Is Guatemala Safe for Women? Crime Rate in Guatemala
Safety rating
Women living in Guatemala consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 2.9 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Guatemala consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 1.6 out of 5.
Violence rating
On average 23.5% percentage of women in Guatemala have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.
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Crime & Safety Statistics
Based on 3 experiences
Safety rating: | 2.9/5 | Moderate |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 3.3/5 | Moderate |
Safety using public transport: | 3/5 | Moderate |
Crime rate: | 1.6/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is Guatemala?
Sarah
Antigua Guatemala
I stayed in a neighborhood just a few blocks from the Santa Catalina Arch for a little under two weeks and felt incredibly safe the entire time. As a solo mom with two young kids, I had no issues walking around—day or night. The locals were so kind and welcoming; at one point, my kids even fell into a fountain near a street food market, and people immediately ran over to help! Antigua gets a lot of tourists, so street vendors can sometimes be a bit persistent, but a simple “no, gracias” and walking away is enough (they won’t follow you). Tuktuk drivers do tend to overcharge, but haggling felt totally fine and expected. One thing to note—there are a lot of dogs roaming around, and it can be hard to tell if they’re strays or belong to someone. None that we encountered were aggressive, but we played it safe and avoided petting them. Overall, such a friendly and walkable place!
Posted: March 17, 2025
Daniela
Mazatenango
Herencia is a small town where the people enjoy different activities like dancing, drawing, and music, and they are good people. Here in Mazatenango, we are warm people and good hosts! Near Irtra and the beaches, we offer a lot of adventure.
Posted: January 12, 2025
Ana
Guatemala City
Depending on the area you are staying could be a little bit dangerous or not dangerous at all. My recommendation would be to stay at Zona 2, 4, 10, 14 and Cayalá. Definitely avoid areas like zone 18 and 3
Posted: December 24, 2024Is Guatemala worth visiting?
Travel rating
based on 50 experiences from female travelers
Antigua Guatemala, Family travel
It felt fairly safe, if you follow common sense. We didn't take the bus there as it was pretty much not advised by fellow travellers or locals. We took private shuttles or public shuttles for long transportation wish was pretty nice! Just, when they come get you at the rendezvous point wait for them to say for who it is and don't blatantly say "oh is it for me/us" followed by your name cause well it's easy afterwards to say "oh yes it's for you op". We stayed in a youth hostel and again it felt safe! We walked through the city by foot and it was nice! We also booked a guide to have the history of the buildings and it was worth it! People over there are so nice! No problem with the food too! Didn't get sick or anything! Do bring medication for the travelers flu in case, it can be useful! Overall very nice!
Posted: March 12, 2025Experienced: May, 2022
Laura
Germany
Acatenango, Solo travel
Really nice hiking trip that you can do in Guatemala! You start in the city of Antigua which is also a really nice town. It‘s cool for solo travellers cause you will probably hike with a nice group and meet nice people hiking
Posted: January 28, 2025Meet locals in Guatemala
Natalie
About Me
Hey I’m Nat, an Aussie girl in her late 30’s. I fell in love with travelling in my 20’s. I lived in London for a few years, then lived in my backpack for a couple of years hitchhiking and Couchsurfing across the USA and Canada. Currently backpacking through Central and South America!
Speaking
Dayana
About Me
Hi! I’m a Guatemalan girl open to exchange my culture to your culture!
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Safety in Guatemala
Frequently asked questions
Is Guatemala safe?
Is Guatemala safe to walk alone at night?
Is public transport safe in Guatemala?
What is the crime rate in Guatemala?
What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Guatemala?
What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Guatemala?
What is the risk of being physically attacked in Guatemala?
What is the risk of burglary in Guatemala?
What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Guatemala?
What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Guatemala?
