Top Things to do in Western Highlands
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Things to do in Western Highlands, Western Highlands: The Best Lessons & Workshops
Guatemalas spectacular Western Highlands run from Antigua to the Mexican border. Pines blanket misty hillsides, rivers cascade through sliver-thin ravines, volcanoes rumble overhead. Catch market day or witness offerings to drinking, smoking St. Maximon, in Chichicastenango. See traditional life in the Ixil Triangle. Clamber the Cuchumatanes Mountains. Mayan dialects and ceremonies are still part of everyday life for the majority of Guatemalas indigenous population, living where their ancestors trod.
Restaurants in Western Highlands
1. Trama Textiles
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 41 reviews
We are Trama Textiles, a 100% worker-owned women's weaving cooperative in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. We have a local shop in Xela, where we sell our handwoven accessories, homewares and clothing, and offer weaving classes to teach people the ancient art of Mayan weaving. We work with over 400 women, in 17 weaving groups, across five regions in Guatemala's Western highlands. We pay our artisans a fair wage, which they determine, meaning they can provide a sustainable income for themselves and their families. VISIT OUR STORE: Our products are all handwoven by our women artisans, using traditional Mayan weaving techniques. All our products are made with 100% cotton, pre-washed, and double woven with premier grade thread, to make sure they are the highest quality and won't shrink or fade. By buying our products, you help women in our region earn a sustainable income, while maintaining their beautiful Mayan weaving traditions. LEARN TO WEAVE: We offer weaving classes, so you can learn how to weave directly from our artisans. Our classes vary in price and time, depending on what you want to make, from a 1 hour demonstration from $5 USD to making your own scarf or table runner from between $23 USD and $79 USD. FREE TOUR AND VIDEO: WE offer a free tour and video, including a chat with our artisans, and a 25 minute documentary about the history and inspirational stories of our weavers. VOLUNTEER WITH US: We offer free-free long and short term volunteer positions, allowing you to experience Guatemalan culture, gain new skills and practise your Spanish.
2. Salsa Latina Academy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
With the guidance of our expert instructors you will learn not just the basic movements, but also the ability to express your passions through the medium of dance. Our instructors organize classes according to the student's needs and skills, with the objective of applying different rhythms and salsa steps that together will improve each person's ability to dance Salsa.
3. Salsa Rosa Dance Academy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
4. Nexus Studio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
Nexus is a dance studio focused on Latin dances, urban dances, the dance technique is very important in our classes, if you want to enjoy a fun and very professional class, we are waiting for you ....
Reviewed By JessieKaplan
We took salsa lessons with Lalo and Christopher for a few weeks--they are both fantastic technical instructors who clearly have a passion for what they do. We definitely improved our salsa skills over these few weeks and had loads of fun. Would highly recommend classes at Nexus Studio if you are in Xela!
5. TinteMaya
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 44 reviews
Women Weaving Better Lives TinteMaya is comprised of 25 artisan women from San Juan La Laguna, a small community by Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, who are working together to promote these values: Equal opportunities for women. The local culture in Guatemala does not offer many economic opportunities for women, leaving the men in control over the family’s finances. TinteMaya enables each individual woman to transform her weaving skills into an economic opportunity and allow the work to be done at home while still taking care of the family. The sale of each product ensures a fair wage to the woman or women who made it; with this money, they can make spending decisions and contribute to the wellbeing of their children. Every purchase pushes gender equality and independence in the right direction. Ecological Sustainability. The use of plant dyes promotes local biodiversity and plant health, minimizes water pollution and creates organic waste for fertilizer. In order to divert waste, Tinte Maya uses recycled material in some weavings by harvesting thread from used sweaters and other sustainable techniques.
Reviewed By oliviassaurman
My friend and I had the pleasure of learning and connecting with these beautiful women over two days. Our first day was spent with Amalia, who taught us about the natural dying process taken to create the beautiful textiles you see all over Guatemala. We hand picked sacatina leaves and cinnamon leaves to create our dye baths, which yielded a beautiful blue and a deep red wine color. We mixed these with achote to create a beautiful mix of colors to dye our pants with. On the next day we returned to participate in the weaving workshop offered by Tintemaya. This was equally an incredible experience. I spent time learning how to weave a bag while my friend worked on a scarf. If you’re traveling around Lake Atitlan I highly recommend stopping by San Juan to participate in this beautiful experience offered by Tintemaya. I feel so lucky to have been able to learn from these women.
