There are two prominent seasons – summer and winter. The dry summer extends from mid November through mid May, whereas, the rainy winter extends from mid May through mid November. The climate we will experience will also depend upon our elevation with higher temperatures and humidity at sea level and lower temperatures and humidity at higher elevations.
Please check with your personal physician if you have any health restrictions prior to travel. Also, please advise us before travel of anything that we should know regarding your health, so that necessary adjustments might be made for a comfortable trip. Vaccinations are often unnecessary to travel in Central America and Mexico but best check with your physician for any vaccinations that he/she recommends before travel.
Each tour requires some physical exertion including strolling, walking, or hiking. Our goal is to not exceed the physical expectations of our tour participants. Bottled water is included in the tour itineraries in order to stay hydrated. Bottled water is also readily available in large and small convenience stores. Please avoid drinking tap water, even at hotels that advertise an internal, potable water filtration system. And avoid illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages.
While visiting archaeological and historical sites, please exercise caution and good judgment and avoid tampering with or damaging any site. In protected areas, potsherds, stone, or metal fragments are considered property of the state and it is illegal to remove anything of the like. Please remember to ask permission before taking a picture of another person while on tour. Some subjects may give their approval, or ask for money in exchange, whereas others may decline.
Please pack according to the itinerary to avoid bringing more items than are necessary. Common articles to bring include comfortable pants or long skirts, shorts, lightweight shirts/blouses, underwear, socks, comfortable shoes or light hiking boots, a light jacket or sweater, hat, swimming suit, towel, light pancho or rain gear, personal toiletries, hand cleanser, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, small waterproof bag, personal medication, small flashlight, alarm clock, camera and lens, legalized photocopy of passport, binoculars (optional).
Please try to limit luggage to one suitcase and one small carry-on that includes a change of clothes and anything else you may need for one night (medication, toiletries, etc.) so if your checked luggage is lost or misplaced, you can manage until the luggage is found and delivered. Make sure your luggage is clearly tagged and identifiable. You may want to leave extra room in your luggage for souvenirs you purchase on the trip but don’t forget to pack your sense of humor.
Remember to bring a valid passport for travel in Central America and Mexico. Visas are generally unnecessary to obtain but check with your local consulate. Remember to update the emergency information page of your passport and leave copies of your travel itinerary including hotel information and copy of the passport with emergency contact data with family or friends at home. Minors traveling without parents must carry travel authorization signed by their parents.
For international flights be at the airport at least two hours early. Also remember to keep your passport readily accessible, not packed into your checked luggage. Do not leave any luggage unattended in the airport or other public areas and never accept packages from strangers. Check luggage all the way through to your final destination. Most international flights include an airport use tax or country exit tax in their fares but be prepared with some cash or credit in case it becomes necessary to pay these fees.
Bring a dependable camera and extra battery or recharger. There will be ample opportunity to take pictures every day on tour. Be advised that most museums do not allow use of cameras in their facility.
Electricity is available everyday on tour for those traveling with electric shavers, curling irons and other small appliances. The A/C 110 Volts electrical current and E.E.I.U. rated, standard plug outlets in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico are the same as that of the U.S.
Please check with your personal physician if you have any health restrictions prior to travel. Also, please advise us before travel of anything that we should know regarding your health, so that necessary adjustments might be made for a comfortable trip. Vaccinations are often unnecessary to travel in Central America and Mexico but best check with your physician for any vaccinations that he/she recommends before travel.
Each tour requires some physical exertion including strolling, walking, or hiking. Our goal is to not exceed the physical expectations of our tour participants. Bottled water is included in the tour itineraries in order to stay hydrated. Bottled water is also readily available in large and small convenience stores. Please avoid drinking tap water, even at hotels that advertise an internal, potable water filtration system. And avoid illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages.
There is a wide variety of foods available in Central America and Mexico to meet most diet preferences. Meals included in the itinerary are served at quality restaurants that meet high food preparation and hygiene standards, Meals consist of a variety of grains, fruits, salads, eggs, meats and dairy products.
