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Pop Wuj Spanish School - Directions
Thank you for enrolling with Pop Wuj - Spanish School Guatemala. We are providing the following information to help you make your travel plans.
Arrival
We recommend that you arrive in Quetzaltenango on a Sunday in order to get settled with your family and not miss any activities. Please note that the school is closed Saturdays, but is open on Sundays from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. If you arrive on a Saturday, you will need to plan to spend the night at a hotel. If you wish to be met at the airport in Guatemala City by a representative of the school, this service is available for $15 US. The representative will take you to either to a hotel or to the terminal where you can catch the bus for Quetzaltenango (Xela). The additional $15 US charge should be paid directly, in cash, to the representative. If you are traveling with others, each additional member of your group will be charged $5 US. You may also stay overnight with the representative's family for an additional $20 US.
Legal Requirements
Citizens of the United States and a few other countries need only a valid passport to enter Guatemala. However you may only stay in Guatemala for 90 days. If you plan to stay longer, you will need to leave the country for 72 hours and then return to Guatemala with a new passport stamp indicating another 90 days. Please note that traveling to Honduras, El Salvador, or Nicaragua does not satisfy the requirement to leave Guatemala. Citizens of other countries will need to obtain a visa from a consulate before they leave for Guatemala. This may be done by mail, but you should allow at least three to four weeks for the process, which involves obtaining the appropriate forms, and receiving the visa in the return mail.
Travel Advisories
For Travel Advisories, we recommend calling the U.S. State Department toll-free at (888) 407-4747 or checking their web site www.travel.state.gov.
How to get to the School
Several major airlines, including Delta, Spirit Airlines, United, American, KLM, Mexicana, and Iberia, provide service to Guatemala City. From the airport, it is 10 to 15 minute cab ride to the terminal of the Galgos Bus Line. A cab from the airport to Galgos should not cost more than $10 US or the equivalent in Quetzales.
The trip from Guatemala City (Guate) to Xela takes about four to four and a half hours. We strongly recommend that you try to arrive in Guate early enough to avoid traveling to Xela after nightfall. It is best to arrive in Xela before 6 or 7 pm. It is always safer to travel during the day than at night, and if you arrive at the school after 7 pm Sunday-Friday, you may not find anyone there to greet you. On Saturdays the school is closed.
Galgos buses depart Guatemala City at 8:30am and 2:30pm. You will need to buy your ticket as soon as possible after arriving in Guate, as seats are reserved and can sell out. A ticket to Xela costs approximately Q60 to Q80 or around $7-10 US. The Alamo bus line also provides service between Guatemala City and Xela, leaving Guate at 8:00am, 10:30am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm, and 5:30pm. The cost is the same as Galgos.
From the Galgos terminal in Xela, the school is a very short walk (even with luggage.) A taxi is never needed. From the front of the terminal, walk west (turn left going out of the building) to the first corner and turn left. The school is the first door on your left, 50 meters from the corner. The school is located on the second floor of Primera Calle (written 1a calle) 17-72, Zona 1. Those who arrive by car or come through Mexico should ask for directions to the Galgos terminal, then follow the directions given above.
Hotels in Xela & Guatemala City
If you arrive at the airport in Guate too late to reach Xela before nightfall, you will need to find overnight accommodations in Guatemala City or you may elect to stay with our host family (see below). The following are some inexpensive hotels in Guatemala City about which we have received favorable reports: Hotel Suizo, 14 Calle 6-82, Zona 1; Hotel Excel, 9 Avenida 15-12, Zona 1; Hotel Capri, 9 Avenida, 15-63, Zona 1; and Spring Hotel, 8 Avenida 12-65, Zona 1. Normally these hotels will not accept reservations on the phone. If you arrive in Xela on Saturday or after 7pm on Sunday, you will need to stay in a hotel. If we are expecting you but you arrive after 7pm, we will leave a note for you on the front door with directions on how to get to the closest hotel. If you would like to make a reservation in advance, just e-mail us, and we'll make it for you. There are cabs at the Galgos terminal which can take you to any other hotels.
Pickup at the Airport
As noted above, you can arrange to be met at the airport in Guatemala City by Maria de Moscoso, a hostess for the school. This reception service includes transportation to the bus terminal, a hotel, or Maria's home, depending on the flight arrival time. If you wish to take advantage of this service, email the school directly at least 2 weeks in advance of your arrival (if you have not already notified us on your application). We will need your airline name, flight number, and date and time of arrival. As noted on your application, the reception service costs an additional $15 US paid in cash directly to the school representative who meets you. The reception and overnight service costs $35 US total. In the event of last-minute complications, such as schedule changes and flight delays, you should contact Maria directly. Maria has an answering machine and understands English.
Maria's cell: +502 5826-4636
Maria's home: +502 2435-0528
Maria's parents: +502 2472-3915
Juan Ramon's cell (Maria's son): +502 5765-5477
WARNING Some students in April 1996 got into a fake taxi at the airport in Guate and were robbed. If you are not being picked up by Maria, be sure to look for genuine taxi drivers; they all wear a blue uniform, navy pants, and light blue shirt. And, most importantly, the taxi should have a number.
