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Is Guatemala City safe? 🇬🇹

Guatemala · Safety report last updated 13 October 2026

As of October 2026, Guatemala City scores 45/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: caution advised. Guatemala City requires a high degree of caution due to significant crime risks and ongoing security concerns. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).

Safety Report

IsMyTripSafe.com

Guatemala City 🇬🇹

Guatemala · Assessed 13 October 2026

/ 100

Caution advised

Safer than ~33% of countries

District map

What drives this score

Crime41/100CautionCrime index 61.9 / 100 · city-level

Sentiment40/100CautionVery Negative

Advisories75Good

Stability61Fair

Health69Fair

01 · Official Guidance

Advisories

Good

UK Foreign Office (FCDO)

Level 3

Advises against all travel to parts of the country

“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to: within 5km of the Mexican border from the Pacific Coast up to and including the Gracias a Dios crossing to the towns of Santa Ana Huista, San Antonio Huista and La Democracia in the department of Huehuetenango Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel to these areas.”

Updated 2026-10-07T10:57:10Z

Full advisory →

Government of Canada

Level 2

Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)

“Canada's official risk level for Guatemala: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”

Updated 2026-10-09T15:17:23.3019776-04:00

Full advisory →

02 · Evidence Signals

Crime

Caution

Mugging & robbery risk

High risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Pickpocketing & theft risk

Moderate risk

City SignalCity Web Research

Visitor safety sentiment

26 / 100 (Very Negative)

City SignalCity Web Research

Feeling safe walking alone at night

21 / 100

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Feeling safe walking alone in daylight

46 / 100

City SignalNumbeo (city survey)

Urban scale factor

995k residents

City SignalCity Geocoding

Crime index (crowdsourced)

61.9 / 100 · city-level

City SignalNumbeo Crime Index

Homicide rate

23.4 / 100k

Country BaselineWorld Bank Open Data · 2023

Feel safe walking alone after dark

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Physical assault (past year)

No data

—

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database

Robbery / mugging

High

High risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly after dark and in less affluent neighborhoods.

Pickpocketing

Moderate

Moderate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching in crowded tourist areas and public transportation.

▸ 4 more indicators

Sexual violence (past year)

0.3%

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Detected human-trafficking victims

0.10 / 100k

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2024

Bribery during public-official contact

25.0%

Country BaselineUN SDG Global Database · 2019

Crime seen as a major business constraint

10.9%

Country BaselineWorld Bank Enterprise Surveys · 2017

03 · Environment

Health & Air

Fair

Air quality

US AQI 53 · Moderate

Open-Meteo Air Quality

Hospitals

4 beds / 10k · country avg

WHO Global Health Observatory

Weather

October: highs ~25°C · no weather extremes

Open-Meteo

Road safety

12.6 / 100k

WHO Global Health Observatory

Natural hazards

1 active alert · Drought (green)

Country BaselineGDACS / USGS

Drought

Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador · ~416 km away

CDC travel health notices · none for this destination

Worldwide notices (not specific to this trip): Polio, Dengue, Measles

04 · Institutions

Stability

Fair

Political stability & no terrorism

62/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Terrorism deaths (latest year)

0 recorded

100

Country BaselineGlobal Terrorism Database · 2021

Rule of law

42/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Control of corruption

29/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

▸ 3 more indicators

Government effectiveness

36/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Regulatory quality

50/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

Voice & accountability

52/100

Country BaselineWorld Bank Governance Indicators · 2025

05 · Field Research

Current Situation

Caution

Traveller sentiment score

Very Negative

40/100

Reported feel26Very Negative

Robbery risk34High risk

Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk

Residents report a low sense of safety, especially when walking alone at night, and a high worry about being mugged or robbed.

Guatemala City requires a high degree of caution due to significant crime risks and ongoing security concerns.

While not experiencing widespread conflict, Guatemala City has a high homicide rate and residents report feeling unsafe, particularly at night. Visitors should be aware of the risk of robbery and scams, and exercise vigilance, especially in certain areas.

