Guatemala plans on reopening its international airport for tourists starting on September 18th, 2020; the announcement was made by Juan Antonio Ruiz, president of the Guatemalan Airline Association. In March, Guatemala closed their borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is now looking to resume commercial flights into the country. However, Guatemala’s Aurora international airport will officially reopen on September 18th. Five of the ten airlines that operate at the airport will also resume flights that day. Guatemala’s land border with Belize will remain closed.
Francis Argueta, Director of Civil Aeronautics said that PCR tests will be mandatory for all travelers arriving in Guatemala, ElPeriodico reported. “There will be two alternatives for those who do not have a PCR test. The first is adhering to a 14-day quarantine or to be tested in a health center under the leadership of the ministry of public health,” Argueta explained. Additionally, according to the statement by Argueta, all travelers who do not get tested for COVID-19 will face a mandatory quarantine of 14 days. There have been no details released if it will be a government or self imposed quarantine.
Health Protocols in Guatemala at Reopening
All travelers must follow the COVID-19 health protocols while in Guatemala:
- Comply with social distancing of at least 1.5 metres.
- Use a face mask in all public spaces, including on the street. People that have recuperated from COVID-19 and those under quarantine must use masks inside their homes.
If you do not comply with these measures you could be fined or face criminal charges. Fines range from £700 to £15,000. A national curfew is still in effect starting at 9:00 pm and ending at 4:00 am.
Read more on Guatemala’s planned tourism reopening this September below.
Feature photo: Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, is easier to access from Belize than Guatemala City. Photo by Duarte Dellarole.
