WHERE IS THE PROJECT LOCATED?

San Marcos la Laguna, Lake Atitlán, Sololá, Central Highlands, West Guatemala

WHAT IS GUATEMALA LIKE?

Guatemala is located in Central America, it shares borders to the north and west with Mexico, to the southeast with   El Salvador and Honduras, to the northeast with Belize and the Caribbean sea, and to the south with the Pacific ocean.

Words cannot describe this land of breathtaking natural beauty, Mayan heritage and colonial history. Imagine a place where you can find 33 volcanoes, 19 different ecosystems, picturesque Spanish colonial villages, mystical Mayan archaeology, magical lakes, rivers, mountains and tropical rainforests, the turquoise Caribbean sea to one side and the deep blue Pacific ocean to the other. This is Guatemala, the heart of the Mayan world!

“THE MAYA BIOSPHERE RESERVE CONTAINS THE LARGEST, INTACT, TROPICAL FOREST IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND MORE THAN 200 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES”

Guatemala is a small country with much contrast and tradition - the magic, colour and adventure are not only seen with your eyes but are also felt deep inside in your heart. This is the land of the Mayan people - an ancient civilization whose legacy lives on still within the noble warm hearts of their descendants.

Here people still worship the Sun God, father of all harvests, who is remembered in some 28 traditional rituals. This country spells adventure because in its jungles, plains, mountains, caves, rivers and lakes, live some people who know fascinating stories, and whose traditions naturally restore a little piece of that mystery to the universe.

WHO WERE THE MAYANS?

Guatemala is, unquestionably, the heart of the Mayan world.  Within its territory, the Mayans' greatest cities flourished, centres of commerce and culture for the Meso-American region.  The greatest of these is Tikal, but there are hundreds of other archaeological sites that scientists have not even begun to study.  Guatemala City itself is built on the ruins of an impressive Mayan city known as Kaminaljuyu.

Exactly what led to the collapse of Old Mayan civilization remains a mystery, but today's Mayan people retain many of the cultural traits associated with their ancestors.  Maya culture permeates contemporary Guatemala, where two dozen Mayan languages are spoken by more than 4 million people.  Native traditions, such as agriculture, weaving and the unique count of days in the Mayan calendar, have survived the influence of Spanish culture, missionaries, radio, television, and, most recently, globalization and the Internet.

“ABOUT 40% OF THE POPULATION, MORE THAN 4 MILLION GUATEMALANS,        SPEAK A MAYAN LANGUAGE.”

Visitors to Guatemala's museums, archaeological sites, markets and towns will find themselves immersed in a living Maya culture, witnesses to the history of a complex and fascinating civilization that began more than 2,000 years ago and continues to this day.

WHAT IS IT LIKE THERE ON THE LAKE?

The ancient volcanic Lake of Atitlán in the Guatemalan highlands, is renowned to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world! It is surrounded by many indigenous villages, in which Maya culture is still prevalent and colourful traditional dress is still worn. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments and on its southern side lay the three impressive volcanoes of San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán.

SO, WHAT IS THE EXPEDITION ABOUT?

The expedition is about giving you a deep rewarding experience that will challenge your body, energize your soul, clear your mind and awaken your spirit. By joining us, on our first spiritual volunteer expedition and adventure trek here in Guatemala, you will get the opportunity to live and work high-up in the mountains with the indigenous Maya Indians, the Kaqchikels and the Tz´utujils.

The essence to the project itself is about getting you out there into the unknown, off the beaten track into nature, and away from the many blinding distractions of a too comfortable modern day western culture. And by doing so, giving you the opportunity to glimpse ‘yourself,’ and the other deeper side to life that is there right in front of you every moment, if you just learn to open your eyes to it.

Through our expedition, we aim to provide you with a deeper type of alternative travel experience than what most international organizations, companies and tour operators currently offer. An experience that gives you the opportunity to visit an unknown place for a few weeks, live and work in a more natural unfamiliar landscape, lend a hand to a local village community, acquire some useful & fun new life skills, and learn about and observe a different way of life & culture; but also with an extra special, deep magical ingredient thrown in at the same time!

We incorporate all of life’s different levels of experience together into our expeditions: camping, trekking, yoga and living out in nature for the ‘physical’ body; meditation, a background to the ancient Mayan people and traditional yogic philosophies for the mental body; and cleaning-up the lake, working together with local children, volunteering, and the open space to explore & find peace with yourself for the spiritual body.

We simply offer travellers a destination through which to rediscover their Sacred Essence, in physical form, under optimal conditions.

YOGA AND MEDITATION IN THE FOREST

Come live with us in the middle of the beautiful cloud forest of Papa’ Ecological Park Reserve, high-up in the mountains above San Marcos la Laguna, surrounded by an unending beauty and magical silence.

A large part of our project will involve hiking and camping out in the middle of the forest, and living and working in a more secluded location with a group of other similar like minded travellers from around the world.

You will learn together about how to survive out in the wild, and to live more in harmony with our beautiful Mother Nature. Seeing and experiencing for yourself the magic and benefits of living the ‘simple life,’ in a more natural and high energy environment.

Yoga and meditation practice is an important element of the expedition, as it will help you clear the mind, connect with nature, and connect more with yourself, by simply putting you more in the present moment. We practice together Yoga at sunrise three days a week, two hours a day, and Meditation at sunset, three days a week, 1 hour a day. The other days are left open for your own optional deep personal practice.

The rest of your days will be spent finding peace with yourself, cooking over an open fire, chopping firewood, collecting water from a natural spring, getting close to nature, sleeping in tree-houses, and feeling what it really means to get back to your roots.

WHAT IS YOGA?

The word yoga means ‘union’ in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India, as this is where yoga originated from. We can think of this union as occurring between the mind, body and spirit altogether.

What is commonly referred to as ‘yoga’ can be more accurately described by the Sanskrit word ‘asana,' which refers to the practice of physical postures or poses. ‘Asana’ is only one of the eight ‘limbs’ of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well being than physical activity. In the West however, the words ‘asana’ and ‘yoga’ are often used more interchangeably.

Many people think that yoga is just about stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating ‘balance’ in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical, mental and emotional benefits.

The poses can be done quickly in succession creating heat in the body through movement, or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose. The poses are a constant, but the approach to them varies depending on the tradition in which the teacher has been trained.

