ASL Guatemala Trip
Hey, it's Jen and Katrina! Come with us to Guatemala! A place that’s captured our souls and changed our lives.
We invite you to join this all-women’s trip—to feel deeply, connect authentically, and discover the magic of this country we’ve come to love so much!
We're so excited to explore purpose, adventure, and cultural immersion with you—an experience we know will stay with you long after you’ve returned. Come and make a difference, for yourself.
The Kelly Family Story
We are the Kelly family! In 2012, we embarked on an adventure with our 6 children ages 4-14 (we now have 7). Originally from Sparks, NV, and living in Utah at the time, we wanted a foreign country experience for our children who we homeschooled. We sold most of our things, and drove to Guatemala for what we thought would be a 3 week trip. Our next plan was to return to the states and RV around the US and Canada (which we later did). That 3 weeks turned into 3 months in Guatemala.
For 8 years we kept returning because we loved it so much! We helped with and headed up some humanitarian organizations, bought a home on Lake Atitlan, and tried our best to learn Spanish. We moved to Texas in 2020, but love returning often to this beautiful country!
Katrina’s Story
Howdy y'all! My name is Katrina! I love to travel because it brings me joy to explore Heavenly Father's creations and beauty. I also love to meet many more people even if they speak in different languages. There is a silent language we all can speak with and it's through our eyes, expressions and hands. Somehow it brings us together no matter what. I am excited to be able to bring y'all to Guatemala! Y'all will love the house we'll be staying in, villages we'll visit, colors we'll see, food we'll eat, and more! It will be the trip of a lifetime mostly because we'll have lots of laughter! 🤟🏻
(select images to read captions)
5th Thursday - ARRIVAL
Land, meet the group, stay in Guatemala City
6th Friday - TRAVEL
Drive to Panajachel, boat across Lake Atitlan to Casa de Paz
7th Saturday - PURPOSE
Sleep in, enjoy the lake. Visit San Antonio and paint pottery
8th Sunday - RELAX
Church or sightseeing, visit local families in Panajachel.
9th Monday - CULTURE
Meet Alejandra in Panajachel and learn some Guatemalan sign language! Visit a local family in Santa Cruz.
10th Tuesday - ADVENTURE
Breakfast in Jaibalito. Boat to Santa Cruz to visit a local artisan’s home and view embroidery and bead work. Afternoon trip to San Juan for textile tour. Zumba night at lake house!
11th Wednesday - SERVICE
Join a Days for Girls menstrual hygiene kit distribution in Patanatic. Visit the Market in Pana, Ahuevos paint store (owned by Devon and Stefany), and souvenir shop on Santander.
12th Thursday - WORK
Visit the LAVOSI School for the Deaf. Explore Antigua
13th Friday - FAREWELL
Head to Guatemala City and return to USA
FAQ'S
🧳 What’s included in the trip cost?
Your trip includes lodging, in-country transportation, guided activities, meals, cultural experiences, and service opportunities.
🚫 What’s Not Included in the Trip Cost?
While we’ve packed a lot into this unforgettable experience, there are things travelers will need to cover on their own. Some of these include airfare, souvenirs, personal purchases, additional snacks.
💰What about using cash or credit card? What about using ATM fees and getting Quetzales?
There is an ATM at the Guatemala City airport and several in Panajachel. There is a $4 transaction fee when you take money out of an ATM. Plus, your bank may charge you extra for withdrawals. It all depends on your bank, so check with them. We recommend that you withdraw Q2,000 (around $260.00) once you arrive and use that for souvenirs or extra snack money. Some places accept cash only, and other places accept credit card. If you have leftover quetzals when the trip is over, we will buy them from you and give you the American dollar equivalent.
📱What about phones and internet?
We use T-Mobile and have an international plan, so it works fine in Guatemala. We have Wi-Fi at the house, so you don’t need to worry about using cellular data, at least while we are at the house. There is no Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, or other US carries in Guatemala. Your phone will automatically connect to a partner carrier once you get to Guatemala. You need to talk to your specific carrier to find out what your plan will cover. For example, some carriers will charge for each text message, or each minute on a phone call, or cellular data. So once you find out what your plan covers, then you will know how much you have to spend on text, phone calls, and data.
✈️ Do I need to book my own flight?
Yes. Travelers are responsible for booking their own round-trip flights to Guatemala City (GUA). We’ll provide recommended arrival and departure times and help coordinate airport pickups.
🏨 Where will we be staying?
We’ll spend the first and last nights in hotels in Guatemala City, and the rest of the trip at Casa de Paz, our family’s lakeside home on Lake Atitlán.
🛏️ What are the sleeping arrangements?
Casa de Paz is our family lake house and rooms are shared. This trip is first come first to have a bed of your own. We have a total of 7 twin beds, 4 full sized, and 2 king beds.
🚨 Is Guatemala safe?
Yes! Just like in any country, there are places you should and shouldn't go—but from our personal experience, we've always felt very safe in Guatemala.
🧘🏽♀️ Is there downtime built into the trip?
Yes. We’ve intentionally designed the itinerary with space to rest, reflect, and enjoy. You’ll have time to shop, journal, nap, or just soak in the beauty.
🤝 What kind of service will we be doing?
We will distribute Days for Girls kits to students. These reusable pads allow girls to be able to stay in school when they are on their periods.
We will visit LAVOSI school for the Deaf where we will interact with students, observe classes, and meet the director, Alvaro!
✅ What should I pack?
After you purchase your spot for the trip, we will be sending you your packing list via email!
🍽️ What restaurants will we be eating at?
(Click to view restaurant's website/location on Google Maps)
In Guatemala City: San Martin
In Jaibalito: Posada Jaibalito
In Panajachel: Deli Jasmin and Guajimbos
In Antigua: La Bruja