How much money do I need to bring?
The US dollar is pretty strong in Guatemala. You can get by with twenty dollars a day if you are on a budget and still have a pretty good time. Of course you can also do the opposite and spend as much as you want. Guatemala has some amazing art and culinary delights!
What’s up with the currency?
The currency in Guatemala is called Quetzales and the current exchange rate is about 7.5Q to $1.00. We recommend having Quetzals available for vendors and small restaurants. But, most other places take cards. It might be a good idea to give your bank a phone call to let them know you will be traveling.
Where should I change money?
DO NOT change money at the airport in Guatemala. It’s a rip off. You’ll get the best exchange ordering Quetzals here through your bank (takes a few weeks), or through an ATM when you get there.
How will I communicate with others back home while I’m in Guatemala?
Our lodging is wifi equipped, and Guatemala for the most part has decent access to wifi. So if you want to be in touch with loved ones back home without the need for data it is possible without an international cellular plan. If it's important to be able to have cellular data at all times, talk to your provider about the options.
How will we communicate with one another while we are there?
Beyond a lot of great face time, we would ask you to please download WhatsApp in order to stay in touch with one another easily while we are there.
Where exactly are we staying again?
Nights one through three we will be staying in a beautiful cliffside estate just west of Jaibalito, Guatemala. It is only accessible by water and faces three Volcanoes. You can see some pictures of the estate on the webpage. Get ready for some peace and quiet. This is the more remote part of our stay.
Nights four through six we will be staying in a gorgeous gated villa in Antigua, Guatemala. Our neighborhood is beautiful and close to everything. Churches, night life, helado!
What are we doing each day?
Well… here is the rough schedule! Keep in mind, most things are flexible, for you to get the most out of it.
Saturday, November 30:
Meet at IAH at 7:30am Terminal E Ticketing. Travel to Guatemala City from Houston. Ground transport to Panajachel, where we will load into a boat to take us across the lake to our lodging. Settle in and enjoy food and drink and peace.
Sunday, December 1:
Coffee and Breakfast on the veranda, Boat picks us up from dock to take us to morning Mass in Santiago Atitlan. Tour and pray in small shrine to Blessed Stanley Rother. Stroll Santiago. Boat back to lodging. Enjoy swimming, napping, prayer, food and drink and peace.
Monday, December 2:
Sleep in or Coffee and Breakfast and optional boat trip to San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala for a textile workshop and shopping. Enjoy swimming, napping, prayer, food and drink and peace.
Tuesday, December 3:
Coffee and Breakfast. Pack up. Boat back to Panajachel. Ground transport to Iximche. Tour ancient mayan ruins. Ground transport to Antigua. Settle into lodging and enjoy food and drink and peace.
Wednesday, December 4:
Coffee and Breakfast. Morning Mass. There are so many options in Antigua for us to enjoy. Churches, farms, shopping, ruins, ziplining, volcano climbing. We will lead an optional trip to San Juan Obispo for a mayan chocolate and wine tour.
Thursday, December 5:
Coffee and Breakfast. Morning Mass. There are so many options in Antigua for us to enjoy. If anyone is interested, this day we can lead an optional trip to climb the active Volcan Pacaya or to the beach at Monterrico.
Friday, December 6:
Coffee and Breakfast. Morning Mass. Ground transport to airport. Depart GUA at 1:30pm. Arrive in Houston at 4:29pm.
All in all, this is YOUR trip. All of us are simply looking for an encounter with God amidst beauty and rest. The activities planned have that goal in mind. If you have something you want to add to the schedule, just communicate and we are happy to set anything up for you.
What is the weather like?
Cool and comfortable temperatures. 75 as a high in the daytime and as low as 55 at night. It will likely not rain but it does stay partly cloudy and cool in the mornings.
What clothes should I pack?
Light jackets or sweaters are necessary at night and in the morning.
Comfy walking or tennis shoes are advisable. Lots of cobblestones.