Travel in Guatemala
Following a few basic rules that will help insure a safe journey.
We recommend that you arrive in Quetzaltenango on a Sunday in order to get settled with your family and not miss any activities. Please note that the school is closed Saturdays, but is open on Sundays from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. If you arrive on a Saturday, you will need to plan to spend the night at a hotel. If you wish to be met at the airport in Guatemala City by a representative of the school, this service is available for $15 US. The representative will take you to either to a hotel or to the terminal where you can catch the bus for Quetzaltenango (Xela). The additional $15 US charge should be paid directly, in cash, to the representative. If you are traveling with others, each additional member of your group will be charged $5 US. You may also stay overnight with the representative's family for an additional $20 US.
Legal Requirements
Citizens of the United States and a few other countries need only a valid passport to enter Guatemala. However you may only stay in Guatemala for 90 days. If you plan to stay longer, you will need to leave the country for 72 hours and then return to Guatemala with a new passport stamp indicating another 90 days. Please note that traveling to Honduras, El Salvador, or Nicaragua does not satisfy the requirement to leave Guatemala. Citizens of other countries will need to obtain a visa from a consulate before they leave for Guatemala. This may be done by mail, but you should allow at least three to four weeks for the process, which involves obtaining the appropriate forms, and receiving the visa in the return mail.
Travel Advisories
For Travel Advisories, we recommend calling the U.S. State Department toll-
How to get to the School
Several major airlines, including Delta, Spirit Airlines, United, American, KLM, Mexicana, and Iberia, provide service to Guatemala City. From the airport, it is 10 to 15 minute cab ride to the terminal of the Galgos Bus Line. A cab from the airport to Galgos should not cost more than $10 US or the equivalent in Quetzales.
The trip from Guatemala City (Guate) to Xela takes about four to four and a half hours. We strongly recommend that you try to arrive in Guate early enough to avoid traveling to Xela after nightfall. It is best to arrive in Xela before 6 or 7 pm. It is always safer to travel during the day than at night, and if you arrive at the school after 7 pm Sunday-
Galgos buses depart Guatemala City at 8:30am and 2:30pm. You will need to buy your ticket as soon as possible after arriving in Guate, as seats are reserved and can sell out. A ticket to Xela costs approximately Q60 to Q80 or around $7-
From the Galgos terminal in Xela, the school is a very short walk (even with luggage.) A taxi is never needed. From the front of the terminal, walk west (turn left going out of the building) to the first corner and turn left. The school is the first door on your left, 50 meters from the corner. The school is located on the second floor of Primera Calle (written 1a calle) 17-
Hotels in Xela & Guatemala City
If you arrive at the airport in Guate too late to reach Xela before nightfall, you will need to find overnight accommodations in Guatemala City or you may elect to stay with our host family (see below). The following are some inexpensive hotels in Guatemala City about which we have received favorable reports: Hotel Suizo, 14 Calle 6-
Pickup at the Airport
As noted above, you can arrange to be met at the airport in Guatemala City by Maria de Moscoso, a hostess for the school. This reception service includes transportation to the bus terminal, a hotel, or Maria's home, depending on the flight arrival time. If you wish to take advantage of this service, email the school directly at least 2 weeks in advance of your arrival (if you have not already notified us on your application). We will need your airline name, flight number, and date and time of arrival. As noted on your application, the reception service costs an additional $15 US paid in cash directly to the school representative who meets you. The reception and overnight service costs $35 US total. In the event of last-
Maria's cell: +502 5826-
WARNING Some students in April 1996 got into a fake taxi at the airport in Guate and were robbed. If you are not being picked up by Maria, be sure to look for genuine taxi drivers; they all wear a blue uniform, navy pants, and light blue shirt. And, most importantly, the taxi should have a number.
Travel in Guatemala
Following a few basic rules that will help insure a safe journey.
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Be very careful in Guatemala City; it is a densely populated, congested city of over 2 million people. Be especially careful of your bags in the bus station; watch out for hustlers working in pairs, one distracting, the other stealing.
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Only travel during daylight hours. If you cannot leave Guate by a reasonable hour, stay in a hotel or with our host family for the night.
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Most assaults on foreigners and Guatemalans happen when they stray from populated areas to remote overlooks, etc. Be wary of people who present themselves as private guides.
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Please note that some indigenous people are mistrustful of foreigners and very protective of their children due to child kidnappings. Do not photograph indigenous people, especially children, without permission.
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Get a good guidebook and read up on Guatemala.
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Review our Safety and Liability page for more suggestions and to be aware of personal liability.
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Once you get to Xela, listen to the advice from the school staff and your host family as to the current level of safety in the city. We recommend that all students take taxis after 9pm and that women do not walk alone after dark.
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