An exit tax must be paid when departing Guatemala. Guatemalan citizen frustration with crime has led to violent incidents of vigilantism, including lynchings, especially in more isolated, rural areas. Visitors to rural areas with predominantly indigenous populations should be aware that close contact with children, including taking their photographs, can be viewed with deep alarm, and may provoke panic and violence. Foreign tourists have been attacked by mobs, and some nearly killed, after taking photographs of local children or speaking to them. Large demonstrations occasionally occur throughout Guatemala.
Demonstrations can cause serious traffic disruptions, but they are usually announced in advance.
Visitors are encouraged to keep informed by following the local news and consulting hotel personnel and tour guides. While most demonstrations are peaceful, some have turned violent, and travelers should avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place. Care should be taken along Guatemala's beaches, where strong currents and undertow pose a serious threat to swimmers. Signs warning of treacherous surf are rare and confined mostly to private beaches owned by hotels. Although almost all of the 180,000 U.S. tourists who visit Guatemala annually do so without incident, the twin legacies of widespread poverty and violence combine to produce a level of crime that is a serious concern for tourists and residents alike.