Cari English Go to Palopo, seek knowledge, seek health and hunt for culinary delights TEKS › English›Go to Palopo seek health and hunt for culinary delights Located in the east of South Sulawesi Palopo is not only a service and education city Audio Berita This article has been translated using AI. See Original Please note that this article was automatically translated using Microsoft Azure AI, Open AI, and Google Translation AI. We cannot ensure that the entire content is translated accurately. If you spot any errors or inconsistencies, contact us at hotline@kompas.id and we'll make every effort to address them TEKS KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU ARMANPalopo Mayor's Office Being far from Makassar, but still able to hang out at a franchise restaurant like in other big cities, which city is that? Those who live in the Greater Luwu area definitely know the answer: Palopo City located approximately 370 kilometers from Makassar there are many national and even international franchise restaurants Local cafes with various concepts and cuisine are also not few Stalls that sell kapurung - traditional and typical food of Palopo made from sago - also do not want to lose their existence Andarias (45) actually came to Palopo to attend a relative's wedding event Accompanied by his wife and seven-year-old child the three of them continued their flight to Palopo and stayed at one of the hotels "His intention was just to come to the wedding and then go home "It's easy to go anywhere because there is online transportation," he said Residents fill the backyard of City Hall and exercise together spent his childhood and adolescence in Palopo before finally migrating to Kalimantan Having been away from Palopo for a long time he was quite amazed to see the development of this small town "I went around several hotels looking for rooms but they were mostly already fully occupied They said there are many events happening these past few days which is why hotel rooms have been booked in advance," he said on Saturday (27/4/2024) A hotel staff explained that there were indeed many events going on during that week and also a motorcycle racing event held at Sirkuit Ratona Motorsport This national-level racing event was attended by hundreds of racers The same goes for various seminars and trainings which were also attended by tens to hundreds of participants It's no wonder that hotels were fully booked When going around to several hotels to look for a room billboards with the words "welcome to training and seminar participants as well as various events" are clearly displayed in the hotel's premises This city is also unique because it still has forest cover The atmosphere at one of the restaurants in Palopo City a field is filled with white tents and a large stage A grand event will be held by one of the banks Indra told a story about his visit to Palopo City for work matters The company he works for deals in stationery and office equipment As a city that is considered fairly developed Palopo has become a focus for business development in recent years various service businesses are quite developed A number of national banks have branches in this city There are also quite a lot of hospitals and health clinics for a small city For the office equipment and supplies-based company where Indra works stated that there are at least 16 higher education institutions in the city Also read: Palopo City in Numbers "Palopo is a small but strategic and unique city Luwu Raya has been designated as an integrated economic region and Palopo's role is quite strategic as a hub This city is also unique because it still has forest cover as well as agricultural and plantation land All of this should be seen as an opportunity," he said the presence of universities and hospitals can be encouraged to develop various business sectors the development of these sectors could also be a solution for absorbing the workforce Palopo is continuously being encouraged for the development of tourism and agricultural and plantation production sectors Land management for agriculture and plantations would also be made as tourism objects agriculture benefits from production and becomes a tourist destination," said Asrul The development of the education and health sectors in Palopo is like a magnet that attracts the growth of many other sectors food franchise businesses are also thriving Also read: Growth of 270.2 Million People and Demands for Changes in Urban Design up to Richeese Factory and various others are present in Palopo are also not left behind in opening their branches here Academician/researcher at Mega Buana University including those with a Faculty of Medicine have made Palopo a destination for studying and East Luwu regions have easy access to Palopo," said Afrianto Nurdin an academic and researcher at the Faculty of Economics at Mega Buana University the growth of the education sector has stimulated the development of service and trade industries This is in addition to the healthcare sector in Palopo clinics and hospitals are no longer only serving the residents of Palopo restaurants and trade businesses continue to grow their families definitely need a hotel or boarding house "Residents from the area around Palopo even come here just to hang out and have recreation," said Afrianto The presence of higher education has become an option for some students who are reluctant to go to Makassar "I chose to study in Palopo because I don't have to be far from my parents in Masamba my family comes to visit and we also go for a walk," said Nurhikmah (20) The atmosphere of RSUD Sawerigading in the city of Palopo This hospital is one of seven hospitals in Palopo With this growth and Palopo's continuous development the challenge is migration that impacts population growth and rapid urbanization processes some of which originate in neighboring districts such as Luwu "Concerns such as floods have already occurred followed by congestion and various other issues urban planning should be reassessed," said Afrianto stated that the threat of various environmental and social issues as a result of urban growth must be considered for the future Also read: Homecoming and Urbanization One of the corner city parks in Palopo City The development of residential areas must be concentrated in certain areas Agriculture and plantations should also not be abandoned "This is so that the uniqueness of Palopo is maintained and that in the future urban problems It is hoped that the potential and charm of Palopo PALOPO – Eka Trisusanti Toding (30) pelaku penistaan agama meminta maaf kepada ummat muslim Kota Palopo itu menyesal telah memposting status yang bernada melecehkan tersebut permintaan maaf Eka tidak mengehentikan proses hukum yang telah berjalan “Proses hukum tetap akan berjalan sebagaimana mestinya,” tegas Kasat Reskrim Polres Palopo This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page has debuted at the award winning Casa Palopó in Guatemala With front row views overlooking the iconic Lake Atitlán this is the Relais & Chateaux hotel’s second onsite restaurant enhancing the overall gastronomic experience Executive Chef Jorge Peralta is at the helm of the bespoke dining venue open to hotel guests and the public seating 32 people in the main dining room and offering a private table for 7 and terrace space for 12 Chef Peralta and his talented team conceptualized the menus to highlight local ingredients and combine the primal appeal of open-fire cooking with the luxury components of a fine dining establishment and the elements,” says Chef Peralta we are able to achieve something that feels traditional Guatemala has emerged as a culinary hotspot and I’m hopeful that Kinnik will play a vital role in bringing Lake Atitlán to the world stage when it comes to cuisine.” The name Kinnik pays homage to Guatemalan culture and style of open fire cooking Centered on cooking premier cuts of meat over open flames Kinnik provides an interactive lakeside experience for guests offering tableside carving as well as small table grills available for those who want to immerse themselves in the process and preparation of their meal a mix of guatemalan chorizo and longaniza accompanied by melted cheese guacamole and tortillas – a local favorite Entrées consist of grilled meats like tenderloin skirt steak and ribeye with featured side dishes ranging from chargrilled vegetables to gorgonzola cream cauliflower all served with specialty sauces like chipilin bernaise Drink and dessert menu highlights include the tequila Cantarito and Negroni Sbagliato with sweet crepes filled with goat milk caramel and caramelized pears the experience of Kinnik extends beyond the food it’s a tradition,” says Claudia Bosch Grupo Alta and owner of Casa Palopó “Chef Peralta and his team ensure that every meal is a piece of art impressing and inspiring visitors time and time again.” Kinnik wows with a modern design centered on bright shades of yellow and gold the earthy and minimalist furniture coupled with bright pops of color in the whimsical ceiling mural and checkered statement wall complement the carefully curated design of Casa Palopó Located at Carretera a San Antonio Palopó Kinnik is open Wednesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner from 12pm to 9pm and Sunday for brunch from 9am to 4pm where the specialty bacon pancakes are a must have Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter and receive important industry updates Food & Beverage Magazine is the leading online magazine resource for the food and beverage industry with signature celebrity features and an over twenty year long valuable reputation F&B Magazine has the eyes of the industry’s top professionals that are in search of the latest and greatest Subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter and recieve important industry updates TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairperson of the General Election Commission (KPU) Mochammad Afifuddin said that verifying the authenticity of regional head candidates' diplomas during the 2024 Regional Elections (Pilkada) could take a long time This resulted in instances where the victories or candidacies of regional head candidates were later annulled by the Constitutional Court (MK) "We have limitations in stating whether someone's diploma is authentic or not in a very short time we need a court decision," said Afifuddin in a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission II at the Senayan Parliament Complex on Thursday saw regional head candidates involved in fake diploma cases the Regional Election Commission (KPUD) in these three regions was unable to verify the diplomas' authenticity