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Learn new skills and interact with the Q'eqchi community in Lanquin, Guatemala

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 1 month

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are looking for volunteers to join us at our Regenerative Center & Cacao Production space! The center is built around sustainable permaculture techniques and natural building, with a focus on ceremonial cacao and soon to be expanding into other products that thrive in the area like vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, copal, and more.

    Our primary work is in cacao production with a local Q’eqchi collective of 65 families -- we source cacao directly from the local farmers living in the surrounding mountains, then work with groups of women to ferment, dry, toast, and peel cacao to bring ceremonial cacao into the world! We are passionate about creating models of regeneration that start with the Earth and continue through the thriving of communities and original cultures.

    The center is going through a transition to a new owner, so we are looking for volunteers to come and help us refresh and rejuvenate the space as we move into this exciting new chapter of possibilities!

    We will be hosting a volunteer month from May 8-31 for a group of awesome people to come together for a communal mission of organizing, cleaning, painting, planting, and building! We'll also need some help in the kitchen preparing meals for the community and organizing some fun group bonding activities. Everyone who comes for this month will also get to experience the full cacao production process and connect with the local community. There are also opportunities to extend these dates throughout the summer.

    We are looking for:
    --Builders, carpenters, painters
    --People who are amazing at cleaning, organizing, and find joy in putting love into refreshing spaces!
    --Kitchen fairies / cooks who want to lovingly prepare family meals
    --Permaculture people, gardeners, green thumbs, tree tenders, herbalists -- hard workers who love the earth and want to tend to abundance
    --Technicians and handy people who are good at fixing things especially broken household appliances -- we will give priority to people with special skills!
    --Cacao production apprentices -- people who want to learn about the cacao process and support our existing team in maintaining quality cacao, from fermentation to drying to toasting, peeling, grinding, and packaging
    --Sales, marketing -- people who are good at website creation, content creation on social media, and creating a snazzy online presence to attract future customers. People with experience in client sales processes and logistics is a big help!

    Speaking both Spanish and English is a huge plus!

    Eligible volunteers should be self-starters, want to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, and should have lived in community before to know how to show up for the good of the whole!

    Our Location: Alta Verapaz is a department located in the north of Guatemala, about 200 km from Guatemala City. Cobán, the closest urban area 65 km away, is the third most populated department in Guatemala. Lanquín is a village in the department of Alta Verapaz, a remote Mayan village close to a popular natural park and national wonder of Semuc Champey. Its name means “village surrounded by straw” being part of the Q’eqchi territory and one of the richest biodiverse environments in nature of Guatemala due to the wonders offered by its humid rainforests.

    There are three main staff at the moment, as well as 5 workers from the Q’eqchi’ community.

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    ¡Buscamos voluntarios para unirse a nuestro Centro Regenerativo y Espacio de Producción de Cacao! El centro se basa en técnicas de permacultura sostenible y construcción natural, con un enfoque en el cacao ceremonial y próximamente se expandirá a otros productos que prosperan en la zona, como vainilla, canela, cardamomo, jengibre, cúrcuma, copal y más.

    Nuestro trabajo principal es la producción de cacao con un colectivo local q'eqchi de 65 familias. Nos abastecemos directamente de los agricultores locales que viven en las montañas circundantes y luego trabajamos con grupos de mujeres para fermentar, secar, tostar y pelar el cacao para traer el cacao ceremonial al mundo. Nos apasiona crear modelos de regeneración que comiencen con la tierra y continúen a través del florecimiento de las comunidades y culturas originales.

    El centro está en proceso de transición hacia un nuevo propietario, por lo que buscamos voluntarios que nos ayuden a renovar y rejuvenecer el espacio mientras avanzamos hacia esta emocionante nueva etapa de posibilidades.

    Organizaremos un mes de voluntariado del 8 al 31 de mayo para que un grupo de personas increíbles se reúna en una misión común: organizar, limpiar, pintar, plantar y construir. También necesitaremos ayuda en la cocina para preparar comidas para la comunidad y organizar divertidas actividades para fortalecer los lazos grupales. Todos los que vengan este mes también podrán experimentar el proceso completo de producción de cacao y conectar con la comunidad local. También existe la posibilidad de extender estas fechas durante el verano.

    Buscamos:
    --Constructores, carpinteros, pintores, personal de mantenimiento
    --Personas con habilidades increíbles para limpiar, organizar y que disfruten llenando de amor espacios renovadores.
    --Cocineros/as que quieran preparar comida con cariño para la familia.
    --Permacultores, jardineros, cuidadores de árboles, herbolarios: trabajadores dedicados que aman la tierra y quieren cuidar la abundancia.
    --¡Se necesitan técnicos y personas que sepan arreglar cosas domesticas! Vamos a prioritizar personas con mas abilidades especiales
    --Aprendices de producción de cacao: personas que quieran aprender sobre el proceso del cacao y apoyar a nuestro equipo actual en el mantenimiento de la calidad del cacao, desde la fermentación hasta el secado, el tostado, el pelado, la molienda y el empaque.

