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Trip Style, travel conditions and weather: This is not a tour, but an experiential and shared experience among old friends and new. While the trip is not physically demanding, we do visit remote locations and walk on jungle trails.  A good level of health and fitness is mandatory. This trip is for you if you want to build new or deeper friendships, make a difference and enjoy travel a bit off the beaten path. It is not for you if you are demanding, inflexible or expect an upscale resort or cruise style experience. During transit days, your driver will be courteous and helpful, but will not provide a running commentary. When we visit the Seacacar Cañon Natural Reserve, we will stay at a rustic jungle lodge.  The lodge is located in a remote Mayan village and has limited solar power. Most hotels we use have air conditioning, but we do not have air conditioning at our jungle lodge in the Seacacar Cañon Natural Reserve. While the rainy season typically ends in late November, we can expect some rain.  The average high temperatures from during the dry season (March through mid-May) are in the eighties while night lows typically drop about 10 degrees.  

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Founder and trip facilitator: The Rios Fund, Guatemala is a mission driven social enterprise founded by Paul Heesaker, a retired high school teacher and principal. Paul also led kayaking and rafting trips to Guatemala from late 1993 until the spring of 1998. Paul's work with the Q'eqchi Mayan people of Seacacar and Ak' Tenamit has resulted in the establishment of the first ever intermediate school in Seacacar and in Guatemala's newest protected area, the Seacacar Cañon Natural Reserve. Paul and his wife Catherine, a school psychologist, reside in Summit County, Colorado. 

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Flexibility Required: Although every effort has been made to make this trip run as smoothly as possible, road conditions, weather or other circumstances beyond our control may necessitate a change in plans.  

 

Lodging: Our hotels are not luxurious, but these mid-range hotels are comfortable and immediately adjacent to cultural, historic or natural attractions. The Seacacar Cañon Natural Reserve is located adjacent to a remote Mayan village with no electricity. We have limited solar power in the Jungle Lodge and in our intermediate school.  While every effort has been made to make the lodge rooms as comfortable as possible, they are rustic and immediately adjacent to the natural environment.  Shared bathrooms have flush toilets and cool water showers. Consider your own health, fitness and expectations carefully before paying your deposit.

 

Travel: When traveling on paved highways, we travel by mini-bus. We will also use covered motorized boats while traveling on the Rio Dulce and Lake Izabal. The access to the Boquerón Cañon Project is a 30-minute drive on a rough and steep road. We often use double cab four wheel drive pick ups, but guests may be standing and holding rails on an open flatbed truck for this segment of our journey. 

 

Travel Medical Insurance: Our guests are required to carry travel medical insurance and sign an assumption of risk liability waiver. 

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Corona Virus (COVID 19): All trip participants will be required to show proof of vaccination. 

 

Access to Medical Care: While we will never be further than an hour’s drive from local medical clinics, Guatemala City has the nearest advanced medical care.  There are small airports in Rio Dulce, El Estor and other communities along our route. International airports are located in Flores, Belize City and Guatemala City. 

 

Malaria and Immunizations: Malaria and Chikungunya are endemic to some areas we visit. Discuss travel to Guatemala with your doctor or consult the State Department of Health prior to departure to determine which immunizations are currently being recommended. 

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Inclusions: 

• All transport in Belize and Guatemala. If you arrive early or depart after the trip has finished, transport to and from the airport is on your own.  Trip participants will be encouraged to arrive on the same flight.

• All hotel accommodation - based on double rooms for couples or triple occupancy for individual travelers - A single supplement of $40 daily trip (minus the departure day) will be added to the trip cost for individuals who want a single room. This option may not be available at our Jungle Lodge in the Seacacar Cañon Natural Reserve. At this time, our lodging capacity is somewhat limited, so single rooms may not be available.  

•  Meals as described in the itinerary

• Services of driver and Seacacar Cañon Natural Reserve staff

 

Exclusions:

• Flights

• Personal clothing and equipment

• Beverages, apart from our own Jungle Lodge and unless otherwise indicated, are not included with the meals 

• Alcoholic beverages

• All personal expenses

 

Return Policy: A $480 donation to the Rios Fund (affiliated with the Guatemala Tomorrow Fund) is required to reserve a space on the trip. The balance is due 30 days before the departure date. In case of late bookings, full payment is required at the time of reservation.  In the case of cancellations, your deposit will be donated to the US based non-profit, the Guatemala Tomorrow Fund. Keep in mind that this is not a traditional tour, but an effort to raise funds and create other support for project efforts.  Payment is in U.S dollars only. We recommend that all trip participants obtain travel insurance.

 

Passport Required: Passports are required for all travelers entering Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. All tourists exiting Guatemala are required to pay a departure tax, which is normally included in you airline ticket price.

 

Registration: After paying your deposit / donation, you will receive a registration form, sign a waiver of liability, and obtain information on how to prepare for departure. 

 

Remaining balance payment: We only accept personal checks and do not accept credit card payments at this time. This helps us keep our trip price as low as possible. Make your check payable to Paul Heesaker. If you live outside of Summit County, Colorado or do not have an opportunity to meet with us personally, send your check to the following address:

 

Mailing address:

Paul Heesaker 

355 North Chipmunk Circle

Silverthorne, CO 80498

 

More Information: Send an email to paulheesaker@yahoo.com with your contact information and Paul will be in touch with you. Keep in mind that our budget doesn’t allow for office assistants, and that we are often out of the country.  We may not be able to connect by phone immediately.