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Guatemala Homeland Tours
Visiting the attractions in:
Antigua
Quetzaltenango
Tikal (optional)
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Trans-cultural adoptive families intuitively understand the importance of connecting with their children's ethnic and cultural heritage. Many parents want to help their children establish cultural identity that connects them to their biological identity -but are unsure of where to start.
OnTrack Adoption Associates helps by offering homeland tours. Our tours offer families, and those considering an adoption from Guatemala, the chance to visit their child's land of birth and learn more about their culture and heritage. We focus on education and experience. We prepare you to get the most from Guatemala and experience it from a local perspective as much as possible. We lend our comfort with transcultural exchange so that you and your family can have a safe and meaningful experience.
Conference
The tour begins with two days of psychological and cultural education conferences where you will become acquainted with the issues families face when they want to explore and merge cultural identities. These conferences take place in a comfortable hotel in Antigua, one of the most beautiful and celebrated mountain side cities in Guatemala . We teach you in seminar style the things to expect while in Guatemala - especially the issues that will come up for you personally as you encounter the unfamiliar.
Our hope is to help you anticipate the varying and contradictory images and messages that you receive as you try to get closer to the culture of your adopted children. We anticipate with you the natural fears and anxieties that may come up for you as an outsider and help you make sense of these natural, complex and very understandable feelings. |
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Touring Guatemala
After the 2 days of seminars designed to inform you and get you excited about exploring the land and people of Guatemala, we will hit the road and visit historic sites and other smaller towns off the tourist map, specifically Quetzaltenango. Quetzaltenango is situated on an extensive plain and surrounded by hills and volcanoes in the Western Highlands of the country. It conserves the Maya-Quiche's old traditions, its' colonial past, and it also maintains a dynamic, fun and exotic feel.
Our tours are designed to give you multiple opportunities to encounter the inhabitants and culture on a first hand basis. Also, as an option, you may select to see the historic and natural sights of Tikal, the most famous Mayan ruins of Central America.
Service Project
Finally, an important part of On Track Adoption Associates' mission is to encourage cultural exchange and to give back to the very people that have given us so much. Therefore, one day of your trip will be dedicated to working hands-on with Guatemalans in a school based service project. Each tour has a unique project, but all have in common an effort to participate with locals to build social support and understanding.
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| Itinerary |
| 6 - 8 Day tour |
| Day 1 |
Fly from gateway cities to Guatemala City.
Meet driver to take you on 45 minute drive to Antigua. |
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Noon - 4 pm |
Check into 4 star hotel |
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5 pm |
Welcome Reception |
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6 pm |
Dinner |
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8 pm |
Orientation to the week |
| Day 2 |
Antigua |
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8 am |
Breakfast at hotel |
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9 am |
Seminar #1: “An indepth exploration of Guatemala 's culture, politics, historic and modern history” |
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1 pm |
Lunch |
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3 pm |
Antigua City tour |
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7 pm |
Dinner on your own |
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| Day 3 |
Antigua |
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8 am |
Breakfast in Hotel |
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9 am |
Seminar #2: “Families learning to integrate cultures and negotiate the changing politics of adoption” |
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1 pm |
Lunch |
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Afternoon and evening on your own |
| Day 4 |
Quetzaltenango (Xela) |
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8 am |
Breakfast |
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9 am |
Hotel check out and load onto van
Drive to Chichicastenango /Quetzaltenango /Huehuetenango /Panajachel |
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1 pm |
Arrive Xela, check into hotel |
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2 pm |
City tour |
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6 pm |
Hotel welcome reception |
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7 pm |
Dinner with Group |
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| Day 5 |
Quetzaltenango (Xela) |
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8 am |
Breakfast |
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9 am |
Service project at local school |
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5 pm |
Debriefing meeting, refreshments
Dinner on your own |
| Day 6 |
Return to Guatemala City
(or Optional 2 Day Tikal Ruins Tour)
Catch afternoon flight to return home |
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