ENDANGERED SPECIES HAVE A GOOD CHANCE AT ARCAS PROJECT

Many animal species in Guatemala are in danger of extinction, such as green parrots, sea turtles, iguanas, crocodiles, jaguars, scarlet macaws, etc., but thanks to the ARCAS project, these species have a good chance of surviving for generations to admire them.
Since 1989, ARCAS has achieved a lot, rescuing animals from poachers and returning them to the wild, protecting eggs and hatchlings, but that´s not all...
They also have created a social awareness of the need of humans to get directly involved, both Guatemalan nationals and even foreigners that come and work as volunteers in any work that is needed, allowing the directors use the money they get from donations to be spent in materials, medicines, etc.
Today, ARCAS offers an excellent experience to animal medicine students and anyone that wants to help animals get back to the wild in a healthy and good way, or just learn how to work with exotic species.
They have 2 camps, one in the Peten jungles in the north and one in Hawaii (close to Monterrico) beach in the Pacific Coast.  Each work with endemic species and teach the local communities to protect them.
Headquarters are in Guatemala City, and handle all the administration, donations, etc.
If you are interesting in helping ARCAS and Guatemala's wildlife, please contact us.

GOD´S CHILD PROJECT

This is one of Guatemala´s most efficient projects, dedicated to children.
Located in San Felipe, a small village just next to Antigua Guatemala, is now celebrating it´s 20 years.
They operate several areas:
Dreamer Center: with a school for children and with special classes for mothers;  Medical, Dental & Psychology Clinics; Legal aid, Domestic Violence & Social Work offices;  Library and Chapel, and even community rooms and with weekly distribution of food.
Casa Jackson: an Emergency Recovery Center for children and infants with extreme malnutrition or malnourished problems.
Homeless Shelter: for indigents, with meals, a place to sleep, medical care and people with love to say "I care" to drunks, junkies or anybody sleeping in the streets.
Scheel Center: a Technical School for local children and teenagers, where not only students receive 2 meals a day (for some, the only food they get), they also get basic and technical education, to help them work in many different areas, earning an income for their families.

Coming here and working as a volunteer, will really make a difference in your own life, and of course, many children that have a hard life and immense lack of nutrition, education and joy.
If you would like to help this project with a donation or going there in person as a volunteer, please contact us.

Lima’s electric train was inaugurated on July 11th

Undoubtedly a great project that aims to relieve the stress caused by traffic in the capital. 

 Lima’s Electric Train Line 1, located between the districts of Villa El Salvador and Grau Avenue, will be inaugurated on July 11, Peruvian President Alan Garcia is to attend the inauguration of Lima’s Electric Train Line 1, a long awaited project by the people of Lima and that will start operating in October.

Line 1 already has five trains. French company Alstom will be manufacturing 19 additional trains, which will be arriving to the country in 18 months.

“This administration will leave Line 1 finished and working, and the process for the construction of the Lima-Callao subway has already begun. This will be fast because it will be beneath or above the city,” Minister of Transport and Communication Enrique Cornejo said.

In the coming weeks testing of the first electric trains will begin. The five Italian-made trains that are currently undergoing a stage of "overhaul" or revision and mechanical and structural maintenance.

If interested in visiting Lima please contact us.

The stations along the new line represent a significant advance and will have elevators and many facilities for people with disabilities.

ROSES RACE IN ANTIGUA

This is one of the most popular races in Latin America: the "half Marathon" race taking place in Antigua Guatemala in July, to celebrate it´s Patron Saint: St. James of the Knights.
St. Jame´s day is July 25th, and the race is held normally the sunday before.
Local runners compete next to international participants comming from countries as far as Kenia, proving that next to the Coban race held in May, these races are world famous.
Participants not only enjoy the race, passing through colonial streets, covered with cobble stones, some with pavement and some with dirt, but always with fresh air and amazing views of the volcanoes around the valley.
2011 celebrates the 30th anniversary of this event, and the race was held last Sunday, July 17th, and had around 3500 participants.
The winner was the Kenian Elisha Korir, who also won in 2010, with a time of 1:02:23.
The second place was for Guatemalan Santos Pirir, only 30 seconds behind.
If you would like more information about this event, please contact us.

Sacsayhuamán, part of the city of Cusco, is a walled complex near the old city of Cusco, at an altitude of 3,701 m. or 12,000 feet.   The archaeological park covers an area of 3,094 hectares.

Sacsayhuaman refers to ruins of the giant fortress featuring layered walls. Located at the confluence of the Cuzco and San Cristobal districts, this was the capital of the Inca Empire as well as the venue of Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. Sacsayhuaman is within the walking distance from Cuzco City and is at a soaring height that is surprisingly more than Machu Picchu.

This citadel overlooks the Cuzco city and so is among the breathtaking sights in the Parque Arqueológico de Sacsayhuamán that is a National Park holding many more ruins. The reason why it is called fortress is due to the fact that it is located high above Cuzco and boasts vast terrace walls.

Please contact us for more information.

EL MIRADOR RUINS

When most people think about Mayan ruins, most think about Tikal, Palenque and Copan, and people that have studied the Maya civilization a bit more, know about Bonampak, Uaxactun, Xunantunich, etc., but not many think or even know about El Mirador.

In a nutshell, El Mirador is the SINGLE MOST AMAZING MAYAN CITY discovered yet, BY FAR!

Not only it´s massive structures are proof of the incredibly advanced knowledge the Maya had, but also archaeologists get more and more amazed as they keep digging, to a point where the entire system for dating the Maya history is most likely to be changed, since now they know that the period called “Classic”, where the Maya were supposed to achieve  their zenith in cultural and scientific development, actually started many years before.

The Danta complex is the largest human made structure of the ancient world, almost 3 times bigger than the Great Pyramid in Egypt, and the causeways connecting this city to Nakbe and other important cities forming almost perfect straight lines in the jungle, proves to be the most ancient road system in the world.

Open now for adventurous tourists and donors, you can either fly in a helicopter in & out in a day, or in a 5 day by foot trip, camping in the jungle…  there is no other way to get there!

If you would like to learn more or visit this amazing city, please contact us. 

Lights and music for Machu Picchu's 100th birthday

Peru celebrates 100 years of Machu Picchu with lights and music.  Machu Picchu will be lit at night for the first time ever late Thursday to mark the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the archaeological wonder, kicking off official celebrations.   A light and sound show directed by Peruvian theatre director Luis Llosa is planned at the famed ancient citadel, which was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1983.

The extravaganza of multicolored lights -- with accompaniment by Cuzco's symphony orchestra playing Antonin Dvorak's "New World Symphony" -- will mark the first nighttime illumination of Machu Picchu.    In addition to Thursday's show, Andean dancing, concerts, historical processions, mystic rituals and academic conferences are planned in the coming days and weeks for the centenary celebrations.

For more information please contact us.