Tourist Police in Guatemala

Dangers in Guatemala
Everything seems to be dangerous for tourists in Guatemala. Everyone has some sort of travel warning; don’t ride local buses, don’t climb the mountains without a machete, don’t walk down that street after dark, don’t eat any of that food. How could it possibly be that dangerous? Why aren’t the police doing anything? I would think the government would be pushing hard to thwart crime and promote the tourism industry, making it safe.

In San Pedro it is recommended not to climb the volcanoes or any of the surrounding mountains without a large group of people, a guide, and a machete, lest you will be robbed. Yet, half-way up the volcano hikers must pay 100 quetzales, about $13 USD to the park police. Why? People are still getting robbed even though they are paying the park police a ridiculous fee to protect the tourists. A few weeks ago a group of 27 tourists were robbed going up the volcano. There has to be a conspiracy. Maybe the cops are getting paid off. These cops need to stop being so corrupt and actually do something more than sit on their fat bottoms collecting tourist money.

(Photo of cops on the street in Antigua, Guatemala)

In Antigua the police infrastructure seems a little better, if not good, respectively. There are cops stationed all around every tourist attraction throughout the city. At night there are a couple of cops standing on each corner of the most tourist trafficked street in the downtown area. After dark there are more cops on the street than civilians.

Tonight I was actually a little comforted by this. Wade and I were coming home a little before 10:00 PM. As we were walking I saw a shady looking guy shadowing us and warned Wade. Sure enough he came over to us and kept trying to put his arm around Wade calling him amigo. If a stranger ever tries to put their arm around you on the street they are probably trying to rob you. Wade is smart. Wade wouldn’t let the guy get within 3 feet of him.

I told the guy in Spanish to go away. I did not want to get robbed tonight. He then started mumbling about how we have no respect. Excuse me mister, but just because I do not let you rob me you say I do not have any respect? Look who is talking! Nice try buddy!

Wade and I never stopped walking and we were nearing a group of cops. The guy took off. Cops are scary. The guy knows he is shady and he knows the cops know it too.

Sometimes cops work, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they are good, often they are bad.