- > How Strenuous are these Trips?
- > Group Participants and Tour Leader
- > Private Tours and Custom Dates
- > Local Transportation
- > Accommodations
- > Meals
- > Climate
- > Travel Documents
- > Flights
- > Airline Tickets
- > Money
- > Health
- > Luggage & Clothing
- > Resources
- > Communication
How Strenuous are these Trips?
The challenge rating of this trip is Intermediate. Ratings take into account physical activity, comfort standards and the quality of the infrastructure in an area. The nature of this trip is adventurous with lots lots of walking, hiking and stays in some remote areas.
Group Participants and Tour Leader
PARTICIPANTS: International Group MIN:8 MAX: 20
IF YOU BOOK A TRIP WITH AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP
When
you book one of our International Group Adventures, you will join an
active group of travelers of all ages, most from Holland and Belgium.
Depending on the trip, there will be only one to five North Americans
on the trip. Most of the European participants have a superb command of
English but you are likely to hear lots of Dutch spoken. The Dutch tour
leader will address the group in Dutch and English. These are not
lecture tours and you will get the important information. On our
African camping safaris, a local English-speaking local guide will
accompany the group. Participants of these groups are extremely
independent-minded and embrace opportunities to explore or dine on
their own, in addition to group activity.
Traveling with an
international group adds another dimension to your trip. Compatibility
has more to do with individual personalities of group members.
Socializng can be more challenging for solo travelers and may require
more effort on your part to initiate contact. The Dutch are usually
quite social and often, very direct. Their politics tend to lean
towards the liberal side. The European participants, of all ages, are
typically very active and most everyone is up for a hearty hike or bike
ride.
Trust your instincts....if this description sounds
appealing, these trips are probably a great match for you. But if you
feel that it may be too active, that you prefer more one-on-one
attention, or that that the idea of being in the minority is not
appealing, then a private trip or travel with our North American groups
may be more suitable for you.
GUIDE SERVICE
A Dutch tour
leader will accompany this trip and will address the group in Dutch and
in English. The tour leader serves as logistics coordinator, not a
lecturer. They provide information about the daily life and culture and
practical tips regarding restaruants, transport, admission fees,
activities, etc. The tour leader organizes and accompanies some
activities but participants also enjoy independent time. A local guide
travels with us on the boat. We travel with the guides by motorized
canoes or on foot. On board also is a the captain, a sailor and a cook,
who magically put delicious meals on the table each day.
IN-COUNTRY STAFF
Our
land representatives are situated in the destination country you will
visit. We work closely with them and they function as our liaison with
the guide, drivers and hotels. They are also available in the case of
an emergency and their number will be provided on your emergency
contact list.
PROBLEMS OR EMERGENCY
While you are away,
should you have a problem, you have several points of contact. Your
guide, our land representative, and of course, we are just a call or
email away. We will provide contact numbers for you before you leave.
Please distribute this list to family or to your contact person at
home. If someone needs to reach you from home due to an emergency, but
is having difficulty due to language or bad connections, they can call
our office and we will assist in contacting you.
Private Tours and Custom Dates
Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 8 or more. Please inquire about discounts for 8 or more.
Local Transportation
On the tours through Central America we will make use of a comfortable bus so we can make stops whenever we want. On the trip from Costa Rica to Guatemala we will make use of several buses because we travel through various countries. On most legs of the tour the bus is equipped with air-conditioning. The roads in Guatemala are relatively good. In Honduras and Nicaragua roads are less well-maintained but distances are often not that great. The longest leg of the tour is from Leon to Tegucigalpa. We will reach the Island Roatan off the coast of Honduras by modern ferry while the trajectory between Roatan en Tegucigalpa is covered by propeller plane.
Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use:
http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation
Accommodations
SINGLE TRAVELERS & ROOMMATES
On most trips, you can request single accommodations for a reasonable charge. If you would like single accommodations, please indicate your preference on your booking form.
On our International Group trips, if you are traveling solo, we will match you with a same-sex roommate. If there is not a roommate available, unless otherwise noted, there is no supplementary charge. On the private trips or with North American Groups, there is a single charge if we cannot match you with a roommate.
EXTEND YOUR PROGRAM
On most trips you would have the option to extend your stay in the beginning or end of our trip, or at both the front and back. It is always a great idea to be fully rested when you begin your travels. You will also need to coordinate your flight arrival with the arrival time of the European travelers. Their arrival begins the land program. For many trips the European participants will arrive early in the A.M. In this instance we recommend that you book your flight so that you arrive the day or evening before so that you are sure to begin the trip with the rest of the group. We will reserve the hotel where the group will be staying, subject to availability. Look for extension hotel prices in the price section of our literature.
HOTEL EXTENSIONS (in U.S. Dollars)
On most of your trips you will have the option to extend your land program at the beginning or end of your program. An extension is recommended for group trips when the European participants are scheduled to arrive early in the morning, so you will be ready to start with the group.
