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Weekday mornings are spent in class, but special activities are offered in the afternoon and on weekends.
At the Nature Reserve
Students with Spanish speaking guides get out of school and into nature and the local culture.
Jardin de America gives you the opportunity to explore different indigenous towns and sites around the most beautiful lake in the world, Lago Atitlan.
Places to Visit and Activities
- The Nature Reserve and The Butterfly Reserve:
See waterfalls, local flora and fauna (such as monkeys) and an herb garden with spices, natural dyes and medicinal plants. One enclosed part of the reserve is full of butterflies.
- Ma Ximon Rituals and Santiago Atitlan:
San Simon or Ma Ximon is a deity that people from Santiago Atitlan and neighboring towns have been offering rituals to for centuries.
- The Mayan Witch or Shaman's Cave:
This cave is on a mountain near the lake in which many local people as well as people from other villages come to do rituals or sacrifices to offer their Mayan gods.
- Scenic Hikes:
The students can enjoy the lakeside landscape on many scenic hike. Take beautiful pictures of Atitlan, contemplate sunsets and make lifetime memories.
- Tours around the lake:
On the weekends students have the chance to explore Mayan villages surrounding the lake on boat tours. (The photos on the right were taken on one of the weekend tours. For more information see below)
- Market Day and Handicraft Cooperatives:
To make your experience in Panajachel more interesting, the school organizes field trips to the different markets on market days. Watch Mayans trade their products just as their ancestors did before them. See how the Mayans weave their clothing.
- Make Your Own Tortillas:
Learn how to make your own Guatemalan style tortillas, and come to watch how tortillas and typical dishes are made by hand.
- Guatemala and Central America in Film:
Watch Spanish language films about Guatemala's as well as Central America's traditions and culture.
- Dance the Salsa and Merengue:
Salsa and Merengue lessons are available at school.
Join us and be part of Mayan-Guatemalan life. Studying with us does not mean just sitting and studying. Come to Jardin de America and learn through experiencing Guatemala's rich traditions.
At Jardin de America a Mayan village is your classroom and all who live there, your teacher!
Sunset over Lake Atitlan
NOTE: Some activities described above have a small fee associated with them. Most activities require a minimum of 3 interested students.
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I went with a group of students on the weekend tour (see below) of the lake one Saturday morning.
We left about 8:30 and got to Santiago in about 45 minutes.
This was taken at the shrine of the Mayan god Ma Ximon.
After lunch in San Pedro La Laguna we went to San Pablo where they were celebrating the annual fiesta.
One of the dancers.
She was watching us watch her.
After hiking to San Marcos we took the boat home, exhausted but excited.
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