Please join us on a Magical Journey to Guatemala!
You
will visit the picturesque artsy town of Antigua, full of colonial flavor, open
markets
at our
literacy program here and hand deliver
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:
Monday, January 28 through Friday, February 1, 2008
Monday:
Arrive in Guatemala city in the afternoon or evening and take
shuttle to Antigua’s Hotel casa de los Bucaros.
Tuesday:
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.
Wednesday:
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.
Thursday:
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.
Friday:
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.
Saturday: 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.
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© “2007” Airline Ambassadors
International
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
.