EXPERIENCE
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT ON THIS ADVENTURE
Head to Parque Central to meet your guide and take a journey through the history of Antigua – beginning with local Maya, Spanish conquistadores, and numerous missionaries, through the complete abandonment of the city in the 1700s, and on to the restoration of the city and the inception of the tourist mecca it is today.
Start at the bus depot beyond the market to board a bus for nearby village of San Andrés Itzapa and the office of Bici-tec. The founder Carlos will welcome you to the awesome world of human-powered bici-maquinas. You learn how bici-maquinas are built and the many possible uses for power-generating bicycles, and meet his students from around the world.
Meet up with a guide from the Frijol Feliz cooking school for a visit to the outdoor market. We continue on to the Frijol Feliz kitchen for a cooking class where you will learn how to prepare a traditional Guatemalan dish.
Travel by public bus just outside Antigua to the village of San Miguel Escobar. After a small trek uphill from the bus stop you meet a local farmer who guides you to their farm, teaches you all the stages of farming coffee, and then bring you back to their home to roast and grind coffee by hand. Many farmers in San Miguel decorate their home with Maya artifacts found while farming on the slopes of the Agua volcano.
Drop into performance art classes at The Los Patojos School, and learn how this local changemaker went from an after-school program in the founder’s house to a functioning school with a bakery, a clinic, and a new restaurant to better serve the community.
As a group board make your way down towards the local dock, stopping a block short, just outside the wooden gates of Asociacion Q’omaneel. A local, Mayan woman will guide you through the garden inside, educating you on local, medicinal plants and their uses, as well as demonstrating how to prepare some plants for use.
From the Panajachel docks it is a short shuttle ride to La Reserva Natural Atitlán – a locally-owned nature park with numerous walking trails showcasing local wildlife such as monkeys and coatis, featuring a walk-in butterfly garden complete with displays on all the stages of caterpillar-to-butterfly growth, and a zip-line course with 8 different cables crossing the San Buenaventura Valley, with fantastic views of Lake Atitlán and the volcanoes beyond.
Weave your way through the small paths of San Marcos to the Eastern edge of town, where your trek really begins. Pass through forest and farmland along ancient Kaqchikel Maya pathways by the lakeshore as you hike toward Santa Cruz la Laguna, with stops in the villages of Tzununa and Jaibalito along the way. Hike time: 4 hours.
As a group walk from the guesthouse through San Juan to the LEMA Cooperative building. Rosa, the leader of the cooperative, will tour the shop to show classic works as well as modern designs, and will demonstrate the traditional weaving process. Afterwords cooperative members will lead the way to another LEMA Cooperative building where everyone will take part in the traditional dyeing process – boiling cloth with local plants for fantastic colors.
In Tzununa, follow your guide (via tuk tuk) to the Granja Tz’ikin Permaculture farm, then on to Atitlán Organics. Over the course of the morning you will see chickens, ducks, bees, and over 200 plants being farmed, and you will learn both about permaculture and farming practice that are good for Guatemala and for at home.
We choose to stay in modest guesthouses, owned and operated by Guatemalans. Families can expect rustic yet clean quarters, similar to a hostel standard, but welcoming of children.
In Antigua, travelers will stay at Hostel Antigueño in the east side of the city. It’s doors open out onto the very walkable Alameda Santa Rosa, with the path to the best overlook of the city (Cerro de la Cruz) just a block to the north, and Parque Central a few blocks to the southwest. The guesthouse has a beautiful interior courtyard for gathering, playing games, relaxing in the garden, dining at the outdoor tables, or hopping on the wifi.
In San Juan, families will stay at Hotel Mayachik’. The guesthouse is on the edge of San Juan – just up the slope from the main road, removed enough to feel a world away. Multiple bungalows dot the property with a central restaurant building, plenty of space to play and explore, and natural beauty all around. Though it is on the edge of town, San Juan la Laguna is a small enough village that everything is still a matter of minutes away on foot.
At both guesthouses, each family will have one private room that features a combination of double, single or bunk beds, depending on the number of people. Bathrooms are shared but a ensuite bathroom can be arranged for an additional fee.
Breakfast is provided each morning at the guesthouse. Families can choose their meal each day from a small, set menu offered by the kitchen and place the order when ready to eat. These will include a typical local breakfast of eggs with veggies, beans, tortillas and a Guate take on pancakes and fruit.
Lunch is on your own each day. This gives every family the opportunity to visit restaurants, cafes and street vendors wherever their daily adventures take them. You can seek out familiar, comfort foods or to find more unique local dishes.
Dinner is served family-style at the guesthouse each evening with a featured dish. Vegetarian options are always available. Meals may include a regional veggie stew called pepián, stuffed-tortillas known as pupusas, Guatemalan tostadas, banana leaf-wrapped tamales, and meats a la plancha.
Airport Transfers
For trip arrival and departure, private car service is arranged for each family between the airport and Antigua. This drive takes about 1 hour.
Around Town
Everything within Antigua is an easy to moderate walk away – though tuk-tuks are always an option for getting around within the city if the cobblestones become too tiring. For day trips outside Antigua, families utilize the public transportation alongside their guides: fantastically-painted camionetas or smaller taxi vans.
San Juan la Laguna is a small village with everything within 5-10 minutes walking distance. Neighboring villages are easily reached via tuk tuk, and for further destinations we board boat taxis to cross Lake Atitlán.
The Worldschool Leader and Local Guides are familiar with public transport and can help you understand how to use it.
Antigua <–> Lake Atitlan
Private shuttle van service will be arranged for our group of travelers for transport between Antigua and San Juan at Lake Atitlan. This drive takes about 3 hours and will include a stop for snacks, restrooms and views.
On most days during the trip your Worldschool Leader will host an after-breakfast Morning Meeting to answer questions, address concerns and share any new information. The whole family is encouraged to participate but it is always optional. Any important updates will also be shared via SMS or WhatsApp to every traveling adult throughout the trip.
Several afternoons throughout the trip, Kids Camp is hosted at the guesthouse or nearby park. Participating children are led in curated activities, games or sports, supervised by The Worldschool Leader and supported by local educators. Parents can choose to accompany their children or drop them off and enjoy some childfree time.
We intentionally take a slow travel approach to our schedule. This means that we leave ample time and space each day for families to explore on their own, relax and reflect, or accomplish any tasks that need doing. The daily itinerary specifies all group activities. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as you please. We encourage each family not to pre-plan this time. Sometimes the greatest delights are the ones you stumble upon unexpectantly. The Worldschool Leader, guesthouse staff, workshop experts and tour guides all can offer recommendations of where else to go, what to do or how to find what you need on the day.
To Be Announced