Questioning safety in Guatemala – at the last minute

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Just three weeks before I'd planned to leave for Guatemala, the first country on my itinerary for my first long-term trip, a friend forwarded an email from her Guatemalan friend regarding my upcoming travels:

"My advice is that if she has her heart set on going to Guate, do the volunteering thing and keep travel limited to Lake Atitlan and Antigua … If her heart can be persuaded to go to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, I would highly recommend that … Guatemala is in a sort of state of war where human life is very poorly regarded and that is why if you get mugged it is VERY dangerous …"

She also referenced a recent New York Times story explaining that the Peace Corps recently decided not to send new volunteers to Guatemala as it is assessing safety.

Ok, I knew Guatemala was a developing country and that there would be dangers, and I'd been armed and ready to explain to my family and friends that I'd be ok. I'd read tons of forums about safety in Guatemala. I'd read numerous blogs about female solo travel. I knew all the places to avoid, all the things to do and things not to do.

But the Peace Corps backing away and a Guatemalan resident recommending against coming? This was enough to give me major pause.

I spent the entire weekend researching other options. I narrowed it down based on volunteer opportunities I'd found in Argentina, Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay. I was all set to completely change my flight and my entire plan.

And then I talked to more people: A 23-year-old woman who recently arrived at the volunteer organization in Xela, Guatemala, where I'd be going, said she had the same concerns as me – especially after hearing the news about the Peace Corps – but once she got there, she felt safe overall. I heard from another female volunteer coordinator who confirmed that Xela has a large foreign community and that the majority of volunteers are single female travelers. She said, "You should definitely take precautions and use common sense at all times, however there is no need to be afraid or alarmed all the time."

I also talked to my friend who lived in Guatemala for a year, who could connect me with many contacts if needed. And I talked to my uncle, who has done missionary work there for many years, who said as long as I'm with others, I will be ok.

It's tough to know who to listen to, but I decided to stick with my original plan.

Dealing with the safety concerns brought up by others has been one of the most unexpected aspects of my trip planning so far, and has certainly spun me in circles several times. But what it comes down to is that there's no guarantee of safety anywhere, and as long as I take all the precautions and remain aware of my surroundings, I'll be doing the best I can to avoid problems.

Here are some articles I found helpful in my research about Guatemala safety and female solo travel safety:

Is Guatemala safe?
Safety in Guatemala
Check yo-self (safety tips)
3 safety do's and 3 don'ts for women travelers
Safety tips for solo women travelers – note there are numerous other articles about women traveling alone and safety in the Women Travel Portal on this site.

Original article can be found here: Questioning safety in Guatemala – at the last minute