To register to join an Impact Trip, purchase the corresponding trip deposit product from our travel page. Spark Ventures will be in touch after you make your deposit to provide you with comprehensive next steps as you plan your travel.

If you have any questions during the registration process or would like to explore payment options, feel free to contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870.

Once you register for the trip, Spark will contact you with additional information. We will stay in close contact with useful information, packing tips and general advice for a smooth and successful trip.

If at any time before the trip you have any questions, please feel free to contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870.

Trip registration closes 60 days prior to Day 1 of the trip for Mexico and Nicaragua, 90 days prior to Day 1 of the trip for Zambia, or as soon as the trip is registered in full. Spark strongly encourages early enrollment to ensure your place on the trip and to allow plenty of time for the necessary preparations, including your visa application, booking flights, travel doctor visits and more. The maximum capacity for each trip varies, but is generally around 16 participants.

The cancellation policy is as follows:

● The deposit is nonrefundable unless the trip is canceled by Spark Ventures. If Spark cancels the trip, then a full refund will be provided.

● If travelers cancel participation less than 60 days prior to the start date of the trip, 50% of the total trip fee is refundable.

● If travelers cancel participation less than 30 days prior to the start date of the trip, no refund will be provided.

If you must cancel after registration, please contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870.

Yes. Spark requires that all trip participants sign a waiver. Additionally, trip participants will be volunteering with children and based on Spark’s Child Protection Policy, trip participants must complete and sign a background check consent form.

For our current listing of scheduled Impact Trips, please see our Impact Travel home page. We are always adding new trips to the calendar, but any that have been confirmed are listed on our website. For more details or to discuss any “in-the-works” trips we might be planning but have not yet confirmed dates for, please contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870.

Spark recognizes that although Impact Travel provides those we serve with a multitude of benefits, the environmental impact of international travel is an important consideration.

Spark is environmentally conscious on all our Impact Trips as we minimize the use of plastic by using reusable water bottles and bags as well as biodegradable materials where possible.

One way to mitigate the carbon footprint of your international travel is to participate in a carbon offset program. The Swiss company, Myclimate is a well respected option for this type of program. Many experts also agree that planting trees is a key way to reduce carbon emissions produced by airline travel.

This is a volunteer travel trip. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service makes allowance for expenses related to such trips to be tax-deductible. Spark recommends that trip participants save receipts and document expenses related to the trip and consult with an accountant. Spark will provide a letter after the trip with the allocation of the trip fee to share with your tax advisor.

Spark allocates between 5-10% of the per person trip cost to support the programs serving the partner you will visit.

Absolutely! Many participants in the past have fundraised to help cover trip costs, and we’d be happy to share some ideas with you. Past participants have tried various fundraising plans, including writing letters to friends and family, putting on bake sales, using crowdfunding website platforms and many other ideas. For additional ideas or for help with your existing ideas, please feel free to contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870.

If traveling to Mexico – Each participant is responsible for arriving in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR) on Day 1. Each participant will depart from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR) on Day 4, unless you plan to stay longer or travel by land from that location at the end of the trip.

If traveling to Zambia – Each participant is responsible for arriving in Ndola, Zambia (NLA) on Day 1 by 4 PM. Each participant will depart from Livingstone, Zambia (LVI) on Day 9, unless you plan to stay longer or travel by land from that location at the end of the trip.

If traveling to Nicaragua – Each participant is responsible for arriving in Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) on Day 1. Each participant will depart from Managua, Nicaragua (MGA) on Day 5, unless you plan to stay longer or travel by land from that location at the end of the trip.

The airline tickets are not included in Spark Ventures’ impact trips. We’ve found that our travelers typically prefer to arrange their own flights so they can fly with their preferred airline or use their frequent flier miles.

Please note that travel agents often do not have access to the least expensive tickets that are available at websites like Expedia or Orbitz, which is where Spark generally purchases its international flights. Spark staff would be happy to help you navigate such websites, and you can give us a call at (773) 293-6710 for help.

Please note that travel agents often do not have access to the least expensive tickets that are available at websites like Expedia or Orbitz, which is where Spark generally purchases its international flights.

