Guatemala or Mexico?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 73 419
UNESCO listings among them 4 49
Cost level Budget Budget
Busiest month in our write-ups March February
Currency Quetzal (GTQ) Mexican peso (MXN)
Plugs and voltage A, B - 120 V A, B - 127 V
Everyday languages Spanish Spanish
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Central America North America
Capital Guatemala City Mexico City
Guatemala
Soft-spoken and gently formal; courtesy and patience are the currency that matters most.
What we have written up
- Acatenango mountain
- Aguateca archaeological site
- Antigua old town
- Biotopo del Quetzal nature reserve
- Bocas del Polochic wildlife reserve
- Cancuen archaeological site
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash quetzales rule daily life - keep small notes, as nobody can change a 100
- A 10% propina is sometimes already on the bill - check before adding more
- Chichicastenango market runs Thursdays and Sundays - arrive early
Mexico
Courtesy and unhurried warmth; food is identity and every region has its own.
What we have written up
- Acolman Monastery monastery
- Actopan Monastery monastery
- Africam Safari safari park
- Agua Azul and Misol-Ha waterfall
- Aguachile dish
- Aguas Frescas drink tradition
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping is 10-15% in restaurants
- Cards work in cities; cash rules markets and small towns
- First-class buses (ADO and peers) are genuinely excellent intercity transport
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.