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Brochure
Guatemala:
 Please join us on a Magical Journey to Guatemala!
You will visit the picturesque artsy town of Antigua, full of colonial flavor, open markets and monasteries. Deliver books to children
at our literacy program here and hand deliver
aid to families of migrant workers working
the nearby coffee plantations.
Afterwards you will travel to stunning Lake Atitlan framed by volcanoes and traditional villages. You will visit Mayan families, and provide a sewing machine to empower a woman, a pure water system or improved stove for a family, school tuition, and supplies for a child, or provide support to the animal program there. Whatever you choose, your presence will have made a huge impact on someone’s life and the experience you will have of gorgeous sunsets, colorful textiles and crafts and genuine beauty of the Mayan people will make this a true Journey of the Heart!
The following Information has been compiled for your trip. Please take the time to read through it, print it out and take it with you. If you have any problems opening or printing this document, please contact Airline Ambassadors at (866) ANGEL - 86
Guatemala Trip
At-A-Glance
Dates: Please visit the Travel Calendar for full listing of opportunities.
Please contact coordinator, Mireille Hanna (mireio75@aol.com) for additional information.
Day 1: Arrive in Guatemala city in the afternoon or evening and take shuttle to Antigua’s Hotel casa de los Bucaros.
Day 2 : Spend morning preparing food packages for migrant workers. The team will do this in the home of Teresa Quinonez, director and co-founder of Open Windows foundation. Lunch at her home before going to spend the afternoon in Duenas at Open windows delivering gifts to children and food to the migrant workers toiling in coffee plantations.
 Day 3: Early departure for Panajachel. Check in at hotel Caciquel and welcome lunch with the Mayan Families foundation team before spending the afternoon distributing aid to various poor communities around lake Atitlan.
Day 4: The team will spend the morning working with Mayan Families Foundation on projects chosen by their director.
Free afternoon to enjoy the beauty of Lake Atitlan the wonderful crafts market.
Day 5: Option for early departure for Antigua (Hotel los Bucaros) and free afternoon to enjoy the beauty of this colonial town declared a “Patrimony of Humanity” by Unesco. Farewell dinner with Open Window Foundation directors.
Day 6: Morning departures according to flight departure times.
*You may also want to consider staying in Antigua and attending one of the numerous and affordable Spanish Language schools there.
To Register for the Guatemala Trip:
Please visit our Trips Page and refer to the instructions "To Participate on a Mission".
Airline
Ambassadors Pricing Package
The Guatemala Trips are pay-as-you-go.
The hotel averages around $18.00 per person per night with an added $5.00 for the buffet breakfast.
Local transportation cost is around $100.00 per person.
Participants are encouraged to collect what they can (at no cost before leaving) but not to spend money buying aid to take with them. The coordinator, Mireille Hanna (mireio75@aol.com, phone 954 455 3616) can provide you with more information about what is needed for your particular trip.
We ask participants to donate or raise a minimum of $50.00 per adult participant and $10.00 per minor child participant to use to donate to each of the two charities we visit.
The team will also buy food for the migrant workers when in Guatemala, mostly rice and beans.
Know Before You Go
Location
Guatemala is located in Central America and is bordered by Mexico and Belize to the North and Honduras and El Salvador to the South.
Languages
Spanish, but many Indian dialects are spoken.
Climate
Tropical; on coast; temperate in the uplands. There are actually three climate zones, which vary according to the altitude above sea level.
Local Time
One hour less than Eastern Standard Time
Currency and credit cards
One dollar is worth a little under 8 Quetzales. Credit cards are widely accepted in Antigua but not in Panajachel. ATM are available in both places.
Electricity
110V, 60 Hz
Entry and visa requirements
A valid passport is all that is required of USA citizens. Check with the Guatemalan Consulate if you are a foreign national.
Departure taxes
There is a departure tax of around US $40.00 on international flights and a $3.00 airport tax.
Customs
The duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars; two liters alcoholic beverage; six units of perfume; and gifts to US$500.
Tipping
Most restaurants add a 10 percent tip to the bill. Tip bellboys and chambermaids about US$0.50 per day per person
Telecommunications
Public telephones are everywhere and cost IS BASED ON THE COMPANY YOU ARE USING. THERE ARE CARDS TO CALL TO USA WITH A COST OF $ 0.10 CENTS A MINUTE. The outgoing international code is OO and to call the USA you must dial 001
Guatemala Trip – Pre-Planning
1. Immunizations – contact your personal doctor for information; malaria is not a problem in
the areas of Guatemala where we visit.
2. Suggested Personal Clothing:
We recommend to bring as little as possible and use your baggage allowance for aid. Due to local customs and warm weather we suggest casual clothing as normal for the US. No short shorts for ladies. Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes are a must!