Pants or dresses and covered shoulders are necessary for Mass.
If you'd like to do any running or other exercise, bring clothes for that. Mats are provided.
Bathing suit.
There is a washer and dryer in Antigua if you want to travel light on clothes.
Anything you would recommended to pack?
Your passport
Driver’s license
Any medication you normally take, as pharmacy options are limited.
Don’t worry about packing everything
Anything I don’t need to pack?
Fancy filtering water bottles
Special plug converters
Bedding or linens
Any medical precautions?
If you want to be safe from stomach bugs, don’t drink the water from the tap or eat lettuce or peels of fruit that might have been washed with tap water.
We will have fresh safe drinking water at all times.
Do I need to know or speak spanish?
No. Although it’s a great culture to sharpen what you do know of Spanish. Guatemalans are some of the most forgiving and kind people on the planet.
Are there any safety concerns?
When traveling to the developing world it is important to keep in mind that politics and governments shift rapidly and sometimes can get unstable. Guatemala has been enjoying a few decades of peace since the end of their civil war in the early nineties and is one of the closest US allies in Latin America.Tourism is a major revenue source for the government, so tourist areas are always heavily secure.
Any books I should read before going to Guatemala?
We would recommend “The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run.” for learning about Blessed Stanley
And "Escaping the Fire". for a Mayan understanding of the Civil War.
What would you recommend for purses/bags around town?
Kavu type backpacks work great or even just a small crossbody with a zipper. Be aware of your bag when walking through crowds.
Is it worth bringing a camera?
We are excited to share that we will have a professional photographer and historian joining us so if you want to disconnect from your phone, we’ll be sure to capture some great memories for you. If you’d still like to bring a camera, go for it!
Is tipping customary?
Yes. Most restaurants will add a tip, "propina", to your bill, "la cuenta" so you don't have to worry about doing the math. If they did an excellent you give them a few Q more. Tips for drivers, tour guides and other helpers are dependent upon the quality of the job done. 10-15% is a very good tip
The US dollar is pretty strong in Guatemala. You can get by with twenty dollars a day if you are on a budget and still have a pretty good time. Of course you can also do the opposite and spend as much as you want. Guatemala has some amazing art and culinary delights!
What’s up with the currency?
The currency in Guatemala is called Quetzales and the current exchange rate is about 7.5Q to $1.00. We recommend having Quetzals available for vendors and small restaurants. But, most other places take cards. It might be a good idea to give your bank a phone call to let them know you will be traveling.
Where should I change money?
DO NOT change money at the airport in Guatemala. It’s a rip off. You’ll get the best exchange ordering Quetzals here through your bank (takes a few weeks), or through an ATM when you get there.
How will I communicate with others back home while I’m in Guatemala?
Our lodging is wifi equipped, and Guatemala for the most part has decent access to wifi. So if you want to be in touch with loved ones back home without the need for data it is possible without an international cellular plan. If it's important to be able to have cellular data at all times, talk to your provider about the options.
How will we communicate with one another while we are there?
Beyond a lot of great face time, we would ask you to please download WhatsApp in order to stay in touch with one another easily while we are there.
Where exactly are we staying again?
Nights one through three we will be staying in a beautiful cliffside estate just west of Jaibalito, Guatemala. It is only accessible by water and faces three Volcanoes. You can see some pictures of the estate on the webpage. Get ready for some peace and quiet. This is the more remote part of our stay.
Nights four through six we will be staying in a gorgeous gated villa in Antigua, Guatemala. Our neighborhood is beautiful and close to everything. Churches, night life, helado!
What are we doing each day?
Well… here is the rough schedule! Keep in mind, most things are flexible, for you to get the most out of it.
Saturday, November 30:
Meet at IAH at 7:30am Terminal E Ticketing. Travel to Guatemala City from Houston. Ground transport to Panajachel, where we will load into a boat to take us across the lake to our lodging. Settle in and enjoy food and drink and peace.
