Easter in the Highlands of Guatemala
April 11-22/2025
Leadership: Julio Cochoy & Doris Kizinna
Cost: tba April 2024
Discover the Highlands of Guatemala, exploring this beautiful region of Latin America. You’ll be in Guatemala over Holy Week and Easter and that is an exceptional time to witness the devotion and practice of the Lent/Easter processions through the streets. You’ll learn about Mayan culture, traditions, music and spirituality and spend most of the time around the villages of Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Visit Santiago Atitlan, San Juan la Laguna, San Marcos la Laguna, Panajachel, Santa Lucia Utatlan, Chichicastenango’s world famous market and historic Antigua. Build community when travelling with a group of fellow pilgrims diving deep into the meaning of Easter in Guatemala.
For more information or to check in if this trip is for you please contact:
Doris Kizinna, 604.341.2724 worldpilgrims@gmail.com
Tour includes:
- all accommodation
- tips for all hotels and drivers
- all meals
- all transport in country in our Coaster 23 passenger bus with large windows with our loved driver Marco, boats on the lake, tuktuks and taxis.
- all entrance fees and honorariums for all visits
- donations to the projects we may visit
- 1 Canadian guide, 1 Guatemalan guide with the group for the whole trip, translation services
- Does not include flight and extra beverages.
April 11-22/2025
Fri, April 11: ANTIGUA: Arrivals to Guatemala City, drive from airport to Antigua, the 500 year old colonial city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depending on arrival time have meals, rest and overnight in Antigua. Overnight: Hotel Aurora http://www.hotelauroraantigua.com/en/
Sat, April 12: ANTIGUA: Breakfast at Hotel with Orientation. Walking tour through Antigua to get to know the city. Lunch at Coaba Farms. Afternoon rest. Optional trip to the Antigua market in late afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Antigua. https://www.caobafarms.com/
Sun, April 13: PANAJACHEL: Breakfast in Antigua at Hotel, view the carpets contruction and procession. Depart 1 pm and stop for lunch enroute. Drive from Antigua to Lake Atitlan and Panajachel. Stop at Iximche, visit the site of an ancient mayan city. Dinner and overnight in Panajachel at Doris & Julio’s place.
Mon, April 14: SAN JUAN/PANAJACHEL: Breakfast and early morning boat over the lake to San Juan La Laguna. Visit the Coffee Plantation and learn about coffee production, visit the weaving cooperative using natural dyes for their work, see the murals, hike to the viewpoint and the cross. Lunch at Alma de Colores in San Juan. Afternoon visit with Nan Maria, Mayan Spiritual Leader, for a Mayan Ceremony for gratitude for the trip. Boat back over to Panajachel. Dinner and overnight in Panajachel. https://www.almadecolores.org/?lang=en https://www.cafesanjuangt.com/en/index.html
Tues, April 15: SANTA LUCIA UTATLAN/PANAJACHEL: Breakfast at home, depart for Santa Lucia, Julio’s town to be part of the traditional Easter Market. Walk in small groups to discover the delights and busyness of the market. Purchase some natural items to make a traditional Easter arch back in Panajachel. Lunch at Julio’s house. Afternoon visit to Marimba Utatlan, a music school. Drive back to Panajachel. Dinner.
Wed, April 16: PANAJACHEL: Breakfast. Work on the Easter decorations and arch together. Lunch. In the afternoon visit the Pottery workshops in San Antonio Palapo and an optional visit to Reserva Atitlan, a beautiful nature reserve in Panajachel. Dinner.
Thurs, April 17: CHICHICASTENANGO/PANAJACHEL: Breakfast, departure for the incredible market town of Chichicastenango. Spend the morning at the market, one of the largest in latin America. Lunch at Casa San Jose and afternoon departure back to Panajachel. Optional afternoon walk to Santa Catarina Palapo to visit weavers and the recreational area at the lake.
Fri, April 18: GOOD FRIDAY: SAN PEDRO LA LAGUNA, SANTIAGO ATITLAN: Breakfast at home and take our boat to see the Easter processions and carpet making in these villages around the lake. Lunch in San Pedro and boat back to Panajachel in the afternoon. Dinner at home.
Sat, April 19: PANAJACHEL: Day to relax at the place in Panajachel. Tortilla making and cooking class. Visit to the Beach. If you wish, explore downtown Panajachel on your own. Meals at home.
Sun, April 20: EASTER SUNDAY PANAJACHEL: Optional Mass in Panajachel. Boats over to San Marcos La Laguna and afternoon visit to the town, lunch there and visit to the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve for swimming and relaxing. Boat back and Dinner back in Panajachel.
Mon, April 21: ANTIGUA: Breakfast, pack up and drive to Antigua. Lunch together enroute and afternoon freetime in Antigua. Closing celebration and Dinner together.
Tues, April 22: Breakfast at Hotel, departures to the airport for flights home or continued stay in Guatemala.
