Sociocultural and Recreational Activities:

In order to get to know the Guatemalan culture and especially the Mayan culture, each teacher is specialized in the subject, so that besides the theoretical teaching, the student has the opportunity to visit with his or her teacher about the various cultural activities that are available: ceremonial centers, cofradías and churches, participation in ceremonies performed by Mayan priests in small, nearby towns such as Zunil and San Francisco el Alto, places where these activities take place frequently. This helps the student to become acquainted with the Mayan culture and world view, and to practice a Mayan language, if he or she wishes; in this way the student also gets to know our cultural and natural heritage in the company of his or her teacher. These activities take place during the afternoon hours.

Other Touristic Activities During the Weekends: The school works with professional guides to take students to touristic places such as: Antigua Guatemala, Tikal, Lake Atitlán, Santiago Atitlán, San Pedro la Laguna, Totonicapán, San Francisco el Alto, the place where the biggest open market of Latin America is, or they can visit the villages of Quetzaltenango.

The school organizes excursions to mountains or volcanoes such as: the Santa María, 3,300 meters above sea level, where the eruptions of the volcano Santiaguito can be seen in the morning hours. The school also has trips to the Chicabal volcano, which has a beautiful lagoon on its peak which is sacred to the Mayan inhabitants that live nearby.

Students can also learn to dance salsa and merengue if desired and they can also learn to dance with the Marimba (the national instrument), and in this style of music they can learn to dance the Son, an indigenous dance and legacy of the Mayan culture. If desired, the students can also learn to cook typical meals from Quetzaltenango such as: “pepián” and “paches” made from potato.

Conferences and Showing of Films: Students can participate in conferences about the political history of Guatemala, national reality, culture, Mayan ethnicity, education, and health. Movies and films are also shown about Guatemalan topics.