Pre-Semana Santa Tour:
March 28 to April 6, 2009
10 days / 9 nights $575

Pre-Semana Santa (Holy Week)... The most exciting weeks to be in Antigua, Highland Guatemala is between Lent and Easter Sunday. The most impressive and extravagant in all of Latin America, the processions, cathedral vigils, and other events go on every weekend during Lent. Imagine a 15 hour procession through the streets of Antigua, (see above) with 80 men carrying a 7000 pound cedar block float. And viewing cobblestone streets of meticulously drawn carpets of colored sawdust, some as long as 150 feet in length. The many churches and cathedrals also display intricate carpets inside during this very special season.

The two tours scheduled for 2009 promise to be the most rewarding yet, especially for those who have been to Guatemala with us in the past five years.

TOUR ONE Highlights:
Two weekends in Antigua. March 28-29 and April 4-5 (Palm Sunday) to witness the Processions, Church Vigils with magnificent Carpet Displays, and Funeral March Band Concerts in the Main Square.

Two nights at Casa Manen, (www.comeseeit.com) in Xela. A visit and special activity is planned with Dana, the young women and nuns from el Hogar para Señoritas de Luìs Amigò in Salcajá in their new campus. Your $200 tax-deductilbe donation goes to support the girls who live at the residential school. 100% of the funds go to support these wonderful girl's education and well-being through the Light The way Foundation, a secular support foundation for the girls. (www.Light-the-Way.org).

Two nights on Lake Atitlan, at "the most magical hotel in Guatemala", (according to the Lonely Planet guidebook), Casa del Mundo, (www.lacasadelmundo.com) My favorite "best rooms at the inn" have been booked and confirmed for both tours. We have two days to visit the lakeside villages, shop in Panajachel or just relax at this wonderful inn.

Five nights at Posada la Merced (www.merced-landivar.com), located within a block of La Merced Cathedral, where so much of the festivities take place. Gail Rogers, owner and personal friend of many of our participants will take very good care of us.

An opportunity to participate in preparing an alfombra (carpet) in front of Posada la Merced. The procession arrives in the afternoon of April 5, Palm Sunday in front of the hotel. We will join Tour Two participants for this exciting experience. It promises to be a highlight on this adventure.

TOUR COST--$575, with $200 being a tax-deductible donation to Light the Way Foundation.
What's Included: Limited to 14 participants, it includes all lodging (nine nights), van shuttles, round trip boat shuttle to Casa del Mundo, and all tips.

What's Not Included: Airfare, airport shuttles, meals and special excursions. Many of you have traveled to the highlands, have restaurant favorites and have been on excursions in the Antigua area. We priced it this way, so you'd have more choices.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) Plus; This promises to be the most exciting tour we've ever offered since beginning the fund-raising program in November 2004.
Arriving in Antigua a few days before Holy Week begins, we will shuttle to Quetzaltenango (Xela) on Thursday to visit Dana, the nuns and young women at the new facility now under construction for Light the Way foundation. One hundred percent of your tax-deductible donation for this tour goes directly to support these wonderful girls' education and well-being.

A full schedule of Holy Week festivities, with a break in the middle to visit our favorite inn on Lake Atitlan, Casa del Mundo will be an added bonus.

Tour Two Highlights:
Two Weekends in Antigua, during the most exciting time of the year. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are very special (and intense) days. If you'd like a schedule of activities, we would be happy to send you a copy.

Two Nights at Casa Manen, (www.comeseeit.com), in Xela. Visit to el Hogar para Señoritas de Luìs Amigò in Salcajá, in their new campus. A special activity with the young girls and women helped through the Light The Way Foundation has been planned.

Two Nights at Casa del Mundo (www.lacasadelmundo.com) on Lake Atitlan, with plenty of time to visit the surrounding villages or do some shopping in Panajachel.

Six Nights at Posada la Merced (www.merced-landivar.com). Our host hotel is a few blocks from where most of the major festivities take place.

We will be joining the first group to participate in what will be a highlight of this adventure. On Palm Sunday, we will participate in preparing an alfombra, (carpet) in front of our hotel. The procession will arrive in the afternoon to destroy it, but what an opportunity to participate in a unique tradition!

TOUR COST--$725, with $200 being a tax-deductible donation to Light the Way Foundation.

What's Included: Limited to 14 participants, it includes all lodging (ten nights), van shuttles, round trip shuttles to Casa del Mundo, and all tips.

What's Not Included: Airfare, airport transfers, meals and special excursions. Since most have been to Guatemala, have their favorite restaurants and have been on excursions normally included, we priced it this way. It gives you more choices on this very special tour.

IMPORTANT NOTE--Tour Two is costlier, due to much higher hotel rates in Antigua and the surrounding areas during this period. Airfare is likely to be higher as well. It is an unforgettable experience, however. Knowing the demand for this experience, all three of the small inns have been booked. Fortunately, we have Gail Rogers to thank for making this an incredible value.

For those who want to stay an extra night to see the joyful Easter Sunday Resurrection procession leaving at 1pm from the Hermano Pedro Hospital church, San Pedro Apostol, please contact Jorge at posadalamerced@hotmail.com

Let us know if you want to go; CLICK HERE & tell us your name(s) & phone # & we will get back to you with a confirmation, deposit due dates & complete details. (Shop but do not book your flight until confirmed!)
Contact Richard Martin for details regarding availibility, deposits or any questions regarding the Guatemala Semana Santa tours.

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