cultural trips
We often stop and visit Antigua or Lake Atitlan during our travels to or from Chichi. This gives us the opportunity to have a day of reflection.
La Antigua de Guatemala (Antigua)
Our teams often visit Antigua after landing in Guatemala City or, sometimes, on our way back to Guatemala City after serving in Chichicastenango (“Chichi”). Antigua is about a 45-55 minute drive from the airport in Guatemala City. Antigua is a cultural crossroads. It’s a fascinating place, lined with cobblestone streets, and featuring Spanish buildings dating to the 1500s. It has the feel of visiting a European city, but with vibrant chords of ancient Maya culture woven in. One unique thing about Antigua is that it lies in the shadow of 2 major volcanoes, Vulcan de Agua (dormant) and Vulcan de Fuego (active). The volcanoes provide a spectacular backdrop for photos and walks around Antigua. At night, we have eaten dinner on rooftop restaurants and seen the bright orange lava flows of Fuego in the distance.
Antigua was originally named “Guatemala” and was founded in the 1500s as the capital of Spanish Central America. After a series of earthquakes over the years, a major, disastrous earthquake in 1773 damaged most of the city. The government moved the capital to a new location, creating the modern Guatemala City. In 1776, the old capital was supposed to have been abandoned, but not everyone left. Antigua became a provincial town known as “Antigua Guatemala,” which means “Old Guatemala.” Today, tourists and Guatemalans appreciate the large number of preserved colonial Spanish buildings, the gorgeous flowers, the vibrant and colorful markets and shops, and the large number of great restaurants. Due to the proximity of some of the world’s finest coffee growing farms (on or near the nearby volcanoes), Antigua is known for high quality coffee and coffee shops, as well as jade, chocolate, textiles and leather goods. It is a shopper’s dream (prices are great).
Our teams usually stay at Porta Hotel Antigua, which once was a monastery or convent. Today, it is a beautiful hotel with Western amenities but “Old World” charm and heritage. Its passageways, gardens and historical markers are fascinating. Schedule permitting, our teams often attend church on Sunday mornings before heading to Chichi at Shoreline City Antigua Church, which is a church plant of Shoreline City Church in Dallas, Texas. There are a number of connections between Shoreline City Antigua and the Manos de Jesus ministry in Chichi. Our team members regularly request to “go back” to Antigua on future trips!
Lago de Atitlan (Lake Atitlan)
Our teams virtually always visit (on the last full day of our trips, after our service is complete) the incomparable Lake Atitlan. It is really impossible to describe the beauty of this lake … words and photos do not do it justice. German explorer Alexander von Humboldt reportedly called it “the most beautiful lake in the world,” and many others since have agreed. According to Wikipedia, “Lake Atitlán is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and is Guatemala's most important national and international tourist attraction.”
We do not disagree with these assessments of Lake Atitlan’s beauty. The lake is shaped by deep surrounding cliffs and three massive volcanoes. The lake basin itself is supposedly volcanic in origin, filling an enormous crater after a massive volcanic eruption. The maximum depth of the lake is about 1,100 feet. It covers 50 square miles. According to Wikipedia, “Atitlán is technically an ‘endoheric’ lake, feeding into two nearby rivers rather than draining into the ocean.”
Our teams typically arrive fairly early on Friday mornings, and shop either in the largest town on the lake, Panajchel, or in one of the towns across the lake. Our teams have lunch at the lake. On most trips, we take a boat ride either to a town across the lake for shopping, or to the incomparable La Casa del Mundo hotel for lunch. Casa del Mundo can only be accessed by boat. The hotel is built in cliffs and has a fabulous restaurant with stunning views of the lake and the volcanoes. Mayan culture is strongly evident as one visits the towns and villages surrounding Lake Atitlán. The shopping at any town around the lake is interesting, and many wonderful items can be found. Most importantly, the lake reflects the amazing creativity and power of God. Our visits give a chance to reflect on His power, glory and majesty.