The airline tickets are not included in Spark Ventures’ impact trips. We’ve found that our travelers typically prefer to arrange their own flights so they can fly with their preferred airline or use their frequent flier miles.

Spark staff would be happy to help you navigate travel  websites, and you can give us a call at (773) 293-6710 for help.

You will need a passport that is valid for six months past your departure date and at least 3 blank pages in your passport. US Citizens do not need a visa for the Nicaragua, Mexico or Zambia trips, but you do need a passport.

Spark is collaborating with local partners to ensure a thorough health and safety plan for your journey, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as current conditions. We monitor the caseloads in the communities we visit and would alert anyone who has secured a spot on our upcoming impact trip if there was local surge that would impact our ability to travel.

By working together and maintaining health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of illness, we can create a safe and enjoyable travel experience for all.

COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendation

To ensure that our travelers can participate in every aspect of the trip, Spark Ventures highly recommends that all travelers be vaccinated against COVID-19.

If you are vaccinated, we recommend that U.S. travelers bring their original vaccination card that bears the CDC logo.

COVID-19 Test Recommendation

Although your destinations currently do not require a negative COVID-19 test result for entry, Spark recommends that all our travelers take a COVID-19 test prior to departure. This reduces your likelihood of being delayed, denied entry due to changing regulations, or positive test results on the trip.

The cost of our Mexico Impact Travel varies based on the unique trip itineraries (the pricing is listed on each individual trip, which can be viewed from our Mexico travel page). Spark Ventures works hard to establish in-country business relationships to keep the costs low for our Impact Travel participants. Please contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870 with any questions about specific trip pricing.

The trip cost will include all meals beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 4. It will include all ground transportation beginning with Day 1 airport pick up and ending with Day 4 airport drop-off and everything in between, unless otherwise specifically mentioned in the itinerary. It will include all lodging based on double occupancy (participants can request a single room for an additional fee).

US Citizens do not need a visa for Mexico.

In addition to routine shots (such as measles/mumps, polio, tetanus, etc.), Spark recommends that you consult your physician to see if you need one or more of the following vaccines: rabies, typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. More information about recommended shots can also be found on the CDC website which outlines recommended vaccinations for traveling into Mexico.

Lodging in San Panco is a boutique hotel. Participants will have a roommate unless otherwise requested (there is an additional cost required for a single room upgrade). Each room has individual bathrooms with showers, toilets, running water, electricity, air conditioning, and wireless internet.

The food in Mexico includes pork, chicken, seafood, corn, beans, rice, and fresh fruits and vegetables, which will be the normal dinner foods you will enjoy. Several nights we will be eating at restaurants family style with a broad menu.

Breakfast may include eggs, yogurt and fruit, bread, tea or coffee. Lunch will be simple and sometimes will be eaten at our social impact partner.

Spark will provide safe drinking water for all participants throughout the trip included in the cost. One alcoholic beverage may be included at lunch and dinner.

The area in Mexico that we visit is a safe, peaceful, and welcoming part of the country. That being said, you should still take the same precautions you would when traveling anywhere new.

Spark has an evacuation plan in case of emergency and will do everything within our power to keep trip participants safe and healthy.

As with travel to any developing country, there are some health risks. Participants should use hand sanitizer frequently and avoid physical contact with anyone with open wounds or who seem to be sick.

San Pancho has a typical tropical climate, with nearly constant temperatures and humidity year round. The rainy season runs from June through Mid-October, with virtually no precipitation the rest of the year.  Even in the rainy season, the rain normally falls in short bursts, most often at night, with most days being hot and dry.

The temperatures range from the high 50s °F at night to the high 80s or even low 90 °F during the day.

Please take note of the expected weather and make sure to bring plenty of light, linen or cotton pieces of clothing, including a light rain jacket in the rainy season. Please bring a light jacket for the dry season as evenings and mornings can be chilly. The sun is typically quite strong so sunglasses and sunscreen are highly recommended.

The hotel offers internet connection, but please note that the connection is slow and unreliable, so you should not plan on extensive internet activity.

Spark Ventures is committed to keeping travelers and prospective travelers updated about health-related risks in the areas we work. Mexico is a country that has been affected by the Zika Virus. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommendations can be found here. Our travelers are always encouraged to bring and use strong mosquito repellent and take other precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Please see the CDC recommendations above for more comprehensive information on Zika risks & prevention.