Sunday, December 1:
Coffee and Breakfast on the veranda, Boat picks us up from dock to take us to morning Mass in Santiago Atitlan. Tour and pray in small shrine to Blessed Stanley Rother. Stroll Santiago. Boat back to lodging. Enjoy swimming, napping, prayer, food and drink and peace.
Monday, December 2:
Sleep in or Coffee and Breakfast and optional boat trip to San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala for a textile workshop and shopping. Enjoy swimming, napping, prayer, food and drink and peace.
Tuesday, December 3:
Coffee and Breakfast. Pack up. Boat back to Panajachel. Ground transport to Iximche. Tour ancient mayan ruins. Ground transport to Antigua. Settle into lodging and enjoy food and drink and peace.
Wednesday, December 4:
Coffee and Breakfast. Morning Mass. There are so many options in Antigua for us to enjoy. Churches, farms, shopping, ruins, ziplining, volcano climbing. We will lead an optional trip to San Juan Obispo for a mayan chocolate and wine tour.
Thursday, December 5:
Coffee and Breakfast. Morning Mass. There are so many options in Antigua for us to enjoy. If anyone is interested, this day we can lead an optional trip to climb the active Volcan Pacaya or to the beach at Monterrico.
Friday, December 6:
Coffee and Breakfast. Morning Mass. Ground transport to airport. Depart GUA at 1:30pm. Arrive in Houston at 4:29pm.
All in all, this is YOUR trip. All of us are simply looking for an encounter with God amidst beauty and rest. The activities planned have that goal in mind. If you have something you want to add to the schedule, just communicate and we are happy to set anything up for you.
What is the weather like?
Cool and comfortable temperatures. 75 as a high in the daytime and as low as 55 at night. It will likely not rain but it does stay partly cloudy and cool in the mornings.
What clothes should I pack?
Light jackets or sweaters are necessary at night and in the morning.
Comfy walking or tennis shoes are advisable. Lots of cobblestones.
Pants or dresses and covered shoulders are necessary for Mass.
If you'd like to do any running or other exercise, bring clothes for that. Mats are provided.
Bathing suit.
There is a washer and dryer in Antigua if you want to travel light on clothes.
Anything you would recommended to pack?
Your passport
Driver’s license
Any medication you normally take, as pharmacy options are limited.
Don’t worry about packing everything
Anything I don’t need to pack?
Fancy filtering water bottles
Special plug converters
Bedding or linens
Any medical precautions?
If you want to be safe from stomach bugs, don’t drink the water from the tap or eat lettuce or peels of fruit that might have been washed with tap water.
We will have fresh safe drinking water at all times.
Do I need to know or speak spanish?
No. Although it’s a great culture to sharpen what you do know of Spanish. Guatemalans are some of the most forgiving and kind people on the planet.
Are there any safety concerns?
When traveling to the developing world it is important to keep in mind that politics and governments shift rapidly and sometimes can get unstable. Guatemala has been enjoying a few decades of peace since the end of their civil war in the early nineties and is one of the closest US allies in Latin America.Tourism is a major revenue source for the government, so tourist areas are always heavily secure.
Any books I should read before going to Guatemala?
We would recommend “The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run.” for learning about Blessed Stanley
And "Escaping the Fire". for a Mayan understanding of the Civil War.
What would you recommend for purses/bags around town?
Kavu type backpacks work great or even just a small crossbody with a zipper. Be aware of your bag when walking through crowds.
Is it worth bringing a camera?
We are excited to share that we will have a professional photographer and historian joining us so if you want to disconnect from your phone, we’ll be sure to capture some great memories for you. If you’d still like to bring a camera, go for it!
Is tipping customary?
Yes. Most restaurants will add a tip, "propina", to your bill, "la cuenta" so you don't have to worry about doing the math. If they did an excellent you give them a few Q more. Tips for drivers, tour guides and other helpers are dependent upon the quality of the job done. 10-15% is a very good tip