Yoga teachers will often refer to ‘your practice,’ which means your individual experience with yoga as it develops over time. The amazing thing about yoga is that your practice is always evolving and changing, so it never gets boring! Although the poses themselves do not change, your relationship to them will.

Anyone can start a yoga practice, it is for men and woman, even if you don't feel like you are very flexible or very strong. These things will develop naturally over time! Another great thing about ‘your practice,’ is that it encourages the non-competitive spirit of yoga.

One of the most difficult, but ultimately most liberating things about yoga is letting go of the ‘ego’ (an unfocused mind), and accepting that no one else is better than anybody else. Everyone is just approaching life in their own way, on any given day, living their lives the best way they know how using their current experience and knowledge of it.

WHAT IS MEDITATION?

Some people may consider meditation to be a worship or a prayer. But it is not so! Meditation means ‘awareness,’ and whatever you do with ‘awareness’ is meditation. Watching your breath is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation.

Meditation is not a technique, but a ‘way of life.’ Meditation means 'a stopping of the thought process.’ It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts, associations and various predictable negative patterns of response. The observer (the one who is doing the meditation), realizes then how all the activity of the mind suddenly is reduced to a silent and empty ‘nothingness;’ as we move ourselves closer to a connected feeling of ‘oneness’ and a deep, infinite and eternal connection with everyone, everywhere and everything around us!

These days it is commonly understood to mean some form of spiritual practice, where one sits down on the floor with their eyes closed and legs crossed and empties the mind to attain inner peace, relaxation or even an experience of ‘God.’ Some people use the term as "my gardening is my meditation" or for jogging, painting or listening to music. Which is true in itself, but this sometimes can have the effect of creating some confusion or misunderstanding into understanding exactly what meditation is, what its benefits are from a more spiritual perspective, and how we can actually apply its use into modern day life.

The word meditation, is derived from two Latin words: ‘meditari’ (to think, to dwell upon or to exercise the mind) and ‘mederi’ (to heal). Its Sanskrit word equivalent 'medha,' means ‘wisdom.’

Many years ago meditation was considered something just not meant for modern day people, but now it has become very popular with all types of individuals from all corners of the world. Published scientific and medical evidence has proved its benefits, but it still needs to be much understood by the majority of the global human population.

Traditionally, the classical yoga texts describe that to attain true states of meditation one must go through several stages. After the necessary preparation of personal and social code, physical position, breath control, and relaxation come the more advanced stages of concentration, contemplation and then ultimately total absorption. But that does not mean that one must perfect any one stage before moving onto the next. The integral yoga approach is simultaneous application of a little of all stages combined together all at once.

Commonly today, people can mean any one of these stages when they refer to the term meditation. Some meditation teachers only teach concentration techniques, some relaxation, and others teach free form contemplative activities like just sitting and awaiting absorption. Some call it meditation without giving credence to yoga for fear of being branded 'eastern'. But yoga is not something eastern or western as it is universal in its approach and application.

With regular practice of a balanced series of techniques, the energy of your body and mind can be liberated, and the quality of your consciousness and therefore quality of your life experience here on earth, can be expanded.

SCUBA DIVING LAKE EXPLORATION AND CLEAN-UP

Join the soul team as we work together with the local communities, to help tidy-up Lake Atitlán and for the unique experience of scuba diving in a high altitude lake, as we go around exploring, cleaning-up the lake from the depths and reforesting it with ‘tul.’

Lake Atitlán has it all: Character, Mystery, Magic and Style. It offers you something different! It gives you the opportunity to dive somewhere unique!  In a high altitude freshwater volcanic lake 1560 metres (5118 feet) up; whilst only still wearing a wet-suit!

Look for ancient Mayan artifacts and pottery hiding from you in the silt. Swim over the branches of submerged underwater trees. Go through eerie rock swim-throughs. Put your hands in hot volcanic mud. Climb underwater rock cliff-faces going down to over 300 metres (984 feet), and chase giant freshwater crabs as they scuttle away from you across the rocks...

...while at the same time feeling satisfied with yourself, for having made your difference in helping to keep Lake Atitlán clean and in spreading a positive environmental message to the local communities.

Scuba diving (weather dependent of course!), takes place on the TWO mornings of the week when we are back in the lakeside village of San Marcos la Laguna.

Lake Atitlan 'Tul' Reforestation Community Project

‘El Tul’ or ‘the Lake Reeds,’ a plant that is found along the shores of Lake Atitlán, is VERY important for the health and cleanliness of the lake. And with Lake Atitlán being recently labeled as one of the most endangered lakes in the world, immediate, careful and effective control and management is as important today as it has EVER been, if the lake is to be conserved for the future generations to come!

The benefits of ‘Tul’ includes:

• Oxygenation of the water.
• Cleaning contaminants from the water (e.g. by  absorbing carbon dioxide).
• Giving marine life protection from the wind and the cold.
• Providing marine life with food and protection from predators.
• Acting as a natural barrier or filter that prevents earth sediments and substances from entering directly into the lake itself (i.e. helps to minimize ‘eutrophication:’ which is simply speaking, the nutrient enrichment of the water from the contamination of pesticides and fertilizers that are used in cheap farming practices from around the lake basin area).
• Retains rubbish/trash and keeps it together (i.e. acts like a filter system). Especially by stopping any unwanted debris flowing to the north side of the lake with the direction of the prevailing wind.
• Provides a safe habitat for birds, fish, shell fish and insects indigenous to the lake.

That is why Soul Projects in 2010 helped initiate and has teamed up with the local lakeside communities to help them preserve, plant, cultivate and protect the ‘Tul’ of Lake Atitlán.

This will give all of our Soul Trekkers (including non-scuba divers!) an opportunity to potentially take part in the planting and/or cultivation of ‘Tul’ as part of each expedition. In this way you will receive first-hand experience and a deeper appreciation and insight into the traditional techniques, history and multiple uses of this very useful Mayan plant. Especially as ‘Tul’ has been weaved, used creatively as a natural building material and made into various local products for hundreds of years by the indigenous Maya Indians of Lake Atitlán.

DO I HAVE TO BE A SCUBA DIVER TO BE ABLE TO JOIN THE EXPEDITION?

Scuba diving is NOT required on the project. That means you don’t have to be a scuba diver to be able to join or get the most out from the expedition!

