Colors of Guatemala- Mayan Culture, Landscapes, Birds, and more.  

This workshop will be based at the beautiful Lake Atitlán, in the Southwestern highlands of Guatemala. Lonely Planet calls it "the most beautiful lake in the world." It's a place where luscious forests and active volcanoes surround the lake. The lake is sacred to the indigenous Mayan communities that still live in villages along its shores.

When you think about Guatemala, you can't help but think about color.  There's the colors of the 400 species of birds that inhabit the highland forests around Lake Atitlán.  And in nearby villages where indigenous Mayan people wear handwoven  garments as they walk streets lined with colorful buildings and art. 

We will visit San Juan la Laguna, a preserved Mayan village where markets are filled with colorful crafts made by local artists, and weavers. Trips to Panajachel, Santa Cruz la Laguna, and Santiago la Laguna offer photo opportunities to practice street photography and portraits of the indigenous Mayan people and their culture.

We'll be staying in a luxury 3-story villa overlooking Lake Atitlán. Over the years, our hosts, the Fritchmans, have established themselves as part of the Guatemalan community. They are welcomed by the locals who open their homes, weaving circles, and coffee plantations for an intimate view of life in Guatemala. A local guide and translator will accompany us.

After getting many great photos along the lake and Mayan villages, we will complete the trip in colonial Antigua. The city was the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala from 1543 through 1773. The Baroque-influenced architecture and city design dating from that period still stands, some in crumbling ruins. Antigua was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. 

Please note: most photos on this page are courtesy of GuateMaya Tours.

Photo workshop opportunities include