2 Day Tour
- 250Q
Price includes-
Transportation to and from Xela,
Accomodation in the Eco-Lodge,
four delicious meals, with vegetarian options,
Complete tour programming with guides from the community and English translators
Tours leave Xela every Saturday at 7:00 AM from the South End of Parque Central
(in front of Casa de la Cultura and under the big clock) and return Sunday at 5:00 PM
What to bring:
Shoes and clothes for hiking, rain jacket and change of clothes, bathing
suit (towels provided), sunscreen, hat, insect repellent, water bottle, a little extra
money for snacks or drinks
To make a reservation, contact Café Conciencia:
Tim (502) 5819-2282 or
Omar (502) 5539-6898
or come by the office in the EntreMundos House, 6a Calle 7-31, Zone 1, Xela
The tour requires a minimum of 8 people
Tour Program:
TOUR OF COFFEE PROCESSING PLANT AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS: A 1 hour tour of the 100-year-old coffee processing plant includes in-depth explanations of the extensive process that converts raw coffee into the coffee we drink. Tour of other community projects including: macadamia processing, micro hydro-electric plant, projects of biodiesel and biogas, milk cow, and pig projects.
HISTORY TALK: A member of the community gives a conference on the compelling history of the community’s struggle to obtain the land they worked on as peons for five generations. Description of how the community is currently organized as a worker-owned cooperative, and the various projects they have initiated to pay off their debt and improve their quality of life.
NATURE HIKE: A 2-3 hour walking tour through the community, plantations, and tropical forest. The tour includes explanations of coffee, macadamia, and local edible/medicinal plants. Visitors also have the opportunity to swim in a natural bathing pool.
WATERFALL HIKE: A short walk through tropical forest leads to a majestic waterfall, where visitors can relax and go for a swim.
TOURISTS DURING THE WEEK: Tourists during the week can schedule a guide for any of the tour programs. Each tour requires a minimum of 5 people.
COMPLETE PACKAGE 100Q per person
NATURE HIKE 30Q per person
HISTORY TALK 25Q per person
TOUR OF PROCESSING PLANT AND PROJECTS 25Q per person
WATERFALL HIKE 20Q per person
ACCOMODATION IN THE COLONIAL MANSION - Prices are in Quetzales or equivalent in US Dollars
Tourists:
Dormitory - 60 Quetzales per person
Private Suite - 75 Quetzales per person
1 Meal 20Q
Volunteers, staying less than a week:
Dormitory/Suite 50Q per night
1 Meal 20Q
Volunteers, staying longer than one month - prices are negociable.
Reservation required
VOLUNTEER WORK
Volunteers are welcome and appreciated at Nueva Alianza. There is a variety of volunteer work available. There is no minimum Spanish level or minimum time period to volunteer. Nueva Alianza volunteers have the opportunity to practice Spanish with members of the community, and to learn about the reality of Guatemalan agricultural workers. Volunteers live in the Eco-Lodge and have access to the kitchen to cook their own meals.
Price includes:
Accommodation in the recently renovated colonial mansion and
transport from Cuatro Caminos Retalhuleu and the possibility
to learn and practice Spanish with people from the community.
Also, the opportunity to learn about and understand the actual
situation of many Guatemalan agricultural workers. There is
a fully equipped kitchen available for cooking your own food.
Types of Work:
Agricultural Work
- Collecting Macadamia
- Picking Coffee
- Sorting and Classifying Macadamia
- Clearing Shrubs and Weeds in the Fields
- Training Workers in Organic Farming Techniques
Eco-Lodge Renovations:
- Painting, Sanding and Decorating
- Construction Work
- Working in the Organic Vegetable Garden
Eco-Tourism Assistance:
- Translating and Guiding Tours
- Training Hotel Staff in: Hospitality, Administration
- Vegetarian, Vegan, and International Cooking
Community Services:
- Medicine
- Assist with the Fair Trade Certification Process
- Teaching English or Other Courses
- Promotions and Publicity for the Community’s Products
What to Bring:
Walking Shoes, Rain Jacket, Bathing Suit (Towels Provided), Sunscreen, Hat, Insect Repellant, Water Bottle
*Volunteers are encouraged to bring donations to build up the Eco-Lodge library of books, games, magazines, CDs and DVDs
Directions
From XELA:
-At Terminal Minerva, catch a bus to Reu (about 2 hours)
-At Terminal Reu, look for the Neuva Alianza bus. It leaves daily
at 11:30 AM and, ON FRIDAYS ONLY, at 4 PM (about 1.5 hours)
To Arrange Your Stay:
Nick Marritz, Volunteer Coordinator, at 5047-2238. English, Spanish, or German. Or call Tim Kantz. English or Spanish, Xela. 5819-2282
OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION:
Food and Shopping:
Volunteers generally cook their own meals. There is a kitchen available for use with gas stove and oven, but without a fridge. If you do not wish to cook your own food, it is possible to negotiate a rate including meals.
There is a small store in the community which sells basic food items. The bar in the Eco-Lodge sells snacks and drinks. You can buy fruits, vegetables, and general groceries in Retalhuleu (Reu), about 1.5 hours away. If you are planning to stay at Nueva Alianza, it is best to bring some food so you don’t have to go shopping right away.
There is a plentiful supply of Agua Pura in the Eco-Lodge.
Transport:
There is a small store in the community which sells basic food items. The bar in the Eco-Lodge sells snacks and drinks. You can buy fruits, vegetables, and general groceries in Reu, about 1.5 hours away. If you are planning to stay at Nueva Alianza, it is best to bring some food so you don’t have to go shopping right away.
There is a daily bus service from the community to Reu and back.
It is usually possible to get a lift to Cuatro Caminos on weekday mornings with one of trucks or pickups leaving from the community.
Money:
There is no bank or ATM in the community. There are plenty of banks and ATMs in Reu. It is a good idea to bring enough money for your trip, and a little bit extra.
Telephone:
There is a phone in the office, available for use at normal rates.
Electricity:
Power comes from a generator, which usually runs from 6-10 PM.
Hot Water:
At present there is no hot water system.
Washing Clothes:
There are pilas (large stone sinks) available for washing your clothes. There is also a handwashing service, at 15 Q per bag of clothing.
Fun & Games:
Volunteers are building up a library of books, magazines, games, CDs, and DVDs. Please bring anything you have to add to the collection.
Contact Info:
It is a good idea to have the contact details in case of emergency.
Address: Comunidad Nueva Alianza, El Palmar, Quetzaltenango.
Phone Numbers: Javier Jiménez 5543-2823 (mobile) or 7723-3059 (office)
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