Huehuetenango, Guatemala Travel Guide
Why should you trust me and take my advice?
I moved to Guatemala to be with my husband, and I’ve been lucky to call this country my new home. We spend all our free time traveling all over this incredible country and we’ve traveled multiple times to the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala. My advice and travel tips are based on extensive experience.
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An overview of Huehuetenango
Huehuetenango (also known as Huehue) is a department in Guatemala located along the border with Mexico. A few Guatemalans come here on vacation but for foreigners, it’s still very much an off-the-beaten-path destination. This department has the city of Huehuetenango in it but also, many remote Maya communities. It’s where you can find the highest mountain range in Central America as well as canyons, rivers, pine forests, and beautiful lakes. Also, there are llamas in this part of Guatemala!
If you like cold weather or if you’re looking for a destination in Guatemala that offers raw nature, indigenous culture, and very few tourists then you should add Huehuetenango to your list! Visiting this part of Guatemala is an adventure. It’s not a destination for travelers seeking luxury, nightlife, or easy logistics.
Although, a few place in the department are much less difficult to access compared to others. For example, it’s not too difficult to plan a trip to visit the tourist destinations in Huehue that are in close proximity to the city of Huehue, Todos Santos, and Chiantla. These places are easier to access and there is a luxury hotel experience that can be booked nearby. However, the places in Huehue that are close to the border with Mexico are more remote and there is less tourist infrastructure there. Keep reading for more!
Is it safe to visit Huehuetenango?
You might already know that the U.S. Department of State has designated the department of Huehuetenango as a Level 4: Do Not Travel (with the exception of the city of Huehuetenango). The reason for this is because this department sits along the border with Mexico, which is a transit path for human trafficking and drug smuggling. Also, much of this department is rural and some places are difficult to reach for emergency support.
Now that I’ve shared this information, I will explain my thoughts and opinion on the travel advisory. We’ve traveled to this department three times and haven’t had a problem. We haven’t seen gangs or drug trafficking. Although, of course we don’t know for sure. We’ve visited a few places just next border including Cenotes de Candelaria, Hoyo Cimarron, and Laguna Brava. We felt safe and fine the entire time. Moreover, the city of Huehuetenango and the areas surrounding the city are far from the border. Many places in this department are far from the border and in our experience, life just seems normal in this part of Guatemala.
If you’re concerned about safety but still want to visit this department then I recommend only exploring during the day and not driving at night. In fact, I recommend this for anywhere in Guatemala. Moreover, you can stick to visiting just the city of Huehuetenango and the surrounding areas. There are plenty of places to visit in this part of Guatemala. If you want to travel to Laguna Brava and the border area then to remain extra safe, you can hire a private driver to take you around and/or a tour guide.
I have almost never heard of tourists having any problems in Huehuetenango and it’s rare to hear of problems in general in Guatemala. In my opinion, most foreigners are going to have a very good experience in Guatemala and a safe trip. Not only in the main tourist areas but in Huehuetenango as well.
Transportation options and how to get to Huehuetenango
One of the main reasons why many tourists don’t visit the department of Huehuetenango is because it’s far from many of the most popular tourist destinations and there are not many transportation options available to explore in this department. However, there are some options and I will list these below.
Private driver:
Private bus:
Rental car: