The color and culture of Guatemala unfold as you witness centuries-old traditions during Holy Week. Semana Santa has been called the biggest holiday in Guatemala, the most beautiful religious celebration in the Americas, and the largest Holy Week observance in the Western Hemisphere. Celebrations happen throughout the country during Lent, but in La Antigua Guatemala, the days leading up to Easter Sunday, you will see the most colorful religious processions.
Local markets are the main economic focus of the towns in the highlands of Guatemala. In the Indian villages and towns they are also a social and cultural event second only to the local fiesta day or holiday. Market days draw people from all around the vicinity.
Monday – April
2nd Arrive Guatemala City
Upon arrival to Guatemala City airport, be on the lookout for our
representative just outside the arrival building holding a Guatemala
Boutique sign. Transportation to the Lake Atitlan area will take
approximately 3 hours. For the next two nights you will stay at Hotel
Posada de Don Rodrigo in Panajachel.
Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlán is one of the most beautiful of all the high mountain lakes in the Central America landscape. Situated at 5,123 feet above sea level, this azure blue lake is 1,050 feet deep and 80 square miles in area, and is surrounded by three spectacular volcanoes, Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro. More than 85 thousand years ago, a volcanic eruption wiped all forms of life leaving a huge crater that later created "the most beautiful lake in the world" as novelist Aldous Huxley referred to it when he visited Guatemala. Atitlán is a Nahuatl word for "place of water".
Twelve
Indian villages named for the twelve apostles surround Lake Atitlán.
Half of the villages around the lake are occupied by Maya Cakchiquel
inhabitants, while the other half belongs to Maya-Tzutujil people.
According to an ancient Cakchiquel legend, the lake, which originally
belonged entirely to the Tzutujils, was divided between the two
groups after Gagavitz, the first great Cakchiquel leader hurled
himself into the lake and changed into Gucumatz, the feathered
serpent god of the Mayas. As recorded in the Annals of the Cakchiquels, “the
waters darkened, and then a north wind blew and a whirlpool formed
in the water that moved the surface of the lake”.
Upon witnessing this display of power, the Tzutujils agreed to
give half of their lake to the Cakchiquels.
Overnight: Posada
de Don Rodrigo – Panajachel
Hotel
Posada de Don Rodrigo is situated on the edge of Lake Atitlán.
The hotel has 39 rooms, a restaurant, bar and a lakeside
swimming pool. While colonial in style, the hotel features
modern facilities
and attentive service.
La Posada de Don Rodrigo,
Panajachel
Tuesday – April
3rd Sololá market, San Juan la Laguna
and Santiago village
Today at 8:30am, your guide and driver will meet you in the
hotel lobby to travel to the village of Sololá (approximately
30 minutes) and the Tuesday Market, known throughout the country
for
quality textiles and weaving of traditional huipiles - handmade
blouses embroidered with bright motifs.
After
a morning at the market, you will be transferred back to Panajachel
and take a private boat to San Juan La Laguna, an authentic
Maya village, located at the shore of the lake. And finally by
boat to
the village of Santiago Atitlán for a walking tour which
includes a visit to the Maya God Maximon, a kind of half devil,
half god.
Overnight: Posada de Don Rodrigo - Panajachel
Wednesday – April 4th Chichicastengo Market and
on to Antigua
Only during Holy Week is the famous market at Chichi held on Wednesdays
and you will get the opportunity to visit the market in this morning
before heading to Antigua. The drive from Panajachel is about 30
minutes, so by leaving by 8:00 am you will have the whole morning
to explore the market. Many think that this market is the best in
Guatemala. In the
afternoon, you will drive to the Colonial town called La Antigua
Guatemala, about 3 hours drive.
Antigua
Guatemala
The city
of La Antigua Guatemala is the most representative of the colonial
era. Founded
in 1543, La Antigua was once the third most important Spanish colony
in the Americas, ruling over what is now southern Mexico and all
of Central America. It was home to more than 30 monastic orders,
which built elaborate monasteries, convents and cathedrals within
the town's relatively small area. But the city was prey to frequent
earthquakes and tumbled buildings were often reconstructed, until
1773 when La Antigua was destroyed and the capital subsequently
moved to its present location of Guatemala City. The city's original
name was Santiago de los Caballeros and the town fair is still
celebrated on the saint's day for Santiago, July 25. The town has
evolved the most elaborate Easter week celebration in the hemisphere
with daily processions passing over intricate carpets made of colored
sawdust and flowers. Three volcanoes, Agua, Fuego and Acatenango,
tower over the city, providing a spectacular view above the vine-covered
stucco walls painted with Mediterranean colors.
Nestled
in a mountain valley and surrounded by evergreen forests, Antigua
retains the aura of the 17th Century capital that it
was, while blending modern amenities that make it an internationally
appealing getaway. Walking along cobblestone streets, visitors
find high-end
art galleries, fascinating museums, luxurious shops with international
treasures and traditional markets packed to the rafters with
locally
made textiles and woodcrafts.
Overnight: Posada
de Don Rodrigo – La Antigua Guatemala
Posada
de Don Rodigo, Antigua
Located just one block from Antigua's central park, La Posada de Don Rodrigo is the epitome of a colonial house, situated in three ancient houses, including La Casa de los Leones, registered as an historic monument. The rooms are uniquely furnished with authentic prints, locally crafted furniture, fireplaces, and high ceilings. Each room has a private bath. La Antigua, the restaurant at Don Rodrigo, is considered one of the best in the area. They prepare dishes of great Antigua tradition as well as a menu of international cuisine. During lunch and dinner, you may enjoy the cheerful sound of marimba music.
Thursday – April 5th Walking tour of Antigua Guatemala
At 9:00am, your guide will meet you in the lobby for a walking tour of the colonial town of La Antigua Guatemala. You will probably visit the church and monastery of San Francisco, the convent of Capuchinas and the plaza de Armas or la Merced church. In the afternoon the group will be able to observe the final touches being made to the alfombras followed by the procession from San Francisco Church.
Carpets – Alfombras:
There are two type of carpets (alfombras) made during
Semana Santa. Residents along the route who invite friends and
family to assist
them make the carpets along the processional route.
The carpets in the churches are made for the holy vigils (velaciones)
and are made
by the brotherhoods (hermandades). Velaciones are held
in the churches that have religious activities during the holiday.
The carpets are
made in front of the religious figure on display and
are surrounded by fruits, vegetables and candles brought as offerings
to the church
the day before. The carpets along the processional
route
are made during the 24 hours prior to the procession. If more
than one procession
goes down a street a new carpet is made for each procession.
Carpets express both religious as well as contemporary messages
in the designs.
Preparations for the carpets begin weeks, sometimes
months, ahead. Sand or sawdust is generally used to level the cobblestone
roadway.
Sawdust is then collected and dyed in different colors.
Favorite colors are purple, green, blue, red, yellow and black.
Flowers such
as bougainvillea, chrysanthemums, carnations, roses
and
other native plants and pine needles are also used.
Carpets are started the day before the procession and the construction
is timed such that the carpets are finished just before the
carriers of the float arrive so that carpet looks its best.
The carriers of the main float are the first ones allowed
to walk over the carpet, followed the rest of the procession
Overnight: Posada de Don Rodrigo – La Antigua Guatemala
Friday – April
6th The Processions
Early in the morning today, approximately at 6:00 am, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and accompany you to observe the final touches being made to the alfombras, followed by the largest procession from La Merced Church. Thousands of visitors and faithful gather in front of La Merced to witness this procession, the most solemn and largest of the Lent and Holy week processions.
At 1:00pm, the ceremony of the enactment of the crucifixion of
Christ at San Jose Cathedral starts in front of the Central
park. At 4:00pm,
a very solemn procession leaves the San Felipe
church with the sculpture of Señor Sepultado and
la Virgen de Soledad. The Christ figure is carried on the
shoulders of 80 carriers at a time, most
of whom wear black robes, all men carriers wear
the cucurucho hat and carry lanterns to light the way.
