Deposit for Cobán Cloud Forest Adventure, January 9 - 17, 2025

Update November, 2024: The sign-up deadline has officially passed, but we have one final remaining spot for this trip. If interested in joining us, please email mari@kakawdesigns.com.

//This is a non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot for the rural community and textile exploration for the Cobán area in Guatemala from January 9-17, 2025. Deadline to sign up is August 30th, 2024. Not applicable for store discounts (we will correct the discount in your second invoice).//

Join us for an unforgettable rural textile travel experience to visit and share with our partner weavers in the Cobán area of Guatemala. This area is known for the lush cloud forest, and if we're lucky, we may even be able to spot some quetzales! We hope you can get a feel of the natural beauty, striking textile traditions, welcoming weavers, and overall joy from the pictures from our last visits.

Total 8 nights: 4 in Cobán + 4 in Antigua

This is an especially small-group offering as we will all be going in one van together. Min 5 participants / Max 7 participants 

$2400 per person in single-occupancy rooms. Take $200 off per person when signing up together and sharing a room. 

Reserve your spot with a $500 non-refundable deposit. Note that the deposit is a little higher than for other itineraries in order to cover the extended transport costs in case of a cancellation.

We are committed to local education/training in Guatemala, and are honored to sponsor a local master weaver from San Antonio Aguas Calientes (Doña Lidia López) for this trip. It is sure to be an enriching experience for the group to have this dear mentor and friend accompany us on this journey.

Explore:

• History and evolution of the regional pikbil weave tradition, introduced through an expert textile talk with physical textile samples.
• San Juan del Chamelco and Tactic, two nearby towns around Cobán but with very different textiles. Spend quality time with weavers.
• In-depth pikbil weave demonstration by master weavers
• The hot cacao drink tradition from this region
• An active local tea farm
• Regional dishes and cooking opportunities together with weavers
• Local bird sightings, crossing fingers for some quetzales! (We were fortunate to see them on a past trip!)
• The beautiful UNESCO-heritage city Antigua Guatemala. Visit the artisan market together, learn about all sorts of heritage art traditions of the country.
• Cross-cultural gathering and friendships from within Guatemala and beyond.
• And more!

What's included?

• 4 nights in Cobán at a historic city-center hotel
• 4 nights in Antigua at our favorite hotel that feels like a home away from home
• All meals except for the arrival and departure days and two "free-time" slots
• All rural community visits, including demonstrations and workshops
• All in-country transport with a trusted driver. This includes airport transfers between Aurora Airport (Guatemala City) and Antigua at a date of your choice. We encourage all participants to arrive and stay a bit longer in Antigua when possible.
• A printed-out "Antigua Guide" we have developed with our favorite places around town for participants to explore before and/or after the group trip
• Two bilingual expert guides for the entire trip, with additional local village expert facilitators for workshops and activities
• Sponsorship for a master weaver from a different community to join us for the entirety of the trip
• Personalized pre-trip assistance and communication, including a group Zoom call

NOTES:

• COVID-19 vaccination required to participate.
• This itinerary includes home-cooked and restaurant meals in rural communities. We cannot guarantee changes to the menu to meet dietary restrictions. We will do our best, but those with special dietary needs should be prepared with snacks in case an alternative cannot be provided at homes and at restaurants.
• This itinerary includes walking up and down hill on rural visits. The distances are also great for community visits, sometimes on windy roads. 
• The rest of the payment for this itinerary will be invoiced either after the sign-up deadline (August 30th) or when the spots fill. Instructions will follow. We are happy to work out a flexible payment schedule.
• Images are from 2021 visit, when masks were still required. It is no longer the case.

Trip Cancellation Policy

If the trip is canceled by the participant:

• Up to two months to the start date of the itinerary: full amount in credit form for future travel with Kakaw Designs, minus the non-refundable deposit.
• Less than two months to the start of the itinerary: 50% trip cost in credit form for future travel with Kakaw Designs, minus the deposit.
• Less than one month to the start of the itinerary: no refund or credit.
• Delay in joining the group for any reason: no refund for missed time in Guatemala.
• Early return home or disruption of travel with the group for any reason, including missed meals or group activities: no refund and traveler is responsible for any extra expenses incurred (transportation, etc.).

If the trip is canceled by the organizers due to unforeseen circumstances in Guatemala (volcano eruptions, COVID-19, etc.), the full amount is refunded minus the deposit and any associated bank transfer fees.

Questions? Reach out at mari@kakawdesigns.com