    ¡Hablar español e inglés es una gran ventaja!

    Los voluntarios elegibles deben ser emprendedores, tener ganas de trabajar duro y haber vivido en comunidad para saber cómo contribuir al bien común.

    Nuestra ubicación: Alta Verapaz es un departamento ubicado al norte de Guatemala, a unos 200 km de la Ciudad de Guatemala. Cobán, la zona urbana más cercana, a 65 km, es el tercer departamento más poblado de Guatemala. Lanquín es una aldea en el departamento de Alta Verapaz, una remota aldea maya cerca de Semuc Champey, un popular parque natural y maravilla nacional. Su nombre significa "aldea rodeada de paja", y forma parte del territorio Q'eqchi y uno de los entornos naturales con mayor biodiversidad de Guatemala, gracias a las maravillas que ofrecen sus bosques húmedos.

    Actualmente contamos con tres empleados principales, además de cinco trabajadores de la comunidad Q'eqchi.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Help with Eco Projects
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Participating in the daily activities you interact with the local Q'eqchi community, as a path that goes through the land leads to a small community up the mountain. As well as many of our local staff love to interact and exchange conversations and information with foreigners. Every week we have a meal all together and while many times they speak Q’eqchi together we all speak the same language of smiles and laughter.

    One of the most important approaches is collective work through the creation and strengthening of a network of local producers of crops such as cacao, turmeric, ginger, copal, cinnamon, cardamom and several other native species. We aim to provide the community the opportunity to make handmade products derived from these crops, to create fair trade markets. Many of the members of the community will pass through and work with us during the days which is a good opportunity to share time peeling cacao with the Kanas (women) or working in the kitchen with Sylvia, or in the fields with the Kawas (men).

    Lanqúin is a Mayan Q'eqchi town with spectacular natural beauties such as the Semuc Champey waterfalls, the Lanqúin and Cahabón rivers, and underground caves.

    We are creating spaces for an intentional tourism alternative to the conventional. A tourism where the participants are interested in cultural, ecological, regenerative exchange and positive impact to the local community and other visitors.

    We live in an indoor-outdoor setting in the middle of the rainforest. This is an opportunity to learn to live in harmony with nature and all of its beings. Sometimes this includes spiders, snakes and scorpions that we learn to co-live in the environment to allow for the biodiversity to flourish here.

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    Al participar en las actividades diarias, interactúas con la comunidad local, ya que un camino que atraviesa la tierra conduce a una pequeña comunidad en la montaña. Además, a muchos de nuestros empleados locales les encanta interactuar y intercambiar conversaciones e información con extranjeros. Cada semana tenemos una comida todos juntos y, aunque muchas veces hablan Q’eqchi entre ellos, todos hablamos el mismo idioma de sonrisas y risas.

    Uno de los enfoques más importantes es el trabajo colectivo a través de la creación y el fortalecimiento de una red de productores locales de cultivos como cacao,, jengibre, copal, canela, cardamomo y varias otras especies nativas. Nuestro objetivo es brindar a la comunidad la oportunidad de elaborar productos artesanales derivados de estos cultivos, para crear mercados de comercio justo. Muchos miembros de la comunidad pasarán y trabajarán con nosotros durante el día, lo cual es una buena oportunidad para compartir tiempo pelando cacao con las Kanas (mujeres) o trabajando en la cocina con Sylvia, o en los campos con los Kawas (hombres).

    Lanqúin es un pueblo maya Q’eqchi con espectaculares bellezas naturales como las cascadas de Semuc Champey, los ríos Lanqúin y Cahabón, y cuevas subterráneas.

    Estamos creando espacios para un turismo alternativo intencional al convencional. Un turismo donde los participantes están interesados en el intercambio cultural, ecológico, regenerativo y en tener un impacto positivo en la comunidad local y en otros visitantes.

    Vivimos en un entorno interior-exterior en medio de la selva tropical. Esta es una oportunidad para aprender a vivir en armonía con la naturaleza y todos sus seres. A veces, esto incluye arañas, serpientes y escorpiones con los que aprendemos a convivir en el entorno para permitir que la biodiversidad prospere aquí.

  • Help

    Help

    We require you to be an autonomous person and a passionate and motivated worker who is here for the project, not just the free housing.

    You are expected to contribute 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, in exchange for accommodation in a shared volunteer cabin and three meals a day 5 days a week. On the weekends we fend for ourselves, but you are welcome to use the provided food to cook for yourself!

    Requerimos que seas una persona autónoma y un trabajador apasionado y motivado que esté aquí por el proyecto, no solo por la vivienda gratuita.