within the allotted period "The [authentication] process was not completed at the time when they had to decide whether someone met the requirements or not In its decision on election result disputes on Monday the MK judges disqualified mayoral candidate Trisal Tahir in the Palopo Regional Election The MK determined that the package C diploma used by Trisal Tahir as a nomination document was fraudulent "Declaring the disqualification of the mayoral candidate from the candidate pair Number 4 (Trisal Tahir) from participating in the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Palopo in 2024," said Chairperson of MK Suhartoyo A similar incident occurred with the candidate for Regent of Pesawaran Regency who turned out to lack a valid high school diploma Aries was considered to have failed to meet the requirements of a high school diploma or equivalent as a requirement for regent nomination the MK ordered a re-voting process in 24 regions for various reasons MK mandated a re-vote and disqualified the candidate for Deputy Governor of Papua This disqualification stemmed from the MK's determination that Yermias's candidacy requirements were invalid Likewise, in the Serang Regency Regional Election This decision was based on evidence that Minister of Villages Yandri Susanto had conducted and participated in activities that directed village heads to support candidate pair number two MK assigned varying deadlines for the implementation of the re-voting processes across the different regions depending on the terrain and logistical challenges of each area Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to this article Editor’s Choice: Prabowo: Not All Parties Need to Join the Government Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican has been prepared to host 133 cardinal electors for the upcoming conclave to choose the 267th Pope Anthony Albanese re-elected as Australian Prime Minister for the second time defeating a controversial anti-Muslim candidate The party led by Lawrence Wong scored another landslide win in the recent Singaporean elections Singapore to hold its general election on May 3 This election marks the first for Lawrence Wong since he took office as Singapore's Prime Minister last year The Liberal Party under the leadership of Mark Carney continues its dominance in Canada after winning the election held on Monday Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited the Metro Jaya Police Headquarters on Wednesday The Constitutional Court stated that the implementation of the defamation article only applies to individuals Mark Carney and the Liberal Party emerge victorious in Canada's national elections © 2021 TEMPO - Hak Cipta Dilindungi Hukum and it’s the brainchild of Guatemala City native Harris Whitbeck a CNN correspondent who’s been visiting the bucolic haven—one of almost a dozen around the lake each with its own distinct identity—since he was a child Several years ago in Rio de Janeiro Whitbeck became aware of the Favela Painting Foundation that turned the slums into a Technicolor art installation a cameraman planted the seed “that we could do something similar in Santa Catarina as a way of sparking sustainable job and development opportunities in an area that is in dire need of alternatives to farming.” A hike with his nieces Melissa and Nicole Whitbeck further solidified the vision; Melissa came on board to help coordinate the effort which included an initial inspiring workshop with the Dutch artists before building a team of native-only Guatemalans to bring it to life was critical to the project's success There is a local architect in charge of operations a pair of community leaders tasked with educating and exciting residents about getting involved who led social design efforts with area leaders to ensure that his holistically conceived options for the “giant canvas” truly reflect Santa Catarina’s unique identity The final color palette—a range of vivid blues and purples as bases; pink and yellow pops for accents and brick red to reference ancient textiles for the roofs—and design templates were approved by community leaders “With this selection we could integrate all generations of colors from the huipils of Santa Catarina Palopó,” says lead designer Olivero which Olivero says symbolizes kindness and light; geometric patterns reference waves Most are painted using stencils to ensure consistency visual contamination) are being replaced with hand-painted ones Community involvement is the crux of the entire project Promoters visit homes one by one to show them options from which the family can mix and match and the boy wants blue—it’s opened a dialogue among families that’s never existed here When you involve people they start feeling dignified and it opens the door to new opportunities and new ideas.” One new idea revolved around the paint being used which Guatemalan architect Alfredo Maul of nonprofit G-22 devised using a sustainable environmentally friendly approach (it’s being produced by a local paint company) “In applied architectural research it is necessary to fail a few times to get the best results that will prevail,” he says of the challenge to obtain their final formula: a water-based paint with mineral pigments and hydrated lime mixed on-site is already attracting interior designers who want to purchase it.) “painting the houses is just one very small component of the project—by changing the town’s facades and beautifying it we are creating an environment that will hopefully spark a stronger sense of identity which in turn can lead to grassroots community development initiatives,” says Whitbeck Already they’re noting an increase in visitors to the town which is responding with new artisan shops and small businesses (like Cafe Tuk in the center of town) “We are simply creating a colorful umbrella under which the town itself can grow new initiatives to improve its prospects.” The desire is not just for it to be a tourist photo op, but for Santa Catarina to become a cultural destination, says Whitbeck, where art and the expression of culture are seen as "important tools in the development of a sustainable community.” The best thing about this splash of color slowly spreading over the town, besides the benefits to the residents of Santa Catarina, says Melissa, is that “this can be replicated in any other community around the world.” Of course in another place they’d have to create their own designs. After all, “this all comes from local textiles—we could not go across the lake and paint the same thing.” The award-winning Casa Palopó welcomes local celebrity chef Eduardo Gonzalez to lead culinary operations at the luxury boutique hotel Chef Gonzalez will oversee new menu development and food and beverage programming to enhance the overall gastronomic experience at Guatemala's first and only Relais & Chateaux property Chef Gonzalez is locally renowned for his role in the television program "Flavors of my Land," in which he and his co-host focused on ingredients native to Guatemala He is currently the host of "A Menu for All," a daily cooking program that features simple recipes and techniques for the at-home cook Chef Gonzalez spent his childhood lending a hand at his father's fincas intrigued by the process of crop production Chef Gonzalez's 23 years of experience include restaurant openings internships at Michelin-star restaurants and culinary school instructor always leading with his passion for locally grown ingredients and traditional recipes where newly launched menus feature dishes such as Pepían a spicy stew that's recognized as the national dish roasted coriander seed and cilantro sauce served with sautéed spinach and sweet potato puree among other dishes to satisfy every palate The new menus also zero in on local herbs and ingredients like vanilla and cacao native to Guatemala Chef Gonzalez arrives at Casa Palopó on the heels of a highly anticipated property expansion the hotel debuted six brand new rooms and suites inspired by local artisan s The new food and beverage menus and culinary programming will continue to elevate the guest experience at Casa Palopó while raising curiosity toward Guatemala's emerging food culture where they say they received more than they gave virtually all of whom live a simple and meagre life the residents live joyful lives – focused on their family their life is more human than that of many people here in the States After spending the first night at a student residence in Guatemala City Since this annual service project has been going on for two decades the children by now know that “los americanos” will be arriving around this time of year and look forward to our return which meant they were all the more excited this time around they trickled into the parish hall to meet us We were shown around the Church property by Lucas who has lived in Santa Caterina Palopo all his life and who would be our chief guide throughout our work project Our plan involved painting the walls and ceiling giving a deep cleaning and new paint job to the parish sacristy and finally refurbishing the priest’s residence since the town has not had a priest in residence for many years The hope is that these renovations will help put the church in a condition to receive a permanent pastor Lucas’ excitement was evident in his eagerness to help us Our work involved fixing water closets in disrepair ridding crooks and crannies of thick spider webs Many of the jobs were unpleasant humanly speaking but at the same time it was joyful and fun – that ever present Christian paradox found in serving others Our days in Santa Caterina Palopo took on the rhythm of the renovation projects in the mornings and assisting the children of Santa Caterina in the afternoons We provided simple classes and then played even simpler games with a visit to the Blessed Sacrament at the parish in between which made teaching English and catechism classes a challenge Leveraging the Spanish speakers among us and speaking the universal language of smiles and laughter We entered the children’s world and became their older siblings or uncles for the week They gave one of us the nickname “Tio Billy,” which we even adopted ourselves The children would grab hold of Tio Billy and try to bring him down When he later fell sick one day with a small illness we were pretty sure he had contracted from the little ones When he recovered and we teased him a bit about it he said if he got it from the children then it was well worth it One of the most memorable parts of the trip was being able to attend Mass along with the other townspeople concelebrated with the priest who makes regular trips to the town and who speaks the native