Here are some commonly asked questions about our medical trips.
Do I need to have a group to come?
No, you don’t! We have several open trips throughout the year where solo volunteers can join us. See upcoming dates here.
What is the minimum number of volunteers for a group?
Our minimum number is 6 in a group. It’s simply not feasible to work with smaller groups at this time, except in very special circumstances.
Is Guatemala safe?
You’ve probably heard a lot about Guatemala and like any other country, it has good areas and those that are more dangerous. We only take you to areas we deem safe to the best of our knowledge. To learn more about Guatemala’s safety, click here and download our PDF trip packet.
What types of health issues will we see?
This depends on the area. You’ll likely see plenty of colds, parasites, skin rashes, and regular aches and pains. From time to time, we do get cases that require more intervention than we can provide in a single popup clinic. In these situations, we’ll take the patient’s contact information and Healing Hearts will follow up with them. You can learn more about common diseases and health concerns on page 2 of our PDF trip packet.
Why should I choose Healing Hearts?
We offer people-centric trips where our focus is on actually helping and not just making our volunteers feel good. We’ll do our best to ensure the trip is a fun one, but we don’t do shock factor marketing and ensure you are as prepared as possible for the realities of doing clinics in Guatemala. You’ll have a Zoom meeting online before your arrive to brief you on what to expect, an orientation meeting upon arrival, and we hold debriefings every evening after a clinic day to ensure you’re able to process what you’ve seen.
Secondly, we are LGBTQ+ friendly, non-religious, and welcome all walks of life. If you’ve previously hesitated to volunteer because you’ve only seen church groups coming down, this is your chance!
What about food and water?
We provide your food for the week and there will be purified water available for you, as well as other drinks. During your stay with Healing Hearts, our cook will provide dinners so you can return from a long day of treating patients and relax.
Breakfast will be made by rotating groups of volunteers and you are responsible for packing your own lunch. All the fixings will be available to make sandwiches or you can pack up leftovers from the night before. Again, if you have special dietary needs, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate these.
I have food allergies/special diet requirements. Can those be accommodated in Guatemala?
In nearly all cases, we can accommodate your dietary needs. However, it’s important to let us know ahead of time so we can plan for this. If you have name brand or other specific foods you eat, you may want to bring them with you.
How accessible is this trip?
Guatemala lacks good infrastructure and many of the villages we travel to are off the beaten track. There may be some hiking involved and we will need to carry medications and supplies to the clinic location. Most areas do not work well for wheelchairs and limited mobility, but we can adjust the schedule if you let us know ahead of time to ensure we only go to the most accessible places.
How much does it cost to go on a medical volunteer trip?
We try to ensure that everything is taken care of for you, so this is reflected in the price. Our current rate is $1,000 USD for a one week trip and includes:
- Transport to and from the airport
- Daily transport to clinic locations (up to 1 hr from where you stay)
- 7 nights lodging
- Food for the week, three meals a day, plus snacks (dinner is cooked for you daily)
- Translators as needed
- A supply of medications to prescribe as needed
- A tour to either a coffee plantation or a chocolate factory
- A Healing Hearts team t-shirt
- An optional Guatemalan cooking class at your place of lodging
NOT Included:
- Souvenirs
- Travel insurance
- Airfare to Guatemala
- Eating out if you choose to skip a house meal
- Additional days in Guatemala
I have religious trauma, will that be an issue?
We want all our volunteers to be as comfortable as possible. Guatemala is a very Catholic country and we do work with churches. In some instances, they may wish to pray with the volunteers. If you do not want to participate in this or don’t feel comfortable working in a church, please let us know ahead of time so we can schedule the clinics for areas that do not include churches. You are also welcome to step outside if you do not wish to be involved in prayers. Please be aware that many people will say things like “God bless you” as part of their culture.