Highlights of Trip

3 nights in Colonial Antigua
2 nights in Panajachel
2 nights in Quetzaltenango
1 night in Guatemala City
Guatemalan textiles
Indigenous dress
Beautiful Lake Atitlan
Indigenous artists
Market day in Chichicastenango
Cofradia brotherhood
Women's heath programs
Santa Apolonia Orphanage
Colorful native markets
Locally made textiles
Mayan culture and history
Picturesque volcanoes
Great Food!

Iowa Travel Seminar to Guatemala

Welcome to another fascinating travel seminar to beautiful and seductive Guatemala, brought to you by "the Iowa Group." This is our fifth annual trip to Latin America. The cultural-oriented itinerary will give you a close look at the customs, economy, family life, history, and foods of Guatemala.

Nearly half of Guatemala's population are indigenous Maya who have a distinctive dress and language in every village. In San Pedro, you'll meet Mariano Gonzalez Chavajay, a famous indigenous painter. In Solola you will visit a women's textile cooperative where indigenous women weave fabulous clothing.

Guatemala is an enchanting land of staggering beauty.

• The stately colonial architecture of Antigua, Guatemala built early in the sixteenth century.
• Diverse indigenous groups, each speaking their own languages and wearing village-specific clothing.
• Lake Atitlan, surrounded by volcanic peaks and colorful villages.
• The modern metropolis of Guatemala City, with its museums and cultural programs.
• Rugged volcano-topped mountains with terrace farming.
• Beautiful, hand-woven textiles of superb quality.
• Large cities and Maya villages.

Travel Seminar Tuition: $1,495 for 9-days and 8-nights

(Optional group airfare from Des Moines, Iowa to Guatemala City is available for $683.)

Includes: a fully guided tour with translators, all hotels, ground and water transportation in Guatemala, all tips, honorarium fees for all speakers, guidance and admission to museums, and all meals except two "out-on-the town" dinners on your own. A comprehensive booklet on the history and culture of Guatemala is also included.

Please note: This is a strenuous trip. You will walk several miles over very rough cobblestone streets. If you have difficulty walking, this trip is not for you.