Well, up the Rio Dulce River once again! This time my destination is the mayan village of Q'ana Itzam. This village is the vision of Social Travel. A new kind of tour that incorporates history, culture and humanitarian cause. Most of your investment in the tour will actually go back into the village for further development and help pay for salaries of village doctors, laborers and other supplies.



This is the second school building being built. The village has 45 kids and their education will keep them up to date with other children in Guatemala. These kids will be given the same quality education without traveling to the bigger cities where the mayans are still being discriminated to this day.



This is the "Deer Dance". It is a living story of the beginning of time for the Mayans through the period of the Spanish arrival to Guatemala. The costumes are replicas of the original used by their ancestors. Before each performance, the mayan elder ladies bless the show and after a ceremonial prayer is also performed.





This is a statue dedicated to Yum Kaax. In Maya mythology, Yum Caax ("lord of the woods") was the personification of maize and a god of agriculture and nature.Alternative names: Yum Kaax, God E.Perhaps having origins in ancient northern hunting tradition, Yum Ka'ax, also called U Kanin Ka'ax, is known to indigenous peoples of North America. The one invoked by hunters, he is owner of all the game. He can appear to hunters in an instant, and possesses songs that will allow a hunter success or allow his arrows to come back to him.



The all the houses in this village have running water (using catchment systems and PVC piping, solar energy that is stored in batteries for electricity. They also operate a small hotel/bar for visitors. The bungalows were donated and built by foreign donators. 100% of the money goes back into the village development and some salaries of those who work their. The idea for the tour is also to have approximately 75% of the price of the tour to go directly to the village as well as the protection agencies and national park fees of the area. Another feature will also provide the tour guests a donation card, so that they can deduct it from their taxes as charity. Their is no name for the tour and is yet to be on any cruise line program. However, I firmly believe this tour is a great value and will help assist other villages similar to Q'ana Itzam survive in a modern world.