Guatemala Medical and Public Health Immersion Trip

May 21 - June 1, 2023

Antigua, Lake Atitlan and the Surrounding Mayan Villages

Guatemala is known for its gentle way of life, expansive highlands dotted with venting volcanoes, deep-rooted Mayan heritage, and delicious cuisine. This expedition is focused on Guatemalan healthcare and public health. Participants will have the opportunity to attend workshops, interact with guest speakers and work alongside providers in clinics in Antigua and the indigenous region of Lake Atitlan. Alongside clinical and public health immersion, participants will explore the historical and colorful cobble-stoned streets of Antigua, help prepare a local traditional meal and real Mayan chocolate, explore the volcanic highlands of the Lake Atitlan region and practice Spanish language skills. Students will experience authentic Guatemalan life while visiting and volunteering alongside local doctors/nurses/therapists, learn directly from public health officials, explore traditional Mayan medical healing practices, explore ancient Olmec sites, and enjoy the gracious hospitality of local host families.

Enrollment Deadline: February 1st, 2023

This trip is for you if

1. You are a student in the health sciences excited for an international learning experience.

2. You are interested in experiencing the healthcare system in another country.

3. You are interested in further developing your skills as a healthcare professional by expanding your understanding of multicultural patient assessment, compassion and communication.

4. You wish to set yourself apart as a provider willing to learn from diverse learning environments and medical practices.

5. You’re interested in participating in a wide variety of workshops, guest speakers, and immersion activities focused on public health, wilderness medicine and global health practices.

6. You’re excited to spend time in a Mayan village set amongst the volcanos of Lake Atitlan and learn about the daily lives in indigenous Maya communities.

7. You wish to explore the volcanic highlands and cobblestones streets of Guatemala.

8. You’re excited to expand your leadership skills, build lifetime connections and gain confidence traveling alongside your peers.

On this expedition, participants will:

• Participate in a rural Guatemalan healthcare program volunteering alongside providers, assisting with assessments, observing medical procedures and assisting with patient care.

• Participate in focused workshops and dialogues on local healthcare practices, patient access, current struggles and goals of the public health system and traditional healing practices.

• Attend a wilderness medical skills workshop to utilize when responding to emergencies in remote locations.

• Meet with a traditional Mayan healer and learn about medicinal plants.

• Spend time with locals, learn traditional cooking techniques and visit a women’s cooperative to participate in the art of creating an array of weavings using all plant-based dyes mixed by hand.

• Explore the cobble-stoned streets of Antigua, venture into markets, and enjoy delicious local cuisine

• Travel by land and water to villages surrounding the epic Lake Atitlan region - a historic volcanic lake surrounded by volcanoes and the most densely populated indigenous Mayan villages of Guatemala.

• Have the opportunity to practice speaking Spanish, experience a traditional Mayan sauna and spend time with village elders and children.

• Participate in a cultural walk in a Mayan village and discover the expansive murals that tell the history.

• Hike up San Juan la Laguna in the dark early hours to watch the sunrise over Lake Atitlan and surrounding volcanoes.

• Participate in daily checkin meetings, workshops and debrief reflections each evening.

• Expand healthcare practices and global awareness as a future provider while working alongside patients from Guatemala.

• Increase compassion as a provider for patients of different backgrounds carrying local traditional values and expand understanding of international healthcare systems/values/benefits/limitations.

12 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Guatemala / Settle into Antigua

The group flies together to Guatemala City Airport where your bilingual guide joins the group. Everyone then travels by private bus to the colonial town of Antigua. Participants will have time to settle into their accommodation and complete orientation in preparation of tomorrow’s first clinic session.

Day 2: Volunteer at Clinic and Hand Made Chocolate

The morning will be spent completing orientation before volunteering for the first day at local clinics supporting providers by assisting with assessments, shadowing procedures and assisting with patient care. The afternoon include a visit to the local choco museo (chocolate museum) to participate in a cacao bean-to-bar chocolate cooking workshop. Participants will each create and have a chance to enjoy their own maya chocolate creations. Dinner takes place at a local restaurant before returning to the accommodation for the evening or with homestay families.

Day 3: Volunteer in Clinic and explore colonial Antigua

The morning will be spent continuing to volunteer at local clinics. The afternoon will be spent exploring the historical and artistic sites of the world-famous city of Antigua, Guatemala. A walking tour of the Antigua will visit highlights such as the local markets, the infamous Iglesia de la Merced (iconic church of peace), Parque Central (central park), ruins of Santa Clara, and much more. Dinner at a restaurant or with homestay families.

