If
you would like more information, please contact
Mark Ely. He has spent much time doing
mission work in Guatemala and will be leading
these trips.
Refund
Policy
All
payments are non-refundable unless otherwise
indicated. In order to obtain the best fares
possible, Pura Vida purchases nonrefundable
airline tickets that are often difficult or
impossible to change if you suddenly find
yourself unable to attend your trip. If you
have concerns about this possiblility you
may want to consider buying trip insurance
which could help reimburse you for purchased
airline tickets. Also, Pura Vida may be able
to refund your non-airline costs if you find
someone to take your place on the team.
Notes
on
Group
Airfares
Group
airfares are very flexible -- they allow
us to hold seats early in the planning process
at a guaranteed base fare. In addition to
the base fare there are taxes and a fuel
surcharge which fluctuate on a daily basis.
The sum of all of these is the total airfare.
Pura Vida estimates the trip price based
on the airfare calculated at the time of
the initial reservation, which can be up
to 8 months before the trip is scheduled
to depart. The airfare cost is finalized
only when the group reservation is ticketed.
Pura
Vida is able to ticket the group reservation
when we have received the deposit, first
payment, and passport copy from all team
members. In the timeframe between the original
reservation and ticketing the fuel surcharge
can change. Thus, the final airfare may
differ significantly from the original estimate.
This is why we don't finalize the trip price
until the group airfare is ticketed. Some
organizations do, but they are forced to
inflate the price of their trips to cover
possible increases in fuel surcharge costs.
At Pura Vida we are trying our best to provide
the best value in a work trip experience.
Suggested Reading
For
a look at daily life at the orphanage near
where we'll be working, see the Hogar
del Niño website. For more insight
on the culture and history of the highlands
of Guatemala, check out the following books:
I
Rigoberta Menchu
Although there is controversy over the
historical accuracy of this book, it
unquestionably provides valuable insight
into the culture of the Quiché
people.
Guatemala:
Never Again!
A human rights report published after
the civil war. Written by the Archidiocese
of Guatemala, it presents a picture
of the effect the war had on Guatemala's
indigenous population. Published by
the Maryknoll Community.
Dora
& Dina