language Kaqchikel The Mass was partly in Spanish and partly in Kaqchikel so that most of us were completely lost as to what was being said But we were able to follow the parts of the Mass Many of children we had come to know were there with their families and were happy to see us we went to visit the homes of families in Santa Caterina Palopo I don’t want to give the impression that the people of Santa Caterina Palopo live in some sort of pre-technological paradise untouched by the troubles of the developed world and hard to imagine unless you have seen it for yourself Most of the houses were built with cinder blocks and plastic tarps for roofs Talking with the boys during and after the trip it was evident how big of an impact these home visits had on them When I asked one of the fellows what he hoped to take away from the trip he said he wanted to learn to be more thankful for what he had because he had never realized how much he had until he saw families with so little It was a sentiment which I am sure all of us were feeling afterwards from our foreman Lucas to the laughing children Lucas gave us some gifts and parting words It was humbling to see how much he appreciated our service And it was a joyful moment to reflect on how we were serving real many of whom we had come to know quite well over the past week Our final activity was a hike up the nearby Pacaya volcano and we used the heat to roast some delicious marshmallows The final talk of the trip took place on top of Pacaya The person giving it called to mind all the people we had met He pointed to the hidden lava flowing inside Pacaya and said that this is how our own lives should be – having a strong manly fire within which gives off the warmth of generous service to those around us Printed | document generated automatically from https://opusdei.org/en/article/los-amerricanos-have-arrived/ (05/03/2025) the world is my office and this was definitely one of the better days Upon arrival at the airport in Guatemala City I was whisked off to lunch at the colorful La Esquina a combination bistro and marketplace in the city's vibrant Zone 4 neighborhood La Esquina has been described by one patron as "coolly chaotic." This unique spot is a homage to the distinctive cuisine of Guatemala and to the country's rich folk art tradition I hopped aboard a helicopter for the 25-minute flight to my destination — Casa Palopo a Relais & Chateaux property situated on the shore of Lake Atitlan Skimming over the lush green canopy of the jungle below I was reminded of a jigsaw puzzle — that splash of yellow in the right corner was soon recognizable as a clump of jacaranda trees bursting with blossoms; on the left that blob of silvery blue morphed into a graceful waterfall spilling its way down a mountain ravine the three 10,000-foot volcanic peaks rising out of 1,000-foot deep Lake Atitlan described by English novelist Aldous Huxley as "the most beautiful lake in the world." The dormant volcanoes are frequently obscured by a halo of low hanging clouds the view is one that even a postcard or a painting could never duplicate By the time we landed on the property's windswept helipad at the lake's edge comfortably relaxing on my suite's balcony and enjoying the 10-minute foot massage offered to every guest upon arrival as I sipped a cocktail at the Villa Palopo's infinity pool and watched the sunset paint stripes of tangerine The nine-room Casa Palopo (seven in the main building and two in the hilltop villa) ensconced in a secluded spot above the lake who has devoted seven years to turning what was first a private residence and then a boutique hotel into a world-class property she checked into the boutique hotel in 2010 as a guest and left as its new owner From the rooms with their intense mix of colors (mine was deep sapphire) and fabrics local textiles and art to the central terrace which serves as a gathering spot for pre- and post-dinner drinks Casa Palopo feels more like a beautifully appointed home than a hotel Guests have access to the lake by way of steeply carved stairs and the staff can arrange a kayak for paddling or boat tours to any of the 12 Mayan towns surrounding the lake and a living room where the decor features an original Botero painting One of the most unusual activities Casa Palopo offers is the Mayan Shaman Ceremony takes guests on a journey of Mayan spiritual rituals The outdoor ceremony centers on the four points of the Mayan cross water and air — with guests offering chants and prayers for each it seems one can't entirely disconnect from the present Tomas interrupted the ceremony to answer a call on his cell phone and at 6.8 Palopo (with indoor and outdoor tables) Chef Mario Miralles is a passionate proponent of locally grown and sourced products and a devotee of his country's proud culinary heritage Dinner one evening featured a Guatemalan salad composed of lettuce black beans and cilantro dressing; Pepian steak with corn risotto and local vegetables and de leche ice cream coated with caramelized popcorn powder it was huevos rancheros accompanied by black beans and the luscious avocados that I couldn't get enough of Ditto the Guatemalan coffee which managed to be both robust and smooth Casa Palopo guests should opt to take a boat ride to explore a few of the 12 Mayan towns that surround the lake Each town specializes in a different activity — pottery making yoga — that can translate into a tourism boon the largest and most commercial of the lake towns and found the best way to navigate its winding I watched an exhibition of weaving and later stopped for lunch at El Artisano Lunch was in a tropical courtyard reminiscent of New Orleans' French Quarter; the menu was a smorgasbord of Guatemalan specialties and background music came in the form of Verdi's opera "Otello." The next day's excursion was to the opposite side of the lake to visit the town of Santa Catarina Palopo Similar to one begun in Rio de Janeiro's favelas (slums) the project is designed to provide both jobs and civic pride for this town of 4,000 people Community leaders are working with Guatemalan designers to turn some 800 public buildings and private houses into a massive art project through vivid painting and murals The really fun part is to watch the town's citizens — ranging in age from nine to 90 A bit further afield but definitely worth a visit are two of Guatemala's most fascinating destinations — Antigua and Chichicastenango was the first capital city in Central America and is a treasure trove of history and culture whose cobblestoned streets are filled with churches and other examples of colonial architecture is known for its huge Indian market held every Thursday and Sunday Beginning in the village plaza and wending its way up to the steps of the church it offers everything from fruits and vegetables at the food stalls to colorful displays of native crafts that will have you on sensory overload A word of warning: take a jacket — even in summer it can be cool here as ChiChi is at an elevation of 6,500 feet shed the jacket; put on the swimsuit and take a dip in the hotel pool The word Atitlan comes from a Mayan word meaning "the place where the rainbow gets its colors." You may or may not see a rainbow during your visit but you will definitely feel you have discovered your pot of gold Sign In Subscribe Now The presence of Chemainus Rotary Club members in Guatemala is a tremendous gift for the people of San Antonio Palopo Rotarians are currently in the Central American community again on a humanitarian trip to offer a variety of aid to residents there other than an interruption in 2021 due to COVID Even when Rotarians couldn’t travel to the region they still managed to provide some valuable assistance from afar Related story: Rotarians’ relationship with Guatemalan town continues from afar A chicken project was undertaken when Rotarians weren’t there with funds sent to each participating family for an agricultural course regular visits and a community-built chicken cage That not only gave them much-needed protein but business potential and employment for locals People in San Antonio Palopo live with very few amenities but Rotary’s volunteer work and donated supplies gives them important necessities they couldn’t otherwise afford Related story: Chemainus Rotarians providing donations, doing volunteer work in Guatemala Tom Andrews has been on every trip from the beginning other than in 2015 when a broken ankle kept him at home He left last Wednesday on his eighth excursion there David Sheppard and Jacqueline Mealing-Sheppard They flew to Guatemala City and then took a van to San Antonio Palopo “I love that place,” said Andrews in advance of the trip with quite a few Mayan communities around the lake.” Sheppard and Mealing-Sheppard are staying five weeks and Dares will be there for about 2 1/2 weeks Sheppard and Mealing-Sheppard have also made multiple visits to San Antonio Palopo and this will be the second trip for Dares “It was fantastic going down there and you leave knowing you’ve done something good,” he said “It makes you appreciate what we have around here,” added Andrews you give them a soccer ball and they’re happy for the day.” The Rotarians have set several goals to be accomplished on this trip “Dan and I are going to be building a house with a local contractor,” said Andrews framing with wood siding and a corrugated roof They help with moving material to the site sand and other elements is actually quite labour intensive based on the terrain The second aspect of the visit is to supply funds for a nutrition program lncaparina is a mixture of vegetable sources supplying an amino-acid balance comparable to contents of foods of animal origin “It’s a full nutrition package that helps with their development and growth,” Andrews pointed out The Rotarians are supplying funds to keep 50 kids stocked with Incaparina for an entire year School supplies are also being made available to 75-100 children pencils and erasers – “all the kids need to take to attend school,” said Andrews numerous pairs of shoes were collected as part of a school project last spring at Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan – where Andrews’ wife Heather teaches – and the Rotarians took down two full suitcases As a Service Club initiative to help improve the lives of others spearheaded the ‘Good for the Sole Project,’ collecting gently used shoes from students in the Primary and Junior divisions The shoes were then presented to Tom Andrews to take to Guatemala “Shoes are expensive down there and they don’t last very long,” said Tom Andrews but are doing an Airbnb house rental this time for their accommodation “We’ve got a place