Guatemala Humanitarian Trip
Petén
August 4 - 10, 2024
Join us on what we think is a life-changing trip to Give the Gift of Hearing. Embark on a thrilling adventure in Guatemala, where ancient Mayan mysteries collide with vibrant modern culture. Picture yourself wandering through the enchanting ruins of Tikal, surrounded by towering jungle canopies that echo with the calls of exotic birds. Guatemala is a land of contrasts, where the ancient and the contemporary intertwine seamlessly. Guatemala promises an exhilarating journey that resonates with the heartbeat of a diverse and captivating nation.
The total price includes humanitarian trip expenses, supplies, most meals, transportation (not flights), and hotel stay on clinic days.
With the help of our partners, Hearing the Call, and generous donors, we are able to make our humanitarian trips more affordable and accessible to our members, students, and volunteers.
No Deposit Required at Time of Application*
Humanitarian Trip Price: $5,347
Entheos members, please contact Kareem directly for discounted pricing.
(All prices are for double rooms and are subject to change.)
*$500 deposit is fully refundable up to 60 days prior to a trip. Once inside that 60 days, you are responsible for any charges such a the purchase of airline tickets in country as well as the credit card processing fee of 6% (3% on initial purchase and 3% on return).
Note: Application, Payment and the Waiver are managed by Entheos Audiology Cooperative as part of their support for Hearing the Call
August 4 – 10, 2024
Day 1: Arrive Guatemala City (GUA)
Day 2: Travel to Petén / Training Day
Day 3: Clinic Day
Day 4: Clinic Day
Day 5: Ecology Reserve Day
Day 6: Tikal and Return to Guatemala City
Day 7: Depart from Guatemala City (GUA)
Flight Information
Confirmation from Entheos that you are on the humanitarian trip.
Arrive Day 1 Travel from US to Guatemala City (GUA).
Try to arrive midday or earlier to allow for the possibility of delayed flights.
We will depart from Guatemala City International Airport (GUA).
Please enter your flight information by clicking the button to your right that says “Flight Info”.
- We will be flying from Guatemala City to Petén.
- The Entheos team usually arrives a day early. If you decide to arrive a day early, you will be responsible for an extra night in the hotel (under $100).
VISAS
A Guatemala visa is NOT REQUIRED for citizens of the United States for a stay up to 90 days.
Please make sure your passport is valid for up to 6 months after the date of your trip to enter.
Electrical Power Information
Which Power Plugs and Sockets in Guatemala?
In Guatemala, the power sockets are of type A and B. Most sockets are type A. Check out the following pictures.
- Type A: mainly used in North and Central America, China and Japan. This socket only works with plug A.
- Type B: like type A but with an extra prong for grounding. This socket also works with plug A.
In Guatemala, the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 120 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz. You do not need a power or plug adapter coming from the U.S.
Additional Information
One of the first things you have to be aware of on any international trip is the necessary vaccines. Some of the vaccines are hard to get in a quick time frame. Please make sure you read and check the CDC website for information on vaccines immediately.
As we travel internationally, we may be exposed to certain diseases that are rare in the United States. Fortunately, the risk of catching these diseases is still quite low since we will be on site for only a short time and will be eating properly prepared food, etc. However, since it is impossible to eliminate all risk, there are a variety of vaccines and immunizations that provide prevention against many of the most serious infectious diseases in the world that we ask each delegation member consider receiving.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website www.cdc.gov, there are no required vaccines for Guatemala, but make sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Please refer to the following CDC website for information on Guatemala.
- Most expenses will be prepaid for you including: ground transportation, medical evacuation insurance, hotel room accommodations, translators and team meals.
- Each volunteer is financially responsible for paying for and obtaining a passport and visa (if necessary), receiving any necessary immunizations, all food/beverage items in all airports and outside team meals, and any other personal expenditures/shopping during the trip.
- You will want to take enough cash with you for personal shopping. Bring U.S. currency that is as new as possible and undamaged. Traveler’s checks and credit cards (VISA or Master Card) will be good in airports, major hotels and many shops, but cash is the easiest and most convenient method of payment.
- You will be able to exchange money locally. Please bring new $100 bills. You will get a better exchange rate than smaller bills, and they don’t take older money.
- The currency in Guatemala is the quetzal. To find the most up-to-date currency conversions, please go to XE Currency convertor.
Here are some helpful guidelines concerning the safety and security of your personal items:
- Be mindful of how you carry your purse or where you place your wallet. Men, keep your wallets in a front or zippered pocket, as keeping it in your back pocket will make it susceptible to pickpockets. Ladies, keep purses across your chest or use a fanny pack (keeping your hands free is also wise).
- An under garment money belt worn around your waist is a safe way to carry your personal cash or passport.
- Stay with a group of people at all times – always go somewhere in pairs.
- Take a minimal amount of jewelry with you – nothing flashy.
- Be a confident traveler even if you are unsure or uneasy in a certain situation; confidence and calmness is key.
- We also suggest that you make copies of all flight itineraries, wallet contents, passport, visa, etc. and carry copies in a separate, secure location. It would also be a good idea to leave copies of everything with someone at home also, just in case. These copies could prove invaluable should your personal documents be lost or stolen.
We hope you will enjoy the local cuisine. Most meals will be eaten at a hotel or local restaurant. All foods that will be provided to you should be well prepared and safe for you to eat.
Meals are supplied on clinic days, but not on travel or recreation days.
- As far as drinking water is concerned, to be on the safe side, always drink bottled water and brush your teeth with bottled water at the hotel. Avoid ice. Bottled water will be available.
- You may want to take some personal snack items with you – good items to take include granola bars, dried fruit, and trail mix.
WEATHER:
Weather conditions vary from season to season and region to region. The dry season is from October to early May and the rainy from late May until the end of September. Temperatures vary little during the year. The average high temperature is 77°F and the low 55°F in the highlands.
For further information about weather, please consult these sites: Weather.Com and Weather Underground.
TIME ZONE:
Guatemala is in the Central Standard Time zone and does not observe daylight-savings time.
Click here to view the current time in Guatemala.
- Please wear long pants and the team t-shirts provided by our partners. We have found that breathable type pants by Eddie Bauer or Columbia are a good option for hot clinic days (jeans are fine). You will receive TWO clinic t-shirts on the first day of the trip. You may be able to do laundry (for a small fee) at the hotel; we also recommend bringing a mini bottle of detergent (can be purchased at the travel section) to do laundry in your room.
- Bring comfortable shoes to wear. No open toe shoes for clinics.
- No shorts in the clinic.
Before/After Clinic
- There will be time for recreation (going out, dinner, etc.) after clinic days.
- Bring a fleece jacket for the mornings and evenings when it could get cool. Days will be fairly warm.
Here is a one week packing list as an example. You can click here to get a printable list.
Clothing
- 4 – Pants
- 5 – Shirts
- 8 – Pairs Socks
- 2 – Clinic Shirts (will be provided)
- 2 – PJ’s
- Walking Shoes
- Windbreaker or Light Jacket
- Swimsuit (if needed)
- Sandals
Toiletries
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Razor
- Hair Things
- Brushes
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Lotion
- Sunglasses
- Kleenex
- Imodium
- Advil
- Any Medications Needed
Miscellaneous
- Cash
- Passport
- Passport Holder
- Bank Card
- Credit Card
- Pen (to fill out forms)
- Neck Pilow
- Phone Chargers
- Computer chargers
- Converter/Transformer
- Laundry Detergent
- Wine Opener (for others)
- Head phones