The night I accidentally slept through a 7.1 earthquake in Guatemala

Planning to travel to Central America and worried about being in an earthquake in Guatemala? They are so common in this part of the world so it’s very likely that you will experience a Guatemala earthquake at some point. Although it will probably just be a small one.

If like me, you are from a country that does not have earthquakes then, you may be clueless about what to do in a Guatemala earthquake. I know I was. In this post, I’m going to talk you through a few facts about earthquakes as well as what to do during a serious earthquake in Guatemala.

Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress. 
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An earthquake in Guatemala? WTF I’m from England we don’t have Earthquakes!?

One night in Guatemala I was woken up at around 1 am because my house was moving. Once I’d woken up I realized this must be an earthquake in Guatemala. Being from the UK I had never experienced one before. By this point, I had been in Guatemala for a few months and I’d felt a few tremors but nothing to worry about. Although, sometimes these little earthquakes had been from the volcano’s erupting rather than an actual earthquake.

But this was different…

Firstly everything was shaking pretty violently and secondly, it lasted for a very long time.

What not to do during an Guatemala Earthquake

So what did I do? Nothing, I just went back to sleep. Which I now know was a bit silly of me. But being British and not wanting to overreact I figured this was normal and as the house was still standing I’d be safe. I didn’t even think about aftershocks…

Turns out when I spoke to people the next day, this earthquake in Guatemala was 7.1 (this is bad) and it was something to worry about. Also, it wasn’t the only one that night… This was just one of 27 earthquakes in Guatemala over a 24 hour period. Of those 27 recorded 11 of them were over 4 and 4 over 5.

Realizing my naivety I thought I had best do some research on earthquakes and learn what I should do if/ when this happens again.

What is an earthquake anyway?

I’m not a geologist. So if you want a proper explanation then take a read of this from some science people who know what they are talking about. But in brief easy to understand terms an earthquake is sudden rolling or shaking of the ground that happens along fault lines when they ‘slip’ past each other. They can’t be predicted and they can be felt miles away from the fault line.

Why is Central America (especially Guatemala) so prone to Earthquakes?

You only have to read up on the historical earthquakes in Guatemalan cities like Antigua (where I’m currently living) to see how prone to earthquakes. Antigua has been devastated by an earthquake in Guatemala more than once. According to some sources, it has a huge earthquake every 50 years…the last one was in 1976. It was a 7.5 (only .3 more than the one I experienced) and it was the most deadly earthquake in history with around 25,000 deaths recorded. Antigua, Guatemala City, and Quetzaltenango are all situated on the Montagua and Chixoy-Polochic fault complex this cuts right across Guatemala and forming the boundary between the North American Tectonic Plate and the Caribbean tectonic plate.

Just take a look at the map below and you can see how many fault lines are in this small area. It’s no wonder earthquakes are so common.

What makes a difference is how close to the earth’s surface they are. The closer they are the worse it is. The deeper they are, the less effect we feel. So although the earthquake I experienced was a 7.1 it was pretty deep so the effects were minimal.

What to do in an Earthquake?

So now you might know a little bit more about what an earthquake is. But what do you do when one happens? For some really comprehensive guidance check out this website. Or keep reading for a summary.

How to prepare for an Earthquake

The best way to prepare for an earthquake is to download an Earthquake app on your smartphone and check it regularly.

Sleep with your phone close to you, just in case. I know this isn;t great advice as smartphones can fry your brain, haha, but maybe turn it off at night if you are worried. I also have a whistle that I keep close by.

Another good habit to get into is checking your accommodation for a safe place to take cover and an emergency exit route. This way if something does happen then you already have a plan that you have thought through.

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?

The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing

Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.

Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

EDIT:

The day after I wrote this post, Guatemala experienced had a second earthquake! This one was a 6.9. But it felt so much worse to me. It happened at 6:30 am and luckily I was up and about. I had to catch a 7 am bus that morning.

I was in the kitchen making breakfast when all of a sudden everything started to shake. It began slowly but got intense very quickly. This time knowing what I should do I grabbed for my coffee (very important) and ran for the door. Holding on to the TV with one hand and my coffee with the other I crouched down in the corner of the room close to the door away from anything that could fall on me.

I must admit I was pretty shaken up by this one. Maybe it’s because I now know the potential danger, which I didn’t the first time. Or maybe it’s because I wasn’t in bed half asleep. I’m not sure but I was pretty scared. Once it was all over I went outside and chatted with the neighbors, we were all outside waiting for the aftershock (like a true Brit).

Then not long after we have a 7.9 Earthquake. This one was the most frightening. I actually experienced phantom earthquakes every time I lay down for weeks after. Although didn’t realize it at the time but it is a quite common mild form of PTSD.

I really hope this post is helpful for any other travelers like me who are a little clueless about earthquakes. Remember, don’t roll over and go back to sleep haha.

Quick Tip: View my full Guatemala packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Guatemala Essentials shopping list here.

Guatemala Travel Guide Planning

🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Guatemala?

Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Guatemala which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Guatemala on Amazon here.

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Guatemala?

I strongly recommend using GottoGo. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Guatemala?

I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack. 

This post was proofread by Grammarly