Traveling in Guatemala is not without risk as in case of traveling anywhere in the world. To better understand these risks, we recommend that you become familiar with any relevant public announcements concerning Guatemala. These advisories give valuable information about the type and scope of risks, and suggest precautions that you may take to mitigate them.

Nevertheless, if this is your first time traveling to Guatemala, you may find it difficult to put these risks into context. The following statistics may help:

1. Approximately, 227,000 tourists visit Guatemala from North America each year (Source: Guatemalan Immigration, 2003).
2. Of these tourists, less than one tenth of one percent (approximately 220 out of 227,000) are involved in crimes serious enough to be reported to the U.S. Embassy (Based on “Recent Crime Involving Foreigners” list, U.S. Embassy, Guatemala: http://usembassy.state.gov/guatemala/).
3. Based on the above statistics, an individual’s chances of being involved in serious crime are roughly 1 in 1,000.

We consider the risk of traveling to Guatemala comparable to that of spending time in high-crime areas within major U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Detroit.

While traveling to any crime-ridden area can be at times unsafe – and one must acknowledge and accept the risks involved - it is our judgment that if appropriate precautions are taken, traveling to Guatemala is a reasonable risk to take.

We make every reasonable effort to assure your safety. These measures include:

1. Working with veteran staff-members, with years of experience working and traveling in Guatemala.
2. Traveling mainly by day.
3. Investing in detailed travel planning, including pre-traveling all roads and pre-visiting all locations.
4. Investing in the best communications possible, including cell phones.
5. Maintaining updated lists of high-quality doctors and hospitals (specific to the itinerary).

You can also lessen your own chances of being a victim of crime by:

1. Leaving valuables (jewelry, watches) at home.
2. Avoiding carrying large sums of cash.
3. Not discussing your travel itinerary with strangers.
4. Dressing conservatively
5. Tracing your lost baggage worldwide 24/7 via the internet.
6. Covering yourself with value travel insurance.

Overall, we believe that your experience in Guatemala will be a positive and memorable one, as it has been for many students that have come before you.