Safety in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
This was my first country on the Race and its been great! We haven’t had any problems with items being stolen but we always make sure to lock our door every time we leave. Any time the girls would walk into town they would get whistled at or honked at. They love the “gringas”. In order to prevent this and ease your mind, take a male with you and you will be okay. Its pretty safe but always be aware.
Great month with German in Xenacoj. We went to Antigua on weekends for our off days, really cool city. WARNING though, 4 squadmates and I went to the cross park on the mountain (yes the famous spot overlooking the city) early one morning around 6 for sunrise worship and we were mugged. Hit with sticks by 3 creepy dudes in masks. Not hurt but had our iPhones stolen and my iPad taken. I was on edge thr not few weeks so be careful and just go during the designated park hours. Woops 🙂
Don’t bring attention to yourself or flash expensive things. Otherwise safe place. Reminds me of the southern U.S.
Xenacoj is very safe. It is a very small, very friendly town. Everyone knows each other and everyone looks out for each other. We were still cautious in the sense that we never showed off our valuables, but we felt safe and protected. Other than the occasional drunk man trying to talk to us, we didn’t have any issues. The town has only two exits, so we were told people usually think twice before committing a crime.Random story we heard: Apparently last year a Salvadorian came into town and broke into a house. The people of Xenacoj found him, chased him down the streets, and stripped him to his underwear. No one messes with Xenacoj.
Ministry Summary
Ministry Summary in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Breakthroughs? Suggestions? Concerns? On a scale of 1-4 (1 being not at all, 4 being absolutely) how strongly would you recommend another World Race team go to this ministry location & why?
People’s Opinions
It was definitely worth going. We made some great headway at Cruz Ayapan especially (see my squadmate’s blog here: http://justinhunt.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-outsiders&bookmark=true#comments). The only problem was there were a lot of big expectations and not many practical plans for getting them done. We needed a lot more organization and intentionality. With all this, another World Race team, self-motivated with a plan, would be good. We visited a ton of widows and fed a bunch of school children all month. It felt very jumping all over the place, but I feel like a good plan would help that a lot. 3.
Lodging
Lodging in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Where did you stay? What were the accommodations (sleeping arrangements, toilets, showers, etc.)? Cost (per person per night in USD), Contact info.
People’s Opinions
There was a main house and a rented house. The squad split up between those two (it was all squad month). Lodging + food budget $10/day/person. We slept in bunk beds that were quite hard – break out your sleeping pad and hope it doesn’t break like mine did. Main house – 1 nice bathroom and hot (sometimes) shower; 2 bedrooms with around 6 people per room. Rented house – 1 toilet with shower curtain, had to pour water down the bowl to flush. 1 shower sometimes hot. Upstairs cold.
Food / Meals
There is no grocery store in this village. But, there are many tiendas with snacks, fruits, and toiletries. Teams eat at local restaurants each night for dinner. There is affordable, filling food for about $2 USD per meal. For lunch the contacts wife cooked and it is very good.Â
There is great banana bread at local tiendas for 3 quetzales per slice.
Food / Meals in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala What did you eat? Where did you get the food? Cost (per person per day in USD)? Contact info (if applicable).
People’s Opinions
Susie cooks every meal for us. She’s amazing. For breakfast we eat cereal or eggs. Lunch is either noodles, grilled chicken or stove cooked chicken, fried green beans, etc. Dinner is rice and beans a lot of the time. Its all super good! But sometimes you need a break so we got creative and bought food from the Super Mercado. We also would go into San Lucas which is about 30 minutes away by chicken bus and picked up Little Caesers for our dinner/team time. There is a super mercado and you can get snacks and yummy muffins there. There chocolate in a bag is super good too! Tiendas are everywhere.
Suzy, Germans wife, cooks all the meals. Spend time with her and help her cook. She is a wonderful lady and loves laugh.All the tiendas have great snacks. German said not to eat the street food.
There is one supermarket. We had meals cooked for us, but we could also request a meal, etc. Lots of little tienditas. Chocobananos at Sarita’s for 3Q. Can also go down to the park/marketplace, just be smart.
A grocery store recently opened in the center of town and it has everything you need (including baby wipes, tissues, and other random toiletries). There is a Sarita ice cream place that we probably went to way too many times, many delicious bakeries (try Eben-Ezer in front of Sarita), and corner stores all around town with snacks. There are also chocobananas (and choco-other-fruits) in the market for 1 quetzal.German’s wife took care of all three meals though, so all other eating was because the Joy Bombs need to work on self-control…
Transportation
Transportation in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
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Medical
Medical in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Information on local hospitals / doctors / pharmacies. Where would someone go in a medical emergency? (addresses and contact info).
People’s Opinions
Talk to German because he recommended another doctor. He stated that the doctor in town would rip us off.
Dave introduced us to the doctor, Yolanda Perez, which was a good thing since the squad came down with the barf and sinus plague.
Communication in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
You can go to any Tienda and get Tigo SIM. We have wifi at the house so we never had to find an internet cafe.
Go to any tiendita to refill your Tigo SIM. Internet cafe – one in a yellow house across from our rented house where it’s 4Q/hour and you can hook the ethernet to your laptop, but the guy likes to change prices and I still have no idea what the hours are. Down the same main road there is a Luigi cafe.
Financial
Financial in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Location of banks or ATMs, notes about transaction fees, best places to exchange money, and other money related advice.
People’s Opinions
Things are expensive in Guatemala (compared to last month in El Salvador.) 7.5 Q to a dollar currently. There is a bank somewhere, ask German. ATM in the supermarket. Don’t carry a ton of big bills if you can help it.
Translators
Translators in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala List any local translators – name and contact information, languages spoken
People’s Opinions
Very few people in Xenacoj speak any language other than Spanish and Kaqchikel. German speaks decent English. Otherwise, not sure who would translate.
Off Days / Fun Activities
Off Days / Fun Activities in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala What activities did your team experience? Recommendations? List locations/contact info. Any locations to be avoided? Any extra safety tips for off days?
People’s Opinions
Tikal – ~$150 round trip overall (i think including food?), overnight bus, contact Christian in Antigua (contact info on debrief log page, Hostal Antigueno).
Lake Atitlan – ~$50 round trip, also contact Christian.
Antigua – everything is more expensive there, but it’s the gateway to a ton of activities like climbing volcanoes, ziplining, horseback riding, etc.
Other Important Contacts
Other Important Contacts in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Additional ministry opportunities, local pastors, etc. Relationship & follow up suggestions
People’s Opinions
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Tips
People’s Opinions
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Additional Info
Additional Info in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Guatemala Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?
People’s Opinions
Xenacoj is up the mountains, so it gets cold. We went during the “warm” months and we still had to bundle up (especially in the mornings). It’s not freezing by any means, but it’s colder than you would expect Central America to be.