Guatemala: Facts & Stats

TRANSPORTATION

Roads:

Chicken buses, recycled and often colorfully painted former US school buses, are popular within cities and for short-distance trips. There are a number of Guatemalan bus and van transport companies that most travelers use to get from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua, Lake Atitlan in the Western Highlands of Guatemala and Monterrico on the Pacific coast.

Some first class bus operators (such as Litegua between Guatemala City and Puerto Barrios, Fuente del Norte between Guatemala City and Flores, and Monja Blanca to Cobán) run safe, modern air-conditioned buses for longer distances. In some parts of Guatemala City passengers on public buses are vulnerable to crime therefore it is not a good idea to take public buses in Guatemala City nor chicken buses from Guatemala City to other destinations. Shuttles and taxis are the better option. There are no passenger trains.

Streets

Unlike streets and roads in the US, Guatemala streets tend to be one-ways to ease congestion and move traffic.

Highways

• total: 14,095 km
• paved: 4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways)
• unpaved: 9,232 km (1999 est.)

Road conditions

An overcrowded bus plunged off a highway and rolled into a gully on February 29, 2008, killing 45 people and injuring 20 others.

Railroads:

The first line in Guatemala was opened in 1884, connecting Guatemala City to Puerto San José. The line to Puerto Barrios, which still exists, was completed in 1908. The network was soon acquired by United Fruit, and in 1912 renamed IRCA - International Railways of Central America. The railroad prospered until 1957. In 1954, United Fruit had to divest following an antitrust suit and in 1959, a parallel highway caused a serious competitive pressure. In 1968, the company defaulted, was taken over by the government and renamed FEGUA - Ferrocarriles de Guatemala. The condition of tracks continued to deteriorate and all traffic was shut down in 1996. Only nostalgic tourist trains (by Trains Unlimited) ran on parts of the network in 1997 and 1998.

Railways

total:

• 322 km (200 miles) operated by the Railroad Development Corporation until September 2007, now closed
• 563 km (350 miles) closed

narrow gauge: 884 km 3 ft (914 mm) gauge (single track)

Railway links with adjacent countries

• Mexico - currently closed - break-of-gauge 3 ft (914 mm)/4 ft 81?2 in (1,435 mm)
• Belize - no
• Honduras - none in use - break-of-gauge 3 ft (914 mm)/3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
• El Salvador - currently closed
• FERISTSA Railway would connect Mexico with Panama - 1,435 mm (4 ft 81?2 in) gauge.

Aviation:

Airports

450 (2006 est.)

Named airports

• La Aurora International Airport
• Mundo Maya International Airport
• San José Airport
• Quetzaltenango Airport
• Puerto Barrios Airport

Airports - with paved runways

• total: 11
• 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
• 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
• 914 to 1,523 m: 4
• under 914 m: 2 (2006 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

• total: 439
• 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
• 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
• 914 to 1,523 m: 111
• under 914 m: 319 (2006 est.)

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