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 This trip is planned for social workers, educators, medical personnel, and others who work with Latinos and want to learn more about the history and culture of Guatemala to enhance their understand of this rich culture.
As we travel to learn more about the history, the customs, the families, the educational system, the foods, religions, and the arts of this magnificent country, we’ll talk with local people in a variety of settings. We’ll learn about Guatemala from the inside, hoping to be able to better understand and support the Guatemalans who migrate to the United States. On this educational travel seminar, you will have an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the people and culture of Guatemala.
We will visit villages in the highlands of the country, where the culture of many centuries earlier is alive and observable in dress, in language, in living style, and in religious practices. We will be in the tranquil city of Antigua where we'll “set the stage” for our exploration of the highlands of Guatemala, where we’ll visit several indigenous families and programs and learn the history of his fascinating and turbulent country.
We’ll head out by launch across Lake Atitlan, called by many the most beautiful lake in the world, and we’ll visit several small indigenous villages around the lake, each with is own distinctive dress, language, and customs.
We will be in Chichicastenango for the Thursday market, one of the most famous markets in Latin America, but we’ll see other markets in our travels; each will have a distinct flavor, but all will be colorful and memorable.
From the second largest city in the country, Quetzaltenango, we’ll visit several smaller villages, including Salcaja, the village which produces most of the jaspe fabric in small family-owned factories, and we’ll go to one of these small factories and learn how the ikat textiles are produced.
Each village and each family we visit will provide an exceptional wealth of indigenous culture and educational background. Lectures and presentations by special speakers and by the Guatemalan people themselves will help us understand the culture and history of this beautiful country.
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ITINERARY
January 26-February 3, 2008
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Day 1 | Saturday, January 26 (D?)
- Activities and welcome dinner, depending on arrival time in Guatemala City (If the arrival is after 6 PM or so, the welcome dinner will be on Monday night.)
- Overnight in Antigua, Hotel Hermano Pedro
Day 2 | Sunday, January 27 (B, L, D)
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Walking tour of Antigua, starting at the Parque Central, several historic churches, including the church of San Francisco, and a museum. We’ll learn about the history of Antigua as we see the ruins from several earthquakes which have changed the history of this small and beautiful colonial city.
- Visit to an indigenous museum of clothing on the outskirts of Antigua, lunch at the museum
- Group dinner, with speaker, Sue Patterson, of WINGS, on women’s health issues in Guatemala
- Overnight in Antigua, Hotel Hermano Pedro
Day 3 | Monday, January 28 (B, L)
- Breakfast in the hotel
- Drive into Guatemala City
- Guided tour of the Ixchel Museum with curators of museum, explanation of village-identity dress and the rich history and variety of indigenous clothing of Guatemala
- Lunch at the museum, prepared and served by indigenous women
- Popul Voh museum, adjacent to the Ixchel, collection of Mesoamerican artifacts
- Topographical map of Guatemala
- Bus tour of downtown Guatemala City
- Dinner on your own
- Overnight in Antigua, Hotel Hermano Pedro
Day 4 | Tuesday, January 29 (B, L, D)
- Breakfast at our hotel
- Drive to the lakeside village of Panajachel, nestled along the shore of Lake Atitlán, one of the most scenic lakes in the world
- Stop at the orphanage of Santa Apolonia, run by the Home Sisters of Saint Francis, a home for women and their children whose husbands were killed in the violence in the highlands of Guatemala in the 1980’s; meet with Sister Angelina, director of the orphanage
- Lunch as we drive on the Panamerican Highway
- Stop in Solola to meet with the woman’s weaving cooperative, Asociacion Maya, where the women of the cooperative create beautiful scarves and other wearable art
- Dinner in Panajachel on the shore of Lake Atitlan
- Overnight in Panajachel, Hotel Regis
Day 5 | Wednesday, January 30 (B, L)
- Breakfast in our hotel
- Tour of several villages around Lake Atitlan, including San Pedro; Santiago Atitlan (where we will visit the home of the idol, Maximon); possibility Santa Catarina, depending on our time and stamina
- Picnic lunch on the boat
- Dinner on your own in Panajachel, watch the sun set over the volcanoes on the lake
- Overnight in Panajachel, Hotel Regis
Day 6 | Thursday, January 31 (L, D)
- Drive to Chichicastenango for its famous colorful market day (very early departure to have breakfast in Chichicastenango)
- Lunch in the Hotel Santo Tomas for the bountiful buffet with typical Guatemalan food served in a lovely setting
- Drive to the city of Quetzaltenango (Xela) in the afternoon
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight in Quetzaltenango, Hotel Bonifaz
Day 7 | Friday, February 1 (B, L, D)
- Breakfast in the hotel
- Morning visit to the regional market of San Francisco al Alto, on the PanAmerican highway
- Lunch near Salcaja
- Afternoon visit to a home factory in Salcaja, watch production of jaspe, the textile that is used to produce all the skirts (cortes) in Guatemala
- Dinner in our hotel
- Overnight in Quetzaltenango, Hotel Bonifaz
Day 8 | Saturday, February 2 (B, L, D) Feast day of Candelaria
- Breakfast in the hotel
- Visit to two villages in the rich vegetable producing valley below Quetzaltenango:
• Almolongo, which has one of the most colorful (yes, hard to believe!) markets in Guatemala, and which supplies vegetables to much of the entire country
• Zunil, to visit a second Maximon, and a women’s cooperative
- Drive back to Guatemala City
- Farewell dinner in the hotel
- Overnight in Guatemala City, Hotel Panamerican
Day 9 | Sunday, February 3
- Departure from the hotel, probably too early for breakfast?
Itinerary is subject to minor changes as circumstances and opportunities arise.
Accommodations:
• 3 nights in Antigua
• 2 nights in Panajachel
• 2 nights in Quetzaltenango
• 1 night in Guatemala City
We stay at smaller lodgings that better reflect the atmosphere and heritage of Guatemala. A moderate level of walking ability is required to participate in the planned activities.
TRAVEL SEMINAR LEADERS
Vivian Harvey
Please click here for more information
Tom Quinn, Barbara Anderson, Himar Hernandez
Email: Tom Quinn
www.fillingspace.com
TRAVEL FEE
The fee for this 9-day (8 night) travel program is $1495.00 (double).
The single supplement is $230.00.
It includes the following:
- All hotels (double occupancy)
- All transportation by bus and boat
- Meals as follows all (7) breakfasts, all (8) lunches, 5 dinners
- Guidance and admissions
- Airport transfers
- Comprehensive booklet on Guatemala
- Honorarium fees for speakers
- All tips for hotels (maids, luggage), also tips for meals.
- A bibliography will be furnished for reading about Guatemala, as a part of the trip fee.
DEADLINES
Registration forms and a deposit of $400.00 is due by October 15, 2007.
The remainder of the tour fee $1095.00 is due by December 15, 2007.
The registration and deposit can be mailed to:
We will be staying in relatively small family-owned hotels, so it’s important to reserve and confirm hotel reservations early. All deposits will be returned if the trip is canceled because of insufficient enrollment.
FLIGHT PLANS AND ARRANGEMENTS
For more information about flights and travel arrangements, please contact Tom Quinn.
© 2005-2008 Vivian Harvey
Notice: All images & materials on this site are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of Vivian Harvey.
Site designed and maintained by Nathaniel Stitzlein.
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