where we can cook our own meals,” Andrews noted “It’s very central between the hotel we used to stay at and the hardware store.” inflation means those trips to the hardware store are a lot more costly for the required construction materials so their dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to The Chemainus Rotary team has also helped with providing beds and stoves computers and other projects over the years and intends to continue that relationship with the community The Ladysmith Rotary Club has been stationed across Lake Atitlan in recent years for its own projects at San Lucas Toliman Update from Tom Andrews Monday: “Today we visited the construction site for the new home met the family and will be ordering the material tomorrow and arranging to have it moved manually a kilometre up to the top of the town from the building supply store.” @chemainusnews don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Santa Catarina Palopó sits on the northeastern shores of Lake Atitlán In 1934, Aldous Huxley compared Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán to Lake Como. Como “touches the limit of the permissibly picturesque,” the Brave New World writer said but Atitlán “is Como with the additional embellishment of several immense volcanoes Nearly 90 years later, and the renowned lake continues to draw visitors for its excessively beautiful setting, serene atmosphere, and the dozen Mayan villages that dot its shore. Santa Catarina Palopó is among the best known a settlement of some 6,000 inhabitants that’s grown over the years as more people from the Guatemalan highlands (most of whom identify as Mayan Kaqchikel) moved in and tourism supplanted traditional occupations such as agriculture and fishing The town has benefitted from outside attention in many ways. Perhaps the most striking example is the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó project a yearslong painting endeavor started by Guatemalan journalist Harris Whitbeck in 2017 that’s seen more than 500 local houses painted vibrant hues representing Mayan culture with the involvement of 300 volunteers and over 3,000 locals and peacocks are represented in the buildings’ symbols The result is a technicolor wonder. But the nascent economy here is still underdeveloped and many live in poverty—and of course COVID dealt a devastating blow to progress who checked in as a guest in 2010 and ended up running the place The hotel is very much a part of the community—16 of its 28 staff members live in Santa Catarina Palopó and others are from neighboring San Antonio—and it’s been heavily involved with the painting project donating fabric for mask production and helping with the distribution of more than 800 food and hygiene kits the Guatemalan government imposed a strict lockdown banning travel between different departments (or counties) in the country without a permit for work or humanitarian reasons she returned to check on the staff and plan for a reopening Casa Palopó has several suites overlooking the lake Her helicopter’s arrival was not well received by the locals as it implied the hotel was open again to foreigners who could bring the virus to the previously untouched community Their fears were justified; Santa Catarina Palopó had been closed to outsiders for months and had reported no cases at all the dearth of tourism income was becoming a problem and a safe reopening needed to be considered Bosch had a “candid conversation” with the town’s mayor and indigenous leaders as was the need for the hotel’s staff to get back to work Staff salaries had been sustained through August but the community needed money for food and medicine Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport finally reopened on September 18 travelers needed a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the trip or commit to a 14-day quarantine Casa Palopó implemented widespread health protocols setting up antibacterial gel and handwashing stations at the town’s main entry points guests’ temperatures were checked before they left for the town The most ingenious idea for rebooting the local economy was a new travel voucher system implemented with the aim of diverting tourist money to the community’s pockets in a way that felt empowering for the locals It gave guests 10 percent of their nightly rate in credits for locally produced items like coffee with unused credits donated to the painting project To avoid travelers potentially bringing COVID into the community buying from our local shops and artisans is the most impactful way to help our community in its recovery,” says Lidia Florentino Cumes a local woman and one of the leaders of the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó project “Our local shops and businesses have started to reopen because we understand that with tourists come economic opportunities for our community director of global impact at Tourism Cares “Hotels and tourism businesses that are looking to creatively and responsibly support the communities they operate in during the pandemic is essential and inspiring,” she says “Local spending through tourism is one of the greatest tools to redistribute wealth in our industry and by actively finding solutions to diversify markets for local communities businesses can help make communities more resilient.” hoping that businesses rethink their relationship with their communities as travel resumes can take a look at their entire supply chain—are there products and services that are being purchased that can be swapped for something made locally?” she asks “Can more food and beverage used on site be purchased from local farms and markets to strengthen local supply chains and small shareholder farmers Tourism has the ability to be a force multiplier and support communities in these very precarious times.” With borders reopened and COVID eventually receding “Now that tourism in Guatemala has reopened we are hopeful to pick up where we left off and continue the transformation of our town,” she says There are plans to replicate the painting project in the other towns around the lake the community credit project will knit visitors and locals together beyond the initial transaction “This is one more opportunity for us to shine as a community,” says Cumes “What happened is an act of nature and we can only control our response to the situation Keeping hope alive and a friendly disposition towards returning tourists is as important as maintaining all safety protocols to keep each other well and healthy Stay: Casa Palopó has 15 rooms and suites 3 of which are in a separate wing and can be booked as a private casita sleeping six with a private living and dining area (from $738 a night plus taxes and fees) and infinity pool—can be reserved for $5,555 per night Donate to the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó project >> Next: Travel Has Changed—So Must We AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC She’s seen firsthand how women have become more active in the community in recent years leading more people to see what women are capable of achieving “The thing is that we sometimes say that only men can do something Lidia Florentino Cumes Cumez greets visitors to her small, bright office with a giggle before grabbing a brochure and launching into a well-honed explanation of what it means to paint this entire town on the banks of Guatemala’s majestic Lake Atitlán. “These are the base colors,” she said recently displaying a palette with names like “water,” “mud” and “green stone.” Butterflies to show where the inspiration for the designs comes from Cumes is one of several women helping helm a project to paint the 800 homes of Santa Catarina Palopó using colors and designs that imitate weavings made by indigenous women Nearly 50 homes have been painted thus far and 150 are on a waitlist for the next round The group plans to complete the project by the end of 2019 The goal is to strengthen community cohesion to tackle problems like a lack of sanitation and draw more visitors to the town But the connection to weaving gives it special resonance among women in the community — and by taking leadership of the initiative they are also gaining the ability to challenge traditional gender roles It’s not just having something pretty or nice or clean the promotions coordinator for the project single at 29 and having gone to technical school for career administration is already bucking social norms in Guatemala who came up with the idea after seeing how paint had partially transformed some favelas in Brazil says women were instrumental in providing input as the project developed approving the colors and designs that would be used so that their customs and traditions would best be represented the workshops were dominated by women,” said Harris Whitbeck who has been coming to Santa Catarina Palopó since he was a child “It’s the women here who do the weaving and who bring home a lot of the resources They’re also responsible for the integrity of the home,” including its health and upkeep they play a very important leadership role anyway.” promoters like Cumes welcome visitors to their office off the town square they pick up tiny wooden cases with blocks of vibrant paint samples and information pamphlets and drop into homes hoping to catch families together so everyone can participate — from picking the colors to preparing the house for painting The promoters offer suggestions on designs or color combinations They also collect information about participants’ living conditions asking about the health of the family and whether they have potable water and electricity there is a need to work on other aspects of the home like setting up eco-stoves to replace woodburning ones that create heavy smoke or helping with sanitation That women have taken a lead in the project speaks to the growing role they’re playing in the community “We are moving ahead … we don’t stay behind everything and others are seeing that and getting involved the women donned helmets and climbed ladders to paint a section of wall near the school drawing attention from residents who weren’t used to seeing women do such work Many saw that they could do it and were impressed “We’d have to tell them what and how to paint and we’d even give details on how to use the drill to mix paint,” said Cumes referring to the training the women received from the project’s architects but now if I am told to mix paint with the drill “There is criticism sometimes,” Cumes added but “perhaps it is a change that also needs to happen.” but Cumes says she has seen women feel a sense of pride in taking on things that were once considered exclusive to men Some of the younger girls