Processions – Procesiones: The religious processions are organized and carried out by the brotherhoods. The brotherhoods (las hermandades) were originally called cofradías
and are religious organizations. The brotherhoods
are either men or women, not both. It is thought
that the carriers (cucuruchos)
participated solely as a form of penance. Today
there is some degree of social status involved
but the principal motivation is still a
show of devotion by the carriers. Each procession
leaves from its church and follows a route through
the streets of Antigua before
returning to the church several hours later.
Purple is the color of the robes worn by the carriers
up to Good Friday, and then the robes are black
to signify mourning.
Thousands of processional carriers participate
in the processions. They are all members of
the brotherhood
that cares for the particular sculpture. Some
have participated in processions all their
lives.
Processions generally begin with incense carriers
and the brotherhood's banner, followed by
the carriers and the float (anda). Carriers will
carry the float
for a block and then a new group will take
their turn. Each turn is determined by the
carriers'
shoulder height to ensure that the float
is balanced. This
is very important as the floats can weigh
as much as 7,000 pounds (3,150 kilograms.)
A block behind the main float, the women
carry a smaller float (size is relative here)
with
the figure
of the Virgin Mary. The women wear white
in their procession before Good Friday. Following
behind
is a funeral March band and two additional
floats carrying
the sculptures of San Juan and Maria Magdalena.
Overnight: Posada de Don Rodrigo – La Antigua
Guatemala
Saturday – April
7th Coffee farm visit - Farewell dinner
in a local restaurant
This morning the group will travel a short way out of Antigua to
visit the Filadelfia Coffee Finca. Filadelfia
has been producing fine coffee for more than 100 years and has endured
revolutions,
devastating earthquakes and a series of
frosts that destroyed Antigua’s
entire crop twice, in 1881 and 1895. Despite
this, Filadelfia continues to be a leading producer of bird friendly
coffee grown in the shades
of gravillea trees. You will have the afternoon
free in Antigua. In the evening
the group will dine together at a local restaurant.
Overnight: Posada de Don Rodrigo – La Antigua Guatemala
Sunday – April
8th Departure Day
This morning you will be transferred to the airport in Guatemala City,
approximately 1 hour away.
Price per person:
$ 900.00 in double room
$ 1200.00 in single room
Includes:
- Room at
Posada de Don Rodrigo including taxes and maid’s
tips
- Private
AC transportation
- Private
guide for entire trip
- Entrance
fees on Tours to sites mentioned
- Daily
breakfast and farewell dinner, including gratuity
- Applicable
taxes (not included: airport fees and departure taxes)
NOT
Included:
- Airfare
- Tips
and gratuities
- Accommodation
- Snacks
and beverages – No drinks have been included
at meals (only coffee,
tea and water)
- Personal
expenses
About
Guatemala …
Climate & Clothing
Weather conditions vary considerable from season to season as
well as from region to region. Dry season is from late October
to early May, rainy season is regular from May to October.
Temperatures are mild and vary a little during the year.
Spring clothes, comfortable walking shoes, warm sweater or
jacket are recommended.
Population & Language
There are approximately 12 million inhabitants. The population is a mixture of Indigenous and Spanish descendents. There is also a population of foreign residents. Spanish is the official language but more than 20 Indian dialects are spoken throughout the country. Healthcare & Water
There are modern, clean, and sanity conditions and facilities found in most parts of the country. Bottled water is recommended. Tap water is generally not safe to drink unless it has been boiled, filtered or treated.
Electricity & Communications
110 volt AC is found in most of the country, few locations have 220 volts. International direct dial service is available, fax, cable TV, radio and Internet services are easily found. The country code for Guatemala is 502.
Credit
Cards & Currency
Exchange
All major credit cards are accepted and
traveler’s checks and U.S. Dollars can be exchanged at most banks. The local currency is “Quetzal”, named for the national bird. U.S. dollars are now accepted as legal currency. Exchange rate fluctuates, so any service that you’ll
purchase will be charged at the applicable
exchange rate at the date of the transaction.
