Summer 2009 logo with dates - june 13-20, 2009
Destination and living conditions:

Participants will be traveling to the small subsistence-living agricultural Maya community of Kuxeb in the state of Yucatan. Living conditions will be very simple. Participants will sleep in hammocks in the homes of Maya hosts and bathe from buckets of cold water.

Intercambio prepares most of the food, and there will be the opportunity to share some meals in the homes of the Maya hosts. By immersing in Maya culture, participants gain first hand experience of daily life in a developing nation.

photo of typical Maya house
Construction: Kuxeb village leaders will choose a building project that will not only meet the needs of the community, but also provide shelter during extreme weather conditions. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work side-by-side with residents of the village. Special skills are not needed to participate in the construction project; only willingness to work hard. photo of volunteers and villagers working together on construction site
Medical & Dental: Intercambio will conduct medical and dental clinics in Kuxeb. Physicians, dentists, optometrists, nurses, pharmacists, dental assistants, and lab technicians, as well as health care students, should contact Intercambio for more specific details on how their skills can be used to help the villagers. photo of doctor with patient
Health Education:

Intercambio health educators will show village leaders how to use Donde No Hay Doctor (Where There Is No Doctor). This health care manual, designed for use in developing nations, deals with basic sanitation, health issues, and medical treatment. Participants will also conduct health education learning opportunities for the children and adults of the village.

 photo of group health education lesson in village
Cultural Exploration:

After completing the work projects, participants will have the opportunity to explore the ancient Maya ruins at Uxmal and relax in the beautiful colonial city of Merida.

       photo of cathedral in downtown Merida

photo of temple of the Magician at Uxmal

Attention:       FLIGHT and Payment Options for this Trip!
Trip Costs:

Option 1:   $1,025.00: Includes lodging, food (some exceptions), a handmade hammock to use and take home, and transportation in Mexico beginning and ending at a Cancun hotel (to be named later). Not included in the fee above are the round trip airfare to Cancun and the round trip transportation between the
Airport and the Cancun hotel (these are the
responsibility of the participant). Or.....

Option 2:    $1,600.00: Includes all provisions listed for Option 1 plus round trip airfare from Indianapolis, Indiana, and round trip transportation between the Airport and the Cancun hotel (to be named later). Space for this option is limited. (This fee may be altered if airfares or surcharges increase.)

Please Note: For both options, this trip officially begins at 7:00 am on December 28, 2009, at the designated Cancun hotel, and ends with the group's arrival at the Cancun hotel on January 7, 2010. Any other services arranged for Option 1 or 2 participants before or after these dates and times are provided as a convenience and are not a part of the official Intercambio Cultural Maya trip.

 

photo of 2 volunteers

volunteers resting in hammocks
To Apply :

Applications will be accepted between September 1 and October 15, 2009. (To comply with Mexican immigration requirements, participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by at least one parent or an Intercambio approved adult.

If you're interested in participating, click here for an online copy of the application kit or write us intercambio.maya@gmail.com.

 

Copyright 2009 Intercambio.

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