• How is the climate in Quetzaltenango?
  
• What clothing to bring?
  
• Other Recommended Items to Bring
  
• Which guidebook do you recommend?
  

• How to withdraw cash in Guatemala?
  
• What’s your health advices?
  
• Do I need vaccinations?
  
• How about the security situation?
  
• Do I need a visa?
  
• Where do I find the emabassy of my home country in Guatemala?
  
• Is it true, that a fee is charge when leaving the country?
  

• How do I travel within Guatemala?
  
• Is Telephone or Internet available?
  

How is the climate in Quetzaltenango? 
Because Quetzaltenango is in the western highlands area of Guatemala (at an elevation of 7,500 ft), it can be cool here in the morning and at night.

From March to May is Quetzaltenango's "summer" climate. This is the warmest part of the year, but it never gets too hot. For those who like sunny weather, this is the best time of the year to visit. May/June begins the rainy season here in Guatemala, so if you're studying between May-October, be sure to bring a rain jacket.

Typically, it's warm and sunny in the morning (approx. 25° Celsius) and it rains in the afternoon. It may be the best time (scenery-wise) to visit here because the rain makes the countryside and mountains turn a beautiful, lush green color that hopefully you'll see on the bus ride from Guatemala City. November-January can get quite cold. In December and January it's common to have ice on the ground in the morning. It can be cold in the morning but once the sun comes out after 10 or 11 a.m. it warms up.

There's no heating in the buildings here so we rely on warm clothes, blankets, and hot drinks to get warm. Since the weather/temperature here can vary a lot, even over the course of one day, we recommend that students bring layers of clothing.

What clothing to bring?

A partial list of suggested clothing items is:

• long-sleeved and short-sleeved shirts
• sweaters/sweatshirts
• sweatpants (for comfort and for sleeping in)
• long underwear, gloves and warm hat (if you're here in the coldest months)
• a fleece type jacket
• rain jacket and umbrella
• long pants/ jeans
• shorts
• bathing suit
• good walking shoes (hiking boots recommended!)

You should bring a swim suit, as Xela is situated in the middle of a mountain/volcano range with tons of natural hot springs and hot saunas. Ahhhh, que rico! If you find that you need additional clothes once you arrive here, there's plenty of used American clothing stores in Xela where you can buy clothes at very cheap prices.
The other areas of Guatemala have different climates, so if you plan on traveling it's best to have layers of clothing anyway: a bit of everything!

Other Recommended Items to Bring

• towel (your host family will provide bed linens but not towels)
• Spanish dictionary
• ATM card/Visa card (There are several ATM machines in Xela, but the machines do not accept all cards. ATM cards that are also Visa cards tend to be most readily accepted. There are limited facilities that accept MasterCards.)
• present for your host family(This is optional, but many students choose to bring gifts for their families. We recommend that students bring general gifts for the family such as chocolates, nice soaps/lotions/shampoos, herbal teas, etc. These are great gifts because these products are very expensive here and Guatemalan stores do not have the same variety of brands/choices that are available in other countries. Other possible gifts are items from your hometown such as calendars, t-shirts, baseball hats, books, etc.)
• donations for our Children's Scholarship Program  "Educación para los Niños": Juan Sisay Spanish School provides educational scholarships for children in low-income families. We provide the children with their school uniforms as well as school supplies. We are always looking for donations for this project, such as
  

• Notebooks
• Pens and pencils
• Children's picture books and chapter books (in Spanish)
• Games
• Art materials (scissors, drawing paper, crayons, etc.
• Medicine
• Clothes

Which guidebook do you recommend?
There are a wide variety of excellent guidebooks available. One recommendable is the Lonely Planet. If you are looking for other ones, you'll find some hints in your bookshop or on the Internet.

How to withdraw cash in Guatemala?
There are banks in all major cities, for example the Banco de Guatemala and the Banco Industrial change US-Dollars (please take care that you have dollar bills without rips or tears) and Traveller Checks, or you can withdraw money with your credit card.

What’s your health advices?

• do not eat on the street
• order drinks without ice (water from the tap is not drinkable)
• have some sort of anti-diarrhea medicine (please consult the travel doctor)
• adapt to the altitude before making exhausting trips for example to the volcanos 

Do I need vaccinations?
Vaccinations are necessary. We recommend Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid. Please ask you travel doctor in advance. Medication against malaria is not necessary in Quetzaltenango, but recommended for trips to the jungle within Guatemala, or to Mexico, or any other Central American country.

How about the security situation?

• Make two photocopies of your documents. Leave one at home and take one with you while travelling. Have the number available to cancel your credit card.
• Always take a taxi at night.
• Beware of pickpockets.
• Do not take tours like volcano trips on your own. Hire a guide.

Do I need a visa?
As a citizen of the EU, the US, Canada or Australia you’ll receive a visa upon arrival, normally for 90 days. It can be extended one time, afterwards you’ll have to leave Guatemala (Central-America) for at least three days.

Where do I find the emabassy of my home country in Guatemala?
Check Embassy World for the addresses of various embassies in Guatemala.

Is it true, that a fee is charge when leaving the country?
A fee of 20Q is charged if you leave Guatmala City’s Airport with an International flight.

How to travel within Guatemala?
Normally you’ll travel with a bus. Between the bigger cities regular services are available, e.g. Linea Dorada, Alamo or Galgos. Additionally a lot of mini-buses offer their services, more expensive, but faster. In the bigger cities you can grab a taxis for you way home. A trip with a taxi in Quetzaltenango’s city centre is about 20Q. 

Is Telephone or Internet available?
Generally yes. There are internet cafes in every bigger city which normally also offer telephone services. Mobile phones can be purchased easily and are cheap. If you bring your own  mobile from home, please check that it is supports GSM 1900