GUATEMALA

GEOGRAPHY

Area
Total: 108,889 sq km
Land: 107,159 sq km
Water: 1,730 sq km

Climate
Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Natural Resources
Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

INTRODUCTION
The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. Despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean respectively), it has no natural harbors on the west coast.

GOVERNMENT
Chief of State
President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León

Head of Government
President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León

Government Type
Presidential republic

Capital
Guatemala City

Legislature
Unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (160 seats)

PEOPLE

Population
18 million (2023 est.)

Population Growth
1.54% (2023 est.)

Ethnicity
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish – in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)

Language

Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7%, other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)

Religion

Roman Catholic 41.7%, Evangelical 38.8%, other 2.7%, atheist 0.1%, none 13.8%, unspecified 2.9% (2018 est.)

ECONOMY

Economic Overview
Developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) $159.0 billion (2022 est.)

GDP per capita (Purchasing Power Parity) $9,200 (2022 est.)

Industries – sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Agricultural products – sugar cane, eggs, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, poultry

Exports: $18.1 billion (2022 est.) textiles (knit and non-knit garments), coffee, bananas, palm oil, raw sugar (2022)

Export partners: US 32%, El Salvador 12%, Honduras 10%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2022)

Imports: $33.9 billion (2022 est.)
Refined petroleum, video displays, cars, packaged medicines, delivery trucks (2022)

Import partners: US 34%, China 15%, Mexico 9%, El Salvador 4%

Travel Overview

Telephone Code

502

Local Emergency Phone

Ambulance: 123; Fire: 123; Police: 110

Vaccinations

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Guatemala: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19. http://www.who.int/

Climate

Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Currency (Code)

Quetzales (GTQ)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)

120 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B

Major Languages

Spanish, Maya languages

Major Religions

Roman Catholic, Evangelical, other, atheist

Time Difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Potable Water

Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit

Suggested; additionally, if you plan to drive in Guatemala, you will need an Inter-American Driving Permit issued by the AAA

Road Driving Side

Right

Tourist Destinations

Mayan ruins of Tikal; Antigua Guatemala; Lake Atitlan; Chichicastenango Market; Quetzaltenango; Archaeological Park & Ruins of Quirigua

Major Sports

Soccer, futsal (type of indoor soccer on a hard court)

Cultural Practices

Guatemalans value honesty, family, honor, work, and education. Most Guatemalans are gracious and eager to find humor in most situations.

Tipping Guidelines

Tipping is a question of rewarding good service rather than an obligation. Restaurant bills do not include gratuities so adding 10% is customary. Bellhops and maids expect tips only in the most expensive hotels.

Souvenirs

Coffee, Mayan native textiles and jewelry, jade, wood carvings, leather goods, hammocks, baskets, ceramics

Traditional Cuisine

Pepián — a spicy stew made with chicken, beef, or pork and containing both fruit and vegetables and a mix of spices; traditionally served with rice and tortillas or Pupusas (thick corn tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings including refried beans, cheese, or pork and then fried)

from cia.gov

By the Numbers:

18,336,765 – Population of Guatemala

600,000 – Population of Petén Region, where you’ll be serving

2 – Oceans that border Guatemala. The Caribbean Sea (Atlantic Ocean) and the Pacific Ocean

4 – Countries that border Guatemala. Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Belize

600 – Species of Birds

250 – Type of Mammals

33 – Volcanoes (30 are dormant)

3 – Active Volcanoes

340 Meters – Lago De Atitlán is the deepest lake in Central America

800 – Years that it took to develop Tikal

100s – Temples and Pyramids in Tika

1956 – When excavations began on Tikal

30 – Minutes it takes to circle the Island town of Flores by foot

1821 – When Guatemala Gained independence from Spain

Dozens – Churches partnered with Thirst Missions who are awaiting teams to serve

1. What are the maximum and minimum group sizes?

Our private trips can accommodate groups as small as 4 people and as large as 50+. Reduced pricing applies for groups larger than 10 people.

2. What are the mission trip prices?

Our trip details are available on our registration page.

