Get creative
Organize your art supplies and get to crafting. Consider painting Antigua’s Santa Catalina Arch, making a set of worry dolls, or recreating the famous alfombras seen during Semana Santa.
Need more inspiration? Check out these virtual tours of sights around Antigua, Guatemala.
Pick a film
Watch a movie that relates to your destination. Some ideas for Guatemala include:
- Ixcanul (2015)
- 500 Years: Life in Resistance (2017)
- Living on One Dollar (2013)
Study some history
Dive deep into the history of specific sites you’ll visit on tour. Study ancient history of the Mayan people, the period of Spanish rule, or the 36-year-long civil war that defined Guatemala’s modern history. Then, tour some of Guatemala’s most famous spots, like Tikal and Lake Atitlan in this video.
Choose a book
Read and discuss a book that takes place in your destination or describes the local culture. Pick from titles like:
- Bitter Fruit by Stephen Schlesinger
- I, Rigoberta Menchú by Elizabeth Burgos and Rigoberta Menchú
- Mr. President by Miguel Ángel Asturias
Fill up your plate
Arrange a potluck and encourage your friends to bring a traditional dish from your destination. Know a chef? Hold a virtual cooking class with your travel group or support a local restaurant that offers delivery/take-out of your destination’s cuisine. Try chicken pepián, kak’ik, or pupusas. Don’t forget to have some Guatemalan coffee and chocolate, as well!
Learn the language
Call up a friend or set up a group video chat and practice your language skills. It helps to make flashcards with common sayings to use on the phone or throughout your travels (think about ordering at restaurants, buying souvenirs, and chatting with locals).
Did you know?
Old American school buses live their second lives as chicken buses in Guatemala. When big yellow American school buses near 10 years or clock in 150,000 miles, some are auctioned off and driven down to the country, where they’re revived by locals with strokes of paint in every color of the rainbow.
Meet Your Partner in Travel
Lesley lived and worked in Antigua, Guatemala in 2011 and 2012. Guatemala became a second home to her and still holds a very special place in her heart. She found the people there to be the friendliest you will ever meet. Guatemala truly has something for everyone. Antigua is a quaint Spanish colonial town with lots of international flair. A 3-hour drive to the west will bring you to the mystical Lake Atitlan which is surrounded by volcanos and picturesque small towns. In a 1-hour flight to the north, you will be at the gates of Tikal, a famous site of ancient Mayan ruins. If the ocean is for you, it is just a 2-hour drive south to incredible black sand beaches on the Pacific.