How to avoid “Revenge of Montezuma”: Health and Water

Hello traveler! If you’re reading this, it probably your trip to Guatemala is about and, between the excitement of seeing the Lake Atitlán or the ruins of Tikal, there has emerged a small voice of concern in your head: ‘What am I going to eat? Am I going to get sick in the stomach?’.

Living here in Guatemala, I have received dozens of friends in the united States and Europe. Believe me, the ‘Revenge of Montezuma’ (or as we say affectionately called here, ‘the evil may’ or simply ‘the tourist’) is the fear of number one. And it is a fear valid: nothing ruins the faster a dream holiday to spend three days clinging to the toilet of your hotel.

The good news is that it is completely preventable. don’t need to live at the base of crackers and bottled water. As a local who loves the street food but also values your gut health, I have researched and perfected the art of eating well without getting sick. Here I tell you the truth uncomfortable, but necessary, on water and health in my country.

The Golden Rule: Tap Water is Lava

Let’s start with the most important, and I’m going to be brutally honest: Under no circumstances drink water directly from the tap in Guatemala.

It doesn’t matter if you’re in the most luxurious hotel in Antigua or in an Airbnb in the capital. The system of treatment of municipal water here is not as Munich or Chicago. The pipes are old and, although the water comes out ‘treated’ of the plant, in the way it can pick up bacteria, parasites and amoebae to your stomach european or u.s. doesn’t have defenses.

What do the locals?

We don’t drink tap water. If you enter any guatemalan cuisine, you’ll see a ‘bulk’ (a large container of 20 liters) of purified water, or a filter of high-quality installed in the sink.

Your mantra: If it does not come from a sealed bottle or a filter certificate, which you see, not what you drink.

The Gray Areas: Where they happen 90% of the errors

It is easy to remember not to drink from the tap, but most of the travelers get sick from oversights in the ‘grey areas’. Here is where I have seen it drop to the more cautious:

1. The ice in the drinks

In tourist restaurants and hotels: it is Generally safe. Buy bags of ice purified industrial.
In street stalls or dining very rural: Question. If they say they do it themselves (‘ice house’), best to ask for your drink to the time (without ice). When in doubt, abstain.

2. Brush your teeth

This is the classic trap of a rookie. You’re tired at night, open the faucet automatically and you wet your brush. ¡Error!

My advice: Leave a bottle of pure water right next to the sink as a visual reminder. Use it to rinse your toothbrush and your mouth. It seems paranoid, but it works.

3. Salads and raw fruits (The danger zone)

Here is where I suffer more for my visits. See a fresh salad and crusty and thrown in. The problem is not the lettuce, it is the water which washed.

General rule: If you can’t peel (such as a banana or an orange), or is not cooked, avoid this in places that are not of absolute confidence desk. A few strawberries washed with tap water can be a time bomb for your stomach. Opt for steamed vegetables or sauteed.

Survival guide to the Street Food

Guatemala has a street food amazing (you have to try the toast and the ‘shucos’), and it would be a crime to miss it because of fear. I like on the street all the time. What’s my secret? Observation selective.

The fire is your friend: only Eat what is cooked at high temperatures directly in front of you. A corn tortilla fresh from the griddle or barbecue charcoal are safe because the heat kills everything.
Avoiding warm: If you see food that takes hours in a glass display case under the sun, or sauces that have been at room temperature all the day, it flees.
Follow the crowd: If a post has a long line of local (especially if there are women with children or people office), is the best sign of quality and freshness. The high turnover means that the food is not stop.

My Kit of Prevention Staff (What I did for you)

In addition to the rules of the water, there are things you can do to prepare your body. I am not a doctor (and you should always consult yours before you travel), but this is what seems to work:

Probiotics before the trip: Many seasoned travelers swear to you start taking probiotics strong a week before arriving to strengthen the intestinal flora.
The trick of the Pepto-Bismol: Some studies suggest that taking Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) in a preventive way a couple of times a day for short trips you can create a protective layer in the stomach. Discuss it with your doctor.
Gel antibacterial (Sanitizer): Use it obsessively before you eat anything. The money passed through many hands and is a common source of bacteria.

What if, despite everything, I get sick?

Sometimes, you do everything right and it still happens. Don’t panic.

Hydration aggressive: how dangerous is not the diarrhea itself, but the dehydration. Go to any pharmacy (there are many, and they are good) or convenience store and buy Electrolit (it is much better than Gatorade for this) or serum oral powder.
Soft diet: white Rice, bananas, toast, dry. Give a rest to your system.
When do you go to the doctor?: If you have a high fever, blood in the stool, or if the symptoms do not improve in 48 hours, you need medical attention. In Antigua and Guatemala City there are excellent private clinics used to treat tourists. No te automediques with strong antibiotics without a diagnosis; sometimes it makes it worse if it’s a virus and not a bacteria.

Guatemala is a wonderful country and its cuisine is part of the experience. With these basic precautions, I assure you that you will enjoy much more of your trip, your stomach is happy and ready for adventure. ¡Buen provecho!