March 28 - April 5, 2025 Guatemala Tour
Explore, Experience, Empower
*Women's only 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Experience one of Antigua’s world-renowned Lenten processions.
- Relax surrounded by the mesmerizing beauty of volcano-ringed Lake Atitlán.
- Revel in the magical atmosphere of the lake and its traditions of painters, potters, weavers, and fishermen.
- Walk the Mayan ruins of Iximché and possibly witness a Mayan ritual.
- Learn about your Mayan energy “nawal.”
- Have the chance to view the colorful quetzal, Guatemala’s rarely seen national bird.
- 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 women 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, one night at Hotel de Montaña in rural Tecpán, and two nights at Hotel Bambú at Lake Atitlán.
- Daily breakfasts plus six lunches and seven 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 Friday, March 28 and lunch on Friday, April 4.
- Cost of optional activities during free time.
- Travel medical insurance.
- All the things you may want to buy when you see the colorful and gorgeous textiles, pottery and handicrafts created by Maya women!
*Please note that this tour is for women only*
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: The activity level for this trip is moderately difficult due to walking up to three miles at a time on cobblestones and uneven surfaces; walking up and down slopes; standing for periods of time; getting in and out of boats; and riding on bumpy roads. Tour is limited to 14 female 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: March-April 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.
- Antigua walking tour followed by tour orientation.
- After lunch, explore Antigua on your own.
- Pre-dinner discussion of Guatemala’s social, political, and economic context with former U.S. Consul General and ABPD board member.
- Dinner at historical home of Antigua resident and ABPD board member.
- Experience Guatemalan Lenten procession.
- Enjoy typical lunch/cooking and weaving demo/product display at local family home in San Antonio Aguas Calientes.
- Pre-dinner discussion of ALDEA’s history and current program with tour leader and ALDEA Executive Director.
- Dinner in Antigua.
- Program update in Chimaltenango by Executive Director of ABPD (ALDEA’s Guatemalan partner organization).
- Travel to two rural Mayan villages – one village with ALDEA-sponsored environmental and empowerment projects completed and one without projects.
- Overnight stay at rustic Hotel de Montaña in Tecpán.
- Guided visit of the pre-Columbian ruins of Iximché en-route to Lake Atitlán.
- Check in and lunch at Hotel Bambú.
- Free time in afternoon to relax at Hotel Bambu’s pool or visit nearby town of Santiago Atitlán.
- Dinner at hotel.
- Optional early-morning bird watching hike – to spot quetzals (Guatemalan national bird).
- Mid-morning boat ride to San Juan La Laguna.
- Witness the natural dye process at local weavers’ cooperative.
- Learn about coffee production by touring a local small plantation; lunch at plantation.
- See a demonstration of San Juan’s unique painting style by a local artist.
- Free time in afternoon.
- Dinner at hotel.
- AM boat ride to Panajachel to meet our bus which will take us to visit another rural ALDEA village.
- Participate with villagers in typical daily activities.
- Return to Antigua in time for traditional cooking class.
- 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.
"What an amazing and unique experience! If I didn't have photographic proof, I might think I dreamed some of it. ALDEA and its sister organization ABPD are partnering with Maya villages in the Guatemalan highlands to transform people's lives, and we were able to witness some of this change. As an all-women group, we felt a strong connection with the women who so generously invited us into their villages and their homes. They honored us by letting us see the joy they take in raising their families and showing us how ABPD's programs are helping them gain more power in their lives and communities. We also explored the historic city of Antigua, watched a Lenten procession unlike anything you'll see in the U.S., met some women entrepreneurs who create exquisite textiles, and found some time to relax by the shores of Lake Atitlán. At every moment, the tour was meticulously planned, so we could just relax and savor the experiences. I loved the deep dive into Guatemalan culture (in one short week!), the kindness of everyone we met on our travels, and the warm, delightful company of my fellow tour members."
Cathy Shapiro, 2024 Tour Participant