Crime in Guatemala?

I've heard a lot of bad-sounding stuff on the net about crime against
tourists in Guatemala. I was there 5 years ago and I didn't feel like
it was that dangerous so long as one watched for pickpockets and
avoided seedy-looking areas. Has it become significantly more
dangerous since then? Or is it being exaggerated?

I plan to travel low-budget by myself, not with a tour, staying in
cheap hotels and taking 2nd class buses.

wackeddoutm (Bill Johnston) wrote in message news:<d2e5798e.0406232243.69ac0a2b@ com>...
> I've heard a lot of bad-sounding stuff on the net about crime against
> tourists in Guatemala. I was there 5 years ago and I didn't feel like
> it was that dangerous so long as one watched for pickpockets and
> avoided seedy-looking areas. Has it become significantly more
> dangerous since then? Or is it being exaggerated?
>
> I plan to travel low-budget by myself, not with a tour, staying in
> cheap hotels and taking 2nd class buses.

Violent crime in Guatemala City has incresed and this is mainly gang
members killing each other. I never heard of tourist being targeted
however if you plan to stay in zona 1 and ride the chicken buses then
you might become the exception.

Good Luck
joe