Discovering Authenticity in the Guatemalan Highlands
by Leilani Yats; Founder, Naturally Smart Travel
Hi, I’m Leilani (aka Leila). When my father enlisted in the NAVY, his father said “Don’t come home. Go out there and see the world. Home will be waiting when you’re ready to return.” He followed those words around the globe to experiences, cultures, and people who would come to life through stories so engaging you’d have no choice but to dream of connecting with others in such a meaningful way.
Although I don’t remember the first time hearing the anecdote, I’ve heeded my grandfather’s advice and strived to live like my father since.
In January of 2017, I set off for a three-month journey - one month in Guatemala to learn about natural building, another in Nicaragua to experience permaculture in action, and one last month in Costa Rica studying the inner workings of eco villages.
The trip was a chance to figure out how to connect skillsets earned from my previous careers in hospitality and growing startup companies to new possibilities, ones that had the potential to change the world or at least a number of communities within it.
Live With Purpose
It was the first time I felt the call to live with purpose and nurture my own passions with intention.
Arriving in the mountainside town of San Juan Comalapa in the Guatemalan Highlands, I didn’t speak Spanish better than a high school level, nor know where we were on a map. My role as a volunteer at a natural building school, Long Way Home, was to help build a new office structure using green building principles.
Day one, I showed up with gloves and boots on, ready to make a difference, and after 2 hours of pick-axing the dirt to clear a path for a retaining wall, my hands were blistered and clearly couldn’t hack manual labor.
So we switched gears and I helped file the historical documents, receipts, photos, and more to assist in the formalization of their Organización Non-Gubernamental (ONG), taking that go-getter attitude to a more familiar role here in the Guatemalan Highlands.
Read more like this: Empowering Communities: The Evolution of Microfinance in Latin America
Aside from the minor workflow upset (aka delicate hands), something about that first month in Comalapa fueled what had been lacking in my life: a sense of purpose, community driven work and lifestyle, and the opportunity to make a difference.
Walking the market in the Guatemalan Highlands, streets lined with produce picked that morning by the families who traveled at dawn to set up, it felt rewarding to know directly where my money was going and navigate learning who to visit for what. Slowly, a routine was established of which stalls to stop into, who to say hello to along the way, and how to haggle for fair prices.
Everything was close. Your launderer was your tienda owner who also made your tortillas, and still had dinner ready on the table for their family. Everyone had a story of hardship, some of good fortune and blessings, with most seemingly grateful to share a glimpse into their lives and tell their story.
I listened and observed as much as I could to paint the truest picture of each person I met, and paid attention to how their worlds were all interwoven.
The Guatemalan Highlands: A Sense of Community
The common thread was a sense of community here in the Guatemalan Highlands. To say “buen dia” (good morning) on the street required a return greeting. If you saw someone struggling, you stepped in to help, make sure they were good, then continued on your way.
You accounted for others when buying ingredients for a meal. You thought not just about yourself and the direct impact your environment had on your well-being, but became aware that your life was part of a collective now.
Before the end of my time at Long Way Home, a buddy visited majestic Lake Atitlan and asked me to come along. A few of their friends from around the country were traveling to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of La Iguana Perdida, a staple hostel for any traveler to the region. After initially declining, they told me to “get off my high horse” and go to the Lake. There, I fell in love with an extraordinary group of young entrepreneurial types with hearts focused on empowering the local community, balanced with living life to the fullest. I found members of a tribe I so wanted to be a part of in the Guatemalan Highlands.
I was very present, snuggled in my bed the following morning while watching the sunrise over two beautiful volcanoes. Without the usual anxiety of “what-if” or “how” to leap without certainty, I knew there was no way I could leave. Life had shared glimpses into a beautiful, purposeful future and I couldn’t turn down a chance to stay.
The “Land of Eternal Spring” and “Heart of the Mayan World” was now my home. The tribe I’d met led me to teaching English at a private ecoschool in the second-largest city in Guatemala, Quetzaltenango (Xela), for several months. The opportunity tapped into my MBA and kept me in-country while allowing time to acclimate.
Since I’ve traveled along the “gringo highway,” from Xela to Guatemala City, learning all I can about the country. Along the way, paths have crossed with countless ONG/NGOs, businesses, and organizations that were addressing social and environmental needs, actively offering solutions to improve the quality of life in their communities. It was mind-blowing to see the amount of effort being poured into Guatemala's innovation and resourcefulness.
Quite notable is Quixaya, which sits at the base of Volcán de Atitlan in the Guatemalan Highlands, and has a river cutting through the town. After receiving their land at the conclusion of the war, a small team of families used Mayan permaculture principles to create a thriving farm spanning 3 microclimates with incredible offerings.
