Are you in Mexico and thinking about heading down to Guatemala? The good news is – our borders are wide open and accepting tourists again! The process to come down here is quite safe and just takes a few easy steps. Not to mention, when you get here we’ll be waiting for you with open arms and a cold Cerveza!
Requirements to enter GT:
The current requirements to enter Guatemala by land are fairly straightforward. You must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test taken and dated within 72 hours prior to arriving in the country. If you have been diagnosed and recovered from COVID-19 recently or received the vaccination course you can check out the alternative entry requirements here.
Where to get tested in San Cristobal:
Getting tested in San Cristobal is super easy! We recommend heading over to Farmacias Del Ahorro San Cristóbal – you can click here for their google maps location or you can give them a call at +52 800 711 2222.
You need to go there at 11 AM or 3 PM. The cost of the test is 346 pesos (around $17 USD). You will receive a receipt and then go next door to the office upstairs to schedule your appointment (exit pharmacy, go right and it’s the first door – all you’ll see is a wooden staircase). Upstairs you’ll give them your receipt as well as a picture of your passport for the information to be correct for traveling purposes. They will give you an appointment time for you to go back there to have the test completed. You should generally receive your results on a printed piece of paper within 10 minutes.
Getting a shuttle to Guatemala:
Despite being a full-day trip (10-11 hours) getting to Guatemala from Mexico is a straight shot. We recommend booking your shuttle with Emotion Travel – you can call them here: +502 4768 5493 or send us a message and we can help you make a booking.
Currently, they schedule shuttles twice a week from San Cristobal to Lake Atitlan on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing at 8 AM. However, if you’re traveling in a group – send us a message and we can help organize a private shuttle for you any day of the week.
The roads have quite a few twists and turns once you cross the border, so if you’re prone to car sickness we suggest packing a couple of Dramamine or other motion sickness pills just in case.
Traveling down from Puerto Escondido:
Traveling to Guatemala from Puerto Escondido follows the exact same steps that we’ve listed above, just with an added trip from the beach to San Cristobal.
ADO runs daily overnight busses from Puerto Escondido to San Cristobal. They’re safe and reliable. If you want to book a ticket, you’ll have to go to their bus station. We have heard that if you reserve your trip several days in advance you can get some great discounts on your travel!
How long can I stay in Guatemala?
For most passports, once you enter Guatemala you have a 90-day C4 visa. This means you can spend 90 days total within Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. If you think your adventures will last longer than that, you can easily get a visa extension for another 90 days at the Migration office in Guatemala City.
For any other questions, concerns or to make a booking – please don’t hesitate to send us a message.