Dates & Travel

Official Program Dates

Fall 2026 Semester

• Program Start (Arrive Guatemala City): Sunday, August 16, 2026

  • Guatemala Portion: August 16 – October 10, 2026

  • Fall Break: October 17 – October 25, 2026

  • Costa Rica Portion: October 10 – December 12, 2026 Program End (Depart San José): Saturday, December 12, 2026

Spring 2027 Semseter

• Program Start (Arrive Guatemala City): Sunday, January 17, 2027

  • Guatemala Portion: January 17 – March 13, 2027

  • Spring Break: March 20 – March 28, 2027

  • Costa Rica Portion: March 13 – May 15, 2027 Program End (Depart San José): Saturday, May 15, 2027

Core Routing & Flight Logistics

Required Airport Routing

• Arrival Airport: La Aurora International Airport (GUA) – Guatemala City, Guatemala

• Departure Airport: Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) – San José, Costa Rica

Intra-Program Flight

• CGEE will provide and manage all travel between countries during the program. Do not book the regional transition leg independently. 

Target Flight Windows

• Arrivals: Try to land in Guatemala City by 4:00 PM if at all possible, and no later than 6:00 PM on your program's start date.* 

  • Note: We will arrange a few pickup times at a designated meeting point in GUA based on everyone's arrivals, so you may need to wait a couple of hours at the airport. 

• Departures: Plan to depart from San José no later than 6:00 PM on your program's end date. 

*Note: If you choose to arrive ahead of the designated start date, you assume full responsibility for your own ground transportation, lodging, and meals. Be sure to contact the CGEE staff as soon as possible to let them know of your plans. 

Mandatory Action Item

• Once your international flights are finalized, you must submit your details via the Flight Information Questionnaire in your Global Gateway account. 

Booking Advisories & Strategy

Flight Coordination 

Please consult with your program coordinator prior to finalizing your booking. We attempt to align cohort arrival windows as closely as possible and may have specific recommended itineraries.

Preferred Travel Agency 

You are welcome to utilize our designated partner, Northstar Travel Company. Booking through our agency ensures dedicated institutional support in the event of airline delays, cancellations, or missed connections.

Layover & Fare Strategy 

While budget is a factor, we strongly advise reviewing connection times carefully. Excessive layovers significantly compound travel fatigue prior to orientation. Historically, published international fares tend to be most competitive when searched on Tuesdays.

Managing Jet Lag & Long-Haul Flights

Traveling to Central America involves relatively short flights compared to crossing an ocean, but navigating multiple travel legs and regional transitions can still cause physical fatigue. Guatemala and Costa Rica observe Central Standard Time year-round and do not use Daylight Saving Time. Depending on your home time zone and the time of year, this will align with U.S. Central or Mountain time. We recommend utilizing the following strategies to keep your energy up.

Pre-Departure Preparation

• Since the time zone shift is minimal, your main goal is staying rested before travel. Ensure you are fully packed a day early so you don't start your journey sleep-deprived.

In-Flight Strategies

• Time Zone Alignment: Ensure your watch and devices are set to local time before you land so you can accurately coordinate with our group airport pickup windows.

• Hydration: Flight cabins have very low humidity, which accelerates physical exhaustion. Avoid sugary or highly caffeinated drinks while in transit, and try to consume plenty of water. We strongly recommend bringing a reusable, empty water bottle through airport security to fill before boarding.

• Mobility: Keep your blood flowing during your flights. Take brief opportunities during layovers or while in the air to stretch, walk, and shake off physical stiffness.

Post-Arrival Routine

• Because you may have to wait a couple of hours at the airport in Guatemala City to coordinate with our group pickup schedule, make sure to stay hydrated at the terminal. Grab a snack, stay on your feet when possible, and stay awake until a normal evening bedtime once we reach our program site.

Passports

Be sure to obtain a passport if you do not have one. If you have one, be sure that it is valid for at least six months past your departure from the program.

