7 Activities That Will Teach You About The Culture In Guatemala

Longer trips are a perfect opportunity to combine relaxation with learning a new skill and appreciating the culture of the country you are traveling in. Here are some of the best cultural experiences to be had in Guatemala.

Take a cooking class

Guatemalan cuisine is full of great stews like pepian and kak’ik, as well as plenty of other dishes that you will see at markets and restaurants around the country. Take a cooking course at El Frijol Feliz or La Tortilla cooking school in Antigua to learn how to make them yourself.

Learn Spanish

Dying workshops

Traditional textiles are still widely used by people all over Guatemala—who could miss the brightly-colored huipiles worn by indigenous women?—and what better way to appreciate them than by learning how they’re made. Take a class at TinteMaya in San Juan la Laguna or Trama Textiles in Quetzaltenango.

Make your own chocolate

Book a tour at the ChocoMuseo in Antigua to see how Guatemalan chocolatiers make bars from locally produced cacao. You get to take your chocolate home too, which makes for a great souvenir.

Weaving workshops

After traditional textiles are dyed, they then have to be woven into particular shapes and designs. In many communities, this means traditional backstrap weaving. Learn how this laborious process works in a class at Tintos y Arte in Antigua and you’ll gain even more respect for the weavers.

Take a barista course

Guatemalan coffee is famous around the world, and its reputation continues to grow, so what better place to learn about coffee and how to make the perfect cup? Sign up to a course at Anacafé in Guatemala City and you’ll leave with a certificate from the national coffee association.

Shake away the cobwebs at a salsa class

Salsa is a big deal in Guatemala, and plays a major part in its nightlife. Instead of stumbling around the dance floor crashing into people, take a few classes to get the basics down. Before long, you’ll be strutting your stuff with the locals.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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