However, if you do wish to scuba dive with us here on the lake and take part on the Soul Clean-Up and Reforestation of ‘Tul’ Project, then you will need to show us that you are a certified PADI Open Water Diver or above, or have an equivalent certification from another organization, either before or during the expedition.

This is important because we need to know you have the satisfactory level of experience necessary to handle yourself on the lake, especially due to the additional safety considerations that need to be adhered to when diving at higher altitude and the different freshwater diving conditions unique to Lake Atitlán.

Whatever your current scuba diving competence level; whether you have never scuba dived before, are already an open water diver or just need a refresher, Soul Projects will be happy to give you all the necessary training you need to get you confident and certified here on the lake, all the way up to being a PADI Open Water Diver as part of your expedition. And if you join for the Full 10 Weeks of the expedition, there will also be the opportunity for Soul Projects to train you up to being a fully certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver as part of your experience with us here on the lake; which we will include as an extra gift you could say!

LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE ON THE LAKE

Soul Projects gives you the unique adventure and experience of learning to scuba dive on the lake as part of the expedition, all the way up to being an internationally certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver.

Courses that we can offer you:

PADI Open Water Diver        classroom, confined sessions + 4 dives
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver         classroom sessions + 5 dives
Emergency First Response (EFR)       classroom + scenarios

Learning to scuba dive here on the lake is a much more environmentally responsible and conscious way to learn, for two main reasons:

Firstly, you are not damaging thousands of years of life when learning to scuba dive in a freshwater lake, as you are every time you kick a piece of coral with your fins on a coral reef. Which you most certainly will do during the early stages of learning to scuba dive, it’s inevitable! Better being rock and silt than a thousand year old living and breathing animal, wouldn’t you say?

A lot of people do not realize the extent, impact, or immense pressure that our coral reefs are currently under from scuba divers. The ‘truth’ is that sadly, it is a big contributing factor in today’s world to reef decline and destruction.

Secondly, starting your new soon to become hobby, on a freshwater lake doesn’t spoil you too early! As once you are more confident in your own skills as a scuba diver, and have experience of some very different underwater conditions, you will then be more ready to go off and explore the fragile reefs of this beautiful world, with more confidence, ability and greater vision.....with your eyes truly open!

Our aim is to prepare and make you ready to take part in our Soul Lake Clean-Up and Reforestation of ‘Tul’ Project on completion of your courses and training. Scuba diving instruction with a ‘deeper’ goal or purpose you could say. Overall, giving you a very adventurous, thoroughly challenging and rewarding experience!

WHAT ARE THE LAKE CONDITIONS LIKE FOR SCUBA DIVING?

Lake Atitlán is a freshwater lake formed in a volcanic caldera at an altitude of 1560 m (5118 ft). It therefore offers rare diving opportunities in a geothermically active, high-altitude, temperate environment.

In fact, there are few places in the world where you can actually scuba dive at altitude whilst wearing only a wetsuit, since most other high-altitude lakes are glacier-fed.

The lake is roughly 320 m (1050 ft) deep - one of the deepest in the world, and 29 km (18 miles) and 26km (16 miles) wide. Because of altitude diving considerations and reduced visibility at depth, few divers go deeper than 25 m (82 ft). Visibility averages  10 m (32 ft) in the dry season, but varies widely from 3 to 14m (10 - 46 ft) throughout the year depending on recent rainfall, depth and bottom composition. Temperature varies year-round from 23˚C (73˚F) in the wet season to 20˚C (68˚F) in the dry season.

VILLAGE CREATIVE ARTS

Come with us, as we help to teach Art, Dance and Music, to different groups of children from various villages around the lake. We volunteer at a school in San Juan la Laguna and with a group of children in San Marcos la Laguna every expedition.

Children are the future generations! They hold within their hands, the key for positive change on all levels. Freedom of expression, using your imagination, and letting a child’s creativity flow, is an essential part of this natural process. A part that very often gets blocked out from many cultures at a very young age, especially in today’s fast moving world.

That’s why, Soul Projects is working with the teachers and the schools on the lake. To help defend this right, of every child, to see, feel and experience the benefits of the creative arts, as a universal tool for personal growth on every level; mentally and spiritually.

Environmental education and conservation issues are an increasingly important issue to the local communities around the lake, especially as their natural environment is such a core part of their everyday lives.

Therefore, the project also focuses on helping to educate and spread a positive message to the village of San Marcos la Laguna and surrounding lakeside communities.

We work with two groups of children throughout the expedition. Soul Trekkers are responsible for the organizing and planning of all creative arts sessions. 
Our first session is with the mentally and physically handicapped kids of Centro Maya School in San Juan la Laguna, our lessons are approximately 3 hours long with these children.

Secondly, it is back to the base for our own Creative Arts Kids Club. An afternoon of various activities, games and fun with some of the local children who range in all age groups.

This session is about 2 or 3 hours long as well. Here we also sometimes teach English and have some kind of creative game to re-enforce the afternoon’s key theme; relay races, dances or songs are just some examples.

If you are passionate about dance, teach a dance routine! If you love music, then sing-a-longs it is! If you love art then splash on the paints!  We have a specialized staff member that is responsible for over-seeing the teaching element of our project, but we want YOU to get involved as much as possible!

MAYAN CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Soul Projects promotes and encourages interaction with the local communities as much as possible. Giving travellers a chance to be able to experience and gain a real taste into Guatemalan way of life, music, traditions and Mayan culture for themselves, seeing what it really has to offer the world.

To be able to truly absorb and get a real feel for a country, you need to go deeper into the culture than just seeing it. You need to FEEL it! You need to be able to get closer to the actual people of that country and their way of life somehow. As these people, ARE the country!

To do that you firstly need to be there for an extended period of time, and then, you need to be able to somehow integrate yourself into the community a bit more. You need to learn how to embrace and respect the traditions of that country, their customs, their beliefs, taste the local foods and familiarize yourself with the local languages. We can offer you all of these things here in Guatemala!

The expedition gives you the unique opportunity of combining together taking Mayan Language and Spanish classes, while living & eating in a homestay with a local Guatemalan family. All in all, giving you the perfect mix for a truly Cultural & Awakening Experience!

