Guatemala Government Services

CONAP (Consejo Nacional de Áreas Protegidas) is Guatemala’s lead conservation agency. It administers SIGAP (the Guatemalan System of Protected Areas) — more than 320 areas covering about 31% of the national territory, including world-class sites like Tikal, Lake Atitlán, Sierra de las Minas, Río Dulce, and the Maya Biosphere Reserve. CONAP is also Guatemala’s CITES authority (international trade in endangered species), regulates sport hunting, certifies forest regents, and authorizes scientific research in protected areas.

Quick rule: Going to Tikal or Atitlán as a tourist? → no CONAP permit needed, just pay site entry. Going to hunt, research, export wood, or transport species? → CONAP is the mandatory filter. Running a flora/fauna company? → free CONAP registration but indispensable.

CONAP sub-portals and divisions

Most-searched CONAP trámites

For hunters and sport people

For companies and forest regents

For researchers and scientists

Most-visited protected areas (SIGAP)

Normal tourist visit: NO prior CONAP permit needed, just on-site entry fee (Q5-Q150 by area). Research, commercial filming, mass events or special use: DO require prior permit.

Active CONAP programs

Before any CONAP trámite — checklist

Diaspora — researchers, hunters and conservationists in the USA

If you are a researcher or doctoral student in the USA

• US universities (Yale, UC Berkeley, Smithsonian, NSF) regularly process CONAP permits for theses and projects in Guatemala. Start the trámite 90 days in advance.
• Research permits go through CONAP’s Wildlife Directorate. You’ll need an institutional letter from your university, a technical proposal, and a Guatemalan counterpart (CECON-USAC, FUNDAECO, Defensores de la Naturaleza are frequent partners).
• To take samples out of the country (animals, plants, soil, DNA) you need a Research Transport Permit + CITES Permit if the species applies + SAT export permit.
• For research in Tikal or the Maya Biosphere also coordinate with IDAEH (Anthropology Institute) if your work touches archaeology.

If you are a Guatemalan sport hunter living in the USA

• Your CONAP Hunting License can be renewed on each visit to Guatemala — valid one year from issuance.
• Hunting trophies for export to the USA: you need a CITES Permit (if applicable) + USDA-APHIS authorization on entry to the USA + customs declaration. CITES Appendix I species (jaguar, ocelot, tapir, quetzal) are prohibited as trophies — no exceptions.
• Bringing a personal firearm from the USA for hunting in Guatemala: requires a temporary DIGECAM (MINDEF) permit + SAT customs declaration. See MINDEF.

If you are a Guatemalan in the USA interested in conservation

• CONAP receives international donations through allied organizations: Defensores de la Naturaleza, FUNDAECO, Wildlife Conservation Society Guatemala. All are 501(c)(3) tax-deductible in the USA via fiscal sponsors or US chapters.
• Private Natural Reserves Program: if you inherited forested land in Guatemala and want to legally protect it, CONAP can declare it a Private Natural Reserve — you keep your title, but you gain legal standing and IUSI exemptions.

Sanctions for violations (reference)

CONAP contact

More Guatemala state resources

• MARN Guatemala — environmental licenses, EIA, emissions control (general regulation; CONAP is specific to protected areas and biodiversity)
• MAGA Guatemala — INAB for productive forests outside SIGAP, animal health, phytosanitary
• MINDEF Guatemala — DIGECAM if bringing a firearm from the USA for hunting
• SAT Guatemala — CITES export + customs for scientific samples
• MINEX Guatemala — apostille and document authentication for international research
• Trámites Guatemala — full directory of state trámites