FAQs
More info about the February trip
Thanks so much for your interest in the February Service Adventure. We have included lots of information here, organized by the topics listed in the menu below. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Select a category below
Schedule/Packing
What is the typical daily schedule?
Each day will begin with a hearty breakfast at the hostel. On our service days, we will work from about 8:00 until 4:00 with a break for lunch. When we are not volunteering, we will start with a morning excursion, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and then continue exploring in the afternoon. Each evening we will have dinner together and then will gather for an evening program.
What is the weather like?
How will we dress throughout the trip?
During our service days, we will dress conservatively as we will be working and learning alongside Guatemalans. Your shoulders and knees will need to be covered, so a t-shirt and jeans or capris will be perfect work clothes. During our time in Antigua, you may wear your regular spring/summer clothes. Please see the packing list for more details.
Will I be able to do laundry?
No. You should follow the packing list and plan to bring enough clothes to last throughout the adventure. You will need fewer clothes than you think!
Will there be any free time?
Every evening there will be free time at the hostel once all programs have ended for the day. During service days and while we are on excursions, you must stay with the group. Toward the end of the week, there will be several clearly defined times when you and two or more friends can enjoy free time within certain areas (the hostel, a café, a shopping area, etc.).
Is there a curfew?
Yes. The students and the trip leader will discuss and agree to evening scheduling which includes quiet hours and the time when students need to be in their own room with the lights off. Additionally, we will follow all rules posted at the hostel and will be sure to respect the needs of other guests as well as other members of our group. Please note that once our evening program is finished, students are not allowed to leave our hostel at night for any reason.
Money
How much spending money should I bring?
For most people, $50-$75 will go a long way toward buying souvenir-type bracelets, scarves, t-shirts, etc. If you would like to purchase a lot of gifts or if you plan to buy artisan-quality weavings, paintings, textiles, etc., you should budget more.
What is the Guatemalan currency and how can I get it?
Health
Are any immunizations required for travel to Guatemala?
No immunizations are required to enter the country. The organization we will partner with for our service suggests that volunteers have the Hepatitis A vaccine and a current tetanus shot. If parents are medical professionals and wish to volunteer in their clinic Hepatitis B is also suggested. Since we will only be traveling to Lake Atitlan and Antigua you do NOT need malaria medication. Worlds of Light advises you to consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for recommendations regarding your specific medical situation.
How should I pack my medications?
Participants may bring the medications and treatments that are indicated on their Health Information and Permissions Form. Medications must be in the original packaging/bottle that identifies the prescribing physician (if it is a prescription), the name of the medication, the dosage, and the frequency of administration.
Where is the nearest health center?
When we are in in Antigua, the closest hospital is in Antigua about 20 minutes away. When we are at the lake, the closest hospital is in Sololá, about an hour and a half away. If a situation arises beyond what can be treated locally, participants will be evacuated for medical treatment. While limited international emergency medical insurance for each participant is included in the cost of this trip, parents are ultimately responsible for all related costs of medical treatment including co-pays and/or any balances that insurance does not cover.
What type of medical insurance is included in the program fee? Do I need additional insurance?
All participants are required to have health insurance and will be asked to provide their health insurance information as part of the registration process. The program fee includes limited international medical insurance and medical evacuation insurance through TravelGuard. You and your parents will have the opportunity to review the policy and determine if your family would like to supplement the provided policy with additional insurance. As stated above, parents are ultimately responsible for all related costs of medical treatment including co-pays and/or any balances that insurance does not cover.
What about stomach issues?
We eat at places that cater to travelers and offer the highest health standards possible. However, given the environment, some people do experience traveler’s diarrhea. Symptoms can range from just a squiggly-belly feeling to severe cramping and loose stools. Usually this resolves within one to three days. We will have Imodium A-D on hand and can administer it if needed on travel days to those students who have permission to take this over-the-counter medication. Some travelers like to take Grapefruit Seed Extract, charcoal tablets, or Pepto Bismol if they have stomach issues. Please talk to your doctor about specific recommendations for your situation.
Are there any other health concerns in the region?
Is there really a ZERO tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol?
YES! Please read the Community Understandings thoroughly and make sure that you can abide by all of the expectations including the zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol. You and your parents must understand that if you were to violate the policy, you would be sent home, at your parents' expense, even if there were only one day left in the program.
Is there anything that might surprise me when I get to Guatemala?
You can not flush toilet paper in Guatemala. Instead, there will be trash baskets by every toilet.
I really want to go on this trip, but I'm not sure if my anxiety will be triggered. Do you have any suggestions?
