About.
Come learn about Comalapan Culture with us!
San Juan Comalapa is known internationally for it's amazing painters and weavers. Learn about the style of art created in Comalapa called Arte Naif (Naive Art), which values the beauty of daily Mayan life. Andrés Curruchich propelled the Arte Naif movement forward and after his death, his apprentice Oscar Peren filled his shoes. Oscar has been painting since he was 15 and his famous Chicken Bus paintings have been exhibited in galleries all over the world including in Boston, Washington D.C., Sweden, and Japan.
The women weavers of Comalapa continue traditional weaving techniques that have been passed down for generations. Try your hand at both backstrap weaving and wooden loom weaving!
Program.
Saturday February 17 - Arte Naif Painting Workshop Day
Sunday February 18- Weaving Workshop Day
Living Conditions.
Sleeping
- shared rooms
- private room
Omnivore Food
- communally cooked meals
Internet
- medium: voice calls (no video)
Getting here.
We can pick you up from Antigua for Q20- please just coordinate through email in advance.
You can also take a few chicken buses to get to us!
Antigua --> Chimaltenango --> San Juan Comalapa
Lake Atitlán, Panajachel --> Sololá --> Los Encuentros --> Zaragoza --> Comalapa
Guatemala City --> Chimaltenango --> San Juan Comalapa
(sometimes there are direct busses from the city to Comalapa too)
Detailed Directions from Antigua:
From the bus terminal, get on a bus headed for "Chimal." They leave every 15 minutes or so, (but be sure to leave before 3pm, in order to catch the connection). After going through a town called "Parrarramos" and a big church/central park on your left, you'll come to a stop under a highway overpass. This is Chimal, (you can also ask the ayudante to tell you when you've arrived in Chimal). When you get off the bus, cross the divided highway, turn left, and walk uphill for a block or two. Wait for the bus to Comalapa outside of "Tienda Shalom" it'll be on your right, freshly painted red and white tienda. Get on a red, black, and yellow bus going to Comalapa (leaving every 20-40 minutes until 4pm). Before getting on double check with the driver that they're going all the way to Comalapa. Comalapa is the last stop, so you can't miss it.
Directions from San Pedro de Atitlan:
You can can get get on a bus in front of Parque Central at the top of the hill in San Pedro. There should be multiple buses daily that go directly to Guatemala City. You will want to get on one of these buses. There are also buses to Guatemala City from Panajachel. Once you get on the bus you will tell the ayudante that you would like to get off in “Zaragoza”. It will take about 3-4 hours to arrive there. You will get off of the highway in Zaragoza, then cross the highway and wait at the corner just up from the Puma gas station. Then get on a red, black, and yellow bus going to Comalapa (leaving every 20-40 minutes until 4pm). Before getting on double check with the driver that they're going all the way to Comalapa. Comalapa is the last stop, so you can't miss it.
Directions from airport/Guatemala City:
Get in a taxi (Q30-40) at the airport to Tikal Futura, in front of the Burger King. This is where you can pick up a bus to Comalapa. The bus straight to Comalapa comes less often, but you can find it there. Otherwise catch one to Chimaltenango (Q8), and then get on one from there to Comalapa (Q7). You can ask the ayudante (guy collecting the money on the bus) where to get off and on to catch the right bus.
Contact
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