Thank you for confirming your spot !

Who can attend? The June week is designed for youth ages 15-19 (mature 13-14 year olds are also invited with an acompanying parent because most airlines require you to be 15 years old to travel alone). Parents are also invited on these trips as participants to have their own experience, not simply as chaperones. The November Thanksgiving week is designed for all ages including families. All ages are welcome, and in our experience children ages 8 and older (age will depend on each child and younger children do often come) are mature enough to participate and receive a lot from the experience.

​

What is a trip with purpose?

       

    Personal Leadership - Adventure - Culture - Service Learning

 

Personal Leadership: We hope participants go home with goals, ideas, new habits, and the desire to do more and be more in life. We have a morning and evening routine that we do together. This includes five minutes of morning meditation, movement, and gratitude journaling; and in the evening a group meeting where we journal and share our day and dig deeper on what we learned and how we can apply what we learn in our regular lives.

Adventure: Lake Atitlan and the surrounding areas will be our playground for the week. Some of the possible activities include a hike to a view of the lake, walking through a nature reserve with suspension bridges and waterfalls, ziplining through a jungle canopy, and jumping and swimming in Lake Atitlan. All activities will be customized to the ages and needs of each group. 

​

Culture: We will explore several towns around the lake, immersing ourselves in the colors and culture of the Mayan people. We will see a textile demonstration with Mayan looms, visit a local market, see how chocolate is made from the raw cacao, as well as learn from artists and leatherworkers. We will also learn and practice some Spanish and local customs and shop for souvenirs.

​

Service Learning: Service redefined. The focus with service learning is education and connection with the people. We will learn directly from Cultiva International, a nonprofit founded in 2013 that teaches local families how to grow their own food and lift themselves out of poverty. We will learn the best ways to help and give back in the world. We spend two full days with Mayan families, learning from their life experiences. We will see their homes and farms, learn how to make traditional corn tortillas by hand, play games with local children. The most important thing is that the destination isn't just Guatemala, but ourselves. It's a week to be disconnected from the regular routine and be filled with the Guatemalan culture, color, and tastes, through so many new experiences. 

​

Lodging & Meals: We stay at a small motel with shared rooms and private bathrooms with warm water. It is safe, private, and comfortable. Most meals will be served at the hotel. Meals are healthy and served buffet style, so nobody goes hungry. We will also eat in local restaurants for an authentic experience. We can accommodate any special dietary needs. 

 

Sample Itinerary:​

• Day 1 : Travel day. Participants arrive in Guatemala City (airport code GUA) where we personally pick you up and we make the 3 hour drive to Lake Atitlan in private vans. We will have dinner and get acquainted and talk about the schedule and activities for the next day. ​

• Day 2 : We explore the town of Panajachel including the local market, Catholic cathedral, Lake Atitlan, and getting comfortable with our home for the week. In the afternoon we do a special activity about connection.​

• Day 3: A day in the field with Cultiva International. We have a morning workshop about humanitarian work and learning new ideas about how to help in the world. We will have lunch with the Cultiva field team and then see firsthand how Cultiva helps the Mayan community. We will connect with families and learn from their life experiences. ​

• Day 4: We take a private boat ride to the towns of San Marcos and San Juan where we get the chance to swim and jump in the lake, or just enjoy the views of Lake Atitlan and it's three volcanoes. We will meet and learn from Mayan artists, leatherworkers, see how chocolate is made, and see how a group of Mayan women make their own threads and weave textiles by hand. Plus there are chances to buy these beautiful items to take home.​

• Day 5: Back in the highlands with Cultiva International. We will immerse ourselves in the home of a Mayan family, learn how to make traditional corn tortillas (and eat them too!) Then we spend the afternoon connecting with more families and local kids to play games.​

• Day 6: We will hike through fields of vegetables to arrive at a viewpoint of Lake Atitlan. And we will visit San Antonio and see how clay ceramics are made and learn about the local clothing (and have some in the group try on the local clothes!).

• ​Day 7: We zipline in the Atitlan Nature Reserve (8 different ziplines) and see a waterfall from a hanging bridge, then explore the butterfly reserve and walk to the lakeshore to relax or wade in the lake. In the afternoon we explore local shops and buy our final souvenirs.

• Day 8 : We are up early traveling back to Guatemala City to travel home.

 

We support you through the whole process, please contact us via call or text: 385-232-2320 or schedule a quick call with us and we will answer any questions you have. Schedule here