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Snapshot Tour FAQ

You'll meet about 25 new friends on a Snapshot Tour.

Who will travel with me?

Snapshot Tours provide a life-changing travel experience to adventurous, service-minded people of all ages from across the U.S. and North America. CoEd U.S. and Guatemala staff also travel on the tours.

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Will I be safe in Guatemala?

Cooperative for Education’s Guatemala City-based office has operated tours in Guatemala for more than ten years. During that time, not one of our tour participants has ever been a victim of a serious crime. However, in Guatemala, as in other developing countries and even in parts of the U.S., crime is a significant problem. Travel in these places therefore can pose risks.

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Do I need to speak Spanish to go on the tour?

You don't need to know Spanish to come on a Snapshot Tour.Absolutely not! In fact, the majority of our tour participants speak little or no Spanish. Your guides will translate most activities, including encounters in the communities with parents, students, and families. When you interact with students on an individual basis, you’ll find many other ways to communicate, such as sharing family photos and playing soccer, basketball, and other games.

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Can I arrive before the tour and stay after?

Yes! If you plan to arrive a day before or stay a day after the tour at the Hotel Radisson in Guatemala City, we can book extra nights for you.

Please contact Gaby Amado by Jan. 1/July 1 at gaby@coeduc.org to make the arrangements. If you would like to travel in Guatemala outside the official tour, you will need to make your own arrangements. Get started with our list of Guatemalan travel agencies.

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Can I leave hotel contact information with my friends or family?

Yes. Shortly before your tour, we will send you a complete list of hotels and contact information, which you can share with your family.

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Can I donate school supplies or other items to CoEd's projects?

Many tour participants ask us if they can bring donated items for the children and schools. We recommend making a cash donation, which CoEd can use to purchase school supplies and other items in Guatemala. However, if you would like to carry items for distribution on the Snapshot Tour, please consider the following:

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How can I help the children of Guatemala after I return to the US?

  1. Many people get more involved with CoEd's mission upon returning home after a tour.Get your office, church, school, or community group to sponsor a workstation, school, computer center, or CORP class in Guatemala. Learn more about sponsorships here.
  2. Spread the word about our work. Help find speaking opportunities—at your church, club, or school—for someone in the CoEd Speakers Bureau.
  3. Join the CoEd Speakers Bureau. Once you have visited Guatemala on a CoEd tour, you can help us raise awareness about our programs through presentations at workplaces, churches, schools, clubs, and more.
  4. Got three friends who want to explore Guatemala with you? Your trip could be free!Bring a friend to Guatemala. Why not share your life-changing experience with a friend or family member? If you bring three new people to Guatemala on a CoEd tour, you'll travel free! Read more about this offer here.
  5. Collect donated school supplies. Learn more about donating goods to CoEd here.

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Is my trip tax deductible?

Some trip expenses may be tax deductible. Refer to IRS Publication 526 (PDF).

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