If you have any question regarding the safety of food, please ask. A general rule of thumb on tour is to eat foods that are well cooked or else eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are peeled before consumption. Where meals are not included in the itinerary, there will be time to purchase meals each day and also time to buy snacks and beverages along the way.
Bring some cash for souvenirs, tips, laundry, phone calls, or other foreseeable expenses like snacks, or beverages. Dollars can be exchanged at banks, hotels or other authorized agents for quetzales or pesos. Or else bring a debit card for cash withdrawals at ATM along the way.
Hotels, restaurants and large shops do accept credit cards but often with an extra surcharge from 5% to 10%. Credit cards are generally quite secure and provide a good exchange rate. However, when authorizing use of your card, do so in full view without losing sight of your card. Travelers checks can be refunded if they are lost or stolen but they can be expensive to use and many banks restrict the number they will accept or include a high surcharge for them.
There will be time on tour for souvenir shopping in Guatemala and Mexico, renowned for their varied and colorful indigenous markets. Bargaining is a well-established and highly refined way of doing business in the markets. A general rule of thumb is to pay no more than half the original starting price for an item you wish to bargain for Remember to avoid purchasing artifacts or antiques that might be protected as property of the state. An example may be authentic pre-Columbian Mayan artifacts or religious art from the colonial period.
While on tour we would discourage you from giving candy, money, or other gifts in public that might bring undue attention to the group and may create unnecessary expectations in observers for a similar gift. If you really wish to give a gift on tour, please be discreet and gift something useful such as pens or pencils, hygiene products, snacks, etc.
Avoid wearing conspicuous or expensive clothing, jewelry, watches, or carrying expensive cameras or excessive amounts of cash or credit cards. Travel in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico is generally safe but it is wise not to draw undue attention by displaying such items. Avoid public demonstrations and other similar situations that may become unruly.
We can request a police road escort for a fee of aprox. $50/day. Or, if you prefer, let us know and we will provide you a quote for a full-time security escort. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws and regulations. If ever detained for some pretended infraction, do not pay a bribe for release. For example, if stopped while driving and photo identification is solicited, it is recommended to display an international drivers license instead of your country or state drivers license so that you have less reason to pay a bribe if solicited. If you have broken no known law or regulation, and they want a bribe, ask them to take you to their supervisor to lodge a complaint.
Where our itinerary takes us into agricultural areas, there may be a quarantine enforced on certain types of fruits. Be prepared if we advise you of this on tour. Best to eat fruit when purchased or served rather than pack or store it on tour.
Make certain to have adequate travel health and emergency insurance that will cover any travel needs such as trip cancellation, medical expenses, lost luggage, baggage delay or other features that may arise during traveling. Review any existing insurance policies you already have that may apply toward your travel needs. We can also recommend travel insurance companies with excellent coverage in Central America and Mexico including Travelex Insurance (www.travelexinsurance.com) and IMG global insurance (www.imglobal.com). Select the level of coverage based on the estimated costs of your trip (airfare, transportation, hotel, meals, and other related costs).
Please make prepayment in full for tour packages at least 30 days prior to travel. All tour package quotes are cash prices. There is a $25 service fee assessed on all returned checks. If payment is made by credit card, please add 3% to cover Paypal’s surcharge.
LehiTours will do all in its power to make requested changes to reservations to accommodate the circumstances and desires of our clients. Change requests must be made in writing to our office by mail or email and will be subject to approval before implementation.
LehiTours and its representatives are not liable or responsible for injury, accident, illness, death, loss, theft, or damage to tour participants or their personal objects while on tour. Nor is LehiTours or its representatives liable or responsible for extra expenses sustained or incurred by the participant before, during, or after travel. Please review your travel insurance for express coverage for any of these uncommon conditions.
In case of necessary trip cancellation, we request notification in writing via mail or email at least 15 days prior to beginning date of travel. LehiTours will make all reasonable efforts to refund prepayments or, in the case where payments have already been made to another provider or tour operator, we will extend a tour credit less a $50/person service fee. In the case of trip cancellation or default due to unforeseen circumstances not directly under our control, LehiTours is not liable nor is responsible for wrongful, negligent or unauthorized acts or omissions of any provider or tour operator with which we work.
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