in the village are unfazed “Men and women can do the same work,” 14-year-old Daily Paola López said the day her house was being painted by a mix of men and women Cumes sees getting women involved as a way to support the textile trade and for the community to work together to address problems She is also hoping the project will raise awareness about the need for environmental conservation Regular visitors say the town already feels cleaner and tidier sees the project’s ability to empower women economically Providing new opportunities for the women is the job of Silvia Moreira a member of Pintando’s board and director of an initiative through the Ministry of Economics called Tejiendo Alimentos The program provides local artisans around Guatemala with high-quality materials and training on design and innovation so they can create higher-end products for markets in and out of Guatemala While the program doesn’t specifically focus on women women are typically the weavers and giving them new skills has an impact “When we start weaving with them and they are able to gain an income for what they’ve doing traditionally that really changes their role in the family,” said Moreira The project will be showcased in September at the London Design Biennale and around 150 weavers in Santa Catarina Palopó are now working with Diego Olivero to create the textile installation and beaded replicas of the houses who worked with the women to devise the color and design options for the project says it’s hard to change the culture of machismo that is embedded in Guatemala But he’s seen how proud the women are of the project and who they are and their culture the more voice she has in society,” he said Harris Whitbeck’s niece who is helping direct the project hopes it can be replicated in other parts of the country “It’s really much more than just painting,” said Melissa Whitbeck Sara Schonhardt’s reporting in Guatemala was supported by the International Reporting Project. delivered to your inbox every weekday morning Thanks to our sponsor PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402 Guatemala is quickly becoming a popular Central American destination Having traveled to the country several times I realize that on previous trips I have never experienced anything like Casa Palopó a hidden getaway situated some 90 miles from Guatemala City that overlooks scenic Lake Atitlán Atitlán is a Mayan word meaning “the place where a rainbow gets its colors,” and the lake is celebrated as one of the most beautiful bodies of water in the world Casa Palopó was recently honored by Condé Nast Traveler as the No 1 reader’s choice resort in the Caribbean and Central America — and rightly so as Casa Palopó is more of a boutique hotel — or better yet private enclave with just nine unique suites the property is decorated with Guatemalan artifacts brightly colored textiles and heavy hardwood furniture with a policy of no guests under the age of 15 The TV-free accommodations are well-appointed A separate villa up a steep slope comprises two bedrooms The other seven suites in the main lodge are built around a stylish lounge that feels like an oversize living room and features striking artwork The property offers recreational activities including guided mountain climbing and access to a lakeside dock for swimming and kayaking It is also home to two helipads should guests prefer to arrive via helicopter The can’t-miss excursion is chartering a boat to visit some of the colonial villages where life has changed little over the centuries A day trip costs only $120 for a 27-foot boat complete with captain and deck hand A good place to start is San Juan la Laguna where you can visit the workshops of local painters as well as a cooperative where women in traditional Mayan garb work on backstrap looms making some of Guatemala’s finest textiles Fine dining is the name of the game at 6.8 Palopó intimate restaurant with a relaxed dining room hanging iron candelabras and a collection of candles cast a soft light across the eatery and the cozy bar incredible electrical storms light up the night sky and the clouds let loose massive downpours over the lake Read this article as it appears in the magazine. Software Communications Lighting Electrical/Electronics RF & Microwave Electronics Semiconductors & ICs Energy Photonics/Optics Imaging Motion Control Robotics, Automation & Control Test & Measurement Sensors/Data Acquisition Manufacturing & Prototyping Materials & Coatings Mechanical & Fluid Systems Propulsion Transportation Automotive Current Issue Magazine Archives SUBSCRIBE The skies are on the brink of major change aircraft flying through the national airspace is likely to multiply many times over in coming years with the expected introduction of delivery drones “Humans can’t deal with monitoring and managing so many vehicles at a time,” says NASA’s Kee Palopo Automation is necessary in areas that could support decision making—for example Researchers and developers working on new aviation technologies need to understand how thousands of new aircraft will interact with each other and the thousands of flights already in the skies a team at NASA’s Silicon Valley-based Ames Research Center is building the Air Traffic Management-eXploration (ATM-X) Test Bed an environment that hosts simulations of air traffic based on real Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other data The idea is for other technology developers to conduct their own simulations using the test bed’s air traffic management simulation environment and framework With the goal of accelerating technology development ATM-X will enable the aviation community—including government and international researchers—to test their technologies without having to create a complete test platform that simulates the country’s complicated air traffic control system and the Space Agency expects to begin transitioning the platform to general users after September 2020 “As the airspace management system modernizes,” Palopo says “it is expected to accommodate new operations like supersonic flights—which are coming back—air taxis The test bed is also able to evaluate this range of technologies.” Palopo and his Ames colleagues realized that airspace simulations used in technology development were often slowed down by a lack of both quick access to operational data and the tools to build simulations were labor intensive to create “Using realistic data and air-traffic-management systems make the simulation more convincing,” Palopo says “The datasets and systems in the test bed let technology developers confirm whether their concept makes sense or not—whether it can work in reality.” Also ATM-X simulates flight scenarios under various weather and traffic conditions before additional investments are made to mature the technology One aspect of national airspace system modernization efforts is training which is “a really big deal,” according to Chris Brinton Virginia-based company that works on airspace technologies especially as aviation technology becomes more and more complicated and as managers become overseers of the whole system rather than making every single individual decision down to the flight level.” Mosaic won Phase I and Phase II NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts to develop a simulation platform to work within the ATM-X Test Bed to train air traffic managers Based at air traffic control facilities around the country making sure the controllers don’t get overloaded and that there aren’t too many airplanes in the same place at the same time The job involves a good deal of human interaction with other managers at air traffic control facilities across the country and with the Air Traffic Control System Command Center which oversees the national airspace from Warrenton called COMETTS for Comprehensive Environment for Traffic Management Training by Simulation aims to train the managers in all aspects of the job “We’ve emulated many of the systems that traffic managers have to use,” Brinton says “But then we also created a simulation not just of the flights and the flight routes that they follow but also of the people in the air traffic control system like other traffic managers in different facilities.” One problem Brinton says FAA experts flagged is that air traffic managers are often trained in winter months and get no exposure to summer weather flight scenarios COMETTS can simulate conditions under any weather or traffic conditions giving managers experience with the types of situations they’ll actually face on the job Mosaic developed specific training scenarios and tested them with recently retired FAA air traffic managers Brinton has given COMETTS demonstrations to a number of FAA organizations and high-ranking officials with the expectation the FAA will invest in it to train U.S the platform was designed with the FAA in mind Brinton says future markets for the platform could include international air traffic control organizations and COMETTS could be adapted for other fields that involve complex operations requiring communication among many different people These situations might include nuclear power plant management who worked with Brinton and the Mosaic team on the SBIR project notes that some of the technology they developed will also help other users of the ATM-X Test Bed there were many components that needed to be synchronized to work correctly,” Palopo says of COMETTS It’s part of why NASA and the ATM-X Test Bed team in particular is interested in this project.” Another technology that Mosaic calls Check Point enables users to go back to a particular moment in a simulation to repeat or work with a variation in the scenario It creates what Palopo describes as a snapshot of any given point in the simulation “This capability is useful for users to create training programs of their own technologies and other non-training applications as well,” Palopo says adding that the technology helps ATM-X Test Bed projects move beyond mere simulation into more rigorous How MXenes Can Improve Air Filtration A Donut-Shaped In-Wheel Motor for Military Electric Vehicles How Will TSN Ethernet Impact the Future of Embedded Computing? A Better-Performing Sodium-Ion Cathode New Research Sheds Light on Using Multiple CubeSats for In-Space Servicing... New Atom-Based Thermometer Measures Temperature More Accurately AI and Machine Learning in Medical Device Cybersecurity Optimizing Electric Powertrains: Advanced Materials for Performance, Safety, and Efficiency Breakthrough in Infrared and Visible Imaging: One Dataset with Spatial and Temporal Alignment Improving Rocket and Flight Vehicle Testing Under Capital Constraints Advancing Automotive Manufacturing with Digital Twins Powering NewSpace Missions: Navigating the Cost vs. Reliability Challenge Medical Design Briefs Mobility Engineering Technology Service Status By submitting your personal information, you agree that SAE Media Group and carefully selected industry sponsors of this content may contact you and that you have read and agree to the Privacy Policy You may reach us at privacy@saemediagroup.com Subscriber Services Contact Us Advertise Cookie Usage ShareSaveLifestyle TravelCasa Palopó: The Luxe Lake Life In GuatemalaByJohn Oseid As you step onto the terrace of this house-turned-small hotel the stunning blue water will wow you for sure But you may also spot a pair of women sitting on the floor They show up from time to time to weave textiles for their traditional and gorgeous Mayan huipil tunic garments Terraces with spectacular views can be found on various levels all over Casa Palopó's huge.. [+] grounds.