I don’t know about you, but when my life feels stagnant for any amount of time I get that itch to travel. How lucky are we that we get to travel for a great cause?

We would be so completely honored to be able to bring volunteers with us when we travel to San Pedro Sula to do what we love most: mentor and help to lead children to success. How ready are you to travel to Central America? If that question feels substantial, don’t worry … we have your back.

Follow these tips to be sure you are 110% ready for your first trip to Honduras

Visit a Travel Clinic

Here, health professionals can provide you with what you need to stay safe and healthy while you’re abroad. For Honduras, the following vaccinations / precautions are recommended before leaving the states:

vaccines: The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Honduras: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza. To protect yourself from Malaria, antimalarial pills are taken orally.

Keep in mind Dengue, Malaria and Zika are present in Honduras, and are transmitted through mosquitos. Repellents and netting are highly recommended.

Be sure to pack a bag with simple first aid, such as bandaids and other bandages, Neosporin, Imodium (mild travelers diarrhea), insect repellent with deet, sunscreen with #30 SPF, antihistamines for possible allergy, and tylenol/ibuprofen. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or take daily medications, be sure to bring these as well.

Create a Packing List

If I skip this step, I never fail to regret it. Make a comprehensive list of everything you might need while you’re abroad. Here’s one we made for an upcoming trip :

Donations : Although we prefer to purchase materials in Honduras in order to stimulate their economy with our monetary donations, we often bring along items donated to our organization.

Personal Items : What do you use on a daily basis?

toothpaste & toothbrush, floss, mouthwash
Shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, lotion
Makeup, chapstick, hair brush, hair bands
Everyday clothing, sun glasses, bathing suit, workout clothing (soccer!!), rain jacket
Sneakers, hiking boots, sandals
Backpack for the day, water bottle, camera, camera charger, phone charger
travel blanket, travel pillow, bag for used clothes.

To Do List Before Departure

Be sure you are prepared to leave by checking off your to-do’s. Call your bank and let them know you will be leaving the country (nothing worse than a locked card when you need it!). Call your doctor, maybe even schedule a visit to be sure you are healthy and ready to travel. Check twice to make sure you have valid identification, and your passport is up to date. Do you need someone to dog sit? Or maybe you have one last assignment to finish before putting schoolwork away for a week. Whatever it may be, make sure you plan and are prepared in order to leave the stress behind to be able to make the most of your trip.

Create an Itinerary/ Agenda

If you’re traveling with us, we’ve got you covered. Our trips typically consist of a day by day agenda with scheduled times for events. Everything down to lunch time is covered on our itinerary, from the time we step off of our front porch to the time our plan touches back down in BOS.

Tip: Add contacts, dates, locations and specific times to stay organized and make the most of your time abroad.

If you’re traveling outside of H4H, be sure to leave time to take in the surroundings. Honduras truly is one of Earth’s greatest treasures.

Be Prepared to Feel Inspired

It can be easy to get lost in the moment, we encourage you to. Bring a journal to write down your thoughts and experiences. Be raw with yourself and completely honest in your description of your feelings. You wont regret it.

“Limits are self imposed. Lets create something great together.”

Tips for Your First Trip to Honduras