All ages Guatemala: The Land of the Mayan People
July 1-11/2025
Leaders: Julio Cochoy, Doris Kizinna, Christiana Atkinson
Cost: tba in December 2024
Open to families, children (age 9 and up with guardians), elders, solo travelers, couples etc. All ages are welcome to be a part of this our third all ages tour to Guatemala. You’ll be immersed in the experience of Guatemala learning about the culture, the history, walking through villages, markets and some of the most beautiful places in Guatemala. You’ll visit schools and interact with students a preschool and an elementary school. You’ll go to a volcanic hot spring, hike through a sub-tropical jungle, visit the remains of an ancient Mayan city, visit artisans and weavers to understand their work, learn about the civil war in Guatemala and it’s effects on Guatemala today, and share time with elders and visit a family in need to help make their lives a little easier with some donations and more! You will build community when travelling with a group of all ages travelers sharing this experience together and have your hearts opened to the world as it really is, learning and understanding our place and opportunity in the world.
July 1-11/2025
Tentative Schedule
Tues, July 1: ANTIGUA:
Arrival in Guatemala City, and shuttle to Antigua, settle in, dinner together and orientation for the group. Overnight: Antigua
Wed, July 2: ANTIGUA: Breakfast at our Hotel. Orientation gathering followed by Scavenger Hunt in smaller groups in Antigua visiting colonial ruins, Hermano Pedro Church, café, jade, chocolate, markets, a chance to get familiar with the city. Lunch at Coaba Farm https://www.caobafarms.com/. Optional visit to the Market/rest/freetime. Dinner together. Overnight: in Antigua.
Thurs, July 3: ANTIGUA – IXIMCHE – PANAJACHEL: Breakfast at 8:30 am at the Hotel. 9:30 am departure for Lake Atitlan and Panajachel. Stop in Iximche for a tour of the remains of an ancient Mayan City. Lunch at Chichoy Restaurant, arrive in Panajachel. Freetime and optional walk around Panajachel and Overnight at D & J’s guesthouse.
Fri, July 4: PANAJACHEL: Breakfast and morning visit the FundaMaya Project and the Elder’s lunch and day care centre. Deliver a bed to a senior and serve lunch to the elders. https://www.fundamaya.org/ Lunch at Jasmine Deli. Afternoon hike at Reserva Natura Atitlan www.atitlanreserva.com Dinner and Overnight: Panajachel.
Sat, July 5: SANTA LUCIA – PANAJACHEL: After breakfast depart Xela and drive to Santa Lucia Utatlan (Julio’s community), Lunch at Julio’s. Buy some things in the market to bring to Nan Maria, our friend and Mayan Elder, have a window into her life. Have a small concert with the local youth Marimba group: Marimba Utatlan. Drive to Xela and Overnight and Dinner there. Overnight: Panajachel.
Sun, July 6: CHICHICASTENANGO – XELA: Breakfast, 8:00 am departure to visit to the Market in Chichicastenango. Visit to the cemetery and Catholic Church on the main square and enjoy shopping in the market. Lunch at Café San Juan and drive to Xela. Dinner and preparation for visit to the school the next day. Swimming at the Hotel. Overnight: Xela https://hotel-pension-bonifaz.negocio.site/
Mon, July 7: CHWITZIRIBAL – PANAJACHEL: Breakfast at hotel, and morning visit to the elementary school in Chwitiziribal, sharing some joy with the Children, snacks, crafts, pinatas, treats. 11:30 am departure for Fuentes Georginas http://www.fuentesgeorginas.com/ , hot springs and enjoy lunch and the afternoon there, then drive back to Panajachel in the afternoon. Dinner and freetime in Panajachel. Overnight in Panajachel.
Tues, July 8: SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA – PANAJACHEL: Breakfast and early morning boat over the lake to San Juan La Laguna on of the villages around the lake. Visit the coffee project, and the artisans of San Juan, visual artists and their incredible paintings, visit the Natural Dye Weaving Centre and Chocolate Café. Vegetarian Lunch at Alma de Colores, a labour and social inclusion project for people with disabilities. www.almadecolores.org. Take a hike up to the incredible lookout over the lake. Later afternoon we will visit with Nan Maria, Mayan Spiritual Leader, for a Mayan Ceremony, giving thanks for the journey we are on. Boat back and Dinner out and overnight in Panajachel.
Wed, July 9: PANAJACHEL: Freetime day in Panajachel. Breakfast together. Tortilla making and cooking class. Relax. Walk and shop in Panajachel. Optional visit to the pottery studios in San Antonio Palapo. Lunch on your own. Dinner together.
Thurs, July 10: ANTIGUA: Breakfast and Panajachel departures. Drive to Antigua. Lunch in Antigua and afternoon freetime to enjoy the city. Optional visit if you wish ….Final celebration dinner and get ready to leave. Overnight: Hotel in Antigua or Guatemala City depending on flight time.
Fri, July 11: Shuttle to airport and flight to Vancouver or other destinations.
