Preparing for a Mission Trip to Guatemala
Conditions are fairly primitive, and even simple things can be difficult and frustrating. Be prepared to be flexible! Patience is also a virtue here.
Lodging will be at a comfortable hotel. Potable water will be provided for the team at the hotel and work sites.
The highlands of Guatemala are stunningly beautiful, and the weather is usually cool and sunny year-round in the Highlands. Be prepared for heat and rain, however. The people of Guatemala are very friendly and welcoming, but we must be careful to observe their cultural boundaries. Take some time to familiarize yourself with some of the cultural and social differences in rural Guatemala.
Other important considerations:
- Make sure you have a valid passport (one that won’t expire within 6 months).
- Immunizations for Tetanus and Hepatitis A are recommended.
- Malaria is not a concern — we’ll be at an altitude over 5,000 feet.
- Pack enough in your carry-on so you can survive a few days without your checked luggage (see important restrictions).
- Learn a little Spanish! It makes the trip a lot more fun.
- passport
- Bible
- journal / notebook
- pen
- sweater / fleece
- rain jacket (April – Oct.)
- socks
- underwear
- sturdy shoes
- work gloves
- work clothes (pants, long-sleeve shirts)
- casual dress clothes
- soap
- shampoo
- earplugs
- small towel
- toothbrush, etc.
- small roll of toilet paper
- alarm clock
- small flashlight
- aspirin / acetaminophen
- Pepto-Bismol chewable tablets
- Imodium AD tablets
- personal medications in original containers
- water bottle (1-liter recommended)
- sunglasses
- sunscreen
- insect repellant
- camera (digital, if possible)
- film (if not)
- US Dollars
- credit card / ATM card
- drivers license and copy of passport (both are helpful if your passport is lost)
- spare glasses/contacts
- safety glasses/goggles
Packing List
Packing Guidelines
- Store nothing of value in the external pockets of your luggage. Bury small, portable valuables deep in the luggage (i.e., your Leatherman multi-tool, etc.) so that they cannot be easily extracted by opportunistic baggage handlers.
- Weigh your luggage before leaving home — each piece may not exceed 50 pounds. The airlines are getting stricter about this, and may make you repack your bag in front of 50 impatient strangers if you exceed the limit.
- Pack enough in your carry-on so that you can survive for a night without your checked luggage. This strategy pays off when checked luggage is lost by the airline.
- Remember the 3-1-1 rule for your Carry-On luggage:
- Each bottle containing liquid must be three ounces or less.
- All bottles containing liquid must be able to fit in one quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag.
- Each passenger is allowed one bag; it must be removed from the carry-on and placed separately on the security conveyor.
- There are no restrictions on liquids in your checked luggage, so if in doubt, pack them there. See the TSA website for more details on current carry-on restrictions.
- Liquids bought in the Duty Free shops in the Guatemala City airport can be brought carried-on to the flight departing that airport. When you pick up your checked luggage at your first stop in the U.S. (i.e., Dallas, Houston, Atlanta) you will need to pack any liquids in your checked luggage before clearing customs. You will not be allowed to carry on any liquids of more than 3 ounces on the subsequent flight.
A Packing Hint
Most airlines allow two checked bags weighing 50 pounds each. Most teams have their team members pack the items they will need for a week in one suitcase and bring donation items in another suitcase. Guatemala customs has gotten difficult with many teams bringing items for donation into the country. We would like to recommend that teams mix donation items in with their personal clothes and belongings and then separate them once they arrive in Guatemala. This will facilitate getting through customs without any problems.
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