Frequently Asked Questions

Are there hidden costs with the program fee?
Absolutely not! Global Treks and Adventures believes in full transparency with trip costs. All costs are outlined with the details in the program fee on each customized trip webpage. 

What type of emergency support is available while on the tour?
Global Treks provides 24-hour emergency support for all students and staff while on a tour. In case of illness or injury, your guide will arrange for immediate medical attention. All tours are managed with expert emergency plans in place to provide top of the industry support for all participants. Global Treks remains in constant communication with local experts and government officials to monitor and adapt for potential security concerns. 

What is Global Treks and Adventures’ safety record?
After traveling with hundreds of students all over the world in more than 40 countries, both on land and sea, our safety record is excellent! While there is no guaranteed safety in the world, safety is our number one concern at all times. Our risk management policies are far above industry standards. All Global Treks guides are trained wilderness medical professionals, carry medical kits, have emergency evacuation routes pre-planned and work alongside local experts to maintain the highest safety standards for every trip.

What type of risk management practice is in place?
All trips are personally customized to the needs of each group. Before going on a trip, we evaluate and re-evaluate the safety of each of our destinations and activities, and we always reserve the right to modify or cancel an itinerary if conditions are, or may become unsafe. All risk management policies align with the experts and certification of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), labeled throughout the outdoor industry as THE best risk management experts. While there is no guaranteed safety in the world, Global Treks puts risk management as its number one concern for every participant, on every trip, every day.

Do travelers need a Visa to visit Guatemala?
No. A valid passport is all that is required for United States citizens.

What should my son or daughter pack for the trip?
The packing list is provided on your group’s customized trip page.

What if I need to contact my son or daughter while they are in Guatemala?
If your son or daughter will not have a personal cell phone available to them on their trip, parents may contact the Global Treks and Adventures Office at any time. The office support team is available 24/7 for any communication needs throughout the trip. Communications with all tours in the field are maintained and we will reach out to your son or daughter to have them contact home.

What type of food will participants eat while on the trip?
We know how important food is to young people! Breakfast is typically a continental breakfast-style buffet with cereal, fruit, toast/jam, juice, etc. Lunch is typically during an activity and includes a packed sandwich, chips, fruit, snack and beverage. Café lunches and dinners are varied based on the itinerary, but we make sure a variety of options are available. Plus, we keep a snack box handy, in case anyone gets hungry along the way. We ensure no one is ever hungry on a trip!

Where do participants sleep while on the trip?
Group accommodations are safe and clean. Students sleep in single-gender rooms or dormitory-style housing in hostels and budget hotels, each selected for the group’s customized itinerary. The daily itinerary on the group’s webpage outlines the nightly accommodation option selected. 

How do students travel?
Groups fly on global airlines and within mini-buses or boat shuttles while in Guatemala. All drivers are trained and certified and must carry a local government-issued license to operate the trip vehicles. 

What will the weather be like in Guatemala in June?
June is the part of the rainy season in Guatemala. Students can expect rain from time to time and hot days averaging around 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the night.

What qualifications and experience will our Global Treks guide have?
The trips’s guide is a certified high school science teacher, paramedic, university instructor and international educator. All guides at Global Treks and Adventures must maintain their Wilderness First Responder certification, provided by the National Outdoor Leadership Medical Training Program and the Wilderness Medical Associates, which qualifies them for emergency medical management and evacuation training for wilderness trips. All trips are specifically aligned with educational standards, with multiple learning opportunities and presentations provided on a daily basis. Global Treks specifically chooses the best guide to match each group’s specific needs and educational goals. 

Should students have travel insurance?
Yes. While it’s not required, we recommend all participants get travel insurance for their trip. It’s helpful to have the Peace-of-Mind that insurance can provide. While Global Treks does not sell insurance, we use a program called insuremytrip.com and recommend them to all participants. If a student needs to drop from the trip and not participate, travel insurance would provide protection if any student may not be able to travel due to an injury/illness should he/she or an immediate family member become ill or injured preventing travel.

What happens if my son or daughter must cancel their trip?
While the deposit is non-refundable, students who cancel prior to May 15, 2019 will receive a refund of what has been paid minus the deposit. Students will receive a 50% refund of the total trip costs (minus deposit) if the student cancels their trip prior to 3 months from the departure date (December 15, 2019). Any cancellations after the 3-month deadline (December 15, 2019) are non-refundable by Global Treks. For more information, the cancellation policy in place is outlined on the liability form provided on the Winona Senior High trip webpage. However, travel insurance protects any student that may not be able to travel due to an injury/illness should he/she or an immediate family member become ill or injured preventing travel. 

How does Global Treks incorporate learning objectives into the trip?
All program directors at Global Treks are teachers. Therefore, the daily itinerary for every trip is specifically connected to the Winona Senior High learning objectives. Global Treks incorporates the teaching styles for experiential learning and programming supported and outlined by the Association for Experiential Education, of which Global Treks is a proud member.

Have another question?
No worries! Please reach out to your trip leader or email Global Treks at Herdina@Global-treks.com at anytime. Our office can also be reached at 507-301-6466.