Preparing for the Trip

          Immunizations and other health matters:  Everybody should have gotten updated tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine and at least one each of Hepatitis A and B.  Everybody should have made provisions for typhoid vaccine (the oral series is good for five years, the injectable for three).  Everybody should make provisions for malaria prophylaxis (chloroquine or Lariam).  Everybody should be sure they have adequate insurance coverage for medical emergencies.  Any medicines you take should go with you in your carryon.  Don't drink the water in Honduras, nor order drinks with ice.  Even brush your teeth with bottled water. Bottled water, sodas, cervesas all safe.  Food at Beatriz's restaurant is uniformly safe.  Anywhere else---no fresh fruits or vegetables.  Bring medicine for "traveler's diarrhea" at your discretion.  Bring sunblock if you will be outdoors and be sure to stay well hydrated.  We will be taking a 5 gallon jug of water with us to each village each day.  You may purchase soft drinks at the hotel to carry along if you wish.  You may take nonperishable food items from home (granola bars, etc), and you may also purchase food items at the Dippsa when we gas up.

Information for Participants

Travel:           Each participant is responsible for making his/her own travel arrangements.  An “advance team” will plan to arrive inTegucigalpa on Saturday, January 7.  The balance of the team will arrive on Sunday, January 8.  The “advance team” will be responsible for reconciling clinic medical records and for repacking of supplies, as needed, in advance of departing for the southern area on Sunday.  The “advance team” will spend its first night at the Honduras Maya in Tegucigalpa, and will proceed to Pespire on Sunday morning after breakfast.  The Sunday arrivals will rendezvous at the airport and head directly to Pespire after a quick fast food lunch near the airport.

     Airlines which service TGU from the States include American (via Miami), Delta (via Atlanta), Continental (via Houston), and TACA (via El Salvador).  All international flights tend to arrive in TGU around noon daily and to depart around 1 pm daily (give or take).  We will have drivers and translators available to greet arriving groups on both Saturday and Sunday.  Please be sure to arrange your arrival to coordinate with others, and to keep group leaders apprised of your itineraries.  If your US departure city is at a distance from your home, you may also wish to coordinate travel to/from the airport with others who live near you.

Lodging:         The team will stay at Vista Real Hermanoz in Nacaone .         

Meals:             Some meals while in the southern area will be provided by La Cascada, where Beatriz has always taken good care of us, and serves meals buffet-style….typical Honduran cuisine with deference to American tastes.  

Currency:         The Honduran currency is the lempira, which is fixed at 18.89 per USD.  Money can be changed at the airport.  You will need cash for incidentals such as beverages and souvenirs.  The amount of money you change is entirely up to the individual.  Most past participants have changed $50 to $150.  Lempira can be changed back to USD on departure if you wish.  Be sure to reserve some cash (either USD or lempira or a combination of the two) for airport departure tax of about $34.  Money can also be changed at the front desk of the Honduras Maya, and at an ATM in the lobby of the hotel.  ATMs are NOT generally available elsewhere.  Credit cards may be accepted in souvenir shops and restaurants.

Climate:          January is typically a dry season in Honduras.  Temperatures will be in the seventies at night and the eighties to nineties during the day.

What to Pack:  The most important rule is to PACK LIGHT.  The airlines impose restrictions on carry-on and packed bags.  Please consult your airline’s website for details on baggage dimensions and weights.  Each mission participant may be asked to carry some of the group’s shared baggage (such as medicines).  If there are fees for checked baggage, the group will be responsible for the fees for the bags you may be asked to transport for the team.  Fees for your own personal belongings are your own responsibility.

       Plan to wear cool, loose fitting clothes (ladies:  be aware that revealing clothing is frowned upon in this culture, so watch necklines, camis and tanks should be layered under other shirts, and shorts should not be too short).  Comfortable shoes.  Bring a hat.  Remember sunblock and insect repellant.  Pack a nice (but not dressy) outfit for the farewell dinner.  Don’t plan on being able to do any laundry.  Remember airline rules on liquids/gels.

Appliances:      Honduran electrical outlets are the same as US so no adapters are needed.  There is no electrical service at Moropocay.  There is electricity in Pespire and Puerto Grande.

Water and food safety:      Assume that the water is NOT potable until proven otherwise.  Don’t order drinks with ice unless you are sure that the ice has been made with treated water.  Don’t eat fresh fruits and vegetables EXCEPT AT BEATRIZ’---she washes all produce X 3 in chlorinated water. 

Pretravel immunization:    Be certain to be up to date on tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B.  Arrange for typhoid vaccine (oral or injectable) through your doctor or a travel clinic.  Note that oral typhoid gives five years’ protection, injectable only two years.  Arrange for malaria prophylaxis through your doctor or a travel clinic (chloroquine adequate for Central America, though Lariam may also be used).

Communications:      International cell phones may be available, although we may not have coverage in all areas we visit.  There is an Internet café across the street from the hotel in Pespire.  We will need emergency contact information for each mission participant.

Insurance:        In the past, some mission participants have elected to obtain travel insurance to cover emergencies.  This is at your own discretion and expense.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM!  Please feel free to contact group leaders at any time if you have questions or concerns.