Our Soul Trekkers stay with a local family three nights a week once we have returned from the four nights at our forest/beach camps, or 7 nights a week during the designated village weeks.  During this time you will get the opportunity to become integrated into a local Guatemalan family.  You will get the chance to help them prepare traditional foods, ask questions and learn about their culture, practice your Spanish or ‘Kaqchikel’ (the locally spoken Mayan language), and play some fun games with their children.

SEVEN DAY YOGA & MEDITATION ON THE BEACH AND BABY GREEN TURTLE LIBERATION SATELLITE PROJECT

Explore & experience another one of Guatemala’s amazingly beautiful and natural landscapes in style, whilst living on its tranquil & deserted Southern shoreline. Come and spend some time with us on the beach, with nothing else surrounding you but nature, waves, driftwood and black volcanic sand.

Practice Yoga at sunrise and Meditation at sunset. Sleep on the beach under the stars, listen to the crashing of the waves, have a surf, cook over on an open beach fire, see Green turtles out in the wild, and have the fantastic opportunity to save & liberate a baby Green Turtle of your very own.

The truth is that, once upon a time millions of sea turtles once swam in the earth’s oceans, but today only a small amount remain. In Guatemala, the greatest threat to the Green turtle is from the commercial harvest of their eggs.

This is happening because the local people are poor, and therefore often harvest the eggs to earn extra money for their families. This is also mainly due to poor education in the schools, because the people simply do not understand that if this practice continues, the turtle may become extinct. Soul Projects supports and promotes the local project of El Tortugario in El Paredon which is a small viilage that lies inside the Naranjo National Park Nature Reserve, which is also supported by the Guatemalan government through CONAP.

Every person in the village that harvests a turtle nest must now donate 20% of the eggs that they take, to the project. The donated eggs are then reburied in a protected area (the Tortugario), providing a compromise that allows more baby turtles to eventually hatch and make it to the ocean alive.

In a natural nest, around 40% of the eggs will hatch, but in the Tortugario this rate is increased to 90%. Normally, depending on the temperature of the nest, the incubation time is 60 days. However, in the Tortugario the incubation time is decreased to about 48 days. CONAP and Soul Projects also help to educate the local people and school children about the importance of protecting the Green turtle. Unfortunately however, CONAP (the government organization that supports the program) doesn’t have sufficient funds to support and maintain the project.

That’s why in turtle nest season Soul Projects goes and buys fresh turtle eggs from the local people (there is no doubt that they will be sold anyway!). We then bury the eggs at the Tortugario. In fact, what this means is that if you join an expedition between June and January, you potentially will have the unique opportunity to liberate your own baby turtles out into the wild yourself.

When it is not the turtle season we still run the project, but the funds we simply donate to the cause, so that later on they can be used to buy more eggs during the turtle nesting season.  In El Paredon the Green turtle nests from June till November with a peak in August and September. Until January there are potentially opportunities to liberate baby Green turtles.

There is also an amazing opportunity to actually see Green turtles living in their mangrove natural habitats all year long! A part of the project is therefore to give you the opportunity to see one of these secret mangrove locations for yourself. In fact, El Paredon is one of only two places in the whole World, where you are guaranteed to actually experience this natural phenomenon throughout the year.

'CORAZON DEL MAYA' (HEART OF THE MAYA) TEN DAY SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE TREK

The new for 2011 spiritual adventure trekking element of the expedition has been created to help you unleash your spirit of adventure. Let us take you on a deep journey that will help you break away from the ordinary and encourage you to immerse yourself from head to toe in a Mayan world of pure wonder and Self-discovery.

This well-deserved climax to the expedition, is aimed to give all of our Soul Trekkers the opportunity, to apply and integrate the wisdom and various lessons gained during the previous 8 weeks of the expedition, in a down to earth, active, free flowing, challenging and adventurous way.

By ending your journey with Soul Projects with your eyes wide open, it is hoped that you will gain an enhanced understanding of our mysterious world and see your place within it with much more clarity. This is your time to enjoy the well-deserved thrill of your new found vision for life, and to take the time and find the space to reflect upon that magic feeling; of something that has been truly life-altering.

A PYRAMID OF 3 ANCIENT LAKES

Lake Petén Itza is set within the Maya forest which constitutes the largest continuous expanse of tropical forest remaining in Central America. Lake Petén Itza is about 48km (30 miles) long and covers an area of 98km2 (61 square miles). The lake is approximately 50m (164 ft) below sea level and likely to have held water during arid glacial periods. Built on an island on the lake, the town of Flores is a sleepy town with a Caribbean sensibility, pastel-colored buildings, friendly people and a slow pace of life. Flores was once a Maya ceremonial center, by the 17th century it was a Spanish outpost, and today, it's the capital of Petén province.

Lake Izabal is the largest of Guatemala's lakes. Lake Izabal is a gentle expanse of water hemmed in by the Sierra de Las Minas to the south and the Santa Cruz mountain range to the north. The waters of the lake are rich in fish. Unique to the lake is the fresh-water sea cow (manatee), a mammal that can weigh up to a ton. This species is in danger of extinction and the manatees are the largest mammals in the country.

MAGNIFICENT MAYAN RUINS

Mayan Ruins in Guatemala are a living testimony to a culture that once flourished between 700 BC to 900 AD. The most prominent Mayan Ruins can be found in Tikal and smaller remains of Mayan buildings can be seen all over Guatemala.

Mayan Ruins are the truly astounding evidence of a long lasting, dynamic cultural tradition. The monuments paid tribute to the rulers of the past, and inscriptions inside are concerned with dynasties and conquests, alliances and raids. Some 10 square miles of central Tikal have been mapped revealing over 3000 separate constructions: Huge stones brought down by the rivers of the south coast served as the raw material for the carving of gigantic sculptures that have been found in this region.

TIKAL

Tikal National Park is among the world's travel wonders. The monumental site with its towering pyramids looms out of the thick jungle canopy like wise sentinels of ancient mysteries.

Tikal was once a wealthy metropolis of 100,000 inhabitants and the seat of power for the great Mayan Jaguar clan lords. Today, Tikal attracts archeologists from all around the globe and the wild-life surrounding the ruins makes it a naturalist's dream.             

The Tikal National Park is not only home to an ancient Mayan City. Screeching howler monkeys and squawking parrots provide nature's soundtrack to all visitors in the area. From monkeys to white lipped peccary, brocket deer, coati-mundis, toucans, scarlet macaws, parrots, ocelots; even the seldom jaguar can occasionally be spotted. Along with many vegetation spices there is also an abundance of tropical flowers.

