Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ThecountryisalsothefocusofmanyreliefanddevelopmentprojectsonthepartofNGOs,
some of which are almost always looking for volunteers. (Information on volunteer oppor-
tunities is also provided in the individual geographical sections.) Many of these are linked
to local language schools. Areas with a particularly heavy concentration of NGOs include
Quetzaltenango, the Ixil Triangle, and Petén.
Foreign Study Programs
For college students seeking a study-abroad opportunity,
The University of Arizona
(
www.studyabroad.arizona.edu
)
, in partnership with the Center for Mesoamerican Re-
search(CIRMA),offerssemester-andyearlongprogramsinAntiguafocusingonintensive
Spanish-language instruction in addition to Central American history, politics and culture.
Guatemalans love children and traveling with them will often be all that you need to break
the ice with locals. Guatemala's cultural and natural wealth can also form the basis for a
very educational trip allowing children to see and experience what they might only read
about in textbooks and classrooms.
Guatemala is also a popular place for adoptions and on almost any given flight leaving
Guatemala City you'll see at least one couple bringing home an adopted baby. Several
Guatemala City hotels, particularly the Radisson, have special accommodations for trav-
elers visiting Guatemala to adopt a child, including rooms with stuffed animals and cribs,
among other amenities. The U.S.government was discouraging adoptions from Guatemala
becauseofdeficientlegalparametersensuringtheprotectionofadoptingparentsandadop-
ted children in line with international standards. Guatemala had not (at last check) ratified
the international Treaty of The Hague, which governs inter-country adoptions.
Guatemala is a somewhat challenging country for people with disabilities, as there is little
in the way of public infrastructure specifically catering to the needs of travelers with dis-
abilities. Antigua might be a bit cumbersome for travelers in wheelchairs because of its
cobblestone streets but nonetheless it has ramps for wheelchair access on every street
corner. There are a few exceptions to the general lack of access for those with disabilit-
ies. Guatemala City's new public transportation system, the Transmetro, was said to offer
wheelchairaccessaspartofitsinnovativeinfrastructure.Theinternationalairportnowalso
features several elevators as part of its recent renovation. Modern Guatemala City hotels
