Homeland Tour To Guatemala - July 2023
Help Your Child Explore Their Roots in Guatemala
Register Now!
Experience Guatemala’s Cultural Beauty
Join The Barker Adoption Foundation on this heritage journey to experience the cultural beauty of the “Land of the Eternal Spring” and all it has to offer. After all, your children are connected to this land – Come with us and have your children/teens weave Guatemala's culture, customs, and history into their journey of identity!
Guatemala Tour Details
July 1 to July 8, 2023
The itinerary is one we have found works very well for families making their first return trip to Guatemala. It includes family fun, cultural activities, and two meaningful days spent volunteering in the Lake Atitlan area. Each week’s itinerary runs from Sunday - Saturday, but you will need to arrive on the previous Saturday in order to be ready to leave Guatemala City for Panajachel on Sunday morning. The last Sunday is your travel day home unless you opt to extend your time in Guatemala. The Tour is designed as a family trip, with parents accompanying their children led by Cynthia Cubbage, Barker's Director of Family & Post Adoption Services, and Missy Herendeen, Barker's Child, Adolescent, & Family Adoption Competent Therapist
What if we adopted our child from somewhere other than Barker?
Tours are open to all adoptive families regardless of whether Barker was your placing agency.
What will we do on the tour, and how much does it cost?
The total cost will be $2,200/person, plus airfare and miscellaneous expenses. A detailed day-by-day itinerary and payment schedule for the balance due will soon be available. Please contact Katie Ambush at kambush [at] barkerfoundation.org (subject: Question%20on%20Homeland%20Tour) (kambush)ccubbage [at] barkerfoundation.org (subject: Guatemala%20Homeland%20Tour%20Question) (@barkerfoundation.org) with any questions.
What can I expect in terms of support while we are preparing for our trip?
Barker's adoption specialist will host pre-travel meetings to go over our itinerary in detail and answer any questions you or your family may have. Additionally, we will provide opportunities for families traveling to connect with each other before and after the trip. We hope that learning about the families you will be traveling with and for your children to get to know a little about one another will enhance your overall experience and make some new post-travel connections.
Tour Cost Details
The cost of the tour is $2,200/per person, plus airfare and miscellanous costs.
Package Rate (per person) Includes:
- Hotel cost for two people for the entire trip; any additional costs for more than 2 will be confirmed by Feb 1, 2023.
- Two bag lunches, two dinners, one that includes a cultural show
- Entry fees to ALL group events
- In-country group transportation on insured, air-conditioned buses from Guatemala City- Texpan/Iximche- Panajachel- We use an approved transport service for the US Embassy
- A donation that will allow our group to gift items such as onil stoves, 10-year water filters, beds/bedding, and/or food to a needy family in the Lake Atitlan area
- Assistance with scheduling and transportation for any elective activities
- Adoption Specialist to prepare your family emotionally and logistically for this life-changing experience to the beautiful land of Guatemala
- Three bilingual guides
Not Included:
- Airfare
- Elective activities
- Food other than any breakfasts that may be included with hotel rates and the two lunches and two dinners listed above
- Tips to drivers, hotel staff, restaurants, and guides
TO APPLY
How do I register and secure my space for the Guatemala Homeland Trip?
To secure your space for Barker's Guatemala Homeland Trip, please register here with a $350/person non-refundable deposit. Once you have registered, we will contact you with next steps, including an applicaiton, a detailed itinerary and a payment schedule for the balance due. Please contact Katie Ambush at kambush [at] barkerfoundation.org (subject: Question%20on%20Homeland%20Tour) with any questions or issues.
PAYMENT:
Your $350/person deposit will go towards your total amount due. A scheudle for when the remaining balance of $1,850 needs to be paid will be provided soon.
Please note that spaces are limited, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. We are keeping our group small, therefore, we will only be signing up a maximum of 20-25 people (which includes children) for this homeland trip. Once we reach the maximum number of people that we can take on this trip, we will no longer be able to accept applications for the trip. So, Hurry! Secure your spot now.
CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES:
Cancellations that have not been received in writing by email to ccubbage [at] barkerfoundation.org by March 1, 2023, may not result in a refund. If travelers are unable or fail to travel because of an event of force majeure, including but not limited to- war, terrorism, threats of terrorism, State Department advisories, strikes, bad weather, natural disasters, loss of luggage, etc., The Barker Adoption Foundation will not guarantee a full refund but will work with participants if there are any costs that can be refunded.
Any changes to the in-country itinerary by group members will result in additional costs.
The Barker Adoption Foundation reserves the right to make changes to the itinerary if it is in the best interest of the group for safety or other reasons, including but not limited to the unforeseen unavailability of an activity.
AFTER APPLYING
After you have applied, please keep in mind:
Apply or Renew All of Your Passports - All passports should be valid through February 2024 at the earliest.