Work Trip FAQ

​1. What is included in the per-person trip price?

  • Round-trip airfare from Denver to Guatemala
  • Double occupancy lodging
  • Group ground transportation
  • All breakfasts and dinners in the Chichicastenango/Lemoa area
  • Basic medical and evacuation insurance
  • Interpreters

2. What is NOT included in the per-person trip price?

  • Airfare originating from places other than Denver may incur additional cost
  • Checked bags (cost varies by airline)
  • Single occupancy lodging (may be available for additional cost)

3. What is the difference between “tourist-class” and “basic” lodging?

Both are safe environments with electricity, hot water, flush toilets, and reliable food.  Here are the main differences:

Tourist class lodging:
  • Double occupancy is standard; single occupancy may be available for additional cost
  • Couples may opt to room together.
  • Bedrooms with private bath are standard
  • Dinner and breakfast in hotel restaurant

​Basic lodging:
  • In Antigua, double occupancy is standard; single occupancy may be available for additional cost
  • In Lemoa, occupancy may be double or higher
  • Couples may opt to room together.
  • Separate common bathrooms for men and women with private showers.
  • ​Dinner and breakfast in dining room with food prepared by hired Pura Vida cook.

4. How do single- and double-occupancy work?

Published trip cost is based on double occupancy. Team members requesting single occupancy will incur additional cost for the trip, beginning at $125 and higher depending on the hotels in question. We will do our best to combine team members who are traveling solo but desire double occupancy.   If we are unable to do so, the single occupancy surcharge will apply.

5. What should I do if I have food allergies or restrictions?

The cooks at our hotels can usually accommodate basic food allergies.  Be sure to note your allerigies in your trip application.  If you have unusually restrictive allergies, you may want to bring supplemental snacks.  Most places can provide a simple meal of black beans and corn tortillas, which is naturally vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
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6. What vaccinations are required?

There are no required vaccinations for travel to Guatemala, but see the CDC webpage for recommended vaccinations.  

7. What about malaria and Zika?

Our groups work mainly in Lemoa, Guatemala, which is over 6,500 feet in elevation.  This greatly reduces the risk of malaria and Zika.
  • Malaria occurs only in rural areas lower than 5,000 feet, so this is not an issue [ details ]
  • According to the CDC Guatemala Zika webpage, "Travelers whose itineraries are limited to areas above this elevation are at minimal risk of getting Zika from a mosquito."  Because Zika virus is primarily spread by mosquitoes, CDC recommends that travelers to Guatemala protect themselves from mosquito bites. The mosquitoes that spread Zika usually do not live at elevations above 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) because of environmental conditions.
  • The CDC does recommend travel precautions for women and their partners thinking about pregnancy. 

8. Is Guatemala a safe place to visit?

Guatemala is a developing country, and there are always risks associated with that.  However, Pura Vida has not had any safety issues since it started taking groups in 2002.  That's with five to seven teams traveling every year to work in the Quiché area of western Guatemala.

The U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories for Guatemala in the past, but those haven't included the areas where we work.  As of January, 2019, Guatemala has a Level 2 Travel Advisory.
It is interesting to note that other countries with that designation include Spain, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Denmark, among others.

Pura Vida has always mitigated potential safety issues in several ways:
  • Trips are planned for arrival during daylight in Guatemala City.  If a group arrives after dark, Pura Vida hires a security detail from the Guatemalan tourist agency to accompany the bus.
  • A bus with a trip translator meets us at the airport and we only exit the airport when the bus and translator are in sight.
  • Groups leave the airport and Guatemala City right away, so we do not really spend any time in Guatemala City.
  • Pura Vida trip leaders are trained in aspects of safety for the teams.

9. What will the weather be like?

The areas where we work at at about 7,000' in elevation.  Expect the following weather patterns:
​10. Can our team bring things to give away in Guatemala?

As a rule, no.  Our focus in Guatemala is on serving and relationship building.  We have seen harm come from give-aways:
  • Giving things reinforces a top-down relationship based on our relative wealth
  • Giving creates an environment of expectation and can cause dependency
  • It is extremely difficult to distribute gifts equitably, which can cause resentment

We want relationships to be built through working side by side with the local community.  As a frequent team member once said, “I don’t want my relationship with a child to be a box of crayons.”  Your presence and service is the best gift you can give.

Finally, there can be tax issues at the Guatemala City airport if lots of gifts are packed.  This can cause delays of hours for the whole team.

11. Can I leave my used clothes in Guatemala?

We highly discourage it.  If an item of clothing isn’t nice enough for you to keep, a Guatemalan probably isn’t going to want it either.  And leaving your clothes at the hotel at the end of the trip can make our culture seem incredibly wasteful.  Pack it in, pack it out.

12. Can Pura Vida handle arrangements for tourist extensions?

We can usually change your flights to accommodate a trip extension. The earlier we know your dates, the cheaper it generally is. We aren't equipped to handle other arrangements related to trip extensions, however. We just don't have the expertise or staff.

For tour arrangements, we recommend Clark Tours, Guatemala's longest-established tour operator.

13. What is the trip cancellation policy?

Cancelling team members can generally use their airline ticket within a year of the original departure date.  Re-booking is subject to a change fee with the airline.  We must be advised of cancellations before the team departs, otherwise the ticket loses all value.

We can generally apply a portion of a team member's original trip payments to another trip with us in the same or following calendar year.  The amount to be applied would be reduced by the trip deposit ($250), and the cost of airline tickets, insurance, and any prepaid hotel stays.