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Life from a different perspective

Have you ever done a travel tour? Not the London open top bus travel but the kind where you sign up for a tour in another country like Latin America? Let’s dream about it for a moment…..where in Guatemala, seeing all the wonders of that country with guides who have toured to the point that the locals recognize them by name and at the local bar “everyone knows, their name”…..still not there? Well you could be there on a bus literally taking in life from another perspective.

There is never a time of year where something like this wouldn’t be exciting. Especially tours that offer  the opportunity to take classes in another language, volunteer in the country, and visit the sites. In the next post we’re going to do a poll on which travel tour in Latin America, you’d love to join or book! Can’t wait to see what comes out on top! For now though we’ll leave you with a link to Volunteer Tours that are going on now with Humanitravels http://humanitravels.com/volunteer-tours

! As you get a better visual of what your travel tour could look like think of who else could join you. Cheers until next time and get ready to VOTE!!!

Thought you couldn’t have it all? well now you can! Volunteer, Travel and Explore with Humanitravels new tour offering! http://ow.ly/61afO

3 ways to becoming a Humanitarian

Have you been searching for ways to make a difference with your life? well here are a couple that we’ve come up with:

1. Volunteering

Volunteering locally can be so fulfilling, but Volunteering abroad can give an overflow of fulfillment. Just think about it, you could get off a plane in Peru or Guatemala, once you land you could possibly work with endangered species. For reasonable prices and opportunities like this head over to www.humanitravels.com.

2. Give

Once you’ve volunteered abroad you may feel a kinship with the organization you have volunteered for. You’ll probably want to do more after you leave, and you came. While your abroad you get firsthand experience with the people who will receive your donations and know without a doubt your money is going to a great cause that you helping to sustain.

3. Share

Once you’ve been bitten by the bug share your experience with others. Tell them how volunteering abroad and giving have changed your life and encourage them to take the time and experience volunteering abroad. Also be sure to tell them it wasn’t all work, but that you got to see the country while you were there. That’ll seal it; tell them about the group lead trip you took. They’ll be helping your cause in no time and you’ll be able to say you’re a committed humanitarian.

Brian Chu on his Blog here highlights the benefits of his volunteer experiences in Peru. Find the story here.

Time to Getaway

Summer is a perfect time to getaway. It’s a time when most places are brimming over with travel enthusiast and the possibilities of making memories are endless. So breakaway from the monotony and take an adventure! For the next few weeks great places to travel will be featured here. Hope one of our featured places inspires you to get out and take in something new. Below are some enticing spots to visit in Guatemala. Also for great deals check out humanitravels.com and be on a plan next Friday.

Guatemala Highlights

Colonial Antigua Guatemala
Colonial history that is always present combines with an array of cultural activities which include art galleries and exhibits, performing arts, popular arts, films, forums, and cultural tourism in general.

Tikal 

one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala’s Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlán and its villages are a winning combination of scenic beauty, a relaxed atmosphere, easily accessible Mayan culture, and a good tourist infrastructure. You can have an enjoyable weekend visit, a week away from it all, or several weeks to learn Spanish. The Atitlan Lake located at 1560 m of altitude, and the Tolimán volcano at the bottom.

A Contest Kickoff Celebration!

Humanitravels is teaming up with Tripping to host a contest kickoff at Reaction Restaurant next Thursday, July 14.  For those of you who don’t know what Tripping is, it is a global network for travelers to exchange travel advice and even homestays.  Definitely check this event out if you love talking about travel or making new friends.  There will be delicious tacos and drink specials, which should be enough incentive to stop by and find out about the contest.  The prize?  A free volunteer trip to Antigua, Guatemala!  Be sure to clear your schedule on July 14 from 6-9 PM for some good food and great company.  Like Humanitravels on Facebook to receive more updates about upcoming events and deals on volunteer opportunities! Hope to see you there!

Humanitravels TV Appearance

Humanitravels has reached a great achievement with their first appearance on television. If you tuned in to ABC7 at 3 PM today, you could learn all about Humanitravels and the volunteer opportunities they offer in Peru and Guatemala. Humanitravels appeared on ABC7’s 7Live show to be their “Voice Box.” Audience members in the voice box can have their voices be heard and can contribute their opinion on the day’s most provocative issues. Check back for the footage from today and see what the fans and people of Humanitravels had to say.

Humanitravels Presents…

Humanitravels has rescheduled the beach cleanup for Saturday July 16.  I’m so excited that this event is on again!  Hopefully the weather stays nice and we don’t have to postpone the event another time.  I love the beach so I can’t wait to be able to give back and keep it clean.  I hope to see you all there!

