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Spend two weeks immersed in the rich & colorful culture of this amazing country. Visit ancient Mayan ruins, interact with Guatemalan middle school students, trek through remote highland villages and experience the spectacular natural beauty of Lake Atitlan & the colonial splendor of Antigua. The program begins in the untamed jungles of northern Guatemala's Petén region, home to many lost Mayan cities, including one of the largest and grandest, Tikal.
We will stay in El Remate, a small village on the banks of Lake Petén Itza and use it as our home base. From the jungles to the highlands, the 2nd stop on this 2-week journey is in Quetzaltenango, or Xela as it's commonly know to locals and tourists alike.
The center of the country's K'iche Mayans, Xela (from the ancient K'iche name "Xelaju" meaning "under ten mountains") has the feel of a slightly shabby European highland city. Our four days in Xela represent the heart of the two-week trip. One full day will be spent at Escuela de la Calle where the students will participate in a largely non-verbal cultural exchange program focused on arts, sports and health. The unique artistic and cultural heritage of the K'iche people will be woven into the activities.
We will also spend one day on an adventurous day-hike to a spectacular viewpoint overlooking the most active volcano in Guatemala followed by a visit to the therapeutic and luxurious mountain hot springs, Fuentes Georginas in the nearby village of Zunil.
We step up the adventure with a spectacular three-day highland trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan. The trip takes us through very remote Mayan villages, well off the beaten tourist trail, into lush cloud forest, along rugged ridgelines and beside and across a meandering river. Ringed by rugged green ridgelines and towering volcanoes, the sparking deep blue Lake Atitlan is truly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
From our lakeside hotel in San Juan La Laguna, the students tour the lake by boat, hike through a local cooperative fair-trade coffee farm, learn about the traditional weaving and dying methods taught by local Mayan women and climb up to the sacred peak of La Naríz (The Nose) overlooking the lake. We spend one day bartering and shopping at the famous market town of Chichicastenango.
Finally, the journey concludes with a visit to the colonial capital of the Spanish conquistadors: La Antigua. Join us on an exquisite trip to this inspiring Central American country; seeing the sites and meeting the locals. |
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Highlights!
Tikal
Quetzaltenango
Cultural exchange with students
Lake Atitlan
Chichicastenango
Colonial capital of Antigua |