Due to its natural habitat for fauna and flora and its Mayan ruins, Tikal and the general Petén area has been declared both a Cultural and Natural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and has since been the only place on earth to have received these two recognitions together.                                                                                                

When you visit archeological sites such as these, it is important to keep your senses fully open, both to what seems vanished in time and to what is still presently alive and vibrant. As well as the Mayan culture, the Mayan natural environment has endured. The rainforests of Central America are among the most diverse in the planet. The birds, animals and plants that the old Mayan civilization lived with are, for the most part, still holding on strong!

“TIKAL IS AMONG THE WORLD’S TRAVEL WONDERS, MANY CALLING TIKAL ONE OF THE MOST SPIRITUALLY POWERFUL SPOTS ON EARTH.”

EL MIRADOR

Guatemala's most popular Mayan ruins lies at Tikal, but for real bragging rights you'll have to head much deeper into the Petén jungle, where you'll find the ancient city of El Mirador. Dating back to 300 B.C., it's about a century older and today stands more than twice the size of Tikal. And while getting to Tikal is a more straight forward affair, to get a glimpse of El Mirador's monumental temples you need to trek your way through the jungle — the nearest road is about 45 miles (72 km) away.  However, El Mirador is well-known to be more worth the effort!

Its partially excavated remains lie spread out in the forest, connected by stone causeways (the Mayans were the world's first highway builders). The expanse of the site is breathtaking: thousands of ruins lie over an area of 23 square miles (37 square kilometres).

This impressive site remains one of the most isolated and understudied of the great Mayan ruins. Until very recently, archaeological and scientific research has been undertaken by the Guatemalan government and international educational institutions.
The ruins, mostly unexcavated, are still predominantly intact, aided by the dense jungle canopy which covers them, protecting them from erosion.

Probably the most impressive structure that towers over the pyramid complex at El Mirador, of greater volume than the Egyptian pyramid of Cheops and affording sweeping views of the lush green canopy, is the Tigre (Tiger) Pyramid. This pyramid stands at an unprecedented height of 18 stories, the highest pyramid yet discovered in the Maya world, with a base size of three football fields. No trip to El Mirador is complete without a climb to this sky nesting place of the gods — nor an energizing smile, as you look back at the summit during  your return journey back through the jungle. Over 200 other buildings in this gigantic complex still remain unexcavated and unmapped.

"THIS TRAIL EXPLORES THE ANCIENT LOST MAYAN CITY OF EL MIRADOR. LEGEND HAS IT THAT AT ITS HEIGHT, EL MIRADOR WAS FOUR TIMES AS GRANDIOSE AS TIKAL”

THE TRAIL WE WILL BE FOLLOWING

We will explore together the lost Pre Classic Maya site of  El Mirador. The trial itself is operated by the community of Carmelita, the northernmost village of Petén located close to the Mexican border. This community was founded 60 years ago as an important base for ‘chicle’ collection and processing. Chicle is the resin of the Chico-zapote tree, which forms the natural base of chewing gum. Another rainforest product is the ‘xate’ palm frond which is used in floral arrangements. The villagers of Carmelita have always depended on the surrounding forest for their livelihood and have extracted these non-timber forest products in a sustainable manner.

By supporting the community in this way we will be creating another viable, sustainable and low environmental impact product for their life sustentation.

 

EXPEDITION GENERAL INFORMATION

HOW WOULD I BE LIVING?

The expedition forest camp itself is situated high-up in the central Guatemalan highlands above San Marcos la Laguna, secluded in the middle of an ecological cloud  forest reserve. The camp overlooks the beautiful volcanic Lake Atitlán, with its three impressive volcanoes of   San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán staring right at us.

This means, the camp has no running water or electricity, and the accommodation is very basic. The camp is made up of several permanent, simple, wooden structures which are used for sleeping, cooking and yoga & meditation practice. The food we eat on camp consists of mostly fresh local produce, which we daily cook ourselves over an open fire.

The expedition will involve a 1-2 hour hike to and from our camp on those weeks that we spend specifically at our forest camp, a sacred place that we like to call ‘Yaxche’, which is the Mayan word to describe ‘the Mayan tree of life’.

When we are back in the village of San Marcos la Laguna at the end of every 4 nights we will spend in the forest, all of our Soul Trekkers stay with an adopted local indigenous Guatemalan family. This gives you the opportunity to integrate yourself into the Guatemalan community and lifestyle, and build a deeper relationship with the family throughout your stay on the expedition. It also gives you the perfect chance to practice your Spanish or Kaqchikel, and sample the 'real' Guatemalan way of life and typical local foods whilst living here on the lake.

There are also two village weeks built into the expedition, which means that for those weeks all staff and Soul Trekkers will stay in San Marcos la Laguna for the whole week, to focus more heavily upon their Mayan & Spanish language development skills.

HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WILL THERE BE ON THE EXPEDITION?

We like small groups at Soul Projects. Therefore the MAXIMUM number of people on any expedition here in Guatemala is 11. Which is divided up into seven Soul Trekkers, plus four Soul Staff: an Expedition Leader, a Yoga & Meditation Teacher, a Creative Arts Teacher & Village Representative, and a Scuba Diving & EFR Instructor.

‘Soul Trekkers’ are what we like to call our expedition team members here at Soul Projects. To us the term simply symbolizes the journey that everyone will be making individually, as well as altogether as a group!

The term also represents someone who has not only made the step to volunteer to serve and give to others (i.e. from a physical point of view), but also to volunteer for ‘themselves’ and their own spiritual growth (i.e. from a non-physical point of view); and therefore in doing so, for the good of everyone, everything, everywhere!

As only in this way can each of us, and our magnificent planet Earth truly change for the better, moving the world gradually towards ‘Oneness,’ by realizing peace has to first begin at the roots of the consciousness of each and every individual. With YOU and I!

 As one person grows and becomes free, at the exact same moment so does the whole world grow and become free!

WHAT ARE THE AGES OF THE OTHER PEOPLE I WILL BE JOURNEYING WITH?

