Guatemala's Western Highlands are known as "The Land of Eternal Spring" because of warm days and cool nights. The average temp in Atitlán is 72 degrees with variances daily from the low 60's to mid 80's. Because of the elevation, 5100 feet, humidity is rare. There is a rainy season with a peak in May so we avoid that month for Tropical Medicine 101. I love going in August, just to escape the summer heat in the states and, in February to escape the cold! It is always "spring-like"!
If you are on a hike or day trip, you should take a compact parka to pull out because short showers can pop up quickly any time of year.
Mornings are usually calm and balmy. By the afternoon, the pacific coastal winds reach Atitlán with a dramatic water-fall of evaporating clouds falling over the mountain from the near-by cloud Forest, on the lake's western shore. This abrupt shift in winds lasts for several hours and has been seen to cause 6 foot swells on the lake!
UV exposure is pretty intense: high altitude plus the lake reflection.
Hep A is the most common vaccine-preventable disease in travelers. All citizens of the US should be immunized whether traveling internationally or not. It starts working immediately so it's never to late before a trip.
Be sure DipTet is up to date. My rule is '5 years' because if you do get a dirty wound, you are already covered.
It's too high for many mosquitoes and malaria is not a concern in Atitlán. Often TM101 participants travel to Tikal or other areas needing malaria prophylaxis before or after the course. If I'm out and about on a trek, I definitely use DEET because of the newly- arrived 'coffee fly' which causes chigger-like bites.
Occasionally, I've noticed that some medical professionals visiting developing countries take an prophylactic antibiotic daily to protect against traveler's diarrhea. Personally, I keep Cipro on stand-by. The hotels' restaurants are of "full alert" when TM101 is there. We have surprise inspections and really keep them on their toes.
Bottom line on all this: check with your own travel med clinic or medical provider; these are just my thoughts.
It's "The Land of Eternal Spring" and you're on vacation! Jeans and shorts, tennis shoes and sandals are most common. When "out and about" I usually wear a short sleeve shirt with a long sleeve handy.
Hiking boots are highly suggested because of the rigorous nature of some of the "Optional Activities". I don't even tour Antigua in tennis-shoes because of the uneven cobblestones, etc. (Be sure to break those hiking boots in!)
Don't forget a bathing suit for the hotel pool and hot tub. ( I don't usually swim in the lake,..... which looks incredibly pristine, unless I follow it with a Cipro and double Scotch. )
YES! Check with me first about the need of specific items and for advice on how to pack the supplies so that it is easy to deal with Guatemalan customs.
Travel with TM101 is very safe. We go to extraordinary lengths to be safe with a guard and official government escort when on the road. We've never had any security issues. The hotels are remarkably secure.
The town of Panajachel, where the conference is held, is safe too. It is a tourist-based economy there and I've never seen a threat. The hotel is a pleasant walk from town, so, at night I invariably take a tuk-tuk. ( 3 wheeled motorized open-air taxi ).
Often, those arriving early on Saturday want to tour some of Guatemala City. There are some really cool museums there but I don't recommend "touring" in any part of Guatemala City unless you are with a guide. It can be unsafe.
A good precaution is to scan your passport and email it to yourself, should you ever need to expedite replacement.
I always suggest locking luggage. Airline pilfering of luggage is at an all time high, domestically and internationally and it is NOT covered. TSA gladly secures the locks after inspection. There has been issues with checked bags missing items RETURNING from Guatemala, after being turned into airline custody. Simple locks do the trick.
Having said all that, one can never remove all risks, so there's still the Consent Form that TM101 participants are asked to fill out. (This comes from the same attorney that does work for the Boy Scouts.) Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding the requirement to fill this out. It's on the opening page with "Flight Arrival Information."
Five hundred dollars should more than do it, depending on how much shopping you want to do. There's some really cool stuff and most folks go home loaded down with hand-made wares, art, jewelry, carvings, textiles, etc. Legally you can bring $800 back in purchases to the US.
As far as expenses not covered by the "TM101 package" are:
Optional Activities (Hikes and tours)
One meal a day ( Two meals come with the TM101 hotel package.)
'Water Taxi' and Tuk-Tuks for unscheduled events
Bottled water or Bar tab
Phone, etc.
Guests need to leave their credit card imprint at the front desks.
Dollars are universally accepted but often, the street vendors prefer Quetzals. The hotels will exchange the dollars and most merchants give Q's for change for bigger US bills. The exchange rate varies but hangs around 7.5 Quetzals to 1 US dollar.
You need to be in good shape for those hikes and have a means to tote your own water.
The Cloud Forrest Hike is a 4 1/2 hour hike. The description says "For experienced hikers in excellent shape". The crew that did this in February, 2006, came back calling it the 'Cloud Forrest Death March". They'd all do it again though.
The Chuitinamit Mayan Archaeological Hike (strongly recommended) is less challenging but you still need to be in good shape, with good boots, and like to hike. It is 3 1/2 hours. I think walking sticks are invaluable for stability and safety. They are available quite cheap.
There's a lot of walking in general throughout the week of Tropical Medicine 101. On: Sunday: walking tour of Antigua,
Monday: walking tour along the shoreline Mayan villages on the optional Wine and Cheese Boat Tour,
Tuesday: Nature Tour with Scott and Jenella
Wednesday: Walking Tour of Santiago Atitlán and mudslide areas
Thursday: Optional Activities: Hikes, Shopping, etc!!
Friday: Chuitinamit Hike
The surfaces are uneven in the villages and there are hazards. That's why I suggests boots whenever you leave the hotel for the tours and hikes.
One should be pretty agile in general for this trip/tour. Some of the boats we are using to cross the lake have multiple decks or just plain tricky to get into if the winds are hefty.
For more information Contact Us or phone toll-free:
1.866.232.2588 for registration information.
TROPICAL MEDICINE 101 is sponsored by Lake Atitlán Medical Project. LAMP is an all volunteer humanitarian organization working to improve the healthcare of the Mayan indigenous people living around Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan Western Highlands.