UMOJA LATIN AMERICA 2017

Travel from Colombia to Guatemala through Panama and Costa Rica

Umoja Journey by

LAND ROVER

Led by

DAVID MARSHALL International Needs Canada

YOUR ITINERARY

APRIL 13 - MAY 13

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OVERVIEW OF THE UMOJA JOURNEYThe Umoja Journey is a road trip through Latin America. We will be travelling in a convoy of Land Rovers, with 4-5 people in each vehicle. The tour highlights the work of International Needs in Colombia and Guatemala, and gives you the travel adventure of a lifetime.

The objectives are as follows:• To give you a glimpse into the development projects in Colombia and Guatemala• Toprovidefundingfortheprojectswewillbevisiting.• To invite you to share your expertise and insight with our development partners.• Toenableyoutoexperiencethestunningbeautyofthesecountriesandbeinspiredbytheirpeople

UMOJA JOURNEY COSTThe cost of the journey is US $15,000 per person, which may be processed as a charitable donation toward the work of International Needs, if your country of residence permits deductions of this nature. You canmakeastraightcontribution,findsponsors,ordosomefund-raising.

Your donation will cover the cost of the following:• FundingforthedevelopmentprojectsinColombiaandGuatemala• Alltravelcostsofthetrip,includingairfarefromNorthAmerica• You can join us for the whole journey or just one leg. However, the full cost applies.

LOGISTICS OF THE JOURNEYThis itinerary provides the day-by-day details so you know what to expect: • Destinations and maps• Travel plans• Accommodations• Activities• Projects we will be visiting

WELCOMEThe Umoja Journey is an adventure that will remain with you for the rest of your life. After you say ‘yes’ to thischallengethemostdifficultpartoftheprocesswillbeover,andthefunandexcitementcanbegin.

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UMOJA JOURNEY AT A GLANCEColombia to Guatemala

April 19 through May 13, 2017

Day Date Destination What’s Happening

1 Wednesday, April 19 ................................Barranquilla, Colombia Travel day

2 Thursday, April 20 ....................................Barranquilla, Colombia Visit Program: Rose of Sharon Elementary School

3 Friday, April 21 ............................................Cartagena, Colombia Visit International Needs program

4 Saturday, April 22 .......................................Cartagena, Colombia Sightseeing and rest

5 Sunday, April 23 ..........................................Cartagena, Colombia Sightseeing and rest

6 Monday, April 24 ........................................Panama City, Panama Travel day

7 Tuesday, April 25 .......................................Panama City, Panama Sightseeing and rest

8 Wednesday, April 26 ..........................Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica Travel and sightseeing

9 Thursday, April 27 ..............................Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica Whitewater rafting

10 Friday, April 28 .......................................Jaco Beach, Costa Rica Travel day

11 Saturday, April 29 ..................................Jaco Beach, Costa Rica Sightseeing and rest

12 Sunday, April 30 .........................................Rio Dulce, Guatemala Travel day

13 Monday, May 1 ..........................................Rio Dulce, Guatemala River cruise

14 Tuesday, May 2 .....................................Las Lagunas, Guatemala Travel and rest

15 Wednesday, May 3 ............................................ Tikal, Guatemala Mayan ruins of Tikal

16 Thursday, May 4 .............................................. Yaxhá, Guatemala Visit ancient Mayan City of Yaxhá

17 Friday, May 5 ......................................Todos Santos, Guatemala Travel day

18 Saturday, May 6 ..................................Todos Santos, Guatemala Visit maternal health program

19 Sunday, May 7 .......................................Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Travel day

20 Monday, May 8 ......................................Lake Atitlan, Guatemala Sightseeing and rest

21 Tuesday, May 9 ............................................. Antigua, Guatemala Travel and visit maternal health program

22 Wednesday, May 10 ..................................... Antigua, Guatemala Visit maternal health program

23 Thursday, May 11 ......................................... Antigua, Guatemala Sightseeing and rest

24 Monday, May 12 ........................................... Antigua, Guatemala Rest

25 Tuesday, May 13 .............................. Guatemala City, Guatemala Fly home

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DAY ONEWednesday, April 19

Fly to Barranquilla, Colombia

Colombia’s economy is the third largest in Latin America; its principal industries include oil, mining, chemicals, health related products, food processing, agricultural products, textile and fabrics. However, this picture of economic prosperity is clouded by longstanding political violence and drug-related crime, which has producedsignificantsocialdisplacement.

AccommodationsHotel Dann Carlton, Barranquilla (1 of 2 nights)www.danncarltonbaq.co

DAY TWOThursday, April 20

ActivitiesVisit the work of International Needs Colombia The Rose of Sharon Elementary School is a Christian school located in the slums on the outskirts of Barranquilla, Colombia. Many students come from broken homes — typically singlemotherswhohavefledabusivehusbands.Others live with grandparents because their parents were killed in street violence

AccommodationsHotel Dann Carlton, Barranquilla (2 of 2 nights)

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DAY THREEFriday, April 21

ActivitiesIn the morning, visit the work of International Needs Colombia.