    Se espera que contribuyas con 5 horas al día, 5 días a la semana, a cambio de alojamiento en una cabaña compartida para voluntarios y tres comidas diarias de lunes a viernes. Los fines de semana nos encargamos por nosotros mismos, ¡pero puedes usar la comida proporcionada para cocinar para ti mismo/a!

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Spanish: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Shared cabin with one more workawayer.

    We all use dry composting toilets and hot showers (solar panel), but we also bathe in the river on sunny days!

    We appreciate you bringing personal hygiene products that are friendly to the environment and use the least amount of plastic or chemicals.

    Meals will be offered whether they are prepared or the food is there and they can prepare themselves.

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    Cabaña compartida con una workawayer.

    Todos usamos inodoros secos de compostaje y duchas calientes (panel solar), pero también nos bañamos en el río en los días soleados.

    Agradecemos que traigas productos de higiene personal que sean amigables con el medio ambiente y que utilicen la menor cantidad de plástico o químicos posible.

    Se ofrecerán comidas, ya sea preparadas o con los ingredientes disponibles para que los voluntarios las preparen ellos mismos.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    We have hikes here on the land, as well as the Lanquín River beach and close to Semuc Champey and other excursions.

    We plan to have a few volunteers helping in the kitchen so we will always eat healthy, fresh meals together.

    There are shuttles from nearby hotels that have direct transport from Guatemala City / Antigua/ Panajachel / Flores to Lanquín (Q300 approx) or you can transfer on public transport via Cóban. We have a small space to park if you bring your vehicle or camper.

    The weather can be unpredictable, come prepared for days of humid heat, cold nights and surprise rains.

    Lanquin is located about a 20 minute walk from us. Lanquin is a very small city with very limited supplies, but all the basic necessities. The next major city is Coban and it is a 1.5 hour drive.

    Here, we live in a community. We as volunteers are living in the space with the other volunteers and the staff, as well as the local Mayan Q’eqchi community.

    We use starlink wifi which is reliable and fast, when there is power. The power can go out quite frequently here. It typically goes out when it is storming (during the rainy season it often rains here at night) but it is back by the morning.

    This place is located on the side of a hill, good fitness is not required, but it’s recommended as you might be going up and down inclines to move around.

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    Tenemos senderos aquí en la finca, así como la playa del río Lanquín y estamos cerca de Semuc Champey y otras excursiones.

    Planeamos contar con algunos voluntarios que nos ayuden en la cocina para que siempre podamos disfrutar de comidas saludables y frescas juntos.

    Hay transporte desde hoteles cercanos que ofrecen transporte directo desde Ciudad de Guatemala / Antigua / Panajachel / Flores a Lanquín (aprox. Q300) o puedes tomar el transporte público vía Cóbán. Tenemos un pequeño espacio para estacionar si traes tu vehículo o casa rodante.

    El clima puede ser impredecible, así que ven preparado para días de calor húmedo, noches frías y lluvias inesperadas.

    Lanquín se encuentra a unos 20 minutos a pie de nosotros. Lanquín es una ciudad muy pequeña con suministros muy limitados, pero con todas las necesidades básicas. La siguiente ciudad importante es Cobán, a una hora y media en coche.

    Aquí vivimos en una comunidad. Como voluntarios, convivimos con otros voluntarios, el personal y la comunidad maya q'eqchi local.

    Usamos wifi Starlink, que es confiable y rápido, cuando hay electricidad. Aquí se corta la luz con frecuencia. Suele cerrarse cuando hay tormenta (durante la temporada de lluvias, suele llover por la noche), pero vuelve a abrir por la mañana.

    Este lugar está ubicado en la ladera de una colina. No se requiere buena condición física, pero se recomienda, ya que podrías tener que subir y bajar cuestas para moverte.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    We are remote, but we do have Starlink. As long as there is electricity the wifi works well, unfortunately not guaranteed!

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    We have one parking spot onsite

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Depends on the pet. There are already 4 dogs and a cat living on the premises.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 261222245757

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Photos

The image depicts two women in a natural setting, with one roasting cacao beans over an open flame and the other planting a tree in the ground.
The image depicts a serene scene of a house with a large yard, featuring a tree and a fence, set against a backdrop of a clear sky and a body of water.
A person is planting a tree, with their back to the camera, in a wooded area, surrounded by trees and bushes, with a clear sky above. The scene is peaceful and serene.
The image shows a group of people gathered around a table, enjoying a meal together. The table is set with plates and utensils, and the atmosphere appears to be relaxed and social.
The image depicts a small wooden cabin with a red roof, nestled among lush greenery and set against a backdrop of rolling hills and mountains.
The image depicts a serene river flowing through a lush, green valley with rolling hills and trees, set against a cloudy sky.

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