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List of Things You Might Need in Guatemala
ConeXion Xela
8a Calle 1-71 Zona 1 Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Telephone: 1-502-7761-0798
VISA
Students from the United States, Canada and the Europe do not need a visa or tourist card in order to travel to Guatemala. A valid passport is the only document needed to enter the country. When you leave Guatemala, US$3 or Q20 will be charged for airport security fee.
PERMISSION TO STAY IN GUATEMALA
If you are planning on staying in Guatemala for longer than a month, at the airport or border, ask the immigration officer to give you a 90-day permission. This will save you the hassle of having to renew your permission within 30 days. You can renew your permission by leaving and re-entering Guatemala or through the immigration office in Guatemala City (7a Ave 1-17 Zona 4 Centro Cívico 2do Nivel edificio INGUAT 2361-8476/9). If you are going to cross the Mexican border, you have to stay in the Mexican side for more than 72 hours to receive the permission.
VACCINATIONS
It is recommended that those traveling in Guatemala update their tetanus, diphtheria and poliomyelitis shots before leaving. If you plan to visit rural areas, typhoid and gamma globulin are also highly recommended to prevent typhoid and hepatitis A. It is best to complete these at least two weeks before departure. Malaria is not a danger in Xela. For more information on vaccinations, visit this web site: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Passport, photocopy of your passport, driver's license or other identification, traveler's checks, $50.00 in cash and your international phone card are recommended.
GUATEMALA CITY TO QUETZALTENANGO
We recommend the following strategy: Exchange at least $50.00 into Quetzales (exchange rate is approximately US$1.00 = Q7.60) at the bank located on your way to customs or second floor of the airport. If you are arriving in the late afternoon, take a taxi to Dos Lunas Guest House 21 Calle 10-92, Zona 13 Aurora II TEL 2334-5264, 1 minute away from the airport. The cost for a bed and breakfast is $12. If you want to be met by the airport, they are also offering a pickup service with transportation to bus station for $23. For more information and make reservation visit http://www.xelapages.com/doslunas/index.htm. An alternative is Hotel el Aeropuerto Guest-House, 6 blocks away from the airport, 15 Calle A, 7-32. Zona 1. The cost for one night is US$30.00 including transportation back to the airport.
Bus ride to Xela: Take another taxi to Alamo Bus Lines located at 21 Calle 0-14, Zona 1 Tel: 2251-4838. If you are arriving in the morning, take a taxi directly from the airport. The taxi from the airport to the bus lines costs approximately Q70. As of this writing, buses leave for Quetzaltenango at 6:15 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. every day. (first class buses). Alamo's bus terminal in Xela is closest to Mota Family. Never walk from your hotel to a bus station because there are pick pockets in the area. Taking the taxi is very safe. An alternative company is Galgos Bus Lines located at 7a. Avenida, 19-44, Zona 1, Tel: 2253-4868. Buses leave for Quetzaltenango at 5 :30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Galgos' bus terminal in Xela is closest to Celada Family and Loarca Family. There is another company called Líneas Americas located at 2a Avenida 18-47 Zona 1. Tel: 2232-1432. Buses leave for Xela at 5am, 9:15am, 11:30am, 3:15pm, 4:30pm, 6pm, 7:30pm. Americas' bus terminal in Xela is closest to Morales Family. The fare is approximately Q45 and the trip from Guatemala City to Quetzaltenango will take about four hours. Since the buses aren't equipped with a bathroom, we recommend that you use the one at the terminal. It is best o wait until the bus arrives at the terminal in Quetzaltenango to get off.
From the terminal, take a taxi to your host family. We are open from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM Monday-Friday, and closed on weekends. If you need to call from within Xela, the number is 77-61-07-98.WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CARRY VALUABLES AND MONEY ON YOUR PERSON WHEN TRAVELING
TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST DAY IN GUATEMALA
Bring a change of clothes and valuables in your carry on bag. Put money and passport in money belt or neck wallet. Guatemala City, like most capital cities in the world, has pocket pickers. Do not put too much toilet paper in the toilet as the plumbing cannot accept it. To avoid amoebas or stomach infections, do not drink the tap water, eat salads in restaurants or the food sold in the street.
REFUND POLICY
Complete refund is allowed until the day 3 weeks prior to the beginning of the class. There will be no refund after that date.
There are various places around town that offer internet service. The fees for all of them run between 3 - 12 quetzals an hour.
PHONE
We recommend that students get an international calling card before arriving in Guatemala, so calls can be made directly to North America with an AT&T, MCI or SPRINT calling card from any public phone.
EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
Please bring a workbook for homework, English/Spanish Dictionary and textbooks. We recommend checking your local university bookstore for different publications.
FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO READ ABOUT GUATEMALA BEFORE ARRIVAL, WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING BOOKS
Guatemala Country Guide, Inside Guatemala by Tom Barry (Politics, Social, Cultural, Ecological), I Rigoberta Menchú by the Nobel Prize Winner (Indigenous Culture and Struggle), Eternal Tyranny-Eternal Spring by Jean Marie Simon (Contemporary History & Politics), and Bitter Fruit by Stephen Schlesinger & Stephen Kinzer. If you are an advanced student who wants to study Guatemalan history we strongly recommend buying, Guatemala: Voces desde el Silencio, a Spanish language narrative edited by Mark Zimmerman.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Shampoo, soap, towel, water bottle, sunscreen, swimming suit, sunglasses, mosquito repellent, money belt or neck wallet, a small flashlight, alarm clock, prescription drugs, Pepto Bismol, tampons, contraceptives and other personal and pharmaceutical items that are very expensive in Guatemala.
SUGGESTIONS
Bring photos of yourself, family and friends, and a map of where you live to show your Guatemalan family. If you want to bring gifts for your family, simple and inexpensive items such as wool socks, T-shirts from your city or school, pens, pencils, crayons, sewing material, shampoo, towels and kitchen items would be considered generous.
WEATHER
Quetzaltenango is located 2,333 meters (8,000 ft.) above sea level. It is not the tropical area of Guatemala. We strongly suggest you bring warm clothes, hat, scarf, gloves, thermals and warm pajamas to sleep in, and a coat along with suitable footwear for the cobblestone streets. In the months of January-March, it can get down to 32f/ 0c at night with no indoor heating. In the mornings there is a fog and until it lifts it is very cold. Once the sun comes out, the temperature rises to 70f. April and May are warmer at nights, but you still need a windbreaker and long pants for the early morning. June through October is the rainy season during which afternoon or evening showers are common. Bring raincoat, goulashes, and warm clothes as it is still chilly.
SPANISH LANGUAGE SCHOOLS GUIDE - スペイン語辞書ガイド - SPANISH TEACHER & HOST FAMILY FROM QUETZALTENANGO - TEACH SPANISH / HOST A STUDENT IN QUETZALTENANGO - LEARN ABOUT GUATEMALA & QUETZALTENANGO (XELA) - SPANISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY - FAQ ABOUT CONEXION XELA - AFTERNOON CULTURAL ACTIVITIES - SPANISH LEARNING TIPS - WEEKEND TRIPS AROUND QUETZALTENANGO - CONEXION XELA INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION - ABOUT CONEXION XELA - DISCOUNTED AIRFARE TO GUATEMALA - INTERNET RESOURCES ON GUATEMALA & QUETZALTENANGO - REGISTRATION - CONEXION XELA SITE MAP