Travel to Cartagena, Colombia in the afternoon. Cartagena is a colonial gem on the Caribbean coast, considered by many to be one of the world’s most beautiful cities. The old city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

AccommodationsOasis villa (1 of 2 nights)www.oasiscollections.com/cartagena/property/1587/

DAY FOUR & FIVESaturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23

ActivitiesSightseeinginCartagena.VisittheSanFelipeFort,ConventdelaPopa,ortravelonfishermen’scanoesthroughmangroveswampstotheoldfishingvillageofLaBoquilla.

AccommodationsOasis villa (2 of 2 nights)

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DAY SIXMonday, April 24

Fly from Cartagena to Panama City

AccommodationsCasa Antigua (1 of 2 nights)www.casaantiguapanama.com

DAY SEVENTuesday, April 25

ActivitiesVisit the Panama Canal and see the sights in Panama City.

VisittheMirafloresLockstoseethefamousPanamaCanalandappreciatethescaleofthisengineeringmiracle. Running 50 miles, the canal was carved out of the rainforest and through hillsides; lakes were dammed and locks built. After a serious French attempt costing more than 20,000 lives, the US successfully completed this remarkable endeavor, after 10 years of toil, in 1914.

In the afternoon you may like to visit ‘Casco Viejo’, the heart of colonial Panama City. Its ramparts were builttofendoffmaraudersandencirclethepromontory.Astrollalongthetopaffordsviewsofthe‘Bridgeof the Americas’, and far in the distance the skyscrapers of the modern town, a total contrast to the Spanish plazas and colonial buildings all around you.

AccommodationsCasa Antigua (2 of 2 nights)

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DAY EIGHTWednesday, April 26

Fly from Panama City to David, Costa Rica

Drive to Lapa Rios Lodge, Osa Peninsula208 KM · Approx 3.5 hours

Costa Rica is known for its pristine natural beauty, wildlife, and amazing adventures. Providing direct access to all these wonders and more, Lapa Rios Eco Lodge is situated in a 1000-acre private reserve in the Osa Peninsula — one of the most beautiful and wild parts of this country, and home to 2.5% of theworld’sbiodiversity.OsaistheonlyplaceinCostaRicawhereyou’llfindfourspeciesofmonkeys— squirrel, spider, white-face capuccin and howler monkey — and Osa is one of Central America’s best locations for birders. Nearby Corcovado National Park is home to many of the country’s endangered animals, such as pumas, jaguars, scarlet macaws and the great harpy eagle.

Water lovers will also be taken aback with this part of the world. The property is home to three beautiful beaches and stunning waterfalls, surf lessons, horseback riding on the beach, and kayaking.

Activities Afternoon rainforest ridge walk. Hike down along the cool ridges of Lapa Rios’ most impressive primary and secondary forest as your guide highlights the hidden treasures of the rainforest.

AccommodationsLapa Rios Bungalows (1 night)www.laparios.com/photo_gallery_bungalows/bungalows/

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DAY NINEThursday, April 27

ActivitiesWhitewater rafting (optional)

DAY TENFriday, April 28

Drive to Jaco Beach, Costa Rica293 KM · Approx 4.5 hours

Jaco Beach is the closest beach to San Jose, and one of the most visited coastal destinations in Costa Rica. The beach is a 2.5 mile (4 km) strip that offersworldrenownedsurfingandmore.Activitiesincludesurfing,swimming,deepseafishing,ATVtours, bicycle rentals, horseback excursions, crocodile safari, national parks and reserves, boat and kayak excursions, white-water rafting, canopy tours, and popular night life.

AccommodationsCasa Del Mar (1 of 2 nights) www.luxuryretreats.com/North-America/Central-America/Costa-Rica/Jaco/Casa-Del-Mar-113561

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DAY ELEVENSaturday, April 29

Day of Leisure with endless choices. Relax on thebeach,trydeep-seafishing,whitewaterrafting, zip lining through the rainforest, or more horse riding.

AccommodationsCasa Del Mar (2 of 2 nights)

DAY TWELVESunday, April 30

Drive to San Jose, Costa Rica 87 KM · Approx 1.5 hours

Fly to Guatemala City, Guatemala

Guatemala has one of the most densely packed lists of natural and man-made attractions anywhere in Latin America, from the archaeological marvels of the Maya to modern cities, colonial towns, and tiny villages, many with ancient traditions still in place since long before the days of Columbus. The country also features beautiful jungle reserves, breathtaking mountain vistas, and endless hiking opportunities.

Guatemala Road trip begins!

