Is Flores Guatemala Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice (2023)
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So, is Flores Guatemala safe? Is Flores Guatemala safe for solo female travellers? There’s a lot of outdated information on the Internet about Guatemala – especially in the Flores and Tikal areas. I recently read a post warning that you need a police escort to visit Tikal…this is absolutely not true as of 2023!
If you’re backpacking Guatemala solo, you’re going to want to know how to navigate the area and how to look after yourself. Throughout all of our time in Flores Guatemala, I felt safe. This includes walking around by myself during the day and at night.
If you are visiting Flores alone, or want to know if Flores is safe, I’ve rounded up 14 of the best tricks to staying safe in Flores Guatemala for your next visit!
As always, my DM’s on Instagram are always open, and if you have a question about staying safe in Flores Guatemala, I’d be more than happy to answer! So, let’s discuss: is Flores Guatemala safe for solo female travellers?
Other Guatemala posts:
- OX Expeditions Guatemala Review: Volcano Hikes + More
- Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Hike Is Best?
- Flores To Tikal: EVERYTHING You Need To Know
- How To Get From Flores To Semuc Champey
- Flores to Belize City: Complete Step-By-Step Guide
Is Flores Guatemala safe? A Summary
In summary, we found Flores Guatemala to be exceptionally safe. Things have changed for Guatemala in the past few years, and places that were deemed to be ‘dangerous’ not so long ago, are now safe for tourists and backpackers.
The main area of Flores (and the part where you are most likely to stay) is on a small island. This island is tiny; and can be walked around within 20 minutes. There are busy and well-lit parts of Flores, as well as some quieter backstreets.
Stick to the main parts of Flores; especially the outer main road which is close to the water’s edge. This is where most of the bars and restaurants are. You can walk through the middle of the island (we did many times, and never felt unsafe), but some of the roads are just a little bit quieter.
However, if you are backpacking Guatemala as a solo female traveller and want to visit Flores, it is a safe area. It’s fun, vibrant, and welcoming and has some amazing food options. Flores is also the gateway to Tikal, one of the most well-preserved ancient ruins in all of Central America.
Where to stay in Flores as a backpacker
If you’re visiting Flores for the first time, I recommend you stay on the island rather than the mainland to get the full experience.
Flores Island in Guatemala is exceptionally small. That means all of the accommodations, hostels and hotels are within walking distance of each other.
Again, my biggest piece of advice is to book hostels in advance. We missed out on so many of the best hostels in Central America as they fill up so quickly – get booking!
- Los Amigos Hostel: This is by far the most popular hostel in Flores, but also the most expensive! A dorm will cost over £20 a night, and a private room up to £120. When we were staying in Flores, there was no availability even 4 weeks in advance, so make sure you book early! ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
- Hotel Peten Express Tikal: Another popular hostel in Flores with a good location on the water. It has a calmer atmosphere than Los Amigos. ⮕ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
⮕ View all other Hostelworld hostels in Flores here.
Top 14 tips for staying safe as a female solo traveller
1. Know basic Spanish
This really is the most important piece of advice when backpacking Guatemala.
To stay safe in Flores Guatemala as a solo female traveller, know some basic Spanish. Basic Spanish goes a long way when you’re in Guatemala!
Talking to locals in English can come across as ignorant, and most of the time, they just won’t understand you. We can’t expect them to know our language as well as their own!
If you know some basic Spanish, it will also help you out if you’re stuck with something, or need help and advice. It really is key to staying safe in Flores Guatemala.
Download the Duolingo app and start practising at least 3 weeks before you arrive. As little as 15 minutes a day can help you with basic phrases!
If you’re a solo female traveller in Flores Guatemala, here are some helpful phrases in Spanish that you may want to screenshot!
- Please: por favor
- Thank you: gracias
- My name is…: Me llamo…
- Nice to meet you: Mucho gusto
- Yes: Si
- No: No
- What: que
- Where: donde
- Toilet: banos/bano
- Girls/ladies: mujeres or damas (look for an M or D on the toilet doors)
- Help: ayuda
2. Stick to busy and well-lit areas
Guatemala isn’t known for its well-lit streets, and Flores is no exception. As a solo female traveller, stick to busy and well-known roads. If a road you’re heading down looks dark and empty, take a longer route.