Soul Projects attracts a whole variety of people of all different age groups. In fact every expedition is totally unique and different, and on expeditions in the past we have received Soul Trekkers that have been from in-between 18 to 50 years of age. But, much more generally speaking, due to the more deeper spiritual growth element and focus of the expedition, most of our Soul Trekkers tend to be in their early to late twenties.

HOW LONG IS AN EXPEDITION AND CAN I STAY FOR LESS TIME IF I WANT TO?

All our expeditions here in Guatemala are either 4, 7 or 10 weeks long. We run four full 10 week expeditions each year.

We do try to encourage all of our Soul Trekkers to commit to the Full 10 Weeks of the expedition. This is so that you are simply more able to gain and ultimately give the most from the experience, especially as the expedition as a whole, is structured and designed specifically to be a 10 week progressive soulful journey in itself!

However, we do appreciate that it is not always possible for all travellers to commit to this length of time. Therefore we have created the following three expedition opportunities for our Soul Trekkers:

4 Week New Moon Expedition

7 Week Crescent Moon Expedition

10 Week Full Moon Expedition

WHAT IS THE CLIMATE AND WEATHER LIKE THERE IN SAN MARCOS LA LAGUNA?

Guatemala is not named the land of eternal springtime for no reason. The temperature here in San Marcos la Laguna is always very comfortable throughout the year. Somewhere between 15 and 27 degrees Celsius, or 59 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, don’t forget that our forest camp is situated slightly higher up in the mountains above San Marcos la Laguna, so it always tends to get a little bit colder up there especially at nights (i.e. it frequently drops below 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit).

The climate around the lake is semitropical and of a monsoonal character. Generally though, we can separate the San Marcos la Laguna climate into two main parts. The rainy season between May and October, and the dry season between November and April.

By the way, all being in the rainy season means is that it has a greater chance of raining. Twice a week on average is normal during this time. Rainy season peaks in September, and at this time it potentially can rain every day. But very frequently it will only actually rain in the afternoons or throughout the night. Whatever happens though, through our eyes, it only all just adds to the experience!

WILL I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SPANISH AND THE MAYAN LANGUAGE WHILST ON THE EXPEDITION?

Yes, there is the chance to study Spanish and the Mayan Language (‘Kaqchikel’) whilst on the expedition. This is organized to help you communicate better with your homestay families, especially if you do not already have much knowledge of the Spanish language.

Group Spanish and Mayan Language classes are included in the expedition during the San Marcos la Laguna village weeks. This will really help you gain the most from the experience with your host family and increase your confidence.

WILL I RECEIVE ANY OTHER TRAINING WHILST ON THE PROJECT?

Due to the nature of the expedition and the fact that we will be spending most of our time in a more isolated and more natural forest and mountainous area, we feel that it is important that all of our Soul Trekkers are given a basic introduction to forest survival & expedition first aid at the beginning of the project. This will also act as the perfect teambuilding activity, to get the whole group warmed-up and working together effectively as a team, ready for the challenging few weeks ahead!

The forest survival element of the training that we will give you, will go over and include all of the following important information and useful survival techniques: how to prepare & start fires correctly, how to use a machete & axe correctly, how to chop firewood safely & efficiently, useful water collection and purification techniques and how to make a simple & easy, but strong, evacuation stretcher out of only rope!

The first aid training that we will give you is equivalent to the PADI Internationally recognized First Aid & CPR certification, Emergency First Response Primary & Secondary Care course. However due to the environment that we will be living and working in, the course will have much more of an out in the wilderness focus to it. The opportunity to receive this international First Aid & CPR certification, or to refresh your current skills during the expedition is given to all of our Soul Trekkers.

We will also give you an introduction into teaching the Creative Arts at the beginning of the expedition. This will help prepare you for the teaching element of the expedition and help build your confidence in the classroom, especially if you haven’t had much teaching experience with children before. This will include of course children and adults with disabilities, as this is our primary focus on the expedition.

WILL I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURF WHILST ON THE PROJECT?

During our seven day ‘Yoga & Meditation on the Beach and Baby Green Turtle Liberation’ Satellite Project, there is the opportunity for all of our Soul Trekkers to surf, or learn to surf if they have never tried it before.

The long stretch of deserted coastline where our beach camp is located has good waves all year round, with a selection of great beach breaks suitable for all experience levels.

 

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR EXPEDITION?

As you are now more aware, our projects are somewhere in the middle between being an ‘active adventure expedition’ and being a ‘peaceful spiritual retreat.’

That means that we try to keep the conditions of the expedition as controlled as is sensibly possible, so you are able to gain the most from the experience, and to maximize your opportunity for personal development and spiritual growth.

Therefore, we do respect the basic regulative principles of traditional good yogic meditation practice. Which include:

• No intoxication of yourself whilst on the project (that includes with alcohol, cannabis, caffeine, tobacco or with any other mind altering substances), and…

• No meat or fish eating whilst on the project either, as our expedition is strictly vegetarian.

These guidelines have been put in place, to allow our Soul Trekkers to have the rare opportunity to detoxify their bodies completely. So that the true beneficial effects of a good regular yoga and meditation practice, combined with the healthy consumption of mainly fresh & natural foods, can be felt to its maximum potential!

WHAT ELSE WILL YOU TEACH ME ON THE EXPEDITION?

Success in life or living life to your full potential could be defined as being the continued expansion of happiness, and the progressive flow & realization of personal goals and dreams.

Living life to your full potential is simply the magical ability to fulfill your desires instantly with effortless ease. However, it seems that the path to this type of success and the creation of wealth in our own lives has always been considered to be a very complicated process that requires a lot of hard work; often to the loss and disadvantage of many other people as we go along.

We need to have a much more widely available and more spiritual approach to success and to affluence in this modern day world. This new mindset can be described as the knowing that all the things that you most need in your life, to fulfill your highest potential, will always abundantly flow to you naturally, starting RIGHT NOW! For the key to having what you really need in life is visualization; most people don’t realize that WHAT YOU THINK IS ACTUALLY WHAT YOU GET!!!

Soul Projects takes you on a journey of seven soul insights during the expedition. It is our aim not only to explain to you what they are, but also to show you how to practically integrate these principles into your daily life, to help you be more successful in everything you do, and how to use this wisdom to eventually go on to reach your full potential in life.