Recent developments

Sep 2026Guatemala Probes Army’s Role After Eight Killings Leave Huité Searching for Answers.— LatinAmerican Post
Jan 2026U.S. Embassy in Guatemala issued a security alert following major gang attacks on police.— U.S. Embassy in Guatemala
Jan 2026Death Toll Rises in Guatemalan Gang Riots.— The New York Times
Dec 202512 bodies found outside Guatemala City linked to gang violence, officials say.— CBS News

Common scams

Fake police checkpoints or extortion attempts
Overcharging by taxi drivers or vendors

Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→

Full briefing

Guatemala City presents significant safety challenges, with a high homicide rate and a general feeling of insecurity among residents. The World Bank's crime index places the city at a concerning level, and Numbeo surveys indicate a low sense of safety, particularly for walking alone at night. This translates to a high risk of robbery and mugging for visitors.

Recent reports highlight ongoing gang violence and its impact on public safety. In January 2026, major gang attacks on police led to security alerts from the U.S. Embassy, and The New York Times reported a rising death toll from gang riots. Even in December 2025, twelve bodies linked to gang violence were found outside the city. These incidents underscore the volatile security situation and the government's struggle to control organized crime, as noted by Jurist.org regarding a state of emergency.

Travel advisories from Canada and the UK reflect these concerns, urging a high degree of caution. While specific neighborhood-level data is limited, it is prudent to assume that less affluent areas and those with a known gang presence carry elevated risks. Be particularly wary of fake police checkpoints or extortion attempts. Stick to reputable transportation, avoid displaying wealth, and remain constantly aware of your surroundings, especially after dark.

Was this Guatemala City, Guatemala report helpful?

06 · Neighbourhoods

Safest areas and areas to avoid

6 districts

Our field research rated 6 Guatemala City districts for visitors: 2 safer, 2 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Guatemala City safety map.

Zone 18 (Zona 18)avoidKnown for high crime rates and gang activity, best avoided by tourists.

Zone 5 (Zona 5)avoidAreas within this zone have been associated with significant crime and gang presence.

Zone 13 (Zona 13)cautionContains the airport and some attractions, but can have opportunistic crime; exercise vigilance.

Zone 1 (Zona 1)cautionThe historic center, which can be vibrant but requires caution, especially after dark, due to petty crime.

Zone 10 (Zona 10)saferGenerally considered the safest and most modern district, home to embassies and upscale businesses.

Zone 14 (Zona 14)saferA well-to-do residential area with good infrastructure, generally safe for visitors.

2 safer2 caution2 avoidOpen the district map

07 · After Dark

Is Guatemala City safe at night?

High risk of mugging and armed robbery, particularly after dark and in less affluent neighborhoods.

After dark, be most careful around Zone 18 (Zona 18), Zone 5 (Zona 5), Zone 13 (Zona 13), Zone 1 (Zona 1). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.

08 · Questions

Guatemala City safety FAQ (2026)

Is Guatemala City safe right now (2026)?

Guatemala City requires a high degree of caution due to significant crime risks and ongoing security concerns. While not experiencing widespread conflict, Guatemala City has a high homicide rate and residents report feeling unsafe, particularly at night. Visitors should be aware of the risk of robbery and scams, and exercise vigilance, especially in certain areas. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)

Is Guatemala City safe for women, families and solo travelers?

Safety is not one number, and this Guatemala City report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.

Which areas of Guatemala City should tourists avoid?

Field research flags Zone 18 (Zona 18), Zone 5 (Zona 5) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.

What are the most common scams in Guatemala City (2026)?

Fake police checkpoints or extortion attempts
Overcharging by taxi drivers or vendors

How does Guatemala City compare with other places in Guatemala (2026)?

Guatemala City ranks #5 of 5 Guatemala destinations we've assessed, scoring 45/100. See the Guatemala safety overview for the full list.

How is this guatemala-city safety score calculated (2026)?

The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.