To obtain a new U.S. passport, you will need to submit materials at an in-person appointment:

• Follow the Steps to Apply for a Passport In Person on the U.S. Department of State Website.

• Along with submitting materials, you will also need to pay for the passport fee. To see the most up-to-date costs please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html 

To renew your passport, you can renew by mail:

• Follow the steps to Renew (Your Passport) by Mail on the U.S. Department of State Website.

• Along with submitting materials, you will also need to pay for the passport fee. To see the most up-to-date costs please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html 

For complete information and application forms, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html    

Once you receive your passport, make a copy of the photo page to carry with you (in a separate place from your passport) when you travel. You will also need to upload a copy to your Global Gateway account (Passport Information questionnaire).

As a further safeguard, we require that you also bring a certified copy of your birth certificate (see above where this is described) in case you need to reapply for a lost passport during the semester. 

If you are under the age of 18 or are not a U.S. citizen, please contact our Minneapolis office, as there are special documentation procedures you will need to follow.

Tourist Cards/Visas

Guatemala

Entry requires only a valid passport. If Immigration officials may ask how long you plan to remain in-country give the departure date (see tentative calendar). 

Costa Rica

Requires a valid passport. You must also have proof of onward travel to another country, and capacity of at least $100 per month while you are in the country; CGEE will assist you with this documentation before the group travels to Costa Rica. 

Family and friends are more than welcome to come and visit.  The best times are during fall/spring break or after the program ends due to the large number of speakers and excursions and the overall intensity of the academic program.

Some previous students have commented that they found visits by friends and family during regular program time to be extremely stressful.  Absences due to travel with family and friends do not count as excused absences. However, family and friends are often able to attend classes, listen to guest lectures, and participate in excursions with you. They are encouraged to meet up with you and travel when the semester ends. 

A Note to Parents and Legal Guardians:  We very much enjoy meeting you and would love to have you visit. It is important for you to know that sometimes parents’ visits during periods while students have classes puts extra pressure on them, as they feel that they must entertain you in addition to trying to complete their coursework and participate in a very busy schedule. Therefore, you may find that it works best to arrive after the program ends.  We highly discourage you from taking your children to the beach or traveling elsewhere with them at times when they would have to miss classes and other program activities. However, if you arrive prior to a long weekend or at another time during the semester, you are more than welcome to attend speakers and excursions with the group.

Long Weekends and Scheduled Breaks

There is a variety of travel options available, including further exploration of Costa Rica, such as its beaches, volcanoes, cloud forest, and national parks.  When traveling overland on a careful budget, $30 U.S. per day is sufficient. You may want to allow an extra $100 for souvenir purchases, in addition to the $300 for medical emergencies.

Fall/Spring Break

Students are free to travel on Fall/Spring Break. Please see General Travel Guidelines/Dates for more information.

Travel Advisories

Some of you may have relatives in one or more of the countries we travel to and want to visit them while you are in the region. Please be aware that some areas in Guatemala and Costa Rica may have a Level 4 (Do not travel) U.S. State Department travel alert due to violence and/or crime. CGEE does not allow students to travel to areas with a Level 4 alert status, even with a waiver. We understand that this might be disappointing, but we suggest that you consider alternatives, such as having your relatives visit you.

The same applies to fall/spring break and travel on long weekends. You may not travel to Level 4 areas.

More information about U.S. State Department travel alerts

Student Responsibilities Regarding Additional Travel

You must inform the a Program Coordinator of any personal travel plans and complete the Independent Travel Form during the semester and/or over regularly scheduled breaks. Students may not leave the program without informing a Program Director and providing the information requested in the Independent Travel Form (itinerary, including mode of transportation, travel companions, expected return date, phone where he/she can be reached etc.). It is not enough to simply tell another student in the group. In the case of a student who has left the program without informing staff adequately, parents will be notified.