Guatemalan Ties
Heritage tours for Guatemalan adoptees & their loved ones
Guatemalan Ties
Heritage tours for Guatemalan adoptees & their loved ones
Guatemalan Ties
Heritage tours for Guatemalan adoptees & their loved ones
Guatemalan Ties
Heritage tours for Guatemalan adoptees & their loved ones
Guatemalan Ties
Heritage tours for Guatemalan adoptees & their loved ones
Supported by our dedicated Ties team before, during, and after travel, we take pride in crafting opportunities that allow you to reconnect with people and places important to you, while connecting with a community who share similar life experiences.
Through curated travel experiences, personalized support, and community connections, we’re here to walk alongside you.
Our trips help adoptees reconnect with their roots, deepen cultural understanding, and embrace their unique stories.
We understand adoptees because we are them.
Explore Our Guatemala Heritage Tours
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![Group of seven people standing behind a table with traditional foods, in front of a rustic bamboo wall with a sign that reads 'FAMILIA CAFE'. The table is covered with a dark blue tablecloth and displays corn, fruits, and dishes. The group is wearing aprons and smiling, decorative sunflowers in the background.]()
Guatemalan Ties
Our classic Ties program that is available for all ages.
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![Two women wearing blue Guatemala soccer jerseys sitting at a restaurant table with colorful menus, smiling.]()
Service & Language
An immersive program for Guatemalan adoptees ages 18 - 25.
Summer 2026 Guatelama Tours
Our classic summer program that runs two tracks - Signature and Lite. Click below to learn more.
Click here to be taken to our sample itinerary and optional excursion add-ons.
Sample Summer Itinerary
Traveling with the Ties Program is an experience like no other
Service & Language
An immersive program where you can immerse yourself in Guatelaman culture, learn Spanish and give back to the local community.
Click here to be taken to our sample itinerary and optional excursion add-ons.
Sample Service & Language Itinerary
Traveling with the Ties Program is an experience like no other
Need financial help? Ask us about available grants and subsidies!
Click to learn more
YOUR TIES PROGRAM MANAGER
Rebecca Blessing
Rebecca joined Ties in 2017 and became the Guatemalan Program Manager in 2019. In her more than twenty years in child welfare and adoption, she's assisted adoptees and families at all stages, from initial applications to heritage journeys. She's spoken globally on child welfare and adoption issues and has advised organizations and governments on comprehensive child welfare and adoption policy. Today, you can find her in Denver, CO where she is also an adjunct professor, a yoga teacher, and is currently working on a novel.
Please note: Rebecca may not travel on every trip.
Not ready to travel yet?
Join our mailing list to learn more about upcoming heritage tours to Guatemala!
Frequently Asked Questions
about heritage travel to Guatemala
Q: Is it safe to travel to Guatemala?
A: The safety of adoptees and their families is of the utmost importance to The Ties Program and we work very hard to keep adoptees and their families as safe as possible. You can read the Dept of State advisory in detail here.
Guatemala is at a "reconsider travel" level and has been for at least as many years as Rebecca has worked there (since 2017). The Guatemalan travel advisory is related to crime: there are certain areas that are considered unsafe for people to travel to, while other areas are considered quite safe. This is true in most cities in the U.S. - there are areas of every city that you may not want to go to due to safety concerns. Note in paragraph two of the advisory it says, "U.S. government personnel and family members are prohibited from traveling to/throughout the above-mentioned areas for personal travel but are permitted to travel throughout the rest of Guatemala, including tourist destinations such as Tikal, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Pacific coast areas in the Santa Rosa and Escuintla Departments." While travelers with Ties fly in and out of Guatemala City (it's the only international airport in the country), our trips travel largely to Antigua and Lake Atitlan; some trips also go to Tikal and to the pacific coast (which are also considered safe).
Q: What are the ages of adoptees that travel on Guatemalan Ties trips?
A: Guatemala closed to intercountry adoptions on January 1, 2008. Therefore, as of January 1, 2026, all intercountry adoptees from Guatemala will be 18 years of age or over. This means our trips to Guatemala are largely adult adoptees. The majority of these are between 18 and 30 years of age, but there are Guatemalan adoptees who are over the age of 50. On occasion adoptees who were born in the U.S. and have Guatemalan heritage (a birth father and/or mother are of Guatemalan heritage) will travel with Ties as well, and they are sometimes younger than 18 (and are such a joy for us to have on the trips!).
Q: What is the size of the group?
A: Our Classic Ties heritage trips to Guatemala are capped at 38 participants as we've found (after more than 25 years running heritage trips to Guatemala) this is the best size group travel with in Guatemala. Hotels tend to be smaller family-run establishments and large buses are not safe on the mountainous roads. For those who are used to large cruise ships for travel, 38 sounds small. For those who aren't accustomed to group travel 38 sound large. We promise, it's the perfect size when you divide it between adoptees and those who maybe traveling with them. Some adoptees will travel solo, others will travel with five or more companions. On average, there are 9 to 13 adoptee and loved one groups that travel. It's the perfect size to get to know everyone and have a few close friends!
Q: What's the size of the group for the Service & Languague program?
A: This program is designed for between 12 and 20 adoptees only.
Q: Do I need a visa to travel to Guatemala?
A: There are no visa requirements for U.S. citizens entering Guatemala for up to 90 days. In fact, Guatemalan adoptees are considered citizens by the Guatemalan government and are not required to follow the 90 day rule and they can come and go as they please (see more in next FAQ). There is a digital entry form you'll need to complete 48 hours before entering and exiting Guatemala.
Q: Wait, adoptees from Guatemala are still Guatemalan citizens?
A: Yes! You do need to follow a process to update and obtain the required paperwork but you can reapply for Cedula/DPT and Guatemalan passport and can even vote in Guatemalan elections. We do recommend that you always travel on your U.S. passport, however. Reach out to Rebecca for more information. Adoptees with Guatemalan Roots also has some information about this.
Q: Should I go to Tikal?
A: Yes and no. How adventurous are you? Rebecca (our program manager) thinks everyone should travel to to Tikal for it's majesty, BUT... you need to be prepared for an adventure, and not everyone is ready for that. It's HOT and HUMID (it's a rainforest!) and there is no A/C. There are bugs - including scorpions. If you can handle 36 hours of that, then YES!