Have
you ever wanted to visit a traditional Mayan community in the tropical
rainforests of Central America? The
village of Plan Grande Quehueche offers just that. You are able to not only visit, but stay
within the village and get to know the community as they share their culture, knowledge,
and history with you. The community has collectively
come together to build Hotel Flor de la Montaña, an ecologically friendly lodge that is managed
cooperatively by a group of families within the village.
Through
planned activities such as guided jungle hikes and cave tours by candle light
you will truly get a sense of what life is like living in this
environment. Your guides will share
information about the animals and plants while giving demonstrations of what is
edible and what has a practical use. The
community welcomes and invites visitors into their homes where you are given
the rare opportunity to sit inside a kitchen and listen to stories while women
make stone-ground corn tortillas on the comal.
You have many options while here- you can eat with one of the families
from the community or they have built a restaurant where fine dining service is
also available. The village has several
rivers that run through it that all guests are welcome to splash in and enjoy
as well. For guests who would like to
sleep to the sounds of rainforest and jungle noises there are cabanas and
bungalows available that are right next to a rushing river that can be heard
all night accompanied by the delightful sounds of nocturnal forest life. 
The community holds a welcoming ceremony where everyone gathers- a
Mayan ceremony is held which involves incense, flowers, and candles which is
all explained to the guest. Marimba
music follows the ceremony and the community welcomes their new friends to join
them in dancing into the night. All
meals are provided within the community and many options are available to suit
guest preferences. 
There
are many sites to go visit during your stay here in Plan Grande Quehueche’s
Hotel Flor de la Montaña; for
example- guides can accompany you to Siete Altares (crystal clear jungle pools
fed by waterfalls) and La Cueva del tigre (A massive cave with a pool inside you
can swim in) each of these are reached through jungle trails. You are welcome to stay within the community
as long as you would like and the community members will truly make you feel
welcomed as the children giggle and run around inviting you to play with
them. When it is time for you to return
to Livingston you board one of the two pickup trucks the community communally owns
that they use as a transport service in and out of town. As you bump down the dirt road passing
through tunnels of jungle foliage and their agricultural plots you’ll know that
you have just created memories of a lifetime and the smiles you shared will
have long lasting impacts.
This experience and
business benefits everyone involved. The
community, being so isolated has very few opportunities for employment or
income generation. Also, migration in
search of wage labor has affected many households. By visiting the community of Plan Grande
Quehueche you are contributing to cultural and natural preservation. This business demonstrates to future
generations that their culture is valuable along with the conservation of the
natural world. They look forward to
meeting you.
Additional history
and information:
- The Q’eqchi’ Maya community of Plan Grande Quehueche
is located within the Sarstun Nature Preserve and is surrounded by lush
rainforest.
- The population of Plan Grande Quehueche is over 750 and
is made up of around 115 families.
- The community is situated 10 miles away from its
nearest city, Livingston, which is on the mouth of the Rio Dulce delta in the
Department of Izabal in Guatemala.
- Plan Grande Quehueche is a rural community that
until 2009 had no road in or out of town.
- Around the year 2004 the community benefitted from a
potable water project providing each community and household with
drinkable water.
- Plan Grande Quehueche has only had electricity since
the year 2000
- With the aid of non-profit organizations such as Ak’
Tenamit they have collectively created a community-based ecological
tourism business- Hotel Flor de la Montaña.
- Plan Grande Quehueche is one of 134 Q’eqchi’ communities in the region who all unite and organize in attempts to fight for indigenous rights, governmental and non-governmental assistance.
Visión
Proporcionar una educación de calidad que
respete la identidad cultural y valore los saberes ancestrales y pueda tener
una estrecha relación con la realidad de la comunidad y su entorno,
preparándose para ser una agente de cambio que facilite procesos de desarrollo
colectivo sin perder su herencia indígena.
Misión
Ser persona activa con conocimientos técnicos y científicos
para incursionar en la actividad económica del país, y pueda ser un agente de
cambio para su familia y comunidad basado en su identidad cultural y el trabajo en equipo.