—Courtesy Casa Palopó/Al Argueta As the younger of the weavers shares with you you might also hear slapping sounds that turn out to come from another young woman nearby who is molding tortillas to put on a hot griddle for your lunch you’ll realize that you have entered the heart of Mayan culture Just saying the mellifluous name of Palopó will start to put you in a good mood When you look out from your room at the rustic seven-room house or from one of two suites in the owner's house and watch how the cloud cover hangs over the lake's trio of brooding shoreline volcanoes the fifty-square-mile lake is devoid not only of sailboats but also water skiers and jetboats whose noise would mar the tranquility and there's a 13-year age minimum for children.) The private pool belongs to the upper-level Casa Palopó owner's villa with two suites.—Courtesy Casa.. This Relais & Châteaux property’s lobby—if you can call the intimate hallway entrance to the house as such—has an antique confessional booth should you need it where an original Botero hangs on the wall but wisely not above the working fireplace as well as various antiques are placed throughout the spacious room The sala in turn segues into the intimate Martini Bar where guests enjoy their drinks while sitting back in old barber chairs and below an antique trombone that hangs from the ceiling Bright Moroccan blue dominates a number of Casa Palopó rooms and public spaces.—Courtesy Casa Palopó reached up and down steep wooden stairways which are decorated with masks and religious art Many of the rooms' Moroccan blue walls get their vibrant color through a concoction of sugar The bathrooms feature L'Occitane products The two-suite villas that sit higher up the steep slopes have large terraces and share a spacious lounge with a working fireplace and plenty of African art A full-service kitchen leads out to a large pool and yet another fireplace area which provide a great view of the frequent lightening storms that break out over the lake An original Botero has pride of place in the Casa Palopó sala After stints in Nicaragua and the colonial town of Antigua young chef Mario André Miralles recently returned to the casa’s restaurant 6.8 Palopó where a terrace dinner at sunset is the order of the day The indoor space has several nook areas for private dining as well Chef prepares four-course dinners which might include unusual treats such as red bell pepper soup with goat cheese along with French press coffee in this rich coffee land The casa lies just outside of the village of Santa Catarina Palopó, which has just launched the Pintando Santa Catarina project Modeled on a successful project called Favela Painting that was begun in Rio a few years by a duo of Dutch artists the town’s houses will be painted in all sorts of festive colors The Maya people of Atitlán belong to three distinct language groups that are centered on different sides of the lake Day trips take guests to any of a dozen villages and massage centers to Santiago and San Juan that are filled with high-quality arts and crafts Ambitious guests can climb the steep volcano behind San Pedro allowing for a good four hours to reach the summit and back guests should be prepared for late afternoon waves that can reach several feet high and soak travelers in the small boats called lanchas that crisscross the lake As the stars come out in the early evening back at the casa a local shaman named Tomás practices Mayan spiritual rituals and dropping prayer candles into a small fire he summons good fortune for guests' based on their stated needs From the lake town of Panajachel you can take a lancha to arrive at Casa Palopó But getting there from Guatemala City can be trek with windy mountain roads that are often fogged in and heavy traffic leaving the capital The best option and most fun by far is to book the property’s sleek six-passenger helicopter in order to scoot in less than thirty minutes over the country's patchwork of small farms and deep ravines to land on the property’s grassy helipad which lies halfway between Guatemala City and Lake Atitlán guests can also opt for a stay in Casa Palopó’s three-room villa there Follow me on Twitter Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL Magazine Free Daily E-Letter Video Our Experts Testimonials FAQsTopics and a cluster of majestic volcanoes embrace an ancient volcanic caldera filled with cobalt-blue waters waterside towns and villages sprawl along the lakeshore or huddle in the shadow of the three towering volcanoes dominating the southern shoreline The foothills of Atitlán Volcano and San Pedro Volcano slope down to the water’s edge while Tolimán Volcano peeks out behind Atitlán The stunning volcano-rimmed Lago de Atitlán in the highlands of Guatemala is one of the country’s top tourist attractions and one of the most beautiful lakes in the world Lake Atitlán at about 5,118 feet above sea level, is the deepest lake in Central America reportedly reaching depths of up to 1,120 feet It’s approximately 11 miles long by five miles wide with a surface area of around 50 square miles It’s about a three-hour drive from the capital Guatemala City and two-and-a-half-hours from the beautiful colonial town and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua Atitlán translates to "between the waters" in the Nahuatl language and life here certainly does revolve around the water people travel between the numerous lakeside villages by boat or from mountain roads that link some of the communities along the shore Small motorboats called lanchas ferry passengers around and fishermen paddle placidly in their traditional Maya culture is prevalent in the villages surrounding the lake Folk from each Maya community can be identified by their unique indigenous garments designed by the ancestors of their pueblo The primarily indigenous population is predominantly Kaqchikel and Tz'utujil and each group has its own language Spanish is Guatemala’s official language and although it’s generally understood here it’s the second language of the Maya who speak their native Mayan tongue in the communities around the lake There are 12 lakeside villages and towns with a thriving international expat community scattered among them local communities subsist on fishing and farming The hills are covered in lush coffee plantations and other crops that thrive here in the fertile volcanic soil its character changing with the weather and hour green volcanoes contrast against sparkling a unique wind meaning "the wind that carries away sin" in the Kaqchikel language starts blowing daily across the lake around noon the last rays of sunlight glisten on the water volcanic peaks silhouetted against the vivid sunset skies After living in Antigua and a nearby pueblo for many years I’d still only made a few brief visits to The Lake as expats in Guatemala fondly refer to it I decided to spend a long spell there to explore the area and diversify my photography portfolio I ended up staying there for six fabulous months I rented a room at a friendly guest house in busy Panajachel is a principal gateway to the lake and home to many foreigners and international non-profit organizations it’s also a transport hub to the communities around the lake Every morning I walked along the main tourist drag lined with restaurants and wooden stalls laden with colorful textiles and handicrafts the stunning view of three volcanoes standing sentinel from over the glistening water greeted me at the lakeshore My route continued along the water’s edge past restaurants just opening for breakfast Still following the waterside and leaving the urban straggle behind over a tiny rickety bridge spanning a small river I passed a string of bare wooden stalls and lovely waterside properties set back in manicured gardens This was my favorite place and one time along here; I caught a runaway horse escaped from its tether and had to go searching for its owner Weekends are family outing time and every Sunday busloads of colorfully clad indigenous folk empty onto the beaches in front of the wooden stalls now filled with handmade souvenirs Ministers preach loudly to their clustered congregation sometimes standing waist-deep in the water baptizing the devout I became good friends with two Kaqchikel Maya sisters working there Every day we chatted in Spanish in the tiny open-air guest kitchen and we regularly cooked and ate lunch together Rosario and Ana are from the nearby town of Santa Catarina Palopó a pueblo sprawling up the steep hillside and spilling down to the lake shores The majority of the population are ethnic Kaqchikel Maya huipil blouses and typical long skirts called cortes I went to Santa Catarina Palopó various times with friends to photograph this colorful The short ride there from Pana in the back of a public pickup truck aka the local bus clifftop road with stunning views of the lake and volcanoes I walked and ran there and back as my morning exercise In addition to subsistence farming and fishing income there now comes mainly from tourism including the manufacture of woven textiles An ongoing community art project “Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó” is transforming the pueblo into a colorfully painted patchwork of buildings decorated with distinctive motifs based on their ancestral indigenous garments The aim is to preserve their weaving designs and transform the town into an attractive tourist destination to improve the local economy “The design starts from the idea that Santa Catarina is a large huipil that is drying on the mountain and that connects the lake with the sky of Atitlán.” photographing spectacular lake views and beautifully dressed Maya folk against the unique architectural backdrop mimicking the