3. Tell me more about the church partnerships in Guatemala

Each group traveling to Guatemala with Thirst Missions will be partnered with a local church. We believe the local church is God’s biblical design and want each team to be an encouragement to the church partner. Our church partners are small but healthy churches doing God’s work in difficult conditions.

4. Is Guatemala safe?

Yes! We have staff members guiding the trip and are experts when it comes to local knowledge and ministry leadership. Safety is our #1 priority on all trips, and it’s not just lip service, we practice what we preach.

5. What denominations do you work with?

Every year we work with a wide variety of denominations from teams in the US and Canada and our base of church partners in Guatemala is varied as well. We strive to match the team with an appropriate church partner. All churches are vetted ahead of time and sign a statement of faith. Please see our Statement of Faith for more details.

6. What is the trip length?

Our trips are a minimum of six days/five nights, but you are able to add additional days to your trip for an added cost. Travel days are included in the total number of trip days.

7. What travel documents do I need?

If you’re traveling from the United States to Guatemala you will need a valid passport.

8. Is airfare included in the trip cost?

No, but the cost per person/day is all-inclusive from the time you arrive in Guatemala until you depart.

Airfares vary too greatly to include in the trip cost. Each group is responsible for booking their own flights that arrive within a reasonable timeframe so as to be ready at our pickup times and on the exact trips dates registered for. We have a travel agent we work closely with if you’d like help booking your flights.

9. Can I make contact with my loved ones while on my trip?

The ministry and relationships built when putting our personal devices down is eye-opening. Our philosophy is no news is good news. We encourage each group leader to post trip updates and send pictures back home on behalf of each group. In addition we post pictures every day from every trip on our Facebook page at facebook.com/thirstmissions. In the case of emergencies we have open and direct lines of immediate communication on every trip.

10. I have special dietary needs. Can these be met?

There is a section on the Individual Registration form each person fills out prior to the trip in which these needs can be listed. We read these over thoroughly and pass them along to our cooks. The food on our trips is plentiful and amazing!

We do our very best to accommodate all diets and diet restrictions, but please realize we are in a different culture without all the options we have back home. Feel free to bring supplemental food options with you if this will ease the anxiety of not knowing if there will be food which fit your tastes or diet.

11. Is the $499 registration fee deducted from my final payment?

No, it’s used right away to offset a small portion of planning and preparing for your group’s trip. Please read through our generous payment policy and cancellation agreement.

12. How do I select the ministries we desire?

Each group leader will have a missions consultant from Thirst Missions assigned who will go through ministry opportunities in detail. All group leaders have scheduled conference calls to discuss the trip and are welcome to contact their trip consultants about any other questions that arise.

13. What about on-location transportation?

On-location transportation is not included in the price of the mission trip.  Feel free to book your own team’s vans, SUVs, or other transport. If you’d like Thirst Mission to arrange transportation, we’d be glad to do so for $29/person/day.

14. Are any ministry materials provided?

Ministry materials are up to the teams to provide. Examples would be curriculum for VBS, sports equipment for sports outreach, and so on. Guatemalan churches will have some resources that the group can use on a case-by-case basis. Most ministries require little in the way of materials. You can ask your missions consultant about suggestions for materials and ministry plans.

15. Are there any additional costs?

Besides your trip cost, the only things you’ll need money for are souvenirs, church offerings, extra snacks, and money for meals at the airport.

16. How do we pay for recreation?

Payment and reservations for upgraded recreation are made by your team before your time in Guatemala. Please work with your Thirst Missions Consultant or Trip leader to confirm your specific reservation.

17. Can you tell us about the food provided?

3 meals/day plus water, ice and snacks provided.  Breakfast would be served at the lodging location..  Lunch at our ministry sites.  Supper would be prepared by local cooks from the churches we partner with or restaurants in the area.

18. Can I stay in contact with people once I return home?

Yes! You can use Facebook and Instagram or email, call, or text just like you do with your friends back home. Staying in touch with new friends in Guatemala is such a blessing and benefit to going and serving.

19. What are some outreach ministry ideas?

Movie nights, worship celebrations, community meals, or sports tournaments are good outreaches. If you have good outreach ideas we are certainly happy to help you make them a reality! Check out our blog for more outreach ideas.