The cost of our Zambia Impact Travel varies based on the unique trip itineraries (the pricing is listed on each individual trip, which can be viewed from our Zambia travel page). Spark Ventures works hard to establish in-country business relationships to keep the costs low for our Impact Travel participants. Please contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870 with any questions about specific trip pricing.

The trip cost will include all meals beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 9. It will include all ground transportation beginning with Day 1 airport pick up and ending with Day 9 airport drop-off and everything in between, unless otherwise specifically mentioned in the itinerary. It will include all lodging based on double occupancy (participants can request a single room for an additional fee). It will include the flight from Lusaka to Livingstone, the visit to Victoria Falls and the Botswana Safari.

Please note that each person is responsible for purchasing flights to arrive in Ndola, Zambia (NLA) on Day 1. The trip will end in Livingstone, Zambia (LVI) and participants should book their departing flights from this airport, unless they have plans to stay longer or travel by land from that location at the end of the trip.

US Citizens do not need a visa to travel to Zambia or Botswana.  You will need a passport that is valid for six months past your departure date and at least 3 blank pages in your passport.

In addition to routine shots (such as measles/mumps, polio, tetanus, etc.), Spark recommends that you consult your physician to see if you need one or more of the following vaccines: rabies, typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. More information about recommended shots can also be found on the CDC website which outlines recommended vaccinations for traveling into Zambia.

Spark recommends you obtain a prescription for anti-malaria medication from your physician and begin taking the medication prior to arrival in Zambia. Most malaria medications come in a pill form, and Malarone has been one malaria medication that Spark staff members have widely used.

Lodging in Ndola is at a boutique hotel. In Livingstone, lodging will be at a beautiful and well appointed South African based chain of hotels. Participants will have a roommate unless otherwise requested (there is an additional cost required for a single room upgrade). Each room has individual bathrooms with showers, toilets, running water, electricity and a television.

The food in Zambia includes chicken, fish, rice, vegetables and nshima (their staple carbohydrate food made from corn meal), which will be the normal dinner foods you will enjoy. Several nights we will be eating at restaurants with a broad menu of common American and European food selections (all included).

Breakfast will include eggs, cereal with milk, bread and tea. Lunches will be simple, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and fruit.

Spark will provide safe drinking water for all participants throughout the trip included in the cost. One alcoholic beverage may be included at lunch and dinner.

Since its independence in 1964, Zambia has been known as a peaceful nation and a friend to all its neighboring countries. Zambia has never had a civil war, and political violence has been rare.

Spark has an evacuation plan in case of emergency and will do everything within our power to keep trip participants safe and healthy.

As with travel to any developing country, there are some health risks. Participants should take their malaria medication, use hand sanitizer frequently and avoid physical contact with anyone with open wounds or who seem to be sick.

The vast majority of Spark’s volunteer travelers have remained healthy during their travel to Zambia, and the few who have gotten sick during a trip received prompt and appropriate medical care.

In July, Zambia is usually sunny and dry (no rain) with temperatures ranging from 65-80 F during the day and cooler (50-60 F) in the evenings. In January, Zambia temperatures range from 75-85 F during the day and down to 60 F in the evenings with on and off rain in the afternoon and evening.

Spark will communicate a suggested packing list to those who register for the trip to help guide you on what clothes are appropriate for the weather and culture.

Both hotels where we stay have internet available (in Ndola, this requires purchasing internet time, in Livingstone it is included in the accommodations). Please note that the connection is often very slow and also frequently only available in common areas (not in the individual rooms), so you should not plan on extensive internet activity.

At this time, we believe there is very little risk in traveling to Zambia as it relates to Ebola. The spread of the virus in Africa has been curtailed almost entirely and even during the peak of the epidemic, the virus remained in the western African countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, which are more than 5,000 miles away from Zambia. None of the primary flight routes to and from Zambia stop anywhere near these African countries. We are always monitoring health risks and should the spread of the virus substantially increase the risk of traveling to Zambia, we will cancel the trip and provide a refund (though, we do not anticipate this being a concern). If you have any questions or concerns about how Spark Ventures is handling this situation or related to refunds and cancellations, do not hesitate to call us at 773-293-6710.

