With the arrival of Palm Sunday, Holy Week reaches its most significant point. During these days, the manifestations of faith intensify, and it is estimated that at least two million visitors are concentrated in the historic center to live the processional courtships, The carpets and the Funeral marches.
Due to the increase in mobility, traffic becomes a key issue. Therefore, the authorities prepare to order vehicular traffic during religious festivities.
The spokesman of the Municipality of Guatemala, Amílcar Montejo, informed that the Emetra-PMT plan is already underway, as it was designed from Lent. For its execution, 850 agents of the Municipal Traffic Police (PMT) have been assigned, who will be deployed without breaks or permits throughout the season, in order to guarantee road safety in the city.
Montejo stressed that the processions with the highest influx will be Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Saturday of Gloria and Domingo de Resurrection. He added that, since Friday, April 11, an intense religious and commercial activity is expected, especially in the historic center, which he described as “a place that inspires.”
Mobility Plan in the Historic Center during Holy Week
During the major week, 33 processions will be carried out in the city of Guatemala, of which 27 will take place in the historic center, three in zone 6, two in zone 19 and one in zone 5.
All will be protected by agents of the Municipal Traffic Police (PMT), who will regulate the circulation with alternate routes, control points, motorized patrol, surveillance drones and crane service.
The spokesman of Emetra, Amílcar Montejo, informed that special vehicle corridors will be enabled in the historic center and that the patrol of agents, control points and drone monitoring are already active.
For Monday, Tuesday and Holy Wednesday, operations focused on the control of extra -urban transport and service vehicles will be carried out, since in those days the first departure of travelers to the departments is recorded, who return on Sunday of Resurrection.
Holy Thursday is expected high night circulation in the historic center. Therefore, agents will be deployed at strategic points to redirect traffic to alternate routes and provide support to procession attendees.
On Good Friday there will be vehicular closure from 1 pm for the preparation of the monumental carpet and the passage of seven processional courtships, between the Civic Center and the Avenue of the Cemetery. The entrance to the area will be exclusively pedestrian.
That day, the transmetro service and your bus will remain active, but with restrictions according to the progress of the processions. The authorities recommend consulting the official channels to know the enabled points of promotion and descent.
Montejo added that a special operation will be activated on resurrection Sunday to receive travelers returning to the capital from the interior of the country.
Emetra actions to guarantee mobility
A total of 850 agents of the Municipal Traffic Police (PMT) will be distributed in different areas of Guatemala City to regulate vehicular traffic during Holy Week. Among the main services they will provide stand out:
- Traffic Control Center: Real -time monitoring from Emetra, in coordination with the PMT, to manage traffic and attend road emergencies.
- Air supervision: use of drones to evaluate vehicular flow and detect congestion points.
- Agents in scooters: agile patrol in the historic center and areas with high pedestrian concentration, as part of the Scooters Plan.
- Inspection reinforcement: Verification of compliance with traffic regulations, parking control, road closures and areas with vehicular restriction.
Parking enables in the historic center
To facilitate mobility during Holy Week, the Municipality of Guatemala announced the qualification of public parking lots in different parts of zone 1. The goal is that visitors can leave their vehicles in the designated areas and move on foot towards the historic center.
According to an Emetra report, a perimeter route will be implemented that will allow users to move from parking to the accesses near the perimeter of the historic center.
Among the enabled spaces are Plaza El Amate, Plaza Italia and Simeón Cañas Avenue.
Map of areas where parking will be enabled for visitors in zone 1 during Holy Week. (Image: Free Press / Emetra)
Permanently active drones
Emetra reported that drones are already active and will remain in operation throughout the season, to support operational decisions and provide security to the population.
The objective of the drones mentioned Montejo is to supervise the vehicular traffic and support in decision making on how to manage mobility before damaged vehicles, road funnels, impact on vehicle stop temporarily and others.
Air Surveillance of Mobility of Guatemala City for Major Week 2025. (Video: Courtesy / Emetra)