Is it really that dangerous?

Spent the last 2 weeks here, never once felt unsafe.
Learn as much spanish as you can, take guidebook suggestions very seriously (there are about a dozen specific roads or areas that seem to have so many reported robberies that they merit mention in the book), dont travel at night, dont wander the streets at night, walk in groups if possible. Most of these things are obvious, but to me it really seems a matter of luck too!

"safe enough" is a good phrase for GT & used alot here.
you don't say where you're from if Detroit much less crime, perhaps other non-urban places more. just depends where you're at & how careful you are. exactly as the folks above have said. if you've traveled mexico or so. america about on par.
some places even w/in a country, town, or block safer than others.

Bring gifts to thrust at those who attempt to attack you.This will alert them to your good hearted intentions and they will freeze up in amazement at your generosity.Remember to save a few for the cab drivers...perhaps balloons....or teddy bears.

Just took a taxi ride through Guatemala City, went to the mall and had lunch and then took a chicken bus down into Antigua. All of this with a laptop, iPod, not too much cash and a few changes of clothes. The most dangerous element of the journey... the earthquake in the mall during my Taco Bell meal.

Mojoguate....I see we live in GUatemala for the same reasons...I agree wholeheartedly that life in the USA is so predictable and dull...that certainly can't be said for life in GUatemala. I can't understand why Guatemala doesn't have a border problem with gringos flooding in. But I don't want TOO many gringos here, don't want it to become San Miguel Allende or like some other places in Mexico....maybe it is better if we tell everyone how dangerous it is in self-preservation.

On the chicken bus issue..there are more problems here right now on the route between Antigua and GUatemala CIty than normal, although the little outlying areas seem to be okay mostly...it all involves the city one way or another, but that "protection tax" the drivers have been paying has kept passengers from getting robbed...

I would avoid camionettas (chicken buses) on the route between Antigua and Guate for the time being anyway if possible. Use a tourist shuttle or taxi. Other than that, all the normal precautions available if one searches on here for prior discussions...

...#1 individual protection, use a moneybelt and split up your funds and credit cards....only carry a day's worth of money in a pocket or easily pickpocketed location.

Guatemala is as dangerous as most of third world countries, dont see much difference in all of them. Just try to look as normal as possible. Most dangerous is for locals, I wouls say. when the drugs will become allowed around the world and specially in the first world countries a lot of violence will stop in this poor third world countries that are used as a bridge to transport drugs to the big ones.
Just chill out while in Guatemala and pray to be safe wherever you go.
I have been robbed 3 times in my life, the 3 times have been in US Territory so .........

just be careful "WHEREVER YOU GO IN LIFE"

I just want to thank those who have contributed for their sensible and non-hystrionic advice. As someone who is traveling to Guatemala for the first time reports from the New York Times and the U.S. Government can be rather rattling.

#17-

The New York Times recommends in its Travel section almost 6 times in the last 12 months, Guat as a great destination...

If you are talking about recent articles on the gang issues, drug and narco terrorist issues, or the political issues, they all have little or nothing to do with a tourist going to Gaut?

The coverage in the NY Times is mainly negative is a Socio-Political sense, not for a traveler, if that were the case, then you would not want to drive acrosss any big bridges in the USA, as world coverage of the recent collapse in Minneapolis would make the USA not to great place for driving? Get my point....