Roots & Wings International

International travel has always been one of the most inspirational and important parts of my life as a student, and now as a professional in international development. Miriam Beard, the daughter of an American suffragette, once said that “travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” This quotation resonated with me when I first heard it and continues to inspire my mentality in traveling abroad today. For those who care passionately about the cause that RWI furthers and want to gain a true understanding of the issues that our local communities face, what better way than spending some time in Guatemala? An international trip to Guatemala offers the chance to not only ‘see the sights’, but allow the beauty and humbleness of this country to leave a lasting impression in your understanding of the culture and history of the RWI communities.

The United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) maintains a list of sites around world that have “outstanding universal value” for understanding the cultural and natural heritage of our planet. These World Heritage Sites include three places in Guatemala that represent some of the most incredible and historic locations around the country and the Central American region.

Tikal National Park is listed as both a cultural and natural heritage site, for its beautiful vegetation, as well as its Mayan ruins.  The rainforests and lush jungles that surround the Tikal ruins and surrounding biological reserve are some of the most important in Central America. With the increasing deforestation and destruction of rainforests across the world today, preserving this natural area is crucial for protecting a plethora of plant and animal species. The Mayan sites themselves are perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks in the continent, and have survived for over 1200 years. There are literally thousands of buildings on the site, including famed temples, tombs and palaces.

Antigua Guatemala and the Archaeological Park & Ruins of Quirigua are listed as cultural sites and represent important landmarks from the country’s history.  Antigua Guatemala survives from the 1500s and was originally constructed as the capital of Spain’s colonial hold in the ‘Kingdom of Guatemala’ (including parts of southern Mexico and five other Central American countries). Much of the remaining architecture dates from the 1600s and 1700s, including the Palace of the Captaincy-General, Las Capuchinas (the Capuchin Convent) and the Universidad de San Carlos.

The Park and Ruins at Quirigua are some of the most important remains from the Mayan civilization. Today, travelers can visit a series of calendars, monuments and temples that reveal much about various aspects of Mayan life in the first century. Unfortunately, this site also sits in an area prone to earthquakes and has suffered damage from both those natural disasters, as well as the tropical climate over the centuries.

Tikal, Antigua Guatemala and the ruins at Quirigua represent only a small portion of the many wonders that Guatemala and Central America hold. Consider spending some time exploring this region, and keep in mind RWI’s recently-launched Travel Program. The program allows visitors to see the impact of RWI’s programs in indigenous communities first-hand, while immersing themselves in a type of travel that most foreigners never get to experience. Whether your travels take you to Guatemala or not, I hope that those who are lucky enough to see the world will embrace the opportunity as a way to challenge their current beliefs and open their minds to the incredible changes that may follow.