Dear Brother Joshua, The Guatemala Faith & Service Journey is a transformative six-day program designed to deepen students’ understanding of Franciscan values through direct encounter with some of the hemisphere’s most inspiring faith and humanitarian institutions. Anchored in the UNESCO World Heritage colonial city of Antigua, this program invites students to move beyond the classroom and into a world where service is not an activity — it is a way of life. For Saint Anthony’s, a school steeped in the Franciscan charism of “pax et bonum” (peace and goodness), this journey offers rare and deeply resonant experiences: serving alongside caregivers at the hospital founded by the man who is today the Patron Saint of Guatemala; walking the same cobblestone streets where Blessed Pedro walked 400 years ago; connecting with young Guatemalan students as brothers and sisters across culture and language; and returning home changed. Every day of this itinerary has been carefully designed for safety, meaning, and joy — ensuring the trip earns approval from administration, trust from families, and lasting memories for every student who goes. Sincerely,Robin H Teague617-958-9528 Visit Your TripSite Traveler Resources Your Encore Benefits Guaranteed Land Rates We do not raise our prices based on currency fluctuations in the marketplace. This alleviates any unwelcome currency surcharges during the planning period or immediately prior to travel. The Best Tour Managers Around Our Tour Managers are repeatedly evaluated and praised as being the best in educational travel, and they are available to you 24 hours per day. The tour manager stays in the same hotel as the group, and coordinates hotel check-ins, restaurant reservations, and concert venue availability and rehearsal time. These representatives also deliver the educational portion of the tour with detailed historical commentary during travel. Protection Plans for Everyone All participants are covered at no extra cost by our Basic Protection Plan covering health insurance overseas and trip cancellation/interruption in case of illness. Participants also have the option to upgrade to our Ultimate or Ultimate Plus plans, which include the ability to cancel for any reason up to four days before departure and still receive a full refund. Additionally, all Encore participants travel with an automatic $15,000 health protection plan. Financial Security Encore Tours and our parent company, ACIS, carry a $50 million general liability insurance policy to protect our groups. In addition, as an Active Member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), we post a $1 million indemnity bond as part of USTOA’s Travelers Assistance Program. Tour Fundraiser Register 30 or more participants with Encore Tours and we will award your group a FREE weekend getaway for two to Paris or London over Veteran’s Day Weekend or Martin Luther King Day Weekend. We have had ensembles raise over $20,000 using this gift as a raffle prize. Domestic Fundraiser Info Sheet International Fundraiser Info Sheet Online Billing We are excited to offer the choice of group billing or direct billing and will gladly work with your preference. With group billing you will receive an invoice with each participant’s balance and payment due prior to the due date. If you decide to enroll your group in direct billing Encore will mail invoices to each participant for all payments due. Accounts can also be accessed 24 hours a day on our website and payments can be made online with MasterCard and Visa for no additional cost. This is the suggested payment plan, however you can adjust it according to the group’s needs. Automatic Payments Plan Encore offers an auto-pay option for all participants signed up for individual billing. Enrollment in the plan is free and funds are withdrawn from the participant’s checking account on a regular basis, with the last payment being processed 45 days prior to departure. 24-7 Overseas Coverage Encore has offices overseas in the event of an emergency. In addition, US staff are always available to ensure you are receiving a quality travel experience, before, during and after your concert tour. All land arrangements including concert bookings and promotion are provided directly by Encore’s affiliate offices, offering the highest quality services and the very best value to our clients. Graduate Level Credits Enhance your professional development! Directors and participants have the opportunity to earn graduate-level credits through their tour experience and participation in our Prelude events. These educational opportunities not only enrich your tour but also contribute to your lifelong learning and professional growth. Recruitment Tools Our new Recruitment Meeting tool streamlines your recruitment process, offering customizable templates, automated reminders, and integrated RSVP tracking to ensure maximum attendance. It simplifies meeting logistics, allowing you to focus on sharing the excitement of your upcoming tour and inspiring participants to join. This tool is designed to make your recruitment efforts as smooth and successful as possible, helping you to build a strong and engaged group. Tour Inclusions Roundtrip airfare Airport and airline taxes, and fuel surcharges Accommodations at a conveniently located 4-star hotel Rooming in a twin room occupancy. Group Leader and Assistant Group Leaders have single rooms. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily All service experiences and entrances as featured in the itinerary, including a chocolate-making workshop, cooking class, art or weaving workshop, coffee tour, and Latin dance lessons. Private deluxe air-conditioned motor coach and driver Services of two professional tour managers throughout your program Basic gratuities for the tour manager and bus drivers Local guides and a afternoon Franciscan Heritage Tour Service works at Las Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro, local school visit, volunteering at the Caoba Farms Security and escort at the airport, both on arrival and departure days. 24 hour security throughout the tour Luggage fee’s Site inspection included Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com What’s Not Included? EXTRA Baggage Fees imposed by the airlines Allocations of specific seat assignments on flights Pricing Options with UPP+ of $330 and $250 enrichment fee TravelersBase PricePrice with UPP+ and ENRFree Spots15$5,200$5,780320$5,130$5,710325$5,050$5,6304 Based on “Land and Air” out of NYC, accommodating the group in Twin rooms. Payment Deadlines DateAmountSeptember 30$200October 30$1,000November 30$1,000December 30Final payment Service Experiences Non-Performing Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro Antigua Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro is one of the most meaningful service sites in Antigua Guatemala, rooted in the legacy of Santo Hermano Pedro and his mission of compassionate care. Centered around the historic Hospital de San Pedro and its adjoining church, the organization continues to serve children, adults, the elderly, and individuals with significant medical and social needs. For students, a visit here offers a direct encounter with faith in action, connecting Franciscan values of peace, goodness, dignity, and service to real human needs in the local community. Non-Performing Convento de Santa Clara Antigua Convento de Santa Clara is a dramatic colonial-era convent ruin in Antigua Guatemala, known for its open courtyards, arched corridors, and weathered stone architecture. For students on a faith and service journey, the site offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on Antigua’s religious history, the lives of those who served within its walls, and the resilience of a city shaped by both beauty and hardship. Its quiet atmosphere and historic setting make it a memorable stop for cultural learning, prayerful reflection, and deeper understanding of Guatemala’s colonial and Catholic heritage. Non-Performing El Calvario Church Antigua El Calvario Church is a historic Baroque church in Antigua Guatemala with deep devotional significance. Dating back to the colonial era, the church offers students a meaningful setting to reflect on faith, sacrifice, and the spiritual traditions that have shaped Antigua for centuries. Its architecture and atmosphere make it a valuable stop within a service and pilgrimage itinerary, inviting travelers to consider how sacred spaces can inspire compassion, humility, and a deeper commitment to serving others. Non-Performing Iglesia San Francisco el Grande Antigua Iglesia San Francisco el Grande is one of Antigua’s most important pilgrimage churches and a deeply meaningful sacred site. Home to the Chapel of Santo Hermano Pedro and his tomb, the church connects students directly to the life and legacy of one of Guatemala’s most beloved saints. A visit here offers time for prayer, reflection, and learning about Hermano Pedro’s mission of compassion, healing, and service to the poor, sick, and vulnerable. For a Franciscan school community, this stop provides a powerful connection between classroom values and lived faith. Non-Performing Iglesia y Convento de las Capuchinas Antigua Iglesia y Convento de las Capuchinas is one of Antigua’s most distinctive historic religious sites, featuring elegant convent ruins and a rare circular structure once used as monastic cells. The complex gives students a powerful sense of place, offering insight into colonial religious life, contemplative traditions, and the role of women religious in the spiritual history of the city. As part of a service-focused pilgrimage program, Capuchinas provides space for reflection on humility, community, simplicity, and the enduring legacy of faith in Antigua. Show All 6 Venues Show Less Non-Performing ChocoMuseo Mini Workshop Antigua The ChocoMuseo Mini Workshop is a hands-on cultural experience in Antigua Guatemala that introduces students to the history and traditions of cacao and chocolate making. While not a performance venue, it works well as an interactive enrichment activity for ensemble groups, giving students a fun, accessible way to engage with Guatemalan culture between rehearsals, concerts, service opportunities, and sacred site visits. Hotel Traveling on a performance trip is a moving experience, and our goal is to ensure that all travelers have a life-changing experience. We also know that time is money, and comfort is essential. That’s why, when you’re touring with Encore, you will always stay in well-located, three- or four-star hotels—right in the heart of the destination you came to see. Porta Hotel Antigua Antigua Porta Hotel Antigua is a welcoming colonial-style hotel located in the heart of Antigua Guatemala, just a short walk from the city’s historic center. Surrounded by gardens, traditional architecture, and the atmosphere of one of Guatemala’s most beautiful colonial cities, the hotel offers a comfortable and atmospheric home base for pilgrims exploring Antigua’s sacred sites, service opportunities, and cultural landmarks. Learn More Have any additional questions? Reach out to your program manager directly, or contact us for any assistance. Contact Us