Guatemala trip nov. 5th presentation

Guatemala Trip: April 2011

LWB McGill Chapter

Potential Itinerary

• 10 days: April 21/22/23 to May 2/3/4

• 4 days sight-seeing and traveling, 6 days at Asturias Academy working on library projects

• Possible to extend trip and travel around Central America or learn Spanish in Xela after

On the Agenda: Lake Atitlán

• Famous lake in the Highlands• We’ll visit a public library in San Juan, climb a

local volcano, and swim in the lake

On the Agenda: Retalhuleu

• This department is in southwestern Guatemala, on the Pacific

• We’ll see ruins and an amazing water park

Another Option: Into the Jungle!

• Possible to replace trip to lake with Rio Dulce River and Livingston, on the east coast

• We’ll visit a school library on the river and meet the Garifuna people of the Caribbean town of Livingston

• We can also visit the Mayan ruins at Quiriguá, a UNESO World Heritage Site

Another Option: Tikal

• We’ll see the Mayan ruins at Tikal, in the northern department of El Petén

• One of the largest pre-Columbian Mayan cities• A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Costs

• NON-GUATEMALA TRANSPORTATION COSTS– Round trip airfare: Montreal to Guatemala City $650

• IN-COUNTRY COSTS– Fee paid to Asturias Academy $450-600 (covers all

meals and snacks, hotels, transport, entry fees!)

• TOTAL $1,100-1,250• Will be offset by grants (~ $100/person) and

fundraising (~$30 and more: we have already raised $300 from the Manitoba Social)

Safety and Security• There are security risks in Guatemala, although

we encountered minimal danger during our trip last year

• The Academy partners with experienced tour operators and drivers, who only take certain highways and roads

• We will be informed of local laws and customs (e.g. when it’s cool to take photos)

• Security guards in hostels• We will register with our governments before

traveling

Your Commitment

• Participate in fundraising efforts (e.g. bake sales)

• Brainstorm, work on library projects (e.g. book buying, event programming, grant writing), attend all trip-related meetings

Important Dates

• Dec. 1st: LWB Bake Sale to raise funds to help offset trip costs

• Mid-January: purchase plane tickets

• March 2011: Mandatory visit to McGill Pre-Travel Clinic (vaccines/medications generally covered by PGSS insurance)