JOIN RAINBOW WORLD FUND ON A HUMANITARIAN JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA : July 20-30, 2023 Land of the Mayan People
Learn about the cultural, historical, spiritual, and political realities of the developing world. Explore human rights issues with a people whose traditions span centuries of development.
The Rainbow World Fund Guatemalan Journey is an educational and cultural experience. We will learn from Guatemalans about the realities in their country by visiting projects that serve the Guatemalan people and engaging in social, cultural and artist exchanges. The trip includes visits to diverse communities, meeting with leaders from a variety of fields, spending time with the LGBTQ+ community and learning about their struggles, we will experience great Guatemalan hospitality, and there will be plenty of opportunities to practice your Spanish. The program strives to connect participants with the realities, struggles and hopes that Guatemalans experience each day. We also hope to bridge connections with Americans and Guatemalans to build understanding and partnerships. This will be RWF's eighth trip to Guatemala
Travel With A Purpose
Learn about the cultural, historical, spiritual, and political realities of the developing world.
Explore human rights issues with a people whose traditions span centuries of development.
Experience ancient, colonial, and modern influences that have molded cultures of unique strength
Meet with members of the LGBTQ+ community, artists, and leaders in many fields
Learn about a transgender "underground railroad" that helps transgender women from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras get a new start in life
Visit medical clinics, art institutions
Meet survivors of the 36-year civil war and hear their stories
Participate in Mayan spiritual rituals with local Shamans
Help deliver medical and educational supplies ... be forever changed.
The dates of the trip are July 20-30, 2022. We will be traveling as a humanitarian aid group and our itinerary reflects this. Each journey is unique, and we are still creating the itinerary for the trip.We will be traveling as a humanitarian aid group and our itinerary reflects this. Each journey is unique! Here are a some of the highlights:
Days 1-2: Our itinerary begins in Guatemala City. After we land and gather our suitcase, we will meet our guides Julio, a native of Guatemala, and Doris, a native of Canada, and then we will travel and hour away to La Antigua Guatemala aka Antigua, a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture as well as several ruins of colonial churches. It served as the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala and as the Spanish colonial capital for a time. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The nearly 500-year-old city is surrounded by three volcanoes - it is like being transported back in time. Antigua will be a base for us to visit humanitarian projects and sites of cultural interest. While we are there we will meet with members of the LGBTQ+ community including OTRANS a nonprofit that services the transgender population. OTRANS runs a defacto "underground railroad" that helps transgender woman from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras find safety, supportive community, and work. While in Antigua will have and chance to visit the towns historic plazas, churches, and ruins. We will visit Coaba Farms and learn about organic farming and how climate change is impacting the country.
Days 3-6: We will then head 2.5 hours south to stunning Lake Atitlán - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way there we will stop in Iximche an ancient Mayan City archeological site for a tour. We will stay on the northern shore of Lake Atitlán in the town of Panajachel (aka “Pana”) a cosmopolitan crossroads. The town offer stunning views of the volcanic lake and is a home to many artists. We will stay in Pana for four nights and use it as a base for our adventures.
We will take a day trip to Chichicastenango, a town in the El Quiché Department, known for its traditional K'iche' Maya culture. 98.5% of the municipality's population is indigenous Mayan K'iche. We will visit the 400-year-old church of Santo Tomás and be there for the famous outdoor market - the largest in Central America.
We will take a boat over the lake to San Juan La Laguna one of the villages around the lake. We will visit a coffee project, and the artisans of San Juan, visual artists and see their incredible paintings. We will visit the Natural Dye Weaving Centre and the Chocolate Café.
We will participate in an ancient healing ceremony with a Mayan Shaman. We will learn about the 36-year civil war (1960-1996) and how it continues to impact the country. We will learn about the many forms of mysticism practiced in the area. We will visit a variety of humanitarian projects. There will be an opportunity to hike in the Reserva Natura Atitlan.
We will visit Santa Lucia Utatlan, our guide Julio’s community, and meet the women of the Mayan Skills Project. We will attend a local concert.
Days 7-8: We will travel one hour to the mountain valley city of Quezaltenango and stay there for two nights. On the way there we will go to Chwitiziribal and visit a school and the Fuentes Georginas hot springs. Quezaltenango has a mix of architectural styles from Spanish colonial, to neoclassical, to gothic. Among other highlights we will visit a fair trade weaving cooperative and learn about this ancient tradition.
Day 9-10: We will return to Antigua for the last two nights of our trip. We will meet with the leaders of Transiciones (Transitions) a nonprofit that is dedicated to advancing the rights, dignity and social inclusion of Guatemalans with disabilities by providing mobility equipment and opportunities for independent living. Transiciones makes personalized wheelchairs suitable for local conditions, as well as prosthetic legs and orthotic braces. Most of the staff in the wheelchair factory have mobility impairments from gunshots, polio, motor vehicle accidents, spina bifida or other birth defects. As wheelchair users themselves, they understand the fundamental importance of having the right wheelchair for each user.
There may be be time for an optional trip up to the northern jungle to visit the Tikal - a city and cultural center for ancient Mayan civilization. Many beautiful buildings have been uncovered and many more wait to be discovered. Among the many Maya sites in Central America, Tikal is perhaps the most breathtaking because of the scattered impressive pyramids and buildings which have been restored in an area with many more ruined buildings still enveloped by the jungle. Please let us know ASAP if you are interested in a day trip to Tikal.
Day 11: We depart from Antigua and drive 1 hour to the airport in Guatemala City.
July 20-30, 2023: The trip cost is $2,800 this price includes all hotels and accommodations, in-country transportation by private van, all meals, most gratuities, translation and guide services, speaker’s fees, entrance fees to special events. It does not include round trip air transportation from the USA. Participants can take optional day trip (via airplane) to visit the Mayan ruins and jungle at Tikal. If you are interested in this trip please click this text and send us an email to set up an interview. LEARN MORE HERE!