Full Country Name: Republic of Guatemala
Capital: Guatemala City
Area: Guatemala covers 42,000 square miles and is at the northern end of the Central American Isthmus
Population: The population is approximately 13 million. Guatemalans are a mix of indigenous, Ladinos and Garifunas.
Major Industries: Sugar, coffee, textiles, construction, clothing, wood products, bananas, citrus, meat, shrimp, nontraditional agricultural products and tourism.

LOCATION
It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Caribbean Sea and Belize to the east and El Salvador and Honduras to the southeast. The country is comprised of, towering mountains and majestic volcanoes, temperate plateaus, tropical lowlands, desert-like river valleys, and lowland jungles and swamps.

CLIMATE
Weather conditions may vary from season to season and region to region. The dry season is from October to early May and the rainy season from late May until the end of September. Temperatures vary little during the year.

GOVERNMENT

Guatemala has a democratically elected government with elections every four years.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Quetzal, named after the national bird. The US dollar is now accepted as legal currency.

BANKING
Banks are open from 9:00am to 6:00pm from Monday through Friday, and 9:00am to 12:00pm on Saturdays. Most Banks offer many services such as loans, savings and checking accounts, debit cards, investments, insurance, retirement funds, international services, e-banking, security boxes, account statements via email, and much more.

LANGUAGES
Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in the popular tourism areas. Over 20 indigenous languages are still spoken as well.

RELIGION
As most of Central America, Catholicism is the most practiced religion throughout the country. Most other denominations are also practiced.

SHOPPING
Guatemala City, the biggest metropolis in Central America, is an excellent place to shop. Shopping malls are designed and built according to the highest engineering standards to make them totally functional and pleasant to visit. They have a great variety of services for the visitors’ comfort, wide walking halls, private parking spaces, interior and exterior gardens, and food courts with national and international restaurants.

RESTAURANTS
Guatemala offers a wide range of restaurants, from local typical food to international food and fusions with foreign cultures like Asia and the Middle East.

ENTERTAINMENT
In Guatemala City or Antigua there is an abundant supply of things to keep one joyfully occupied. The theater is present, as in ballet and opera. There are numerous spa type gyms to be found around town that have the latest equipment and classes. Soccer is a popular sport as is bicycle racing. You can go into the countryside and hike, ride bikes, and go to the beach to swim, dive or even surf. Guatemala also has an active nightlife. Most of the bars and clubs are found in the “Zona Viva” area in Guatemala City. They offer varied music and environments where you will have a fun and relaxing night out in town. In Guatemala City you will find modern movie theaters that show the most recent films and are mostly inside big shopping malls. In markets such as Mercado de Artesanías and Mercado Central local handicrafts are sold from all over the country. There you can find textiles, leather, wood, ceramic, candles, paintings, antiques, jade and silver jewelry, clothes, etc.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Information: 23331524
International Long Distance: 147
Fire Department: 122 and 123
Police: 110 and 120
Official time: 23331526
Ambulance: 5205-0911 or 23658428

SCHOOLS

Most private schools in Guatemala City have a bilingual program (English-Spanish); they serve all grades from pre-k to 12th grade. Schools offering a third language program (French, German) can also be found. Some schools also have American Accreditation. The following are some of the schools you may find Guatemala City.

• Colegio Americano - www.cag.edu.gt
• Colegio Maya - www.cm.edu.gt
• Equity American School - www.equity.edu.gt
• Inter-American School - www.interamericano.edu.gt
• German School - www.dsguatemala.edu.gt
• French School - www.julesverne.edu.gt

IMMIGRATION PROCESS
When the typical work visa expires (usually granted for two years) any foreign national who has resided in Guatemala for the full two years can apply for a residence visa.

Foreign nationals interested in obtaining residence visas must fulfill the following application requirements:

Authorization from the Department of Labor

Demonstrate economic self-sufficiency

Have no penal record in the last country of residence

Present a legalized Birth Certificate

Present a valid passport.

If a foreign national has fulfilled all of the legal requirements, he/she can expect to receive a working visa within about three months of filing the application. Work visas must be renewed on an annual basis.

Important Immigration Links
American Consulate - www.guatemala.usembassy.gov
American Chamber of Commerce - www.amchamguate.com

HOUSING

In Guatemala you will find all kinds of houses, from apartments in the city to houses in the suburbs. The price of a monthly rent depends on the area and the size of the house. In the best areas of Guatemala City monthly rent prices range from $1,000USD to $1,800USD for an apartment and $1,150USD to $3,000USD for a house.

Guatemala City is the country´s main city and commercial center. It is the largest city in Central America, located nearly 5,000 feet (1,500 m) above sea level and surrounded by imposing volcanoes, the city enjoys a nice climate during most of the year. Guatemala offers an incomparable experience of color, adventure, magic and hospitality.

HOLIDAYS:
New Year - Jan 1st
Holly Friday - March/April
Labors Day - May 1st
Army Day -June 30th
Virgen de la Asunción Day - August15th
Independence Day - September 15th
Revolution of 1944 Day - October 20th
All Saints Day - November 1st
Christmas Day - December 25th

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
VOLTAGE: 110 A.C. volts are found throughout most of the country. A few locations have 220 volts.
PLUGS: Standard American plugs
TELEVISION SYSTEMS: There are 7 local channels, TV Cable service and Direct TV services.
TRANSPORTATION: Guatemala has one International Airport (La Aurora International Airport).
TELECOMUNICATIONS: Direct dial service to the U.S. is available throughout the country. Telex, fax, radio, and Internet are easily found.