ITINERARIES

ANTIGUA

Surrounded by three towering volcanoes, Antigua is a grid of cobblestone streets and pastel facades that obscure a wealth of cafes, hotels, language schools, restaurants, and local craft stores. From modern shops with colorful storefronts to indigenous women selling goods in the streets, you will see many sides of Guatemala in Antigua. We will explore the city, complete an exciting photographic scavenger hunt, take dance classes, climb volcanoes and more.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND HOMESTAY

We will spend the majority of our time in Guatemala in a small and friendly community in the beautiful hills above Lake Atitlan. Students will live with Mayan families while improving their Spanish, learning the basics of K’iche’ and, most importantly, experience this colorful culture firsthand. Students will eat their meals with their homestay families and get the chance to perfect their tortilla making and dress in traditional Mayan clothing. We understand the thought of living with another family can be intimidating, we believe that homestays are extremely rewarding and students will have their choice to be paired or stay with their own family. Walking Tree has carefully selected each host family to ensure a safe, nurturing and enriching environment.
A highlight of our time in Guatemala will be working alongside a local non-profit Walking Tree helped to create. Our projects aim to benefit the community as a whole and will likely necessitate construction as well as other less labor-intensive skills. When not working on the community service projects, students can take Mayan cultural classes, have free time to spend with their families, practice Spanish, play soccer, make friends with local youth, and attend community gatherings.

LAKE ATITLAN

A contender for one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Lake Atitlán is a longtime highlight of travel in Central America. Visitors are taken by the sheer beauty of the ultra-blue water set against the towering volcanoes ringing the lake. Small villages dot the lake, offering endless opportunity for exploration. Hiking, swimming and kayaking are wonderful pastimes along with relaxing in the comforts of our impressive hotel.

CHICHICASTENANGO

Generally, Chichicastenango is a sleepy, quiet town devoid of tourism, content to enjoy the great views of the surrounding highlands. This calm is shattered twice a week as one of Guatemala’s best markets comes to life. Every Sunday and Thursday merchants, tourists, photographers, and local Mayans take to the streets in a near sensory overload of colors, sounds, smells, and crowds. With some savvy as well as tactful negotiations conducted in Spanish, most people leave here with fond memories and a souvenir or two to take home.

TIKAL

As the trees clear and Tikal’s principal temple emerges from the jungle at a towering 180 feet, the grandiosity of this mega-city build around 700 AD becomes obvious. Slowly it becomes easy to imagine Mayan priests honoring one of their gods or women going about their daily chores in one of the many market squares. Tikal perseveres as the most impressive Mayan archaeology site and bears witness to the greatness of this ancient empire. Our group will spend time in one of the world’s most biodiverse jungles exploring ancient ruins, visiting a wild animal refuge and taking boat rides through the tropical landscape.