North and Central America and Caribbean

 

Heavy rains cause frequent flooding, landslides and collapsed roads and bridges throughout the country.  Roads may become blocked at any moment.

 

Volcanoes

 

Four of Guatemala's volcanoes are currently active: Pacaya, Fuego,Santiaguito and Tacana.  A state of yellow alert is in place for Pacaya, Fuego and Santiaguito.  All three volcanoes erupt intermittently, and you should exercise caution in the vicinity. There is also a lesser state of alert (green) for the Tacana volcano. 

 

We recommend you only climb Fuego, Santiaguito, Pacaya and Tacana as part of a group with a professional guide.  When climbing Fuego and Santiaguito, you should avoid the areas around the craters.

We advise against climbing the Tajumulco volcano in San Marcos or visiting the surrounding area due to unrest amongst local communities involved in land use disputes. When climbing volcanoes or walking in remote areas, it is safer to go with others and hire a guide or take part in a tour with a reputable company and only conduct this activity in daylight hours. There have been several armed attacks on tourists climbing Pacaya, Agua and Acatenango volcanoes.

For further information on volcano warnings please check with the Humanitarian Early Warning System - Volcanoes Watch.
 

Earthquakes

Guatemala is subject to frequent minor earth tremors and occasional earthquakes. Since 4 April 2009 there have been a series of earth tremors measuring over 4 on the Richter scale throughout the country. On 29 May an earthquake measuring 7.1 off the Atlantic coast of Honduras was felt in Guatemala City and surrounding areas but caused no injuries or major damage; a tremor of 4.8 on 14 June killed one person in Quiche.

 

You should ensure that you know what action to take should an earthquake occur. If staying in a hotel read their earthquake instructions.  During an earthquake, you should drop to the ground and take cover under sturdy furniture, in a doorway or next to an inside wall, away from windows or objects which may fall.  Cover your head with a pillow or your arms and wait for the earthquake to stop, before moving to a safe area outside.

 

Further advice may be found on American Red Cross - Earthquake.