Is Guatemala Safe for Women?
Safety rating
Women living in Guatemala consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 2.8 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Guatemala consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 1.9 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 4 experiences
Safety rating: | 2.8/5 | Moderate |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 2.6/5 | Moderate |
Safety using public transport: | 2.3/5 | Unsafe |
Crime rate: | 1.9/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 1.6/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1.4/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1.6/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is Guatemala?
Emily
Guatemala City
Guatemala can be safe if youbtake certain precautions, like always having your bag close to you, never walk with your headphones or phone on display and always be aware of your surroundings. Take Uber or private rentals, because the public transport is extremely unsafe and inefficient. Never go out alone, especially during the dark, go out in groups and make sure someone knows your location.
Posted: April 21, 2025
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 51 experiences from female travelers
Izzi
United States
Guatemala City, Couple travel
We stayed with local friends for the first leg of our trip in Guate city. A lot of people skip right through this city and move onto Antigua, but I think it’s worth a stay! At the time, our friends recommended “try staying in either Zone 14, 10, 15 or 16 of the city those zones/districts are very centric and not too far from most centric locations. If you stay in z 14, or 10 you will be pretty close to the airport.” Do your research on the zones as some are safe for tourists and some are more encouraged to avoid. I felt safe here though I do think it’s also because I was traveling with a male partner.
Posted: June 11, 2025Safety 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?
