Guatemala FAQ

Do I Need a Passport? Yes. You must have a valid passport that will not expire for at least six months after arrival in Guatemala. Apply for a passport (or renew) online with the US Department of State.

Do I Need a Visa? No. A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days (only a return ticket is required).

Do I Need Vaccinations? No. There are no vaccinations required by either Guatemala or EWE Tours (including for COVID).

What Other Documents Do I Need?

1. Participant Agreement. Our contract that includes the terms of the trip and the rules of conduct during the program.

2. Medical Form. To ensure we can safely accommodate your child on their program.

3. Parental Consent Letter. An optional, notarized letter from parents saying their child has their permission to travel abroad without them.

Air Travel. You can elect to fly on our chaperoned group flight. Alternatively, you can book your own airfare. Our gateway airports are typically New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York. The costs of your international flights are not included in the program fee. The airport in Guatemala is the La Aurora International Airport (GUA).

Ground Travel. In Guatemala our group will travel daily by private buses operated by our local partners. The professional drivers have many years experience with foreign tours.

Injuries or illnesses. Our staff will escort you 24 hours to the nearest medical facility for treatment. We will also immediately call your family back home to inform them of the situation. There are hospitals and clinics in all of our program areas. Most insurance plans require you to pay up-front for all of your medical care, then submit forms later to get reimbursed by the insurance company.

Parents Staying In Touch. Parents can call our staff 24 hours for any urgent concerns. We are also available by email and text for non-urgent matters. We will also post daily on social media for parents to follow the trip’s activities.

Accommodations. Students stay at 3+ star hotels, with 2-3 students of the same gender per room. Students occasionally stay one or two nights with a host family. All bedding and pillows are provided by hotel / host family.

Meals. Meals and snacks will be mostly local, traditional food, with occasional fast food visits. Traditional meals rely heavily on corn, beans, meat, eggs, and tortillas. There are lots of local fruit drinks and some of the best coffee on earth. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets are easily accommodated.

Water
Tap water is NOT safe to drink in Guatemala. We will also provide bottled water daily.

Dress Code
We ask that you please be respectful and follow Guatemalan customs on dress: neat, clean, and modest.

Cell Phones
Cell phone coverage is good in urban areas but often spotty in rain forests, beaches etc. Check with your carrier at home to consider buying a roaming plan for the trip to avoid any exorbitant bills. Your phone should automatically connect to one of Guatemala’s cell phone networks when your flight lands.

WIFI. All of our accommodations have free WIFI including hotels and host families. It is not typically as fast or reliable as back home though, so be patient. (We do encourage students to mostly disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the trip.) 

Spending Money. Students typically spend about $150 outside the program — on souvenirs, snacks, and drinks. Debit and credit cards are widely accepted in Costa Rica. You can also withdraw cash at ATM’s in either US Dollars or Costa Rican Quetzales.

Weather. Our program is based in the town of Antigua with temperatures ranging from 80F in the day to 60F at night. There are frequent short-burst afternoon showers during the rainy season (May to Oct).

Laundry. Laundry is done at laundromats at the cost is $5-$8 per load.

Spanish Language. You do not need to be able to Speak Spanish for this program. However we certainly encourage you to practice with locals as much as you can. Our trip leaders are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Packing List. Please click here for our suggested packing list.