February 13-21, 2025 Guatemala Tour
Explore, Experience, Empower
*Adventure Tour*
ALDEA offers a unique, eye-opening, 8-day/8-night tour of the western highlands of Guatemala, the “Land of Eternal Spring.”
The mission of ALDEA and its partner organization, ABPD, is to promote integrated development services that improve the well-being of families with limited resources, especially in rural Mayan areas. For over 50 years, we have been working to change the trajectory of peoples’ lives and empower them to create lasting solutions to the persistent problems of poverty and inequality that are inherent in Guatemala’s large indigenous population.
This 8-day/8-night tour provides the rare opportunity to be welcomed into Mayan villages to experience ALDEA’s life-changing work and understand how you can be a part of making a meaningful difference. In addition, this glimpse of Guatemala will leave you amazed by the country’s incredible beauty, warm, gracious people, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscape around Antigua and Lake Atitlán. Tour participants form strong bonds and a shared commitment to improving the lives of rural Guatemalans.
Is this tour for you? It is, if you want to:
- Enjoy adventurous learning experiences – both physical and emotional.
- Experience the unique honor and privilege of being welcomed into the homes of the communities ALDEA serves and witness firsthand the impact of our work.
- Climb a volcano and relax afterwards in a spring-fed thermal spa.
- Discover daily activities of rural Mayans in their homes, learn their stories, and meet community leaders.
- Learn about Guatemala’s thriving Mayan heritage and amazing legacy.
- Explore Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site and learn of its rich history.
- Relax surrounded by the mesmerizing beauty of volcano-ringed Lake Atitlán.
- Kayak on the deep blue waters of Lake Atitlan.
- See how the beautiful blue and white pottery available throughout the country is created by potters at
the lake. - Revel in the magical atmosphere of the lake and its traditions of painters, potters, weavers, and fishermen.
- Learn about your Mayan energy “nawal.”
- Enjoy the opportunity to sample delicious Guatemalan food and some of the best coffee in the world.
- Take advantage of fair-trade shopping opportunities in Antigua and San Juan La Laguna.
- Get to know and spend time with people who care about the world and want to support women and families.
- Make memories for a lifetime!
what’s included
- Extensive pre-tour information, trip coordination assistance, welcome packet, souvenir gifts.
- Pick-up and shuttle to/from La Aurora Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City.
- Five nights at Hotel Aurora in Antigua and three nights at Jenna’s River B&B at Lake Atitlán.
- Daily breakfasts plus five lunches and six dinners (including a special farewell dinner).
- Air-conditioned, chauffeured tour bus for in-country trips; water and some snacks included.
- Bilingual guides, all excursions and entrance fees during group activities.
- Gratuities for meals, drivers, all local guides, and hotel service.
what’s not included
- Round-trip air transportation.
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. souvenirs, laundry, extra snacks and drinks.
- Meals on Thursday, February 13, lunch on Sunday, February 16, and lunch on Thursday, February 20.
- Cost of optional activities during free time.
- Travel medical insurance.
Deposit/Payments/Cancellations:
$500 deposit is due at the time of registration and the remaining balance ($1,600 per person for double occupancy and $1,900 for single occupancy) is due by November 30, 2024. If a participant cancels by November 30, 2024, they will receive a full refund. No refunds will be made for cancellations after November 30, 2024, unless the vacancy can be filled with a participant of equivalent occupancy.
Participation Details: This is a trip for people who are physically active. We will be hiking a volcano (moderately strenuous), walking on uneven, cobblestone streets and up and down slopes, riding on bumpy roads, paddling kayaks, and getting in and out of boats. We have two other trips that are not as active if that is of interest (see Guatemala Tours tab on website). This tour is limited to 12 participants who are 21 years or older. Participants are required to sign a liability waiver, confirm their ability to participate physically in this active tour, test negative for COVID on the first day of the tour, and have travel medical insurance coverage.
Travel Documents: A current U.S. passport is required. No visa is required for Guatemala visits of fewer than 90 days.
Climate: February weather in the Guatemalan Highlands is sunny, rain is unusual, daytime temperatures in 70s F, nights in the 50s.
Brief Day-by-Day Itinerary (Subject to Change)
- Arrive at Guatemala City airport (GUA).
- Shuttle to Antigua, UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Check in at Hotel Aurora.
- Travel to a rural Mayan village to learn about ALDEA-funded environmental and empowerment projects.
- Tour orientation.
- Prepare typical Guatemalan dinner at local cooking school.
- Hike Pacaya volcano and enjoy lava-roasted marshmallows or pizza.
- Soothe tired muscles at Santa Teresita thermal spa.
- Dinner in Antigua.
- Go on walking tour of historic Antigua.
- Lunch on your own.
- Drive to Panajachel, located on the shores of Lake Atitlan.
- Free time and dinner at Jenna’s River B&B.
- Morning boat ride to San Juan la Laguna.
- Hike to lake overlook.
- Witness natural dyeing processes at local women’s weaving cooperative.
- Learn about coffee production by touring local small plantation; lunch at plantation.
- See demonstration of San Juan’s unique painting style by local artist.
- Free time in afternoon.
- Dinner in Panajachel.
- Kayak on the calm morning waters of the lake.
- Lunch in Panajachel.
- Take tuk tuk rides to tour Santa Antonio Palopo and Santa Catarina Palopo to see where the country’s beautiful blue pottery is made.
- Dinner at Jenna’s.
- Leave the lake to visit another rural ALDEA village.
- Participate with villagers in typical daily activities.
- Return to Antigua for additional activity.
- Dinner in Antigua.
- AM to mid-afternoon time to relax, shop, stroll in beautiful Antigua.
- Among many activity options: Visit a jade factory, handicrafts market, museum, or spa; participate in chocolate truffles workshop or cooking class, climb Pacaya Volcano, or get a massage in your hotel room.
- Late afternoon guided tour of the historic Casa Santo Domingo monastery followed by special dinner finale at the hotel’s exquisite restaurant.
- Shuttle to Guatemala City airport for flight departures OR plan additional post-tour activity, e.g. famous Chichicastenango market, overnight to Tikal or Copan, Spanish language school, or visit more of Antigua.
“Since returning home, people have asked me what I liked most about my trip to Guatemala. The truth is, I don’t know. It was a perfect mix of cultural immersion, breathtaking beauty, and the chance to make a difference. I came home with beautiful hand-woven items and many gifts for friends. But I also came home with warm memories of being welcomed into the homes of inspiring Mayan women. There was also the opportunity to relax by the volcanoes surrounding stunning Lake Atitlan, walk the cobbled streets, eat delicious Guatemalan foods (and even make our own tortillas), and watch women teach their children to weave textiles of art. Finally, there was the opportunity to meet a group of people who wanted to take a trip while making a positive impact. So, what do I tell people when they ask me what I liked most about my trip? I tell them they need to go themselves because it is too big to share in words alone.”
Danielle Gordon, 2024 Tour Participant