6. Ixmucane Holistic Healing
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Ixmucane is a place located in Lomas de Tzununa. We offer Therapeutic Massages -Hot Stones Therapy - Deep Massages -Neurolymphatic massage -Swedish with Acupresure -Holistic Pain Relief -Sacred Sound and Harmonics therapies Emotional and energy work: -Bach Flowers -Reiki -Chakra Balancing -Meridian Psychotherapy (EFT) -Counseling Courses: massage, Reiki, Emotional Healing. Retreats meditation and sound. Women Circles
7. JABEL TINAMIT Spanish School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 69 reviews
We offer effective and fun ways to learn Spanish in Guatemala and online. Located in Panajachel by the stunningly beautiful Lake Atitlan, our school is the only Spanish language school in Panajachel, Guatemala, that is Mayan owned. You can learn Spanish in one to one classes, or with a small group of friends. We also provide online Spanish lessons. We're sure you will have a great time learning Spanish with us in Guatemala.
Reviewed By EvaSUK - Bedford, United Kingdom
We were traveling around Guatemala when my husband put forward the idea of intensive Spanish lessons for one week. Why not? We researched various schools and Jabel Tinamit seemed to get overwhelmingly positive feedback. I can honestly say it was one of the happiest and most rewarding times of our lives. We only planned to stay 1 week and ended up staying 3 - and would have stayed for months if we could have. The set up is so efficient and effective and the team felt like family. We had 4 hours of one to one classes in the morning and had our afternoons free. I cannot recommend their professionalism, humor, hard work, techniques and passion enough. I would also recommend a homestay as that really made us converse in Spanish and we grew very close to our host family in Pana (Magda and her family are incredible). The school itself is like a small paradise: I had my classes on the roof and most days looked out to the Lake and volcanoes wondering "Am I really here?". We took part in the activities and loved them all (cooking class is fantastic - thank you Elizabeth and Julia). We have continued with online lessons because we couldn't say goodbye - if you are lucky enough be taught by Gladys, you are in for a treat. She is the best teacher I have ever had, period; she feels like a friend. The online component is also very good; we are making progress despite the distance and the teachers are very flexible. Please choose Jabel Tinamit, you will speak Spanish in no time and have an unforgettable time in the process! Thank you all, Eva
8. Santa Cruz Beading and Weaving Artisan Classes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Learn to bead or weave with local Santa Cruz artisans while enjoying a fantastic view of Lake Atitlan. All proceeds support the community of Santa Cruz La Laguna through the local nonprofit Amigos de Santa Cruz which runs education and economic empowerment programs
Reviewed By droscarin
A nice hike took us to this awesome Café with the BEST view ever. Thanks Alex and all your wonderful staff for letting us appreciate the amazing work you are doing. Perfect timing for some shopping, handmade items from Sta Cruz ladies. Let’s support local business ????.
9. Orbita Spanish School
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By tarragriffith
I spent a month studying and living at Orbita, and the experience was just incredible. The curriculum is progressive and challenging, and the outdoor "classrooms" have sweeping views of the lake. I stayed in the private room/private bathroom (option 5 on the website), with a huge terrace which also doubled as my classroom. Rene and Milca took great care of me, and even booked my doctors appointment when I was met with an itchy rash. Vincenta, Marie, and Eduardo were exceptionally great as well. Orbita is the Elizabeth Olsen of Spanish schools in San Pedro - lesser known in the public eye, but with more talent and critical praise than it's competitors. They also offer Skype lessons for continued learning, awesome!
10. Multicolores
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Multicolores is a non-profit association of Mayan women artists who design and create hooked rugs and embroidered art. Working with 9 groups of women in 7 communities in the Guatemalan Highlands, Multicolores offers creative education, fair pay, and health and leadership programs to artists. Visit Multicolores’ headquarters to shop our exclusive gallery of contemporary textile art.