The Expedition Manual that you will be given at the beginning of the project, called ‘Life - Your Own Personalized Journey to Oneness,’ will illustrate and demonstrate this journey to you clearly. It will also cover other complementary topics along the way that will help enhance your understanding of the insights. These topics will include: The Seven Chakras (‘Energy Centres’) of the body, Mantras (‘Spiritual Chants’), Lucid Dreaming (‘Dream Awareness’) and Yoga & Meditation.

WILL I GET ANY FREETIME DURING THE EXPEDITION?

Yes. There is a good amount of free time built-into the expedition, which is there for you to find some space away from the project, relax and unwind in whatever way you prefer (e.g. read, go for walks, listen to music, sunbath, swim in the lake).  Every Soul Trekker usually gets at least one free day a week to do their own thing.

There is also a four-day break that is built into the expedition, usually during the end of week 6. This is there to give all Soul Trekkers a well deserved rest, an opportunity to explore the lake a little bit more themselves, and to take in some more of the beautiful scenery that surrounds them (e.g. Why not climb to the top of Volcano San Pedro or take a trip to the Santiago local market on the other side of the lake? Or just sleep for    4 days?) The choice is yours.

Being located in San Marcos la Laguna and on Lake Atitlán also gives all of our Soul Trekkers a unique and invaluable opportunity to take advantage of all the other activities that are available to foreign visitors. Some examples of extra activities that past Soul Trekkers have made the most of during their stay include - kayaking, Reiki courses, one-on-one Spanish language classes, alternative medicine & massage treatments, coffee plantation tours, horse riding, herbal medicine & natural healing workshops - and these are just a few of the many options that are available.

We therefore strongly recommend that you make the most of your time while you are here with us in San Marcos la Laguna, as there is just so much for everybody to experiment with, learn and grow from. It certainly won’t take you very long to realize why Soul Projects was drawn into setting up our first expedition here on Lake Atitlán, and finding out for yourself first-hand how unique San Marcos la Laguna really is to the World!

WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THE 4 WEEK NEW MOON EXPEDITION?

• Enough food and liquid to keep you alive for the four weeks (3 meals per day)
• A place to lay your head whilst at our project field camps (i.e. Camping in the forest/on the beach 4 or 7 nights per week)
• A homestay with a local indigenous Guatemalan family when you are in San Marcos la Laguna (3 nights per week on forest weeks or 7  nights per week on village weeks)
• All your transportation whilst on the project with us (4x4 truck, bus, boat etc.)
• Pick-up from Antigua on your arrival and transportation to San Marcos la Laguna
• Hostel for 1 night in Antigua upon your arrival
• Expedition Manual, including the seven soul insights to living life to your full potential
• Introductions, teaching and guidance of the seven chakras (‘energy centres’) of the body, mantras (‘spiritual chants’), lucid dreaming (‘dream awareness’) and yoga & meditation
• Group Spanish and Mayan Language Classes
• Forest Survival & Expedition First Aid Training (International CPR & First Aid Certification Included!)
• Introduction into Teaching the Creative Arts (including children & adults with disabilities)
• The opportunity to work on the Village Creative Arts element of the expedition
• The chance to join our Clean-up Lake Atitlan and Reforestation of ‘Tul’ community project.
• Refresher dive for all scuba divers (only if already a certified scuba diver!)
• The use of our scuba diving equipment while you are here (only if already a certified scuba diver!)
• Altitude adventure dive training (only if already a certified scuba diver!)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE 4 WEEK NEW MOON EXPEDITION?

• Your flight, and all other transportation costs to get you to Antigua
• Any personal medical or travel insurance that you purchase
• The cost of any extra personal items or activities undertaken during the expedition. e.g. washing clothes (approx. £3 per week), expedition spending money, treats, and extra project activities (we therefore strongly recommend that you bring at least £200 as a minimum for a 4 week expedition to keep your options open and to remain financially flexible throughout the project)
• All expenses including food, accommodation and transport outside of the expedition dates
• An Introduction into the Mayan Civilization, Mayan Calendar, and 2012 Prophecy (the Evolution of Consciousness)
• An Introduction into the Formation & History of the Ancient Lake of Atitlán
• PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water Scuba Diving Training Courses
• Yoga & Meditation on the Beach and Baby Green Turtle Liberation Seven Day Satellite Project
• Personal Expenses during free days (i.e. lunches)
• 10 day ‘Heart of the Maya’ Spiritual Adventure Trek

4 Week New Moon Expedition Dates for 2010

EARTH Expedition 6  Wednesday 6th  January – Tuesday 2nd  February

FIRE Expedition 6  Wednesday 7th  April – Tuesday 4th May

WIND Expedition 6  Wednesday 7th July – Tuesday 3rd August

WATER Expedition 6  Wednesday 6th October – Tuesday 2nd November

4 Week New Moon Expedition Dates for 2011

EARTH Expedition 7  Wednesday 12th  January – Tuesday 8th February

FIRE Expedition 7  Wednesday 13th April – Tuesday 10th May

WIND Expedition 7  Wednesday 13th July – Tuesday 9th August

WATER Expedition 7  Wednesday 12th October – Tuesday 8th November

WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THE 7 WEEK CRESCENT MOON EXPEDITION?

• Enough food and liquid to keep you alive for the seven weeks (3 meals per day)
• A place to lay your head whilst at our project field camps (i.e. Camping in the forest/on the beach 4 or 7 nights per week)
• A homestay with a local indigenous Guatemalan family when you are in San Marcos la Laguna (3 nights per week on forest weeks or 7  nights per week on village weeks)
• All your transportation whilst on the project with us (4x4 truck, bus, boat etc.)
• Pick-up from Antigua on your arrival and transportation to San Marcos la Laguna
• Hostel for 1 night in Antigua upon your arrival
• Expedition Manual, including the seven soul insights to living life to your full potential
• Introductions, teaching and guidance of the seven chakras (‘energy centres’) of the body, mantras (‘spiritual chants’), lucid dreaming (‘dream awareness’) and yoga & meditation
• Group Spanish and Mayan Language Classes
• Forest Survival & Expedition First Aid Training (International CPR & First Aid Certification Included!)
• Introduction into Teaching the Creative Arts (including children & adults with disabilities)
• The opportunity to work on the Village Creative Arts element of the expedition
• The chance to join our Clean-up Lake Atitlan and Reforestation of ‘Tul’ community project.
• Refresher dive for all scuba divers
• The use of our scuba diving equipment while you are here
• Altitude adventure dive training
• PADI Open Water Scuba Scuba Diver Training Course and all scuba dives during the expedition
• An Introduction into the Mayan Civilization, Mayan Calendar, and 2012 Prophecy (the Evolution of Consciousness)
• An Introduction into the Formation & History of the Ancient Lake of Atitlán
• Yoga & Meditation on the Beach and Baby Green Turtle Liberation Seven Day Satellite Project

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE 7 WEEK CRESCENT MOON EXPEDITION?