Plus, groups of men (construction workers etc.) are enough to make any solo female traveller feel uneasy. Avoid walking past big groups like this, especially if it makes you feel uncomfortable.
If you can’t avoid them entirely, cross the road and act confident. Nine times out of ten they’re harmless, but the cat-calling and comments are enough to make anyone feel unsafe!
Bear in mind that Flores Guatemala is small. It’s a really tiny island, and most of it can be walked around in under 20 minutes. If you’re worried, stick to the main outer road that circles the island and is closest to the water. This is where the majority of restaurants and bars are, and the busiest areas.
3. Keep your valuables close to you at all times, and hidden
There are a number of pickpockets and thieves working in Guatemala, just like any other country. Personally, I didn’t see this in Flores, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen!
There are accounts of phones being snatched out of people’s hands as they’re walking along the street, similar to what happens in Bali, Thailand and even London. It’s a common trick thieves use, as they can drive off quickly on their motorbikes without being caught.
Always have your iPhone in your pocket or bag, safely hidden. Don’t follow a GPS as you’re walking, as you make yourself a target. Look at your route beforehand.
iPhones in particular are prone to be stolen in Guatemala. This is because there aren’t any ways to buy Apple products in Guatemala (well, very few ways!) so they are worth a LOT of money.
But again, we didn’t see this happen, or even hear of it happening to anyone whilst we were there. It’s more of a general safety rule, rather than a specific safety tip for Flores Guatemala.
4. Save the Guatemalan emergency numbers in your phone
Knowing your emergency numbers when travelling is vital. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use them, but it’s so important you know them just in case! These numbers are totally free and even work with low signal.
🚓 For police emergencies, dial 110 or 120 for the fastest response.
🚑 For medical emergencies, dial 122 or 123 for the fastest response.
If you don’t have a Guatemalan SIM, this number will still work via your UK/USA contract.
5. Trust your gut instinct
If you’re backpacking Guatemala as a solo female traveller, you’ll find a lot of times you’ll need to rely on the kindness of strangers.
Most people you talk to and rely on for directions or help are decent human beings, but we all know that sometimes people just don’t have the best intentions. This is when it’s vital to trust your gut.
Don’t be afraid to lie. It’s way easier to get yourself out of a situation sooner rather than later. Be rude if you have to!
Back in 2018 in Vietnam, my friend and I had to jump out of a taxi driver’s car mid-drive (I kid you not, I wish I had it on video) because he was giving us such scary vibes. We later found out he was scamming us out of $100.
It was awkward, but I immediately had a bad gut feeling about him. Turns out when I checked my money-converting app, I was right. Trust your gut!
6. Avoid walking around alone at night
This is a general rule of thumb across Guatemala and Central America.
However, Flores Guatemala is relatively small, and we found the busy and well-lit areas to be safe at night.
7. Always let someone know where you are, or where you’re going
Another way of staying safe in Flores Guatemala is to always let someone know where you are.
Similar to location tracking, smartphones are great at allowing anyone to track your taxi or journey. This is so important when you’re travelling alone!
But I know this can be hard when you’re backpacking in a country with a time zone completely different to your family and friends back home. And do you really want to keep bothering them with your location? You have two choices.
A) You don’t care about ‘bothering’ them, as they love you and want to keep you safe! You ask them to keep an eye when you’re doing uncomfortable or long journeys. This is great!
B) If the time zone is too difficult, let someone in your hostel know where you’re going. You don’t need to tell them your life story, or what you’re doing, but if you’re visiting somewhere new (or meeting someone new!) someone should know where you are. If you can, exchange numbers with someone at your hostel. It’s likely you won’t need to use it, but it’s an extra layer of security.
8. Avoid using your headphones at night
This is common sense when backpacking Guatemala solo. If you have music on full blast playing through your earphones and you can’t hear anything that’s going on around you, you’re going to be less aware of your surroundings, ultimately making you more vulnerable.
I’d strongly advise walking without headphones late at night in Flores Guatemala.
9. Always carry a portable charger
If you’re backpacking Puerto Escondido alone, I advise you to always carry a portable charger for your mobile phone. Not only is this needed for directions and communication, but it’s vital that you have a phone battery in emergencies. Can you imagine that uncomfortable gut feeling whilst having a dead phone?