colors and designs of their clothing I met Rosario and Ana in Santa Catarina Palopó and hailed a pickup truck to the next lakeside village San Antonio Palopó so it was fun going there with local friends and exploring on foot in the sunshine I photographed twin white churches standing side by side draped in purple Lenten banners overlooking the lake and ladies in the dark blue woven garb of the village washing their laundry on rocks by the lakeshore peeked into tiny stores selling the signature ceramics of the pueblo and visited the tiny produce market before heading back enjoying a lancha ride before disembarking at the jetty of a lakeside pueblo I climbed the steep hill from the dock up into Santa Cruz la Laguna clinging to the hillside above the lake There I ate a traditional Guatemalan breakfast of black beans and corn tortillas in an open hilltop restaurant with aerial views out over the lake I then hiked the dirt path running along the cliff-top coastline to the tiny village of Jaibalito photographing the spectacular the indigenous highland towns of Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez each hold a giant kite festival on All Saints’ Day on November 1 Groups of Maya locals spend months designing and creating immense Made of flimsy brightly-colored tissue paper attached to a sturdy bamboo framework Although I’d visited both festivals several times while living in Antigua Lake Atitlán’s first giant kite festival held on a remote hilltop against a backdrop of cobalt-blue water and volcanic peaks was difficult to resist My friend and I rode in the back of a rackety Arriving in the tiny town of San Andrés Semetabaj a few miles from the lake our driver had to ask for directions for the final leg of the trip where we jostled and bumped through clouds of dust along a rural blustery hilltops with a magnificent panorama of lustrous wind-ruffled water backed by three conical volcanoes on the opposite lakeshore groups were setting up a display of giant kites were no match for the strong gusts lashing them from across the lake and sadly many came toppling and tearing to the ground That day I also witnessed a Maya land blessing at the same site local indigenous men from competing villages clothed and painted as warriors played the ceremonial Maya ballgame of their ancestors under the scorching sun in a dirt arena dug into the hillside Santiago Atitlán is overshadowed by three volcanoes and is the largest of the lakeside communities Inhabited by indigenous Tz’utujil folk their Holy Week celebrations are a unique blend of Catholic and Maya traditions Men and women dressed in their town’s traditional indigenous style of clothing perform candlelit ceremonies in an incense-filled Catholic church dozens of men dressed in matching red shirts and knee-length shorts beautifully embroidered with colorful birds carry a colossal float bearing a statue of the crucified Jesus on their shoulders down the steep steps of the church into the crowded plaza a wooden effigy of their indigenous Maya deity Maximón is carried out of a small chapel beside the church amongst hordes of black-suited musicians they not only celebrate the resurrection of Jesus but also the rebirth of Maximón Rows of dangling tropical fruits hang over extravagant vividly dyed sawdust and flower carpets adorning the processional routes along the streets Indigenous folk clad in traditional clothing and carpet designs incorporating Maya figures and deities add a unique flavor of kaleidoscopic color to the festivities I spent my birthday weekend with my dear friend Abi and her family in her native village We’d shared a house for a year in a pueblo near Antigua San Juan la Laguna is a tranquil village on the lake shores sitting in the shadow of San Pedro Volcano and the economy is based mostly on coffee and corn It’s also known for its naturally dyed textiles and there are various local cooperatives including traditional Maya backstrap loom weavers and coffee growers We wandered down dirt paths and along the peaceful shoreline taking photos during the glorious golden hour before sunset We explored the livelier neighboring town San Pedro la Laguna The town sits on a plateau beneath San Pedro Volcano with roads running steeply down to the waterside boat docks The highlight however of not only my weekend but my entire six-month stay at Lake Atitlán was climbing with Abi and her dogs in the darkness to the Rostro Maya viewpoint Translating to Maya Face in reference to the shape of the hill it’s commonly referred to as Indian Nose in English Perched over 4,000 feet above the iconic Lake Atitlán our reward was a spectacular view of the sparkling lake and a string of seven majestic volcanoes against the rising sun Guatemala Beaches: In Search of Better Beaches on Guatemala’s Trio of Lakes 5 Best Caribbean Islands to Live On… and 2 to Avoid 5 Reasons To Consider Guatemala The tinny percussion of punta rock from a dockside bar and shouts of fishermen cleaning their nets gave way to a cottony silence The boat drifted into the narrow mouth of the Rio Dulce as if being swallowed whole leaf-shrouded bluffs sprang up on either side Except for the bellow of a howler monkey in the canopy everything seemed to hold its breath: the pendulous foliage and thatched houses by the muddy bank two shirtless men line-fishing from a dugout canoe Everything seemed to hold its breath: stoic egrets and a fat iguana when this was a Spanish colonial stronghold pirates routinely attempted the same stealthy entry to loot Izabal’s caches of gold and jade and cacao only to be tripped up at the river’s end by a massive chain that was winched out of the water at the fortress of San Felipe de Lara Casa PalopóJulien CapmeilAs we bobbed under a limestone cliff its craggy façade morphed into the face of a man The ancient Maya – whose civilisation stretched from the Yucatán Peninsula through present-day Guatemala to El Salvador and Honduras – believed caves were the entrance to the underworld Guatemala is rife with such visual trickery portals that seem to deliver the visitor into a living past The gardens at Hotel Palacio de Doña LeonorJulien CapmeilThe Mayan concept of time is famously precise comprises 18 months of 20 days – 360 days – plus an omen-filled month of five days at the end the system used to track eras and epochs in which 20 tuns make a katun when the universe is destroyed and recreated The latest one ended quietly on 21 December 2012 Bedroom at Las CrucesJulien CapmeilBut time hasn’t smiled on the Maya whose descendants make up nearly half of Guatemala’s population (the rest are largely Ladino roads and reservoirs without the benefit of the wheel THE BOAT DRIFTED INTO THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER AS IF BEING SWALLOWED WHOLE The arrival of the conquistadors in the 1500s brought slavery and subjugation until independence in 1823 A brutal 36-year civil war left more than 200,000 dead before ending in 1996 government corruption and an intransigent power elite keep much of the indigenous population in poverty Media coverage of caravans of migrants and drug-related gang violence has helped scare away much-needed tourism intrepid travellers have long been drawn to the country’s sprawling pre-Columbian ruins One of its staunchest allies has been Francis Ford Coppola The boat brought me to his just-opened retreat a cluster of thatched villas surrounded by palms rhododendrons and orchids on the fringes of Lake Izabal This quiet region in the south-east is home to commercial fishermen and weekend houses of Antigua families the darkness and warmth blurring the lines between skin and air Listening to the susurration of trees and the cries of jungle creatures I have rarely felt safer than I did at that moment who know the jungle-draped location as the rebel base in the original film But these sites’ remoteness within the 5.2-million-acre Maya Biosphere Reserve inoculates them from the crowds at places such as Chichén Itzá in Mexico’s Yucatán Tikal snoozed under tangled vegetation until explorers discovered it in 1848 Colourful art and candles at Casa PalopóJulien CapmeilRecently the Pacunam Foundation an NGO focused on conservation and sustainable development produced a ground-breaking aerial view of Tikal a 3D-mapping tool that revealed 60,000 more houses The discovery suggests a sophisticated civilisation comparable to ancient Greece or China irrigation and agricultural terracing that could support 10 to 15 million people – twice previous estimates Building in AntiguaJulien CapmeilThe closest I could get to this god’s-eye view was to climb the wooden scaffold up the pyramid of Temple IV at 230ft the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas The forest was pierced by five more temples their crumbling roof combs reaching into clouds the colour of steel wool astronomers calculated the rising and setting points of the sun and moon Casa PalopóJulien CapmeilThe Maya buried their dead with maize in their mouth – food for the journey to the underworld and a symbol of rebirth where a team of young Guatemalans caked in white limestone were gingerly tapping away through layers of history one edifice built on top of another in cycles of 52 years said to be the life expectancy for royalty but a transition,’ my garrulous guide Antonio explained as we crossed the grassy main plaza where indigenous visitors still use the ceremonial fire pit was thought to descend underground to the sacred ceiba tree ‘To feed the stars to keep them guiding new generations It’s very common to see people at night outside their houses looking to the sky and talking to those who are one step ahead This is one way you get to understand how people living with not too much in this country always smile.’ Cowboy saddle at La LanchaJulien CapmeilBack at La Lancha I paddled out on Lake Petén Itzá until the guests drinking sundowners on the thatched jetty were the size of worry dolls From my canoe I watched the sun sink into a mountain on one side and a nearly full moon rise on the other – yesterday and tomorrow held in momentary balance before the Long Count plunged the lake into darkness Façade in AntiguaJulien CapmeilGuatemala means 'place of many trees' but it’s also a place of many volcanoes: 37 of them This topography rises up to greet you when you fly into Guatemala City the entry point to the rural western highlands The roads out of the capital are smooth yet choked by traffic and chicken buses old US school buses repainted like spaceships and decks of cards the commercial strips soon yield to volcanic farmland of sugarcane This is the cornucopia that the American-owned United Fruit Company controlled for decades Guatemala’s president attempted a more equitable land redistribution the CIA deemed the move to be a Communist plot and instigated a coup whose effects were felt most deeply in this region Beyond Expeditions tented camp at Lake AtitlánJulien CapmeilI spent the night at a temporary camp a stunning crater lake that is the deepest in Central America Cows nibbled at the grass behind the airy white tents decked out with woven blankets Children came from the village to try out their English Across the lake the notched silhouette of Volcán de Fuego Santiago local wearing traditional woven clothesJulien CapmeilThe operation is managed by Noé Carrillo Vasquez a 40-year- old local with shining eyes and an athletic build he left his highlands village and travelled more than 1,000 miles to the USA where he found a job as a cleaner in Georgia He earned a college football scholarship but missed his family and returned home which has allowed him to put eight of his 11 siblings through school ‘Everyone here has a story like it,’ he said with a shrug The small tented kitchen is run by his sister Carolina Wearing a woven huipil shirt and ikat skirt she wordlessly prepared her mother’s pepián a cold wind hammering the tent as we devoured the stew of tomatoes thickened with ground sesame and pumpkin seeds and spiced with dried chillis midwives and bonesetters operate a small medicinal garden Tuk-tuks on the streets of SantiagoJulien CapmeilIn Antigua the one-time Spanish capital with UNESCO- protected cobblestone streets and colonial façades of ochre The scars of many earthquakes are evident – the Cathedral of Santiago is a haunting shell of archways and pillars The high-ceilinged residences with leafy courtyards have attracted many expats who can be spotted sitting in tiled cafés sipping matcha lattes and mezcal or browsing at La Nueva Fábrica contemporary-art gallery inside La Nueva Fábrica gallery in AntiguaJulien CapmeilAbove the city a weaving enterprise where San Francisco expat Molly Berry advises young artisans One morning two sisters from a highlands village were working on backstrap and foot looms; they’re also learning about management and accounting while supporting their family back home ‘Textiles are the heart and soul of Guatemala,’ said Berry who moved from Panama City with her Guatemalan husband and children six years ago ‘By helping women understand how much it’s valued Luna ZorroJulien CapmeilOn my last afternoon I found the streets around Parque Central blocked off. Ducking the crafts vendors, balloon hawkers and marimba players, I spotted a procession carrying a carved painted Virgin on an enormous platform borne by older women in red skirts and lace headscarves As they shuffled along to the strains of a brass band stopping every few minutes to allow a team of young men to lift the weight off their shoulders a cluster of four thatched-roof cabins and outdoor lounges right in the middle of the jungle a temporary tented camp that creates jobs for the villagers and leaves no trace when broken down a former private home filled with 17th-century silver and oil paintings Black Tomato can arrange similar trips to Guatemala. blacktomato.com Spiritual guide to Guatemala Spiritual GuatemalaGallery14 SlidesBy Stanley StewartView SlideshowAn insider's guide to St Barth's Why this Caribbean island is back and better than everGallery29 SlidesBy Vassi ChamberlainView SlideshowThe best new hotels in Central and South America and The Caribbean: The Hot List 2020 2016Photo: Kristin Tice StudemanSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links With its ancient roots and longstanding traditions Guatemala is a country that’s deeply committed to preserving its rich culture The Central American country just south of Mexico is known around the globe for its impossibly beautiful craftsmanship particularly when it comes to vibrant textiles But it’s also gained an unfortunate reputation for crime and poverty and that’s deterred American tourists for quite some time Guatemala is also taking small steps to adapt and move forward on the political and cultural front took office after anti-corruption demonstrations led to a peaceful overthrow of the government it’s experiencing a creative boom that’s attracting big interest from the global art crowd Mexico City before it was what it is today Beyond Guatemala City, nestled in the Guatemala Highlands a few hours from the capital, lies one of the nation’s most alluring destinations: Casa Palopó The luxury boutique hotel sits on the mountain you’ll find art by up-and-coming Guatemalan artists and some of the nation’s most established names like Erwin Guillermo and Maria Dolores Castellanos it would be easy to hole up for a week and not leave the property so here are 10 suggestions for exciting destinations with a little help from Casa Palopó owner and native Guatemalan Claudia Bosch that just might be able to lure you away from the relaxing confines of your room “Very few places have been able to preserve their ancient roots preserving traditions in an ever-evolving modern world,” says Bosch and authenticity of its people is what makes Guatemala a hidden gem worth discovering.” Circus BarA local pizza joint in the town of Panajachel with live jazz music and a touch of Guatemalan culture Cafe LocoFor coffee, make sure to stop into Cafe Loco in Panajachel Run by a group of über-hip Korean baristas the specialty coffee shop is filled with locals and travelers alike trying to get one of Cafe Loco’s killer brews The Restaurant at Casa PalopóThe restaurant at Casa Palopó led by executive chef Mario André Miralles chef Miralles and his staff serve up traditional Guatemalan dishes candlelit affair) he offers a variety of fresh fish dishes cooked to perfection Los Tres TiemposLos Tres Tiempos in Antigua is one of the city’s most charming restaurants Sit on the patio and feast on tapas plates and sip on the house cocktail Good luck trying to have just one of these the restaurant at Mesón Panza Verde in Antigua is a must Shop the MarketsShopping the local markets is a must in Guatemala locally woven textiles at very affordable prices Don’t leave without picking up a pillow or a rug (or It’s worth visiting Santiago just to see the men in their traditional dress While the women still wear their traditionally woven skirts and tops the men (for the most part) wear modern clothes throughout most of the country they are still sporting their black-and-white striped pants It’s about an hour’s boat ride across Lake Atitlán from Casa Palopó “The tradition is to light a candle of your choice for Saint Antonio—they are color-coded according to your wish Hike Volcan San PedroA great way to experience a different side of Lake Atitlán is hiking the San Pedro volcano (Guatemala has 22 active volcanoes in total) which is part of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountain range it offers breathtaking views of the region An ambitious painting project designed to boost tourism and community spirit launches in lakeside Santa Catarina Palopó Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán is famed for its striking scenery: cobalt-blue waters fringed with dramatic volcanic cones and scattered Mayan villages And now the site is about to add a rather different attraction to its shores The lakeside community of Santa Catarina Palopó is embarking on an ambitious project to turn itself into a monumental piece of artwork with a view to generating an alternative source of tourism income for locals It’s the brainchild of Harris Whitbeck, a Guatemalan journalist and believer in art as an agent of social change, whose family has links to the lake going back three generations. When he saw how renowned Dutch artists Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn had transformed the Rio de Janeiro favela of Vila Cruzeiro with vibrant colour the idea of Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó was born “Studies show that if the physical environment of a community is improved crime levels fall and new businesses open up,” Whitbeck said Prototype design in a plaza was on board from the start and the project has created a greater connection between the villagers – many of whom only speak their native language Kaqchikel – and the Spanish-speaking “weekenders” from Guatemala City said: “Living in darkness can be difficult To be surrounded by new ideas and by colour is much better Everything can be achieved when there is will and participation and I’m convinced that the project will create more opportunities for our village.” One of Central America’s largest cement companies Whitbeck discovered that lime-based paint is cheap to produce and has anti-fungal and anti-humidity properties the villagers’ ancestors were using lime-based paint 5,000 years ago The company also covered the fees of the Dutch duo – better known as Haas & Hahn – who ran a Color Lab workshop in November last year A wall surrounding the football pitch was used to experiment with colours Whitbeck estimates it could take up to two years to complete the project The hope is that the village will attract more tourists and generate money for homestays “The community will determine how the project evolves,” said Whitbeck “They might create a [tour] guides’ cooperative More details on Facebook; to donate, go to santacatarina.gt (website goes live soon) Palopo has a high level of seismic activity Based on data from the past 55 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900 there are about 181 quakes on average per year in or near Palopo Palopo has had at least 2 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900 which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently probably on average approximately every 60 to 65 years The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so) Palopo has had 1 quake of magnitude 3.1 and 14 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0 There were also 10 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel The strongest earthquake in Palopo in the past 7 days had a magnitude of 3.1 and occurred 6 hours ago: Mag. 3.1 earthquake Sulawesi - Indonesia - writeAge(1746487985)A light magnitude 3.1 earthquake hit 61 km (38 mi) away from Masamba, South Sulawesi, Indonesia there are about 4.6 quakes on average per year in or near Palopo Palopo has had at least 3 quakes above magnitude 7 since 1900 probably on average approximately every 40 to 45 years Palopo has about 5 quakes of magnitude 2 or higher per year Palopo has had 3 quakes of magnitude 3.0 or above and 30 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0 The depth of the quake is unknown.The quake was reported felt by some people near the epicenter.