Storytelling Expedition to Guatemala

Arrival to Guatemala. You are met at the Guatemala City International Airport by a private driver to our guesthouse in the nearby city of Antigua. The remaining day is spent settling in or exploring the “old city.” Our crew of storytellers gathers for the first time at a welcome dinner, hosted by your Actuality producer.

We depart via private shuttle, headed to Central Guatemala, near the village of Lanquín to the site of Tuqtuquilal. This epic drive through the Guatemalan countryside takes about 7 hours and we stop for lunch break along the way. Upon arrival we check in and meet leaders from Tuqtuquilal who tour us around the property and give us a short presentation of their mission, objectives and challenges. Tuqtuquilal is a regenerative center that promotes community development through artisan production, organic agriculture, ecotourism and community education. In the evening, we discuss storytelling ideas and strategy, putting together a production plan for the following day.

Our crew spends the day documenting the usual sights and scenes around Tuqtuquilal with video and photography. We also interview people whose personal story or perspective help bring the project to life. In the evening, we gather to review all the footage and discuss our learnings, struggles and successes.

Now, we continue deeper into off-the-beaten path Guatemala towards the Caribbean coast to the community of Ak’Tenamit. A private shuttle transports our crew to the town of Rio Dulce, approximately 5 hours driving. Upon arrival to Rio Dulce we take the boat up river for a 45 minute ride. Surrounded by lush vegetation and home to small mammals, crocodiles, manatees and pelagic birds; Río Dulce offers scenic views and a panoramic boat ride all the way to the Tatín river branch where Ak’Tenamit is located. Once we arrive, we are welcomed by the community of Ak’Tenamit. Ak’Tenamit, which means “New Village’ in the Q’eqchi’ language, is a sustainable development project in Eastern Guatemala on the Dulce River which is entirely Indigenous-led. The project includes a school, healthcare clinic and dignified job training. In the evening, we discuss storytelling ideas and strategy and put together a production plan for the following day.

Our crew spends the day documenting the usual sights and scenes around Ak’tenamit with video and photography. We also interview people whose personal story or perspective help bring the project to life. In the evening, we gather to review all the footage and discuss our learnings, struggles and successes.

The morning brings another 45 minute boat ride that transports us from Ak’Tenamit to Rio Dulce followed by a shuttle ride down back inland. The 7 hour drive journey brings us back near Antigua, to the nearby community of San Antonio Aguas Calientes. You check in to your lodging, a family homestay experience, which is part of a women-led community-based accommodations network. Once we settle in, we document our experience with photo/video to share with the homestay network to help further their work. The evening is free to relax or explore the community.

After having breakfast with our host families a leader from The School of Culture of Chokojol Juyú will meet and guide us to The School of Culture of Chokojol Juyú. The school was created by three independent women weavers during the middle of the pandemic, as they started noticing that most of the children and young generations where losing their cultural heritage by not wearing their traditional garments, not speaking or wanting to learn their Kaqchikel native language and migrating. This creates a loss of culture, traditions and rich heritage that has survived over 3,500 years and that has overcome a civil war and inequality. The school is free of charge to children and subsists on the effort and limited resources of the founders. After a tour of the grounds and meetings with the leadership, we hold a brief project planning meeting to decide on the stories to document. The rest of the day is spend documenting everyday scenes with photo/video and conducting interviews.

We head out to Lake Atitlán, just a 2-3 hour drive away. You arrive to the lakeside town of Panajachel and from there take a short boat taxi to the community of Santa Cruz la Laguna. Once we arrive, a leader from the Santa Cruz Jo’ Association welcomes us and gives us a brief talk about their work. Lake Atitlán is one of the most known and famous travel destinations, many travelers from all over the world visit Lake Atitlán for its natural and cultural richness. However not all the communities that give life to the lake are being benefit from tourism. Active members of the community of Santa Cruz decided to take action, and start connecting farmers, weavers and local families in order to create a community and rural tourism circuit that attracts travelers who want to experience local genuine experiences and their cultural heritage, the initiative was created during the pandemic, what shows us the commitment and faith that the people from Santa Cruz la Laguna have in the alternatives, opportunities and general potential of their community. After the meeting, we check in to our lodgings; one of a series of small family-owned guest houses, which are part of the Santa Cruz Jo’ network of accommodations. In the evening, we discuss storytelling ideas and strategy, putting together a production plan for the following day

Our crew spends the day documenting the usual sights and scenes around Santa Cruz Jo’ with video and photography. We also interview people whose personal story or perspective help bring the project to life. In the evening, we gather to review all the footage and discuss our learnings, struggles and successes.

You have a free day to explore Lake Atitlan independently. Visit other communities around the lake, go for a guided hike or relax and enjoy the spectacular views. In the late afternoon, we travel as a group back to Antigua .

The editing workshop begins. We spend a half day processing and editing the media we documented and begin creating the deliverables. The Actuality Producer is available anytime for brainstorming, feedback and support in a comfortable co-working space. The rest of your day can be spent exploring Antigua and its many popular attractions

The editing workshop continues. We spend a half day processing and editing the media we documented and begin creating the deliverables. The Actuality Producer is available anytime for brainstorming, feedback and support in a comfortable co-working space. The rest of your day can be spent exploring Antigua and its many popular attractions.

The editing workshop concludes. We spend a half day processing and editing the media we documented and begin creating the deliverables. The Actuality Producer is available anytime for brainstorming, feedback and support in a comfortable co-working space. The rest of your day can be spent exploring Antigua and its many popular attractions. We gather for a farewell dinner for our final night in Guatemala.

Time to part ways. You will be transported from the guesthouse in Antigua to Guatemala International Airport in time for your flight home