Transportation in Guatemala includes roads, waterways, and airports. It formerly included railways.

The Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing oversees the planning, maintenance and development of infrastructure and transport systems.[1] The General Directorate of Roads is responsible for the planning, design and supervision of construction works and maintenance of the country's roads.[2]

Roads

Guatemala has an extensive road network, where 12.72% of the roads connect with Mexico and Central America, 17.27% are National Roads, 43.84% are Departmental and 26.17% are Rural. All the country's roads have Guatemala City as their point of origin. Among the busiest international routes in the country are the Pan-American highway that connects Mexico with Central America and the CA-9 highway that connects Puerto Barrios in the Guatemalan Caribbean with Puerto Quetzal in the Pacific.[3]

Urban transportation

The urban transport system began in Guatemala City in the 1990s and since then it has been one of the most used means of transport within metropolitan areas. Bus services such as Transmetro and Transurbano differ from other means of transportation, such as private or departmental public transport as they are regulated by lines with defined stops and are primarily used for short-distance transportation.

Urban Transport Systems in Guatemala

Intercity transportation

The Intercity system connects various cities, departments, and countries. It is mainly used for long-distance travel. In Guatemala, it is common to see Chicken buses, which are recycled and often colorfully painted former US school buses. There are also Pullman buses that offer different destinations within Guatemalan territory.

Intercity Transport Systems in Guatemala

Streets

Guatemalan streets tend to be one-ways to ease congestion and move traffic.

Highways

Railways

total:

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

Railway links with adjacent countries

Waterways

260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season

Pipelines

Ports and harbors

Atlantic Ocean

Pacific Ocean

Merchant marine

None (1999 est.)

Boats

Ferries are available in certain regions, such as Sayaxché or around Livingston. The best way to get to the various Mayan villages around Lake Atitlan is on one of the ubiquitous "shark" boats.

Airports

Main article: List of airports in Guatemala

450 (2006 est.)

Named airports

Airports - with paved runways

Airports - with unpaved runways

See also

References

  1. ^ "civ.gob.gt - Objetivos". www.civ.gob.gt. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  2. ^ Caminos, Dirección General de. "Dirección General de Caminos". Dirección General de Caminos (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  3. ^ Esteban (2014). "Red Vial de Guatemala 2014" (PDF). www.caminos.gob.gt. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  4. ^ RDC
  5. ^ Closure
  6. ^ Central America going nowhere. Railway Gazette International August 2007.