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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
It is preferable for you to arrive in Quetzaltenango on a Sunday in order to get settled in with your family and not miss any activities. (The school is closed Saturdays, but open on Sundays from 10:00 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,- USD extra. 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,- USD 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,- USD. You may also stay overnight with the representative's family for 15,- USD.
Legal Requirements
Citizens of the United States and a few other countries need only a valid passport to enter Guatemala. Tourist cards are no longer required. Citizens of the remaining 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 Continental, 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, from which buses depart for Xela (Quetzaltenango) every two or three hours. (A cab from the airport to Galgos should not cost more than 10,- USD 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 by day than by night, and if you arrive at the school after 6 pm on Sundays or 7 pm Mon-Fri., you may not find anyone there to greet you. On Saturdays the school is closed.
Galgos buses depart Guatemala City at 5:30 am, 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:45 pm, 2:30 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm. You will need to buy your ticket as soon as possible after arriving in Guate, as seats are reserved and do sell out. A ticket to Xela costs approximately Q60 to Q80 or around 7-10 USD. The Alamo bus line also provides service between Guatemala City and Xela five times daily, leaving Guate at 10:00 am, 12:45 pm, 3 pm, 4:30 pm, and 5:45 pm. The cost is the same as Galgos. Domestic air travel between Guate and Xela is available on different local airlines. The flight takes 30 minutes and costs 85,- USD Mon-Sun. There are restrictions regarding luggage weight. You can make advance arrangements through a travel agent or check XelaPages for contacts in Xela and Guatemala City.
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. It is upstairs on the second floor The address is Primera Calle (written 1a calle) 17-72, Zona 1. From the airport in Xela, you will need to take a taxi. Those who arrive by car or come through Mexico should ask for directions to Galgos terminal, which everyone knows how to find, 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, Catorce Calle 6-82, Zona 1; Hotel Excel, Novena Avenida 15-12, Zona 1; Hotel Capri, Novena Avenida, 15-63, Zona 1; Spring Hotel, Octava Avenida 12-65, Zona 1. Normally these hotels will not accept reservations on the phone. In Xela, should you arrive before Sunday or too late on Sunday to be met at the school, you will need to stay in a hotel. We will leave a note for you at the front door with directions on how to get to the closest hotel from the school in case you should arrive after 7pm. 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, to be taken to the Galgos terminal, a hotel, or her home, depending on the flight arrival time. If you wish to take advantage of this service, fax or 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 flight number, and date and time of arrival. As noted on your application, the pick-up service entails an additional charge of 15,- USD paid in cash directly to the school representative who meets you. The pick-up and overnight service is 30,- USD total. In the event of last-minute complications, such as schedule changes and flight delays, you should call her at her home, +502(2435)0528 , cell.: +502(5826)4636, work: +502(2384)5765, cell Juan Ramón: (son) +502(5765)5477. She has an answering machine and understands English.
WARNING Some students in April 1996 got into a non-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 important, the taxi should have a number.
Travel in Guatemala
Following a few basic rules that will help insure a safe journey.
It is preferable for you to arrive in Quetzaltenango on a Sunday in order to get settled in with your family and not miss any activities. (The school is closed Saturdays, but open on Sundays from 10:00 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,-
Legal Requirements
Citizens of the United States and a few other countries need only a valid passport to enter Guatemala. Tourist cards are no longer required. Citizens of the remaining 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 Continental, 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, from which buses depart for Xela (Quetzaltenango) every two or three hours. (A cab from the airport to Galgos should not cost more than 10,-
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 by day than by night, and if you arrive at the school after 6 pm on Sundays or 7 pm Mon-
Galgos buses depart Guatemala City at 5:30 am, 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 12:45 pm, 2:30 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm. You will need to buy your ticket as soon as possible after arriving in Guate, as seats are reserved and do 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. It is upstairs on the second floor The address is 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, Catorce 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, to be taken to the Galgos terminal, a hotel, or her home, depending on the flight arrival time. If you wish to take advantage of this service, fax or 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 flight number, and date and time of arrival. As noted on your application, the pick-
WARNING Some students in April 1996 got into a non-
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 nationals, for that matter) 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. Xela is usually quite safe and women generally feel safe to walk the streets alone even at night. The area of the cemetery, however, should be avoided after dusk.
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Departure
The security tax for departure is currently Q20.00 which is different from the normal departure tax which is already included in your airline ticket. Be sure to include this in your budget. Please note that they only accept the Guatemalan currency “Quetzal”. Be sure to keep Q20 with you.
