Mayans & Mountains
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Trip Highlights
- House building for a needy family
- Colonial Antigua
- Lake Atitlan’s villages
- The Sunday markets of Chichicastenango
- Tikal’s ancient Mayan ruins
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
Build houses for needy families outside of Antigua. There are also great projects for people with specialist skills, such as doctors and pharmacists.
Trip Summary
The beautiful colonial town (and former capital) of Antigua is the perfect setting for a meaningful volunteer project, some Spanish lessons and to delve into a new culture.
Spend six memorable days helping build a house for a needy family.This should prove to be the highlight of your trip, as you encounter the 'real' Guatemala, and interact meaningfully with incredibly poor, but strong, content families. Gain an insight into their lives and provide them with a better living environment, which in turn helps them avoid illness and offers a foundation from which to pursue education.
After six fulfilling days, you have a rest in the morning before a hike up Pacaya volcano in the afternoon. This volcano is active, and you should see lava flows.
Spend a day on a private boat cruising thestunning Lake Atitlan and explore picturesque villages along the lake shore. As you relax on the lake shore over dinner you will understand why Aldous Huxley, described it as the most beautiful in the world.
Visit the colorful indigenous market of Chichicastenango or Solola, both great for people watching and picking up handcrafts.
Trip Extension, Mystical Mayan ruins of Tikal:
The charming town of Flores is your next stop, with its pastel colored buildings, overlooking Lake Peten Itza. A relaxing day here is followed by a magical day at the ancient Mayan ruins of the Tikal World Heritage site.
Tikal was one of the major cultural and population centers of the Maya civilization. Though monumental architecture at the site dates to the 4th century BC, Tikal reached its height during the Classic Period, ca. 200 to 900 AD, during which time the site dominated the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica, such as central Mexican center of Teotihuacan.
The ruins lie among lowland rainforest. Howler monkeys, harpy eagles, falcons, toucans, green parrots and leafcutter ants can be seen here regularly. Jaguars and cougars are also said to roam in the park. For centuries this city was completely covered under jungle. Come and explore with your expert guide!
For a full trip description PDF click here
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
Ecuador - Galapagos & Volcanoes
Feel free to contact us if you have any enquiries about this trip.
