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I don't want to come to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.
—Diane Ackerman, author
Pageantry, Passion, and a Great Cup of Coffee
It's like a scene in a film, but it's real. The smoke of incense swirls out from swinging censers as forty men in purple robes carry a 7,000-pound float on their shoulders, swaying in step. Atop the float is a 17th century carved figure of Christ. Behind the men comes a float carried by women, dressed in white, bearing a figure of the Virgin Mary. And they are just two of a long procession. The float-bearers walk on a series of ephemeral carpets—some a kilometer long—created by the community. These alfombras, made of flowers, pine needles, and brilliantly dyed sawdust, are laid out in Mayan, Roman, and personal designs.
It is Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala, and you are there—immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of one of the most culturally revered and extravagant Easter celebrations in the Western Hemisphere. You're traveling with a discreetly sized group of companions (no more than eight) and your trip leader and compadre is a local, who explains what you're seeing and makes it possible to personally interact with the people you encounter. Walking the pre-dawn streets of Antigua while the alfombras are prepared, or following a procession through the streets—watching men and women step out of the crowd to take their turn carrying a venerated float—are just some of the moments that make this journey a compelling cultural adventure as well as profound human experience.
Of course there's more to Guatemala than Antigua, and much more to Positively Guatemala than Semana Santa—though the entire trip maintains its full engagement with the people and traditional culture of this fascinating Central American country. You'll hit the Chichicastenango market at its peak of activity, take a boat to visit indigenous artisan communities located around stunning Lake Atitlán, get a crash course on the role of coffee in Guatemala, enjoy a hands-on cooking workshop with your trip leader, and learn the nuances of traditional weaving from a champion of the art.
While Easter festivities provide the centerpiece of Positively Guatemala's March 15-24 departure, other departures also coincide with traditional celebrations. Travelers joining the October 27-November 5 trip will experience Antigua's Day of the Dead activities, and Quema del Diablo events will enliven the December 2-11 journey (all 2008 dates). Find out more >
This is an extraordinary opportunity to expand your life's experience, connect with deep cultural tradition, and see something you'll never forget. Get a glimpse into Semana Santa and learn more about Positively Guatemala.
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