Portable chargers aren’t that expensive, and you can buy a tiny one that fits into your purse or pocket. It may seem annoying, but trust me, it could save your life! You can buy my favourite and most reliable portable charger here. It lasts up to 4-5 charges!
10. Prep your route before travelling, and know it well
Anyone can spot a backpacker looking lost and confused on the street. Imagine the wrong pair of eyes see this? You could be putting yourself in a really vulnerable position by not knowing what you’re doing.
Always be sure to know your route home, especially if you’re travelling home solo. If you end up in a new bar or location, do a quick Google search to check your journey back. Or, if all else fails, jump into a taxi. If a person on the street asks where you’re staying or where you’re travelling to, don’t be afraid to lie. It’s normal to not let everyone know where you’re going.
11. Act confident (even if you aren’t)
Even if deep down you’re feeling way out of your depth and like you just want to crawl up into a little ball and cry. You’ve got this! If you look scared, worried or confused, people will pick up on it. And quick. Walk with purpose, intent and confidence, fully aware of your surroundings.
Act confident, even if you’re not.
12. Stay in hostels
As a backpacker myself, I’m a big advocate for hostels. Staying in hostels means you can make friends from day one, and there are people around you immediately.
During your stay at a hostel, you might become friends with a group of people and end up travelling around with them. Or, you might book tours and activities with the hostel, which again are always done in big, safe groups.
Hostels are a great way to stay safe whilst backpacking in Guatemala. The reception desk is there to listen to you if you have any worries or fears, and they put your safety first.
13. Book well-known shuttle companies in Guatemala
The most popular and best way to travel around Guatemala as a backpacker is via shuttle buses. Whilst the public buses may be more adventurous and authentic, they can double your trip time, be unpredictable and often take longer.
If you are backpacking Guatemala for the first time, I highly recommend using shuttle buses to travel around the country.
Shuttle buses can be booked via your hostel or at local travel agents, and are a great way to meet other backpackers.
14. Be KIND!
Being kind to others will actually help you to stay safe in Flores Guatemala. The last thing you want to do is treat the locals like a walking Sat-Nav or accessory.
Treat them like a friend. Use basic Spanish. Even simple ‘gracias’ and ‘por favor’ will make a difference. In general, people in Guatemala and Flores are kind and welcoming. If you treat them well, they’ll do their best to return the favour.
Be conscious of your body language, and your wording. Look people directly in the eye if you’re speaking to them. Smile, greet them in Spanish and say goodbye. It will make the world of difference! Being kind will directly impact how safe you are on your trip to Flores Guatemala.
Useful apps for staying safe in Flores Guatemala
- Google Maps allows you to follow area maps even when you’re offline. Download some of your local areas before heading out to ensure you can travel safely on the right route at any time.
- Shake2Safety allows users to input emergency contacts to which a message, location, audio or photo can be sent in an emergency situation. Simply shake your phone or click the unlock button four times to send the alert. This can also be used without wifi and when your phone is locked.
- The Circle of 6 app allows you to save six contacts of your choice which can be notified in just two taps if you’re in an emergency situation.
- As horrible as it sounds, One scream works by being able to detect the scream of a panicked female. A loud siren will go off, and after 20 seconds an automated voice call and message will be sent to your emergency contacts.
Is Flores Guatemala safe at night?
Throughout our time staying in Flores Guatemala, we felt safe walking around at night. If we needed to travel away from the island and onto the mainland, we would take a tuktuk (but this was rare).
If you’re worried, stick to the main outer road that circles the island and is closest to the water. This is where the majority of restaurants and bars are, and the busiest areas. Of course, walking around anywhere at night is a bit more daunting than during the day. Be aware of your surroundings, use common sense and you will be ok.
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Is Flores Guatemala safe?: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Hopefully, you now know some safety tips when it comes to backpacking in Flores Guatemala. As I said, nine times out of ten we felt safe, and I would happily visit Flores as a solo female traveller.
When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Guatemala posts:
- Flores to Belize City: Complete Step-By-Step Guide
- Pacaya VS Acatenango: Which Volcano Hike Is Best? (2023)
- How To Get From San Ignacio To Flores: Backpacker Guide
- Belize 7 Day Itinerary: One Week COMPLETE Guide!
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
