{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/guatemala/quetzaltenango","updatedAt":"2026-09-30T12:45:06.329Z","place":{"city":"Quetzaltenango","country":"Guatemala","countryCode":"GT","lat":14.84462,"lon":-91.52316},"safety":{"score":48,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":38,"confidence":0.74,"caps":[],"databaseScore":45,"travellerSentiment":{"score":64,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Visitors report feeling safe during daylight hours in the city center and tourist zones, but express caution about nighttime travel and isolated areas, particularly after recent scam reports.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":58,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":52,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":64,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":32,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":60,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":72,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":3,"label":"Reconsider Travel","updated":"Thu, 12 Mar 2026","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/tsg_aem/us/en/home/international-travel/travel-advisories/destination.gtm.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-08-13T13:45:16Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guatemala"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-24T08:53:34.148062-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/guatemala"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":23.3657267272051,"display":"23.4 / 100k","year":"2023","score":22,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":10.9,"display":"10.9%","year":"2017","score":72,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":12.6,"display":"12.6 / 100k","year":"2021","score":59,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":62.3112389,"display":"62/100","year":"2024","score":62,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":40.4032981,"display":"40/100","year":"2024","score":40,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":28.6604826,"display":"29/100","year":"2024","score":29,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":33.6586778,"display":"34/100","year":"2024","score":34,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":49.9827169,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":48.6097484,"display":"49/100","year":"2024","score":49,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":180706,"display":"181k residents","year":null,"score":84,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":56.2,"display":"56.2 / 100","year":null,"score":47,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":0.3,"display":"0.3%","year":"2019","score":98,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0.1,"display":"0.10 / 100k","year":"2024","score":91,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":25,"display":"25.0%","year":"2019","score":50,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":89,"display":"US AQI 89 · Moderate","year":null,"score":71,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":16,"display":"16 within 15 km · nearest ~0.5 km","year":null,"score":95,"source":"OpenStreetMap"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":20,"display":"September: highs ~20°C · heavy rain / flooding","year":null,"score":82,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":1,"display":"1 active alert · Drought (green)","year":null,"score":61,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2.5,"display":"Level 3 — Reconsider Travel · 2 govts","year":null,"score":50,"source":"CA / US"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":58,"display":"58 / 100 (Mostly positive)","year":null,"score":58,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Drought","severity":"green","title":"Drought is on going in The Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador","distanceKm":309}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Quetzaltenango is moderately safe for travelers who exercise caution, particularly avoiding nighttime travel and securing valuables.","summary":"The city's safety profile reflects national concerns: elevated homicide and crime rates, weak institutions, and moderate risks of robbery and pickpocketing, though health and environmental hazards are relatively low. Travelers report feeling reasonably safe during daylight hours in central areas, but nighttime movement increases vulnerability. Recent reports highlight virtual kidnappings and scams targeting visitors.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Mugging and armed robbery occur at night in less secure areas and on isolated routes; resistence increases risk of violence."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are frequent in crowded markets, chicken buses, and around Plaza Centroamérica."},"safeAreas":["Zona 1","Zona 9 (Universidad area)"],"avoidAreas":["La Democracia","Mercado La Democracia area"],"scams":["Virtual kidnappings via phone extortion","ATM tampering and card fraud","Fake police officers demanding bribes","Express kidnappings via street taxis","Drink spiking in bars and nightclubs"],"zones":[{"name":"Centro Histórico","level":"caution","note":"Pickpocketing and petty theft moderate risk, especially in crowded markets and plazas; avoid flashing valuables"},{"name":"Zona 1","level":"safe","note":"Well-lit, tourist-friendly area around Parque Centro América; normal precautions advised"},{"name":"Zona 3","level":"caution","note":"Residential area with increased robbery risk after dark; stick to main roads and avoid isolated streets"},{"name":"La Democracia","level":"avoid","note":"Peripheral neighborhood with higher gang activity and mugging reports; not recommended for visitors"},{"name":"El Tejar","level":"caution","note":"Moderate theft risk; avoid walking alone at night and use registered taxis after dark"},{"name":"San Juan Ostuncalco vicinity","level":"caution","note":"Rural outskirts with limited police presence; exercise caution when visiting farms or markets"},{"name":"Zona 9 (Universidad area)","level":"safe","note":"University district with steady pedestrian flow; generally safe during day, avoid isolated paths at night"},{"name":"Mercado La Democracia area","level":"avoid","note":"High theft and pickpocketing risk in and around the market; avoid carrying valuables"}]}}