cruise around the Caribbean or see some of the yachts out cruising in this area. It is also a very good place for a laid back Caribbean holiday!
For those who may worry about communication problems, Spanish is the official language spoken in Guatemala, but many other 'native' languages of the Maya people are still spoken, with some 20 other languages in use. However, this means that people in the countryside may have knowledge of their own language and of Spanish, which will be their second language, but they do not have knowledge of English, which can sometimes make communication a little bit more lengthy (particularly if you do not have a good knowledge of Spanish). But people are usually quite patient and if you are trying to order a meal or buy something, they will more often than not, bear with you, until you both understand what is required!
If however, you stick to the tourist hot-spots of the Maya ruins, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala City and Panajachel, then you will find that communication is not really a problem and many people seem fluent in several languages.
Overview
Guatemala is a very different country, different even from her neighbours and with her own unique take on life and culture. It is undoubtedly blighted by the fact that the crime rate is so high, but really this is the only downside to visiting this beautiful country, where people are glad to see visitors who have taken that leap of faith and decided that they will not be put off by crime.
But it has to be said that in 2008, 4 travellers were kidnapped and so this may be a one off incident, or it may happen on a more regular basis, only time will tell. However, for up to date information, before you finalise any travel plans, make sure that you check out how safe it is to travel. Your Foreign Office or Department will be able to advise on whether or not it is safe to travel, or you can check out a website such as http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html. If this website or a similar government website advises against travel, then you really should not go there unless it is absolutely necessary. But on the other hand, if it says that it is safe to travel (whilst taking precautions) then you should be fine, as long as you are mindful of the risks!