Spanish Schools:

When it comes to learning Spanish, Antigua could very well be the Mecca of Guatemala. There are at least a dozen schools in Antigua, and many offer both home-stay and volunteer opportunities for students. If you’re interested in learning Spanish, the schools here come with good recommendations, as does Antigua itself as a temporary home for Spanish language students. If you are going to be spending some time in Antigua, Home Stays offer an irreplaceable cultural experience, and can also save you money in the long run. We have had a couple schools recommended by foreigners in Antigua, and our current favorite is Spanish School Ixquic.

SPANISH SCHOOL IXQUIC

     Prices: 20 hours of one-on-one lessons/ $115 USD/person

     or $5.75 USD/hour

     Home Stay with Host Famiy: $95/week

     Contact: 7a. Avenida Norte #74

     Phone: +(502) 7832 2404

     Email: info@ixquic.edu.gt

     http://ixquic.edu.gt

 

OTHER SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED BY TRAVELERS:

Spanish Academy Antiguena

Also offers home stays and volunteer opportunities for Students, as well as transportation from the Airport.

(Visit their website for more information)

 Volcan Pacaya Tour:

 

A tourist favorite in Antigua, visiting Volcan Pacaya is a half-day adventure, beginning and ending with hostel-side pick-up and drop-off, if you’re booking through one of Antigua’s numerous Travel Agencies.  Convenience.  If you aren’t planning on booking through an Agency, and want to find your own way, Pacaya is actually much closer to Guatemala City than it is Antigua. But, Guate doesn’t have the same tourist influx as Antigua, and therefore doesn’t offer packed shuttles twice a day, every day. Thus, Pacaya excursions leaving from Antigua are popular and preferred. (If you’ve ventured to Pacaya on your own and want to share the route and the experience, send us an email at info@bordertramp.com)

The price for a shuttle to and from Pacaya is Q65-Q85, from what we’ve seen, depending on the season and perhaps the whim of your travel agency. Sometimes you can find a tour for a little less, but this probably either involves good luck, or a lot of walking to and from various travel agencies. Currently, shuttles leave at 6am, and 2pm. The return times are around 12:30 pm, and 8:30pm, respectively.

The shuttle ride to Pacaya is about an hour and a half, and the hike is also around 1 and a half hours. Maybe 2. If you sign up without asking for information, you might not realize that wearing Chacos to hike a volcano is not the best idea. I’m here to tell you: it’s not the best idea. But, other than slipping a little and stopping to kick the rocks out several times while on top of the volcano, it was not a bad experience. Though an annoyance, improper footwear is not something that would stop me from doing the hike again.

So, from Antigua, you’ll be driving to the town San Fransisco de Sales, home of the entrance to Parque National Volcan Pacaya y Laguna Calderas. Here, in case you were also not informed: You will need to pay the Q50 Entrance Fee to the Park. This is also your last stop for a bathroom before the hike, as well as your last chance to buy water, snacks, etc…(There is also a store on top of the Volcano, which was reported to sell snacks and cervezas. However, they were not open on our afternoon hike. Only in the mornings, we were told. Apparently, while  9am may seem a little early for a beer under most circumstances, being on the top of a Volcano in Guatemala does not fall under the category of “most circumstances”. Cheers.)

Finally, before you start your hike up the Volcano, there will likely be 6-10 kids running around with walking sticks, which they wish to sell to you for Q5. While on your hike uphill you may find it somewhat cumbersome and unnecessary, once you reach the top of the volcano and are navigating a descent on what feels like a sand dune, only interspersed with large rocks, you may be grateful for your Q5 purchase. Don’t become too attached, however, as the same children will be waiting for you to give back your stick upon your return to the park entrance.

Also check out Emily’s Story on Climbing Volcan Pacaya.

Caoba Farms:

For anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, organic farming practices, or ecotourism, Caoba Farms is a must-visit while in Antigua. Located walking distance from town, their shop is open daily, and at great prices they sell fresh, organic produce, as well as a number of other organic products including: chocolate, kombucha, honey, eggs, meat, granola, teas, jams, herbal medicinals, natural cleaning products, and more. While you can walk around their 3-acre plot while visiting the store, in order to learn anything about the farm and to appreciate the magnitude of their work and their vision for sustainable, healthy, community-centered agriculture, the tour is a must.

A walk around the farm will go something like this: Wow, that lettuce looks gorgeous…I wonder what that is growing over there…this flower smells nice…cool chickens…I wonder what they do with those… etc.

On the other hand, an hour and a half tour will explain the Big Picture at Caoba: how it all started, what their future plans are, how they are working with (and providing work for) local indigenous communities, how they have adapted their growing practices to the local climate and growing conditions, why compost is so important, how they make it, what they use for natural pesticides and insecticides, how they conserve and manage water, where their seeds come from, who is buying their food, and why you don’t need to ask Google for answers when you have a wealth of knowledge that has been preserved, and practiced, sometimes for centuries, available in the surrounding mountain towns and villages.

Using Mayan farming practices as one of their models for sustainable agriculture, Caoba Farms produces healthy, abundant harvests of over 100 types of produce year-round. (By the way, I saw no sign of a single pest or harmful insect anywhere on the farm.) This results in a farm that is self-sustaining financially, and very nearly completely self-sufficient. They estimate that at present, 80% of what the farm consumes, it also produces. Their goal is 90% or higher. Now in it’s ninth year, Caoba Farms is a model for sustainable farming, and offers an invaluable learning opportunity for anyone, from any country, interested in learning more about why what you eat, and where it comes from, matters.

Interested in visiting? See below for information on tours, and contact the farm to make a reservation. Did we mention the tour guides are great? Extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and not lacking in a sense of humor.

Interested in hands-on learning? Caoba Farms works with volunteers, both short and long-term. If visiting Antigua for any length of time, see contact information below to ask about opportunities.

Contact Information:

5 ave Sur, final (see map in Photos for exact location)

Phone: 7832 9201 or 5203 8473

Email: info@caobafarms.com

www.caobafarms.com

Tour Information:

Available Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tours meet at 3pm in the Central Park, at Cafe Condeza.

You will need to call ahead for a reservation and to check current schedules and availability.

Phone: 5685 7286

Price: Q50

Extended tours, which could include the two additional Caoba Farm Properties, as well as other farms in the region, are also available through Caoba.

Prices vary depending on tour. Call or email Caoba Farms for details.  (Extended tours available only by request.)

 

GETTING // GOING          •          SLEEPING          •          EATING          •         DOING          •         OUR STORY

Take me back to ANTIGUA // Take me back to GUATEMALA // Take me HOME