Moderate riskAmericas · Central AmericaGuatemala Travel Health Guide
Moderate risk
Guatemala carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists primarily in 5 departments: Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Escuintla, Izabal, and Petén. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B. Yellow fever vaccine is not needed for disease protection in Guatemala, but is required if you're coming from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport layovers over 12 hours.
Compiled by Voyax Health from CDC Travelers' Health: Guatemala. Editorial sections reviewed by Voyax Health pharmacists ·
Overall risk
Moderate risk
Malaria
Present
Best time to visit
November to April is the dry season. The rainy season (May to October) brings afternoon downpours, dengue peaks and hurricane risk on the coasts.
Travel health in Guatemala
Guatemala's highlands, where most visitors spend their time in Antigua, Lake Atitlán and the Guatemala City area, have no malaria and moderate altitude; the health work there is food and water, with travelers' diarrhea common and typhoid and hepatitis A recommended. The lowlands of Petén around Tikal and the Pacific and Caribbean coasts add dengue and low-level malaria. Volcano hikes such as Acatenango (13,045 ft) bring altitude sickness into play, and rabies is present in dogs and bats, which matters for the many travellers who volunteer or trek in rural areas.
Recommended vaccines
Routine Vaccines
Make sure all your routine vaccines are up to date, including chickenpox, tetanus, flu, MMR, polio, and shingles.
COVID-19
Stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before traveling.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers to Guatemala who haven't been vaccinated. Even infants 6-11 months should get vaccinated.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for unvaccinated travelers under 60. Those 60 and older may also consider getting vaccinated.
Measles
All travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with MMR vaccine, including an early dose for infants 6-11 months old.
Typhoid
Typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travelers to Guatemala, especially if you're visiting rural areas or staying with friends and family.
Rabies
Consider rabies vaccine if you'll be around animals or in remote areas where medical care might be hard to access. Rabies is found in dogs and bats in Guatemala.
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever vaccine is not needed for disease protection in Guatemala, but is required if you're coming from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport layovers over 12 hours.
Chikungunya
Chikungunya vaccine is generally not recommended. Focus on preventing mosquito bites instead.
Disease risks
Malaria
Malaria risk exists primarily in 5 departments: Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Escuintla, Izabal, and Petén. No risk in Guatemala City, Antigua, or Lake Atitlán. Take malaria prevention medicine if visiting risk areas.
Traveler's Diarrhea
Rural areas below 1,500m; low risk in Guatemala City, Antigua.
Malaria risk
Malaria risk is limited to certain areas. Whether you need antimalarial medication depends on your itinerary — see details.
Malaria risk exists primarily in 5 departments: Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Escuintla, Izabal, and Petén. No risk in Guatemala City, Antigua, or Lake Atitlán. Take malaria prevention medicine if visiting risk areas.
Seasonal timing
When health risks peak through the year — plan around them.
Peak
May to November
Dengue
Lowlands: Petén, the Pacific coast, Izabal and Río Dulce. Not a concern above about 6,500 ft in Antigua or Atitlán.
Peak
Year-round, higher in rainy season
Malaria
Low-level in Petén, Escuintla, Izabal and Alta Verapaz below 5,000 ft. None in Guatemala City, Antigua or Lake Atitlán.
Peak
Year-round
Altitude sickness
Acatenango and Tajumulco volcano hikes reach 13,000 to 13,800 ft with overnight camps. Acclimatize in Antigua first.
Water & food safety
Water
Do not drink tap water, including in Antigua and Guatemala City. Bottled and purified water (agua pura) is universal; hotels and restaurants in tourist areas use it for ice and drinks. Lake Atitlán water is not safe to drink or swallow while swimming.
Food
Cooked food in established restaurants and busy comedores is generally safe. Street food in markets, salads, and fruit washed in tap water are the higher-risk items. Chicken buses and rural markets are where most stomach trouble starts.
Medications
Pharmacies (Farmacias Galeno, Batres, Cruz Verde) are common in cities and towns and sell most medications, including many antibiotics, without prescription. Bring controlled medications with documentation.
On the ground
Medical facilities
Guatemala City has good private hospitals (Herrera Llerandi, Centro Médico). Antigua has private clinics for minor issues. Care around Lake Atitlán and in Petén is limited; serious cases go to Guatemala City.
Travel insurance
Travel medical insurance with evacuation cover is advised; check that volcano hiking is covered.
Emergency numbers
Police
110
Medical / Ambulance
122
Fire
122
U.S. Embassy
+502-2354-0000
Guatemala travel health FAQ
Do I need malaria pills for Tikal?▼
Petén, where Tikal is, has low-level malaria transmission. Many travellers on short visits to Tikal and Flores are advised bite prevention rather than pills; longer or more rural stays in Petén may warrant prophylaxis. Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Guatemala City have no malaria.
Is it safe to swim in Lake Atitlán?▼
Swimming is popular, but the lake receives untreated sewage from lakeside towns and has had cyanobacteria blooms. Avoid swallowing water, skip swimming near town outflows and after heavy rain, and rinse off afterwards.
Which vaccines do I need for Guatemala?▼
Routine vaccines, hepatitis A and typhoid for essentially everyone, hepatitis B for most, and rabies for rural travel or animal contact. Yellow fever vaccination is required only if arriving from a yellow fever country.
More country guides
BelizeModerate riskBelize carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in some parts of Belize. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.
Costa RicaModerate riskCosta Rica carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. Malaria risk exists in Alajuela and Limón provinces. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B. Yellow fever vaccine is not needed for travel to Costa Rica, but is required if arriving from countries with yellow fever risk
El SalvadorLow riskEl Salvador carries a CDC Level 1 travel health notice. No malaria risk. Key travel vaccines: COVID-19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B. Yellow fever vaccine is not needed for protection in El Salvador, but is required if you're coming from a country with yellow fever risk, including airport layovers over 12 hours.
Plan your Guatemala trip
Get vaccines, prescriptions and a personalized health plan for Guatemala — matched to your itinerary and travelers.
Build my Trip KitSources: CDC Travelers' Health: Guatemala · WHO International Travel and Health. Last updated 2026-07-31. Health conditions and entry rules change — verify with the CDC, WHO and your destination’s authorities before travel. This page is informational and not a substitute for advice from a travel-medicine provider.