The US State Department rates Guatemala Level 3: “Reconsider Travel.” My mom walks to the market every morning without a second thought.

Both things are true. The disconnect is the problem.

Most safety discussions about Guatemala are written by outsiders using country-level statistics without local context. This guide is written by someone who grew up navigating these streets — and who can tell you exactly which ones to walk down and which ones to avoid.

What the State Department Warning Actually Means

Level 3 sounds scary until you realize it’s the same level as France (after terror attacks), Colombia, and Kenya. It’s a blunt instrument that covers the entire country equally — which is like rating the entire United States based on crime stats from Chicago’s South Side.

The data actually shows that crime rates in Guatemala have been declining since 2009. And the critical insight: most violence is targeted (gang-on-gang), not random. It’s concentrated in specific neighborhoods that you would never have a reason to visit.

Guatemala City: Zone-by-Zone

Guatemala City has 25 zones. Here’s the honest breakdown of the ones that matter:

Safe Zones (Expat-Friendly)

  • Zona 10 (Zona Viva): The embassy district. Upscale restaurants, nightlife, heavy police presence. This is where most expats start.
  • Zona 14: Quiet residential. Families walk their dogs in the evening. Embassy employees live here.
  • Zona 15 (Vista Hermosa): Residential, gated communities, parks. Very safe.
  • Zona 16 (Cayalá): The safest zone in the city. A modern mixed-use development with 24/7 security. Feels like a different country.

Improving

  • Zona 4: Rapidly gentrifying. Trendy bars, art galleries, food scene. Fine during the day, use Uber at night.

Exercise Caution

  • Zona 1 (Centro Histórico): The historic center. Beautiful architecture, but stick to daytime and main streets.

Avoid

  • Zona 18: High crime. No reason for expats to visit.

Antigua: Consistently Safe

Antigua is one of the safest places in Guatemala, period. Tourist police patrol the streets, security cameras cover the main areas, and the most common “crime” is being overcharged at a restaurant.

Late at night, stick to the main streets. Use Uber for the outskirts. That’s really all you need to know.

Safety Rules I Actually Follow

These aren’t tourist tips from a guidebook. These are actual habits that locals practice:

  1. Don’t use your phone on the street in busy areas. Keep it in your pocket.
  2. Use Uber or InDriver. Never hail a random taxi.
  3. Choose housing with security features. Gated entrance, cameras, maybe a guard. This is standard here — don’t pay extra for what should be baseline.
  4. Keep a low profile with expensive items. No flashy jewelry, no laptop bags that scream “I’m a foreigner.”
  5. Learn basic Spanish. It’s your best safety tool.
  6. If confronted, give up your stuff. No possession is worth a confrontation. Insurance exists.

In Guatemala, we don’t live in fear. We live with awareness. There’s a difference.

The Honest Comparison

If you’d live in Mexico City, Medellín, or São Paulo, you’ll be perfectly fine in Guatemala’s expat zones. The safety profile is comparable — and in places like Antigua and Cayalá, it’s arguably better.

Guatemala is not uniformly safe. It’s not uniformly dangerous. Like any country, it rewards people who do their homework and make informed choices about where to live and how to move through the world.

Next: Read our zone-by-zone neighborhood guide or get started with the cost of living breakdown.