3. Weather
Mornings are cool in Antigua and Panajachel and although it gets warm during the day the temperature drops significantly as afternoon approaches. You should bring a sweater for the evenings and a light rain jacket just in case.Keep jewelry to bare minimum.
Due to some unsanitary conditions in remote areas we suggest you bring tissues and wet hand wipes. Insect repellent, sunscreen and a hat.
3. Toiletries – US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has become very strict about what you can bring on board your international flight. Here is a link to their website for the current status: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
4. Suggested Items for the Children:
Some suggestions, specifically for this trip, include: shoes - especially children's shoes also school supplies. Volunteers can give out the shoes in San Jorge and probably the school supplies at the school as well. Additionally, the coordinators have provided a detailed "Needs List" link.
This is not a prerequisite! Some people have expressed an interest in bringing items that they collected for the children. If doing so, be careful of bringing expensive or new items, toys, etc.
We have a simple letter you can print out that states that the items you are bringing are for humanitarian aid supported by Airline Ambassadors, but you should only use it if your bags are checked and you are questioned. Usually you walk right through customs with nothing to declare.
If you would like to bring clothing; then clean, used clothing is best. 20% baby, 20% girls (most wear traditional clothing), 60% boys is a good mix. Over the counter medicines, children vitamins,
Airlines usually allow you to check two bags 50 lb.bags. But be sure to verify.
5. Emergency phone number:
Be sure you have completed your Airline Ambassador Release Form and included an Emergency Phone number too.
6 Local Contacts:
Teresa Quinonez – Antigua
Sharon Smart - Panajachel
These number will be answered by an English speaking person who will have
knowledge of the group location at all times.
7. Food & Water – do not drink or eat ANY items without first checking with the coordinator…we want your trip to be as safe and pleasant as possible. Bottled water is usually safe as is the food within the hotel.
Guatemala Trip Checklist
Documents and papers
· Tickets - confirm your flight reservation
· photocopies of documents (pack separately from originals), keep originals with you
· email scanned copies of documents to yourself, or leave copies with a friend or family member
· credit cards/travelers' checks & currency (US dollars are widely accepted in El Salvador)
· health/travelers insurance papers
· register with US embassy - https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp
· up-to-date passport/visa
· driving license (international, if required)
· write your destination on your home address and outbound luggage labels
House and pets
· tell a neighbor you'll be away
· if your car is alarmed, leave spare keys with a neighbor
· give away any fresh food for long periods of travel
· for long periods of travel, have the post office hold your mail at the depot
· unplug electrical appliances, except freezer and fridge
· arrange cattery/kennels, feeders or walkers for pets
· leave spare keys/contact number with someone you trust
· ask someone to water your plants
· lock windows and doors
· set timers, to make your house appears occupied
· be discreet about going away to reduce the risk of burglary
Hand luggage
· camera, mobile phone, laptop?
· medication (check restrictions)
· essential replacements in case your checked luggage doesn't arrive at your destination
· MP3/mini-disk/CD player, and spare batteries
· support socks/leg exerciser for long flights
· glasses, spare contact lenses, if required
· small amount of cash for when you arrive
· books, magazines, newspapers
· sweets for take-off and landing, to help stop your ears popping
· check current official restrictions on hand luggage -
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
General packing
· pack light
· suntan lotion and after-sun
· phrasebook/guidebook
· travel plugs/adaptors
· first-aid kit
· toiletries
Airline Ambassadors International●PO Box 459, Moss Beach, CA 94038
●Ph 650-728-7844●Fax 650-728-7855
Copyright© “2008” Airline Ambassadors International
Important Information 
Arrival at Airport:
After going through immigration,
collect your bags and exit terminal
A driver will be waiting to take you to
your hotel in Antigua. He will have
a sign :Airline Ambassadors. The
drive should take around an hour.
Hotel Casa de los Bucaros
Your hotel is set in a mansion originally built in the 18th century and partially destroyed by the earthquake that marked the end of Antigua as Guatemala’s capital at the end of that century. It was rebuilt in the 19th century and recently remodeled. It retains a colonial aspect with rooms set around two courtyards.
Address:
7 A Avenida Norte No 94
La Antigua Guatemala, Sac.
Guatemala
Phone:
502 7832 2346
Trip Coordinator:
USA: Mireille Hanna - mireio75@aol.com phone 954 455 3616
Antigua: Teresa Quinonez -
Panajachel: Sharon Smart
Airline Ambassadors International●PO Box 459, Moss Beach, CA 94038
●Ph 650-728-7844●Fax 650-728-7855
Copyright© “2008” Airline Ambassadors International
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