Drive to Rio Dulce286 KM · Approx. 5 hours

RioDulceisasnakingriverflankedbyamassivegorge that leads out to the sea, and the culturally distinct enclave of Livingston, an isolated peninsula town accessible only by boat, and populated mostly by African refugees. They’ve carved out a unique little corner of the world that’sdifferentfromanythingelseinGuatemala,making it a memorable highlight along the way. And their seafood is great too.

https://goo.gl/maps/rRzrxAxDCb92

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DAY THIRTEENMonday, May 1

ActivitiesRiver Cruise to Livingston and the Atlantic Ocean

DAY FOURTEENTuesday, May 2

Drive to Las Lagunas, Guatemala199 KM · Approx. 3 hours

Afternoon of leisure in the beautiful surroundings of Las Lagunas.

AccommodationsLas Lagunas Hotel, Tikal (1 of 3 nights)www.laslagunashotel.com/#!//el_hotel

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DAY FIFTEENWednesday, May 3

ActivitiesVisit the Mayan ruins of Tikal, one of the most extensive Mayan cities ever discovered in the world. Fully intact ancient pyramids surround the central plaza, with dozens of massive structures hidden throughout the forest. You could spend all day here, discovering one ancient monument after another, to the backdrop oftoucansflyingoverheadandhowlermonkeysprovidinganever-presentmusicalbackdrop.Tikalhasbeen designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.www.mayanruins.info/guatemala/tikal-guatemala/

AccommodationsLas Lagunas Hotel, Tikal (2 of 3 nights)

DAY SIXTEENThursday, May 4

ActivitiesVisit the ancient Mayan City of Yaxhá, built on the shores of Laguna Yaxhá, and the Maya ruins of Topoxté, which occupy a group of small islands at the western end of the lake.

AccommodationsLas Lagunas Hotel, Tikal (3 of 3 nights)

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DAY SEVENTEENFriday, May 5

Drive to Todos Santos, Cuchumatan 479 KM · Approx. 11 hours

Way up in the highlands, the community of Todos Santos is nestled in a deep valley that’s bordered by forested slopes. Traditional clothing is very much in use here and, unusually, it’s the male costume that catches the eye. Men wear red-and-white-striped trousers, straw hats with blue ribbons, jackets with multicoloredstripes,andthickwovencollars.TodosSantossufferedterriblyduringGuatemala’scivilwar when, by some accounts, 2000 inhabitants were murdered. It is still very poor, but they have a strong sense of community, and they look after one another. To supplement their subsistence from agriculture, families travel in the early part of the yeartoworkformeagerwagesoncoffee,sugar,andcottonplantationsonthePacificSlope.

AccommodationsCasa Familiar (1 of 2 nights)

DAY EIGHTEENSaturday, May 6

Visit Maternal and Newborn Healthcare projects in Todos Santos.

AccommodationsCasa Familiar (2 of 2 nights)

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DAY NINETEENSunday, May 7

Drive to Santa Catarina Palopo, Lake Atitlan 199 KM · Approx 5 hours

AccommodationsLa Casa Colibrí (1 night)www.airbnb.ca/rooms/8065813?s=nAwsYyEv

DAY TWENTYMonday, May 8

ActivitiesIn the morning visit the markets of Panajachel.Then in the afternoon relax at the Lake.

Nineteenth-century traveler John L Stephens, writing in Incidents of Travel in Central America, calledLagodeAtitlán‘themostmagnificentspectacle we ever saw,’ and he had been around a bit. Today, even seasoned travellers marvel at the spectacularscenery,withfishermeninrusticcraftsandindigenouswomenintheirmulticoloredoutfits.

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DAY TWENTY-ONETuesday, May 9

Drive to Antigua, Guatemala 123 KM · Approx. 2.5 hours

Visit programsOn the way to Antigua, we’ll stop at Aq’On Jay (Health House), a clinic in Chimaltenango that provides midwifery training. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Umoja Gold Oil a social entrepreneurship project that produces and exports macadamia oil.

About Umoja Gold OilVision: “Healthy Skin: Healthy World”

Mission: To deliver the highest quality natural skin care that contribute to healthy skin, and to do it with environmental and social responsibility. Umoja OilsharestheprofitstosupportGuatemala’sbroken healthcare system and improve the quality for women and their children. www.umojagold.com

AccommodationsLa Reunion villa (1 of 4 nights)www.lareunion.com.gt/default-en.html

DAY TWENTY-TWOWednesday, May 10

Visit a programUNAPER Perinatal Institute - Guatemala has the highest maternal and child mortality rate in Latin America. International Needs has partnered with a team of physicians who are on a mission to create a medical unit that specializes in perinatal medicine. The unit will reduce unnecessary deaths and improve quality of life by serving all mothers and babies, regardless of economic, social, or racial status.

AccommodationsLa Reunion villa (2 of 4 nights)

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DAY TWENTY-THREEThursday, May 11

ActivitiesIn the morning tour the old Antigua. Colonial Antigua has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Then in the afternoon relax .

AccommodationsLa Reunion villa (3 of 4 nights)

DAY TWENTY-FOURFriday, May 12

ActivitiesRelax

AccommodationsLa Reunion villa (4 of 4 nights)

DAY TWENTY-FIVESaturday, May 13

Fly home