The cost of our Nicaragua Impact Travel varies based on the unique trip itineraries (the pricing is listed on each individual trip, which can be viewed from our Nicaragua travel page). Spark Ventures works hard to establish in-country business relationships to keep the costs low for our Impact Travel participants. Please contact Martha Vargas by email at mvargas@sparkventures.org or by phone at (915) 929-1870 with any questions about specific trip pricing.

The trip cost will include all meals beginning with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 5. It will include all ground transportation beginning with Day 1 airport pick up and ending with Day 5 airport drop-off and everything in between, unless otherwise specifically mentioned in the itinerary. It will include all lodging based on double occupancy (participants can request a single room for an additional fee).

US Citizens do not need a visa but instead will be required to purchase a $10 tourist card upon arrival.

In addition to routine shots (such as measles/mumps, polio, tetanus, etc.), Spark recommends that you consult your physician to see if you need one or more of the following vaccines: rabies, typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis B. More information about recommended shots can also be found on the CDC website which outlines recommended vaccinations for traveling into Nicaragua.

You may also consider obtaining a prescription for anti-malaria medication from your physician and begin taking the medication prior to arrival in Nicaragua. Most malaria medications come in a pill form, and Malarone has been one malaria medication that Spark staff members have widely used. Spark Ventures does not view the risk of malaria as high in the areas in Nicaragua where we travel and Spark staff does not normally elect to take anti-malaria medications when we travel (we always do in Zambia). However, this is a personal health decision to be made in consultation with your physician.

Lodging in Leon and Granada is at two local hotels. The accommodations will be similar to boutique hotels. Participants will have a roommate unless otherwise requested (there is an additional cost required for a single room). Each room has individual bathrooms with showers, toilets, running water, electricity, air conditioning, wireless internet and a television.

The food in Nicaragua includes pork, chicken, seafood, corn, beans, rice, and fresh fruits and vegetables, which will be the normal dinner foods you will enjoy. Several nights we will be eating at restaurants with a broad menu of common American and European food selections (all included).

Breakfast will include cereal with milk, bread and tea. Hot breakfasts can be ordered for an additional cost. Lunches will be simple and sometimes will be eaten with the children at our social impact partner.

Spark will provide safe drinking water for all participants throughout the trip included in the cost. One alcoholic beverage may be included at lunch and dinner.

Nicaragua is a very safe, peaceful, and welcoming country. That being said, you should still take the same precautions you would when traveling anywhere new.

The safety of our travelers is Spark’s highest priority. We would like to assure you that our experienced team is monitoring the political & social climate in Nicaragua carefully and we refer to the Department of State Travel Advisories. We are also in close communication with our contacts in the country (local partner and travel providers). Should the circumstances in Nicaragua impact our ability to travel, we will be in touch with anyone who has secured a spot on our upcoming impact trip.

Spark has an evacuation plan in case of emergency and will do everything within our power to keep trip participants safe and healthy.

As with travel to any developing country, there are some health risks. Participants should take their malaria medication, use hand sanitizer frequently and avoid physical contact with anyone with open wounds or who seem to be sick.

Nicaragua has a very tropical climate. Our trip takes place during the beginning of the wet and hot season, where during the day, the weather will usually be in the 85-90°F range, with fairly high humidity. Please take note of this and make sure to bring plenty of light, cotton pieces of clothing. The sun is typically quite strong so sunglasses and sunscreen are highly recommended. At night the average temperature will be around 70-75°F.

Spark will communicate a suggested packing list to those who register for the trip to help guide you on what clothes are appropriate for the weather and culture.

The hotels offer internet connections but please note that the connection is slow and unreliable, so you should not plan on extensive internet activity.

Spark Ventures is committed to keeping travelers and prospective travelers updated about health-related risks in the areas we work. Nicaragua is a country that has been affected by the Zika Virus. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommendations can be found here. Our travelers are always encouraged to bring and use strong mosquito repellent and take other precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Please see the CDC recommendations above for more comprehensive information on Zika risks & prevention.