Meals
During the trip you can decide for yourself where, what and with whom you want to eat. Of course you can eat with (a part of) the group, but you are also free to find your own restaurant somewhere. Meals are therefore not included in the tour price. At many hotels, besides a good breakfast, it is often also possible to have dinner. The tour guide can give you tips for good restaurants or nice cafés. Each country has its own national cuisine; besides unique dishes there are however also many similarities. In general the Central American cuisine is simple but surprisingly tasty. Besides the traditional “gallo pinto” (rice and beans) in most places you can also order a western breakfast, consisting of fresh fruit, juice and toast with preserves and eggs. Around noontime many local places will offer a cheap meal, “casado” or “menu del dia”. This meal in general consists of soup, bread, a main course, coffee or tea and often a simple dessert. The warm meal consists of tortillas, rice and beans and these are served in various combinations with chicken or meat. A popular dessert is fried bananas. At the coast you will mainly find fresh fish on the dinner menu; vegetarian meals are is also easy to find on this trip. Local meals may not always be gourmet creations, but eating at these local places is a nice way to get in touch with the local population. Because of the developed tourist infrastructure and the western influences you can also order typical American meals anywhere you go like pizzas, hamburgers, soups and meals with meat and fries. And of course the fruit in this tropical area is mouthwatering!
Climate
In tropical Central America, differences in climate mainly stem from the differences in altitude. Temperatures generally vary little throughout the year. In the lower situated areas the average day temperature is 86°F and the average night temperature is 65°F. In the mountainous areas the temperatures are a little lower. In the evenings it can be quite cool. Temperatures however rarely reach below 59°F. Central America does not really have a winter or a summer. When Central Americans speak of winter they refer to the rainy season, which runs from April until November. The summer is the dry period from the end of December until the middle of April. In the rainy season it rains in heavy but predictable showers. However, throughout the entire year days without any sunshine are scarce. In the months September and October the chance of a tropical storm in the Caribbean is greater. It is possible to travel in Central America throughout the entire year.
The Trans-America tour starts in Costa Rica at an altitude of approximately 3200 ft. Nicaragua is almost entirely situated at a low altitude and it is not until we reach the inland of Honduras that we will again reach an altitude of 3280 ft. or higher. Next we descend towards the coast to pay a visit to the Bay Islands. In Honduras we will reach a higher situated area again and finally in Guatemala we reach 7000 ft.
Check the following website for a summary of temperature and rainfall in the region during your season of travel: www.worldweather.org
Check the weather for your destination: Check temperature and rainfall for specific cities on your trip, during your month of travel at www.worldweather.org
Travel Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
In our literature, we have indicated when visas are required. But requirements can change so you must also check with the Department of State for the most recent document requirements for travel to your destinations. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months after departure from your destination. Also make sure there are extra pages in your passport. When completing VISA applications, be sure to confirm whether you will need a SINGLE or DOUBLE entry tourist visa. We will provide you in-country contact information for your visa application. The website for the Dept. of State is: http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html.
Please use the following link for ITS EASY PASSPORT & VISA SERVICE:
http://www.itseasy.com/visa-expediting-services.php
Flights
Djoser provides the land program only. You will need to book your own flights from and to the United States.
USEFUL LINKS FOR BOOKING YOUR FLIGHTS
ORBITZ: http://www.orbitz.com/
EXPEDIA: http://www.expedia.com/
BEFORE YOU FINALIZE YOUR FLIGHT, GET TRIP CONFIRMATION!
Do not book your flight prior to written or e-mail notification from Djoser that the trip is a "go". For instance, group trips must meet the required minimum enrollment. We will notify you of the status of enrollment upon request. Also, on very rare occasions, an unforeseen itinerary or date change can occur. We advise you to take out travel insurance. Before booking your flight, make sure that you are aware of your flight provider's penalties for changes or cancellations. We are not liable for penalties incurred for flight changes or cancellations.
Airline Tickets
Money
MONEY MATTERS
The cost of the land packages includes city-to-city transport, guide assistance, lodging as described, and only meals listed in the price inclusive section. You should budget for out-of-pocket expenses for other meals, fees for optional excursions and activities, in-city transport and other personal expenses. See our prices for the estimated out of pocket expenses.
CURRENCY & CASH
On your trip you will want to make sure you are prepared with the proper form of currency. ATMs can be scarce and charge cards are not always accepted. You will want to exchange money for the local currency. Before you go, you can check the most current conversion rates, and you can also print out a handy currency exchange "cheat sheet" at: http://www.oanda.com/convert/cheatsheet
TIPPING
On our international group trips, for your convenience, the tour leader will organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip. At the beginning of the trip, each participant will donate a few dollars per day to the pot. The amounts will be disbursed to drivers, local guides, hotel staff, and others along the way. If there are funds remaining at the end of the trip, they will be divided among the group. The tip pot does not include a tip for your tour leader. On our private trips, tipping is up to you.
Health
Check with your doctor or local health authorities for the latest recommendations. Be mindful of what you eat. We recommend you carry a first aid kit and be sure to be equipped with your personal medications, painkillers, and medicines to prevent diarrhea and stomach disorders. The tour leader will also carry a first aid kit in case of emergencies. Keep in mind that travel and hiking or cycling can be tiring. It is important to be in good condition and fully equipped for the journey. Take care that you eat properly, drink plenty of water and get lots of rest. For country specific health advice, please consult the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.
Luggage & Clothing
Please limit your luggage to 35 pounds. We recommend a soft, rolling duffle bag. Hard suitcases are difficult to pack on the vehicle. Be sure to bring good walking shoes that are comfortable and already broken in. Make sure any equipment that you bring is in good working order.
It is recommended that you bring a universal adapter plug and extra batteries for your flashlight, in the event of power outages.
Resources
A good guidebook is invaluable. We recommend the Lonely Planet series as well as the DK Guidebooks.
Communication
Mobile telephone use is limited. Internet cafes can often be found in larger cities but count on a slow connection. Check with your phone provider before departure regarding coverage or consult the following webpage: www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/index.shtml
