Eco-Friendly Travel - Sustainable Expeditions - Guatemala

Minimum Contribution: $1,750

2012 Expedition Dates:

May 5 – 12
September 1 – 8

Project Partner: Long Way Home

Gateway City: Miami

Trip Highlights:

• Roundtrip Air Miami/Guatemala City/Miami

• Roundtrip Airport Transfers

• Day trip to Lake Atitlan

• Accommodations in Comalapa and Antigua

• Three meals a day in Comalapa

• Breakfast daily in Antigua

Optional add-ons:

Adventure tours are available. These include:

• Sightseeing Tours

• Volcano Climbs

• Mountain Bike Tours

• Rock Climbing

• Treetop Canopy Tours

And so much more. Contact us for details.

Please note:

• Add-on flights from any departure city available at an additional charge.

• Airfare portion of package not guaranteed until ticketed.

• No changes to the trip as shown and no refunds will be granted for unused services.
  

The Project:

Construction of a vocational and technical school for the scenic village of Comalapa, Guatemala, utilizing ‘green architecture’ design and recycled waste materials as the primary building materials. The project provides training and an opportunity for schooling for the local community, while addressing a long-standing waste accumulation that surrounded the town.

Background:

The Tecnico Maya school endures persistent problems with obtaining sufficient funding, and the dedicated staff and faculty at the school have sacrificed time and money to provide a multicultural education at a low cost to students, only charging a nominal fee. Teachers often work many months without salary due to lack of funding, along with the substandard building the school currently occupies. Consequently, a private foundation purchased a piece of land in 2008 in Paxan, a village one mile from the center of Comalapa, to build the new Vocational School to alleviate these problems.

The purpose of the Vocational School Project is to provide the young people of Comalapa with marketable skills that will enable them to be responsible citizens and entrepreneurs. There is a severe lack of educational opportunities for teenagers and young adults in rural Guatemala, and this project will give the young people of Comalapa the tools they need to be competitive in the local job market. The Vocational School will educate the local people, create jobs and help combat environmental degradation in Guatemala.

Cultural immersion and making a positive difference in the world are the defining missions of a volunteer vacation with Indian Valley Travel. As international volunteers working side-by-side with local people and fellow volunteers you will make a meaningful contribution. We encourage you to think of your trip as a chance to integrate into the Guatemalan community through various service opportunities while simultaneously taking advantage of the rich cultural opportunities within your grasp.

The trip starts in the gateway airport of Miami, Florida and includes round trip direct air flights to Guatemala City. A short transfer will bring our group to Comalapa, where we will stay during our time working on the school. Lodging will be a combination of the local residences and hotels depending on availability, including three full local meals each day.

After our volunteer work is complete, we travel to spend the last two days of our trip in the Spanish colonial town of La Antigua, an oasis found in the heart of the Guatemalan Highlands. Lodging will be in a local hotel and a continental breakfast is included daily. Our group will have time to enjoy the beautiful country and enjoy optional adventure activities including mountain bike tours, sea kayaking trips, trekking expeditions, volcano climbs and rock climbing tours.