The advisory points out, however, that more than 120,000 American citizens visited Guatemala last year and less than one percent had any problem with crime.
No-one visiting Guatemala and talking to people from its majority Indian population could fail to see the psychological scars.
Ms. Ledbetter recently took vacation time to visit Guatemala, where her adoption is in its final stages.
Cruise ship passengers visit Guatemala chiefly for its Mayan culture, which sites are located throughout the country.
So it's extremely difficult to visit Guatemala and not feel the creeping sense that one has led a comparatively entitled life.
Security Safety remains a major concern for Americans visiting Guatemala.
Reports suggest he may also visit Guatemala.
Someone visiting Guatemala for the first time finds it hard to understand how this beautiful country could have fallen into such horror.
Around 25,000 British citizens visited Guatemala in 2009 and the overwhelming majority of visitors were unaffected by crime.
His comments came as he visited Guatemala for the opening of a hospital built with Cuban aid.