This cultural tour will take place in 4 different locations. We will visit an artisanal blown glass factory, natural hot springs, and two cultural towns. The time´s short for all the activities we get the chance to do in one day. After picking you up at the lobby of your hotel in the central area of Xela, we will depart to our first location: COPAVIC. The ride will only last 30 minutes.COPAVIC is a Mayan cooperative where the members collaborate in creating different glass-based products.
Indigenous people take care of the planet, and seeing the great necessity of using recycled products to reduce our carbon footprint, the cooperative decided to use recycled glass.
The recycled glass is collected and using a high-heat oven, they melt the glass. Using special techniques such as glass blowing, they create beautiful tableware and house ornaments.
Learn about this process directly with the people who work on this on a daily basis and who put so much love and passion into every piece they create. If you wish you can buy a piece you like, they also ship internationally, mainly in Italy and other parts of Europe.The ride to get to Fuentes Georginas is just 30 minutes from COPAVIC. These natural hot springs are at the base of the Zunil Volcano, and it´s the volcano where the hot water comes from. Many people come here claiming the healing powers of the hot springs. We assure you that you will spend some quality time submerged in hot relaxing water, like a spa surrounded by lots of nature. By the way, this is a great place for pictures!Lunch will be served in the restaurant of Fuentes Georginas. That is a cozy home-style restaurant, and all its ingredients are produced locally. Taste the flavor and enjoy your meal. If you have special requirements for your food, please don´t hesitate to let us know so we can coordinate something special for you.Getting to the Mayan town of Zunil will take us less than half an hour. The population of Zunil is mainly Maya. They keep all their traditions since before the arrival of the Spanish conquers, so you will be fascinated to see how their day-to-day life is, visit their local vegetable market, the central plaza, and their church, which is very similar to the church of La Merced in Antigua.Almolonga is pretty known for their big-size vegetables. Due to the volcano´s minerals, the soil is very fertile, which their inhabitants consider a blessing from God. Usually, people from other parts of the world, and even some parts of Guatemala, receive only 2-3 harvests through the year. People in Almolonga receive 8 harvests of the best vegetables during the year! It is amazing. Fall in love with their gentle people, their traditions, culture, traditional clothing, and their market.At the end of the tour, we will return to your hotel safe and sound. All biosecurity protocols are followed before, during, and after your tour so you can enjoy it to the fullest. We hope that as we do, you fall in love with these places and that you return happy and relaxed.