Taxes
Goods and services are subject to 12% value-added
tax. Hotels have an additional
10% tourism tax. Generally a 10% tip is appropriate
for restaurants. It’s recommended
to ask if tips are included since
some establishments add it to the
bill. Departing
air passengers
pay US$30.00 and US$3.00 airport
security tax.
Time Zone
Guatemala is 6 hours behind Greenwich Meridian Time (-6 GMT) and does not observe daylight-saving time.
A
Brief History of Guatemala
(From
infoplease.com)
Once
the site of the impressive ancient Mayan
civilization, Guatemala was conquered by
Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in
1524 and became a republic in 1839 after
the United Provinces of Central America collapsed.
From 1898 to 1920, dictator Manuel Estrada
Cabrera ran the country, and from 1931 to
1944, Gen. Jorge Ubico Castaneda served as
strongman.
After
Ubico's overthrow in 1944 by the “October
Revolutionaries,” a group
of left-leaning students and professionals,
liberal-democratic coalitions led by Juan
José Arévalo (1945–1951)
and Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán (1951–1954)
instituted social and political reforms
that strengthened the peasantry and
urban workers
at the expense of the military and
big landowners, like the U.S.-owned
United Fruit Company.
With covert U.S. backing,
Col. Carlos Castillo Armas led a coup
in 1954, and Arbenz took refuge in
Mexico. A
series of repressive regimes followed,
and by 1960 the
country was plunged into a civil war
between military governments, right-wing
vigilante
groups, and leftist rebels that would
last 36
years, the longest civil war in Latin
American history. Death squads murdered
an estimated
50,000 leftists and political opponents
during the 1970s. In 1977, the U.S.
cut off military
aid to the country
because of its egregious human rights
abuses. The right-wing death squads
singled out the
indigenous Mayan Indians for special
brutality. By the end of the war, 200,000
citizens were
dead.
A
succession of military juntas dominated during
the civil war, until a new constitution was
passed and civilian Marco Vinicio Cerezo
Arévalo was elected and took office
in 1986. Jorge Serrano Elías followed
him in 1991. In 1993, Serrano moved to dissolve
Congress and the Supreme Court and suspend
constitutional rights, but the military deposed
Serrano and allowed the inauguration of Ramiro
de Leon Carpio, the former attorney general
for human rights. President Álvaro
Arzú Irigoyen
finally signed a peace agreement in Dec.
1996.
In
1999, a Guatemalan truth commission blamed
the army for 93% of the atrocities and the
rebels (the Guatemalan National Revolutionary
Unit) for 3%. The former guerrillas apologized
for their crimes,
and President Clinton apologized for U.S.
support of the right-wing military governments.
The army has not acknowledged its guilt.
Alfonso
Portillo Cabrera, closely associated with
the former dictatorship of Efrain Rios Montt
(1982–1983), became president in Jan.
2000. In Aug. 2000, Portillo apologized
for the former government's human rights
abuses and pledged to prosecute those responsible
and
compensate victims.
To
stimulate the economy, Guatemala, along with
El Salvador and Honduras, signed a free trade
agreement with Mexico in June 2000. In Aug.
2001, plans for tax increases prompted widespread,
and often violent, protests. In July 2003,
the country's highest court ruled that former
coup leader and military dictator Rios Montt,
responsible for the massacre of tens of thousands
of civilians during the civil war, was eligible
to run for president in November. The ruling
conflicted with the constitution, which bans
anyone who seized power in a coup from running
for the presidency. But in November, two
candidates, conservative Oscar Berger and
center-leftist Alvaro Colom soundly defeated
Rios Montt. In the runoff election in December,
Berger was elected president.
In
2005, the government ratified a free-trade
agreement (CAFTA) with the U.S.
RESERVATIONS
Panama
Boutique™
PO Box 2388, Austin, TX 78768-2388
Tel: 512-217-4814, 217-4836
panamaboutique@yahoo.com