Please, talk to us before you apply, so we can better understand your concerns. While students (and adults) with mild anxiety have traveled successfully with us, we are not able to support those with severe anxiety. Over the years, we have found that clearly naming potential triggers is helpful for students and families as they decide whether this is the right trip for them. So...
We encourage you to get in touch and tell us about your situation.
Phones/Electronics
Can I bring my phone?
I am taking an online class. How will I be able to keep up with my work when I am in Guatemala?
Given our past experience accommodating online classes, we strongly advise you to contact your teacher and arrange your academic schedule so that you do not have to post while you are in Guatemala. If you feel this is not possible, please get in touch with us and we'll discuss your specific situation.
Do I need to bring a voltage adapter for my camera charger?
Guatemala has the same electric current as the US, so you don't need voltage transformers or socket adapters (the standard voltage is 120 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz). You can plug your camera charger directly in the wall.
How will friends and family back home be able to follow our adventures?
Our days will be full, and so those back home should assume that no news is good news and that all is well. Program leaders will send parents a "safe arrival" email, and will do their best to post a few pictures and send personal email updates to parents throughout the week. Often participants share their photos with one another at the end of the trip.
What if I get homesick?
Missing friends and family and wishing for comfort of your own bed and familiar food are common feelings while traveling. Packing your favorite nutritious snacks (and maybe a few not-so-nutritious treats!) can help ease the desire for the known, and writing in your journal about your adventures is a good way to capture stories to share with your friends and family when you return home. If you are feeling homesick while you are away, please know that your Trip Leaders are always available for support.
Food
Can the program accommodate specific diets?
Most participants love the food on this trip! We are able to offer a vegetarian option at every meal. While gluten-free, dairy-free, and/or vegan participants have traveled very successfully with us in the past, it can be challenging, and travelers with these requirements should know that they will not have access to the same variety of food as vegetarians and omnivores. We want to be sure that students are well nourished and so there are three things we ask if you want to or need to minimize gluten, sugar, and/or animal products: please be prepared to 1). supplement your worksite and transit day snacks with your own protein bars that meet your dietary needs, 2). take personal responsibility for your food choices as we are not in the position to monitor whether you follow your parent's/doctor's guidance, 3). eat lots of beans, even for breakfast.
What water will we be drinking?
The water in Guatemala is non-potable, so we will be drinking filtered water and bottled water throughout the entire trip. Unlimited drinking water will be available each day.
Activities
Where will we be swimming?
We will be swimming in Lake Atitlán from the dock at our hotel and at the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve in San Marcos La Laguna. Parents must indicate on the Health Information and Permissions Form whether their child is a competent, developing or non-swimmer. If you are a “Non-swimmer” you must bring and wear your own life jacket while playing in the water, traveling by lancha (boat), and/or paddling. Only those students who receive permission on the Health Information and Permissions Form are allowed to jump into the Lake from the platform located in the nature reserve. If you don’t have permission to jump from the platform, you can simply step into the water from a nearby location. Youth participants on the February Service Adventure are only allowed to swim under adult supervision.
What types of transportation will we use?
We will hire private vans and buses for long drives, and we will use both private and public boats to get around Lake Atitlán. During our service days, we may be transported in vehicles owned or hired by the volunteer organization, including pick up trucks. We also might hire small, three-wheeled vehicles called tuk-tuks for short trips around town. Most of the time we will be on foot!
I really want to go to Guatemala, but I’m not excited about the service component and all the “connection” stuff. Should I apply?
No--it doesn’t sound as though this trip is a good match for you. Service is the main theme of the program, and we will be spending most days in the hot sun, building houses and stoves and finding ways to connect with others. To have a successful trip, you need to be able to approach service with an open-heart, a willingness to engage, and determination to work very, very hard. If you aren’t genuinely motivated by the purpose of the trip, it would be best if you look for another opportunity.
Advice
Students on the 2019 trip were asked: "What advice would you give to next year's participants?" Here's what they said:
Stay positive!
What about the students from the 2016 trip?
What did the February 2017 group suggest?
Come with an open mind and honor that you may encounter difficulties as well as joys.
Try to make friends with locals. It will make your trip better instead of just playing with your friends from home.
What advice did the April, 2017 team offer?
You should also definitely make use of the sheet we were given because knowing even a little Spanish helps.
Ready to go on the February Service Trip?
"I have been on multiple trips with Worlds of Light and I come home from each feeling revived and inspired. The community members and other people I have had the chance to connect with are awe-inspiring."
-Student, 2016, 2017, 2019
Have more questions? Get in touch!
"My heart is full. Thank you!"
-Parent Participant, 2017