Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is an insight tour?
Insight tours are designed with the savvy traveler in mind. We understand the travelers desire to discover the cultures and the peoples of different lands, and to experience a country rather than just view it through a camera lens. To answer this desire we have created small group tours that not only take you comfortably through the ancient villages and bustling cities, but inform you of the rich history, the contrasts of culture from poverty to prosperity, the ancient traditions and modern adaptations. We give you a deeper look at Mayan art, you will understand the symbolic meanings in the rich weavings as you see them being made by hands of master weavers. And we give you the opportunity to see relief projects at work, making a difference in the daily lives of the children of Guatemala. You too make a difference simply by participating because a large part of your tour cost is a direct donation to Ninos del Lago. You are given deep insight to the Guatemala of yesterday and the Guatemala of today and you donate directly to the Guatemala of tomorrow.

Safety
You will be as safe in Guatemala as you might be in San Francisco, Chicago, New York or Boston. Since we will be traveling in a group and with our personal driver there is little need for concern. Yet we believe it is always wise to exercise caution, and we will be traveling briefly through Guatemala City, so we have recommendations for you to follow. We recommend that you do not wear any jewelry or fanny packs. Do use money belts or neck pouches for your extra cash, identification, travelers checks, passport, etc.

All the main roads in the Guatemalan highlands are quite safe to travel. Since tourism is Guatemala's No. 2 cash-income provider, tourist safety throughout Guatemala is of primary importance to the government. All along the normal routes of the western highlands and on secondary roads as well you will often see modern police vehicles posted. Also, tourists are never harassed by police in Guatemala and are made to feel safe and welcome.

We will be spending a total of 4 nights (2+2) in the beautiful town of Antigua (one hour north of Guatemala City). Antigua is provided with tourist police and is quite safe, even at night. Tourists can walk anywhere and be out late at restaurants, bars, discos, cinemas. However, as is most everywhere in the world, one must be cautious about choosing the right companions and in the public markets, guard against pickpockets. Remember, Guatemala is a very poor country with 2% of the population controlling an estimated 58% of the national wealth. Always keep your cash and documents safe in your money belt, neck pouch or other secure traveling gear you may prefer.

Flights
Many international carriers fly into Guatemala: PanAm, United, Mexicana, KLM (out of Mexico City), etc. Also, for the budget-minded, discount tickets are often available but normally include layovers and 1 or 2 stops/change of plans enroute($350-550 US R/T). We also suggest you check out the small ads in the Sunday travel sections of major newspapers and follow up on adds offered by travel brokers.

At present, the only airlines flying nonstop (4.5 hrs. one way) from LAX to Guatemala City are the Costa Rican airline, TACA (operated by LACSA) and United. There are direct flights from other airports, e.g., Miami, Houston, Atlanta.. In 2006 the round-trip fare (LAX/GUA) ran about $600 USD plus some fees for this direct flight. Searching for flights can really pay off but cheaper fares can mean many extra hours of travel time with one or two connections commonly via Georgia, Florida, or Texas. (Other airlines flying to Guatemala: American, Continental, Copa, Delta, Liberia, Northwest, US Airways.) The least expensive economy fare at present (3/08) is from Tampa, Florida on Spirit Air.

You will need your passport and photo ID!

What to Bring
As always, less is better and we suggest that you leave out anything you will not need. This will allow room for purchases in your bags! Please keep in mind that space in our travel van will be limited so just pack the bare minimum, but don't forget the essentials, which may include:

Clothing
Sweater or light jacket for cooler night temperatures in Antigua and Panajachel.
Clothing you can layer is recommended. Dress casually and for warm-rain, warm days, a few cool nights in the highlands. Dressing conservatively is always recommended. Bermuda shorts are acceptable but absolutely never short-shorts or short skirts! It is best for tourists to consider the conservative culture of the native Guatemalans and to dress with this in mind while traveling.

For Your Information
Guatemala (especially Antigua) is quite a sophisticated place. There are German and French bakeries, gourmet pizza shops, delis with all the good imported stuff, GREAT restaurants and great coffeehouses, excellent wines, and most all materials and supplies you may need can be found there. Still, it is best to bring along with you any special camera batteries or accessories and plenty of film in case of shortages.

Banking
You may use your bank ATM card in the majority of locations we will be visiting, this is the easiest method of obtaining cash while in Guatemala (bring along an extra ATM card is recommended). You will need your passport to cash travelers checks. Personal checks cannot be cashed in Guatemala.

Communications
The least expensive way to call home is to purchase a Guatel telephone card to use in the street telephone booths you'll find in each town. There are Internet cafes all over Guatemala, especially in Antigua. You can log on in Quetzaltenango, Panajachel (Lake Atitlan) and Antigua (and use Skype to call home) -- you'll never be far away from your friends and family on-line.

Shopping
For many visitors, shopping is what going to Guatemala is all about. We will be visiting several market places in the western highlands and you will discover that each village offers different styles of handicrafts, weavings, tapestries, embroidery, huiples (women's blouses), bead work, rugs, wood carvings and ceramics, to name a few items. The bargains are amazing and you will be at-the-source for the best prices once you've polished up your bargaining techniques (bargaining is expected and you can usually pay about 60% of the asking price for most items). Even if you don't plan to shop, you'll probably return home laden with lots of things you simply couldn't pass up because of price, beauty and workman/womanship.

How will you take it home?
At the Antigua Central Market, large, strong bags can be purchased for about $15US. These bags easily hold 6 large bedspreads (for example) and much more. With United Airlines, you are generously allowed two bags checked-in weighing a maximum of 55lbs. each. If this is not sufficient baggage allowance, a charge of $140 USD is made per-bag for each additional bag weighing up to 55 lbs (overage is allowed up to 70 lbs. for extra fee). Tour participants might share bags and cut down even further on the cost of shipping. Some tour participants bring only their carry-on bag and one or two soft duffle bags in which to pack their purchases. In this way, two bags can return home with you, free of charge, as well as your original carry-on.

US Customs
You are allowed a per-person deduction of $800 USD toward the amount you claim. 3% duty is charged on the difference. Unless you are planning on selling merchandise purchased on this trip, you should have no problem staying within this limit. Keep in mind that receipts for purchases are not generally given but, seldom, will you be asked for a receipt when returning from Guatemala.

Vaccinations
No vaccinations are required to enter Guatemala but please consult your doctor before deciding whether or not to receive a vaccination if you have concerns. You may also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/travel for Guatemala travel advisories and disease updates.

If you are planning to visit the tropical regions of Guatemala (the Highlands are not considered tropical), it is recommended to bring at least one pair of quick-dry pants and one quick-dry shirt. (The quick-dry pants that zip at the knees to convert into shorts are particularly popular and may be ordered from Travelsmith.com (1.800.950.1600) and ExOfficio.com (1.800.644.7303)

Add-On Needs
If you are planning to study Spanish in Guatemala, you might want to bring along a copy of 501 Spanish Verbs and other supplies for your extended stay. If you plan to visit the archaeological regions to the northeast of the country, you will need a rain slick/collapsible umbrella, sun screen, and some very strong insect repellant.