Firefly Gardens

Go for a walk in the neighbouring cloud forest with our local Mayan guide and Firefly caretaker Cheyo!

Cheyo will take you on an educational hiking tour, showing you the medicinal plants and some of their potential uses. He loves to share his culture and some Tzutujil maya words too!

Cheyo grew up here, in the village of Tzanchaj and working with his father in the cloud forests around Firefly Gardens. He is gentle soul with a big love for nature and animals.

Comprehension of basic Spanish will help you get most out of this tour. Cheyo is a patient teacher, though his English is limited.

100% of the proceeds of this tour goes to Cheyo and his family.

Other hiking tours are available in the area as well :)

Great option for backpackers who want to come and experience Firefly Gardens in comfort, without having to work for your stay :)
Can include a healthy breakfast!

Stay in Casa Bela, our new cob cottage here in the avocado forest. Experience off-grid life in this beautiful earthen home. It is a 2-story cob cottage is built in the wattle n daub style with an epic bottle mosiac and artisan stone floor. There is a 2nd floor loft with a nice comfy organic cotton double bed. Perfect for a couple. Includes all bedding, blankets, and towels. On the ground floor there is a hammock and another bed for relaxing, or to sleep an extra person.

The house is equipped with a solar lighting system and inverter for charging your devices. Outside you have access to shared full kitchen, filtered drinking water, outdoor shower, composting toilet, fireplace area, bamboo relaxation temple, and cob/bamboo yoga deck.
We run a dog sanctuary as well so there can be up to 4 friendly dogs living on the property.

We are a functioning natural building school and healing center transitioning into quiet off-season mode. You will have your own private space with access to all community amenities.

Come and join Firefly Gardens in caretaking this beautiful space!

This is a worktrade position which includes camping and access to our kitchen and services. There are spaces to setup your tent here at the gardens. Facilities are off-grid and include solar lights/,charging, compost toilet, pressurized solar shower, propane stovetop, filtered drinking water, hammocks, covered yoga deck, etc.

We have a couple nice dogs and there is typically anywhere from 4-8 people here during construction (dry) season, and 1-4 people living here in the rainy season

Eliseo is the manager of the center while we are away in the rainy season. He is our local Tzutujil partner and caretaker of the gardens. He can teach you about the local culture and language. Spanglish and language sharing are common here :)
Volunteers can take a few days a week off to go into town or explore the around. It's a nice community to home base while you can see some other villages around the lake.

You will be responsible for cooking your own meals, with some basic staples provided. There is plenty of food you can buy in Santiago, at the markets and stores.

There is an Earthbag Dome, with a 2nd floor loft available, and our outdoor yoga shala. We are also building a stone bathroom building and bamboo greenhouse. We have a full kitchen, solar oven, composting toilet, clean running water, and ceramic filter for drinking water.

It is a quiet neighbourhood in the forest, near the caldera rim surrounding Lake Atitlan. Here you with our friends and the villagers yiu can really get in touch with Tzutujil Mayan Culture. The village of Tzanchaj is 1km away. Santiago Atitlan is a 10min drive away, we also have a bicycle, and there are numerous public transportation options to get to town. We are up the hill from the lake, but have a view of Volcan San Pedro from the land.

Cheyo is our local Tzutujil partner and caretaker of the gardens. He can teach you about the local culture and language. Spanglish and language shating are common here :)