• Your flight, and all other transportation costs to get you to Antigua
• Any personal medical or travel insurance that you purchase
• The cost of any extra personal items or activities undertaken during the expedition. e.g. washing clothes (approx. £3 per week), surf lessons/surf board
• hire (approx. £8 per hour private lesson), expedition spending money, treats, and extra project activities (we therefore strongly recommend that you bring at least £300 as a minimum for a 7 week expedition to keep your options open and to remain  financially flexible throughout the project)
• All expenses including food, accommodation and transport outside of the expedition dates
• PADI Advanced Open Water Scuba Diving Training Course
• Personal Expenses during free days (i.e. lunches), and the four-day expedition break at the end of Week 6 (i.e. all meals and accommodation)
• 10 day ‘Heart of the Maya’ Spiritual Adventure Trek

7 Week Crescent Moon Expedition Dates for 2010

EARTH Expedition 6  Wednesday 6th  January – Tuesday 23rd February

FIRE Expedition 6  Wednesday 7th  April – Tuesday 25th May

WIND Expedition 6  Wednesday 7th July – Tuesday 24th August

WATER Expedition 6  Wednesday 6th October – Tuesday 23rd November

7 Week Crescent Moon Expedition Dates for 2011

EARTH Expedition 7  Wednesday 12th  January – Tuesday 1st March

FIRE Expedition 7  Wednesday 13th April – Tuesday 31st May

WIND Expedition 7  Wednesday 13th July – Tuesday 30th August

WATER Expedition 7  Wednesday 12th October – Tuesday 29th November

WHAT IS INCLUDED ON THE 10 WEEK FULL MOON EXPEDITION?

• Enough food and liquid to keep you alive for the ten weeks (3 meals per day)
• A place to lay your head whilst at our project field camps (i.e. Camping in the forest/on the beach 4 or 7 nights per week)
• A homestay with a local indigenous Guatemalan family when you are in San Marcos la Laguna (3 nights per week on forest weeks or 7  nights per week on village weeks)
• All your transportation whilst on the project with us (4x4 truck, bus, boat etc.)
• Pick-up from Antigua on your arrival and transportation to San Marcos la Laguna
• Hostel for 1 night in Antigua upon your arrival
• Expedition Manual, including the seven soul insights to living life to your full potential
• Introductions, teaching and guidance of the seven chakras (‘energy centres’) of the body, mantras (‘spiritual chants’), lucid dreaming (‘dream awareness’) and yoga & meditation
• Group Spanish and Mayan Language Classes
• Forest Survival & Expedition First Aid Training (International CPR & First Aid Certification Included!)
• Introduction into Teaching the Creative Arts (including children & adults with disabilities)
• The opportunity to work on the Village Creative Arts element of the expedition
• The chance to join our Clean-up Lake Atitlan and Reforestation of ‘Tul’ community project.
• Refresher dive for all scuba divers
• The use of our scuba diving equipment while you are here
• Altitude adventure dive training
• PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water Scuba Diver Training Courses and all scuba dives during the expedition
• An Introduction into the Mayan Civilization, Mayan Calendar, and 2012 Prophecy (the Evolution of Consciousness)
• An Introduction into the Formation & History of the Ancient Lake of Atitlán
• Yoga & Meditation on the Beach and Baby Green Turtle Liberation Seven Day Satellite Project
• 10 day ‘Heart of the Maya’ Spiritual Adventure Trek

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED ON THE 10 WEEK FULL MOON EXPEDITION?

• Your flight, and all other transportation costs to get you to Antigua
• Any personal medical or travel insurance that you purchase
• The cost of any extra personal items or activities undertaken during the expedition. e.g. washing clothes (approx. £3 per week), surf lessons/surf board
• hire (approx. £8 per hour private lesson), expedition spending money, treats, and extra project activities (we therefore strongly recommend that you bring at least £400 as a minimum for a full 10 week expedition to keep your options open and to remain financially flexible throughout the project)
• All expenses including food, accommodation and transport outside of the expedition dates
• Personal Expenses during free days (i.e. lunches) and the four-day expedition break at the end of Week 6 (i.e. meals and accommodation)

10 Week Full Moon Expedition Dates for 2010

EARTH Expedition 6  Wednesday 6th  January – Tuesday 16th March

FIRE Expedition 6  Wednesday 7th  April – Tuesday 15th June

WIND Expedition 6  Wednesday 7th July – Tuesday 14th September

WATER Expedition 6  Wednesday 6th October – Tuesday 14th December

10 Week Full Moon Expedition Dates for 2011

EARTH Expedition 7  Wednesday 12th  January – Tuesday 22nd March

FIRE Expedition 7  Wednesday 13th April – Tuesday 21st  June

WIND Expedition 7  Wednesday 13th July – Tuesday 20th September

WATER Expedition 7  Wednesday 12th October – Tuesday 20th December

CAN SOUL PROJECTS GIVE ANY KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?

Soul Projects is committed to supporting individuals interested in enhancing their life and realizing their full human potential through deep adventurous cultural travel experiences, regardless of background or financial status. Therefore we are open to offering an Expedition Scholarship, to certain individuals who require financial help in order to join the expedition. Scholarships are only made possible by the generous support of our Soul Trekkers.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER ADVICE TO HELP ME MAKE MY DONATION?

We highly encourage and suggest that potential Soul Trekkers who are deeply interested and serious about making the step to join us in Guatemala, spend some time fundraising to help gather together funds and sponsors for their expedition. As this is not a ‘tourist vacation,’ and you will be working and living in a challenging natural environment and within a small local village community in a developing country.  Past Soul Trekkers have generated funds for their experience though family, friends and local businesses & organizations.

 

...If you feel a deep inner connection to our expedition here in Guatemala, please CONTACT US for more information and to be sent a Soul Projects Fundraising Guidance Pack.

Gracias!