{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/guatemala/lake-atitlan","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:05:57.169Z","place":{"city":"Lake Atitlán","country":"Guatemala","countryCode":"GT","lat":14.6801463,"lon":-91.186161},"safety":{"score":55,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":48,"confidence":0.83,"caps":[],"databaseScore":53,"travellerSentiment":{"score":63,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While some reports highlight Guatemala's appeal and ongoing tourism, official advisories and past news of gang activity suggest a cautious sentiment among travelers regarding safety.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":55,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":51,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":60,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":66,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all-but-essential travel to parts","updated":"2026-07-29T15:39:54Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guatemala"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/guatemala"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":23.3657267272051,"display":"23.4 / 100k","year":"2023","score":22,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":10.9,"display":"10.9%","year":"2017","score":72,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":12.6,"display":"12.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":59,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":62.3112389,"display":"62/100","year":"2024","score":62,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":40.4032981,"display":"40/100","year":"2024","score":40,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":28.6604826,"display":"29/100","year":"2024","score":29,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":33.6586778,"display":"34/100","year":"2024","score":34,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":49.9827169,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":48.6097484,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":0.3,"display":"0.3%","year":"2019","score":98,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.1,"display":"0.10 / 100k","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":25,"display":"25.0%","year":"2019","score":50,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":84,"display":"US AQI 84 · Moderate","year":null,"score":74,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":4.452452606,"display":"4 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2023","score":30,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":27,"display":"July: highs ~27°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Earthquake (green)","year":null,"score":61,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":55,"display":"55 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":55,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Earthquake","severity":"green","title":"earthquake (Magnitude 5.9M, Depth:35km) in Mexico 28/07/2026 05:35 UTC, 2.4 million in MMI IV.","distanceKm":160}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Lake Atitlán requires a high degree of caution due to crime and environmental concerns.","summary":"While Guatemala's tourism minister has pushed back against advisories, official government guidance from Canada and the UK advises a high degree of caution, with the UK specifically warning against all but essential travel to certain border regions. The area around Lake Atitlán faces risks from petty crime, and environmental issues like pollution are also a concern.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While specific data for Lake Atitlán is limited, Guatemala's overall homicide rate is high, and crime is a significant business constraint. Visitors should be aware of their surroundings, especially in less populated areas or at night."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are risks in crowded tourist areas, markets, and on public transportation (including boats)."},"safeAreas":[],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Overcharging for boat transport between villages","Distraction theft, particularly in crowded market areas"],"zones":[{"name":"Panajachel","level":"caution","note":"Main tourist hub, exercise vigilance against petty crime."},{"name":"San Pedro La Laguna","level":"caution","note":"Popular backpacker spot, be aware of surroundings, especially at night."},{"name":"San Marcos La Laguna","level":"caution","note":"Known for its spiritual retreats, maintain general safety awareness."},{"name":"Santiago Atitlán","level":"caution","note":"Larger indigenous town, be mindful of cultural norms and personal safety."},{"name":"Santa Cruz La Laguna","level":"caution","note":"Quieter village, still requires standard travel precautions."},{"name":"San Juan La Laguna","level":"caution","note":"Known for art cooperatives, maintain awareness of personal belongings."}]}}