Along with a team of others and within months of working with the co-op, the property had a new water turbine built and installed, generating electricity using the river’s power. We also negotiated with a regional roaster to buy several thousand pounds of the farm’s organic coffee, helping to generate exposure to new cafes, restaurants, stores, and hotels. The families started traveling to regional farmers’ markets to sell their produce, including an abundance of watercress, and started more regularly hosting tours of their volcano-side paradise.
Read more like this: Welcome to The Guatemalan Highlands: The Top 3 Must-See Destinations
Quixaya, San Lucas Toliman
Walking this well-nurtured land is experiencing the life we are able to generate when ancestral knowledge of soil and plant life is coupled with opportunity. There is opportunity to integrate fresh, farm grown produce into diets, employment to keep families close without traveling to find a source of income, and continuation of knowledge share to give opportunity to the next generation of family members hoping for a better chance at a fulfilling life.
Every year, more social businesses emerge. Michelle from Cinco Azul is building an organic food and goods delivery service that supports small farms. Alterna, which offers business accelerator programs for social and environmental solutions with mentorship and capacity building. The Purpose Hostel, which intentionally gives opportunity and professional development to a team of deaf and/or single mothers.
The list of organizations rooted in raising the quality of life for their immediate and larger communities is seemingly endless, but the need for greater support was as clear as the indelible will to try. Recognizing this, the idea started forming that others might value the chance to experience the same eye-opening journey I was living.
What if we highlighted the work being done by those on the ground addressing pressing social and environmental needs with adaptable resources? What if we layered a travel experience with the adventure, activities, foods, sights, and sounds that truly drive connection to place? What if people, with a little bit of time and energy, were open to observing and embracing the emergence of ways we can sustainably address needs? What if those solutions could be nurtured with financial investment, mentorship, or volunteering?
“Take one part hospitality and curating purposeful memories, add a heap of start-up experience analyzing where initiatives are today and how to scale them, and sprinkle in opportunities to sustainably connect those with resources to those in need. That’s our recipe for Naturally Smart Travel. ”
As the Founder and a host at Naturally Smart Travel, I believe my life experiences have prepared me for this moment: an opportunity to show a way that we, a collective of well-meaning humans, can intentionally raise up those around us; water the seeds and help them to grow with a clear plan.
In this, my life now revolves around connection - connecting those working on similar initiatives to one another, connecting those who want to do good in the world (that’s you!) with an opportunity to do so without hassle, connecting solutions that suit the future to an audience in need of hope, and curating engaging, immersive experiences. Connecting the head, heart, and legacy of our guests through an unforgettable trip of a lifetime.
San Juan Comalapa
In 2019, I watched the first 11 graduates to earn a degree from Long Way Home, where I first landed in the Guatemalan Highlands, walk the stage. Their families watched with exceptional pride, as many of the students were the first to graduate in their family. Some had the promise of a scholarship or continued educations. All of them were celebrated by their community and cheered for every step of the way.
It was a very full-circle moment.
My hope is for us to change the way in which people experience travel; to share with them the light and promise of innovation while sustainably enjoying a memorable exchange with the very communities they’re able to empower.
Read more like this: The Rise of Sustainable Solutions in Guatemalan Businesses
Building A Better Future
My belief is that if we band together and build a strong foundation to better our future, we’ll deepen our human experience. We will think beyond the abstract concept of helping those living “away,” and contribute to change alongside those ready to rise to the occasion.
If, as I was, you’re in a place of wondering how to build your legacy, how to address the needs of the world, or how to impact them more positively (while having fun!) let’s talk.
If you want to extend your purpose beyond a photo album or camera roll of beautiful memories throughout your journey, I’m ready to be your host and show you how to couple your love of travel and desire for impact through the trip of a lifetime. Join me in the Guatemalan Highlands, or anywhere in Central America your heart desires.
Let’s tap into what makes your heart beat and challenge your mind, to bring resources to those in need and share in the journey together. It might just lead to some engaging stories of your own.
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When packing for Guatemala, include all of your important travel documents, such as your passport, travel insurance, money, flight and accommodation information. It’s wise to make physical copies or write the information down in case your phone doesn’t work.
If you’re traveling throughout the country, pack for varied temperatures. A warm sweater, a rain jacket, a hat, and light, breathable clothing will all come in handy. Don’t forget toiletries, medications, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle. For a more in-depth look, read this.
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Buses, shuttles, taxis, rental cars, ridesharing services, and tuk-tuks are the main modes of traveling around Guatemala. There are various private transportation services available. If you’re interested in hiring transportation while in Guatemala, get in touch!
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We’ve got great news! Minimizing your environmental impact when traveling through Guatemala can be easy! Opt for eco-friendly excursions and tours that support the local community, businesses, and conservation projects.
You can also be mindful of single-use plastic usage and your water and energy conservation. Learn more tips here, or sign up for one of our ecotours!
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