Also, Humanitravels has a huge event in the works coming up on July 14.  It will be similar to other happy hour events they’ve put on, but the details haven’t been completely worked out yet so keep an eye out for more information.  There will be a competition with an awesome prize at the end.  I will definitely keep you updated on this exciting event so check out the Facebook page for the newest developments.

Shop Til You Drop

One of my favorite things about traveling is finding the souvenirs at the end of my trip.  Most of the trinkets I buy end up sitting on my shelf, but they remind me of all the places I’ve been.  Lately, I’ve been trying to buy items that can be used such as purses, shot glasses, clothing, bracelets, etc.  The best places to buy souvenirs are all of the outdoor markets that are set up everyday.  I find all the souvenirs that I buy for me and my friends and family.  They are usually inexpensive and authentic.  Here are some of Guatemala’s best markets for shopping.

• Chichicastenango Market- This market is also referred to as Chichi and is the most famous one in Guatemala.  It is held only on Thursdays and Sundays.  This massive market occupies the entire town square and even reaches some side streets as well.  You could either stay in Chichicastenango overnight or make it a day trip from Guatemala City or Antigua.
• Solola Market- The Solola market is held on Tuesdays and Fridays.  While you’re shopping, you can see the beautiful Lago Atitlan down below.  It is considered to be more authentic than Chichi and you can see the locals wearing their traditional Caqchikel Maya clothing.  There are fewer tourist-oriented souvenirs because this is still an important local market, but you will be able to find many interesting authentic items.
• Antigua- Antigua is home to Nim P’ot, which is a huge indoor collective market that has a wide variety of souvenirs.  They have standard souvenir shirts and trinkets, grain sack bags, wood furniture, and a collection of Mayan textiles.

Come Fly with Me

The first step to planning any trip is to figure out how you’re getting there.  I think it’s such a pain determining which travel websites will give you the best deal on flights.  When I tried to find out which website would get me to Cabo for spring break for the cheapest, I gave up after researching the tenth one with no improvement in the price.  You don’t need to look at a million of these travel websites to find the best deal.  In my experience, the biggest names are actually the best.  My friends have told me so many obscure and smaller sites like Student Universe and Cheapoair that have always ended up charging more than Expedia or Orbitz.  For my backpacking journey for the summer of 2012, I have been comparing prices among these different websites for a one-way ticket to Guatemala.  From what I have found, most of these sites have the same prices give or take $20.  Thanks to Expedia I was able to compare them to Orbitz, Kayak, Travelocity, Cheapoair, Priceline, and Vamana.  Orbitz, Priceline, and Travelocity all charged the same lowest price followed closely by Kayak and Expedia.  I would recommend these five websites to search for your airline and hotel needs.  The other two websites, Vamana and Cheapoair, were about $50 more expensive.  Next time you’re planning your vacation, don’t waste time looking at all these sites that will pretty much give you the same results.  Stick to the bigger names and you’ll most likely find a good deal.

Guatemalan Summer Festivities

Summertime brings festivals, parades, and celebration for the people of Guatemala.  I’d like to highlight a few of the major festivals that take place during the summer in case you are looking for something to do.  If you plan on traveling to Guatemala, it would be a great idea to attend one of these events.  It provides you a chance to experience and learn about Guatemala’s culture and traditions.  You get a chance to see the traditions of the people.  I’ve done some research and I’d love to tell you some of the major festivals you must attend if you’re in Guatemala this summer.

-The Day of Saint James- This day is celebrated on July 25 in La Antigua Guatemala.  The city served as the nation’s capital until an earthquake destroyed the town and the capital moved to its present location of Guatemala City.  The town of Antigua celebrates the city’s original name of Santiago de los Caballeros on the saint’s day for Santiago as a commemoration.  Antigua holds a town fair complete with parades, music, and other thrilling festivities.

-The Day of our Lady of the Asuncion- Guatemala City celebrates this day on August 15.  You can see the brotherhood of the Lady of Asuncion passing through the streets of the town on their way to the church in several other towns including Solola.

-Independence Day- September 15 marks the day Guatemala declared independence from Spain in 1821.  It is a national holiday that is celebrated throughout the nation.  Several towns hold parades and of course the customary firework display.  The city of Quetzaltenango hosts the largest holiday fair in the country so definitely try to be there during this joyous occasion.

These events are the larger ones that take place during the summer so I recommend visiting these destinations when popular events are taking place.  Not only will the city be alive with cheer and patriotism, but you will be able to experience the cultural traditions of the Guatemala.  Learning about different cultures is the purpose of traveling so take advantage of these events as an opportunity to learn!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Beach Cleanup this Saturday with Humanitravels!  Sign up by visiting the Meetup Group.  There’s still spots left so hurry before there’s no room left.  Check out the beach cleanup flyer for more information.