Travel Advisory-Xela, Guatemala
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Sep 18, 2012 7:48 AM Last Post By: eddystonelightk...
jump to
Travel Advisory-Xela, Guatemala
Dear Traveler,Please use caution when traveling by bus throughout the country. On Sept. 5th, protesters blocked the main highway (CA-1) and route between Xela and the capital, about 23 kilo. east of Xela near the fork in the road with San Fernando. Protestors placed large stones in the road and stood, sat in a line blocking all transit for hours.
Such blockades can appear spontaneously and w/o prior notice, blocking all transit and inconveniencing travelers and motorists. My bus driver had no inkling that the highway would be blocked. There were several more blockades on the approach to Xela and on secondary roads. Some passengers disembarked the bus and walked around the blockade, dragging their luggage. Such blockades can appear w/o prior notice of any kind, and police do not impede protests blocking highways.
You should read the local newspapers carefully and inquire about conditions locally before traveling by bus. You have been warned.
2
Sure it's inconvenient, but why would that warrant "caution"? I can see the surprise and novelty for a first-time traveler, but they're quite common all over the country and are almost never more than a simple annoyance... at worst you may need to change busses because of it."Some passengers disembarked the bus and walked around the blockade, dragging their luggage" – ie. it must be Monday. I've done this at least 15 times. These folks would never even dream of harming someone in these protests.
"You have been warned?" Please. Try announcing that Guatemalans eat too many beans and say that, it'll make more sense.
3
Protest, Strikes, shut downs, you name it, flare up anywhere in this region, most recent more violent ones have been on Panama on both main routes on each coast....is what it is.