Day 4: Volunteer in Clinic and Learn Wilderness Medicine Session 1

Continue to volunteer with the clinic in Antigua in the morning and spend the afternoon learning Wilderness Medicine skills to utilize in remote setting when you are away from definitive care. Lunch and dinner with the group today before resting for the night.

Day 5: Volunteer in Clinic and Learn Wilderness Medicine Session 2

Continue to volunteer with the clinic in Antigua in the morning and spend the afternoon learning Wilderness Medicine skills to utilize in remote setting when you are away from definitive care.

Day 6: Volunteer in Clinic and Hike the Volcano Pacaya

Continue to volunteer with the clinic in Antigua in the morning and spend the afternoon hiking the volcano, Pacaya. As nature allows, we may roast marshmallows on the volcano’s steam vents and enjoy a true Guatemalan volcanic s’more.

Day 7: Head to Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan

Venture on private bus through the Guatemalan countryside ending to the village of Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan. The group will then enjoy a beautiful boat ride from Panahachel to San Juan de La Laguna where the group will settle into their new accommodations in the local maya village. The group will be staying at either the Maya Chik eco-retreat and enjoy storytelling celebrating Mayan history over a delicious locally prepared meal or with homestay families (participant-choice).

Day 8: Volunteer in Village Clinic / Medicinal Plant Workshop / Temazcal Sauna

Morning workshops time followed by the opportunity to explore local indigenous medicine and volunteer in the small village clinic. This experience supplements clinical visits in Antigua where patients and staff have greater access to supplies, procedures and funding. During the afternoon take part in a cultural and medicinal plant workshop where participants will meet with a local Mayan healer. The group will then have an opportunity to relax in a traditional Mayan Temazcal (sauna) before settling in for the night.

Day 9: Volunteer in Village Clinic / Visit a Women’s Cooperative

The morning will be spent continuing to volunteer in the village clinic. During the afternoon participants will visit a local women’s cooperative and learn how they dye the cotton by hand with local plants, learning how to use material from nature to make a basket/clothes/blankets and more. Each student will have the opportunity to weave their own scarf using traditional back-strap weaving looms, assisted by their Maya teachers.

Day 10: Volunteer in Village Clinic / Explore the village on San Juan de Laguna / Mural storytelling

The morning will be spent continuing to volunteer in the village clinic. Local villagers join the group on a tour of the many murals painted on all the buildings and businesses telling the story of their history. Students will learn about local community practices and explore ancient Olmec ruins. There will also be the opportunity to learn about the local bees and how organic pollen is utilized for its many healing practices.

Day 11: Sunrise Hike by Candle / Village of San Pedro

The day will start with an early morning hike up a mountain by candlelight to watch the sunrise over Lake Atitlan and 3 volcanoes that surround it. Students will have the opportunity to relax a bit while exploring neighboring town of San Pedro. A final night’s celebration dinner on the lake provides the perfect setting for reflections and celebrations of learning.

Day 12: Fly home

Participants arise early this morning for a private transport bus to the Guatemala City Airport to return home.

Housing

Housing will be provided by local homestay families or at a hostel and eco-retreat, depending on the student’s selection.

All rooms will be shared with the same gender.

Homestays in Antigua

Eco Hotel MayacHik at Lake Atitlan

Enrollment Deadline: February 1st, 2023

Security and Clinic Specifics

Global Treks has been working and operating within Guatemala since 2012. We utilize all US and local government connections to monitor all safety and health concerns within the region. Transportation provided in-country are private transports for the group and all families utilized for the homestays each complete background checks as well as rigorous vetting system. Weekly visits by our local regional team ensure all families are kept up to date on the proper training to fulfill the unique needs of our participants and are truly amazing people excited to share their home and culture with students.

Risk management is the number one priority of the Global Treks team and we utilize all resources possible to ensure an amazing experience for all participants from the time of enrollment until long after the return home.

Clinic Information: Clinics utilized within the Global Treks program are all pre-established healthcare facilities open to the public in Antigua and the small villages around Lake Atitlan (Panajachel, San Juan la Laguna and San Pedro). Volunteers will be provided an in-depth orientation prior to spending time in the clinics and have language support throughout their time in Guatemala. At no time will participants be providing medical care outside of an established clinic setting.