A journey of flavor, community, and meaningful travel
Some trips leave you full. Not just from unforgettable meals, but from connection, culture, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. Our week-long vegan group tour through Guatemala was exactly that.
Yes, we ate incredible food (trust me, I’m still thinking about that French toast from Once Once), but what made this experience powerful wasn’t just what was on the plate. It was the hands that grew the produce, the women sharing their recipes, the farmers changing their communities, and the organizations building a more sustainable, equitable future through vegan food.
First Stop: Antigua
After everyone flew into Guatemala City, we settled into Antigua, a colorful, welcoming colonial city surrounded by volcanoes. We kicked off the adventure with dinner at La Bruja, a cozy vegan eatery that set the tone: delicious food, warm energy, and community right from the start.
The next morning, we watched the sunrise over lush gardens while enjoying traditional (veganized) Desayuno Chapín at Samsara. Then we spent the day not as tourists, but as guests in a community. At Garden of Hope, we played soccer and flew kites with the kids, and learned how donations and vegan education programs are creating access to food and opportunity.
Lunch at Caoba Farms tasted even better once we learned they supply fresh produce to about 80% of Antigua’s restaurants. Dinner at Almendra brought pasta, burgers, falafel, and vegan desserts that disappeared embarrassingly fast.
By the end of day one, we were already feeling full in the best possible way.
From Bean to Cup + A 10-Course Vegan Tasting Menu to Remember
No trip to Guatemala is complete without diving into its coffee culture, so we spent a morning in San Miguel Escobar for a hands-on coffee farm experience through De La Gente Coffee. A local farming family walked us through every step of the process: planting seedlings, harvesting ripe cherries, pulping, washing, drying, and finally roasting. It wasn’t just an agricultural lesson; it was a look into how coffee sustains families, preserves traditional growing methods, and supports small-scale farmers. We ended the tour sipping one of the freshest, brightest cups of coffee imaginable, and it felt like drinking gratitude straight from the source.
That evening, the trip took a wildly different, delicious turn with dinner at Quiltro, where we experienced one of the most innovative vegan meals I’ve ever had: a 10-course tasting menu that felt like edible art. From tangy pumpkin cheese to pillowy potato puffs, a chaya tostada, fermented watermelon with passionfruit glaze, silky onion dressing, torched cauliflower and yucca, and a black tortilla layered with roasted pumpkin leaves, every dish felt inventive and full of intention. Finishing up with the creamiest coconut ice cream, crowned with chopped mango.
The presentation, the creativity, the flavors- it all came together as a culinary experience that celebrated both tradition and imagination. It’s hard to believe this was only day two of the tour. So much depth, flavor, and connection, and we were only getting started.
Courtyards, Bagels & Community
Antigua mornings quickly became a favorite part of the trip. One morning, we gathered around breakfast bagel sandwiches in our hotel’s lush, flower-filled courtyard, hummingbirds dancing overhead. It was the kind of place where time slows down: soft chatter, blooming plants, warm sun, and the clink of coffee cups. The kind of peace that feels like a gift.
We returned to Juntos Podemos, where mothers from the community were taking a vegan cooking class. We observed, learned, laughed, and attempted hand-pressed tortilla-making (keyword: attempted). We supported Thrive Philanthropy, planted crops, watched an oat milk-making demo, and tasted empanadas made with love.
That night, dinner at Once Once—bohemian, chic, candlelit—stole our hearts (and appetites) with sweet potato ravioli, citrusy lemonade, and decadent desserts like vegan tiramisu, tres leches, and crème brûlée. Bliss.
Lake Atitlán: Volcano Views + A Different Pace
After a breakfast at Once Once that included the best French toast ever created, we made our way to Lake Atitlán, a volcanic crater lake encircled by Maya communities and towering peaks.
We arrived sipping hibiscus-flower juice, letting the still water and mountain air wash over us. Panajachel greeted us with a slower pace: woven textiles and colorful streets. Dinner at The Little Spoon introduced us to a menu full of bowls, tacos, salads, and comforting flavors that felt like a warm hug.
The next morning? Kayaking for some, smoothie bowls and lakeside coffee for others.
Adventure, Nature & a Butterfly-Filled Afternoon
We spent an unforgettable afternoon at Reserva Natural Atitlán: zip lines, waterfalls, and swaying suspension bridges. In the butterfly geodome, hundreds of vibrant wings flickered in every direction, like a living kaleidoscope.
That night’s dinner at Las Chinitas brought miso soup, Cambodian salads, and cozy stir-fries that were made with so much care. It tasted like something prepared in someone’s home. Lovingly, generously.
Cooking with Anita: The Experience We’ll Never Forget
On our final full day, we took a boat to San Pedro La Laguna for a farm-to-kitchen cooking class with Anita, a woman whose presence is as nourishing as her food. We cooked traditional Mayan dishes using ingredients we purchased fresh at the market. We listened as she shared her story of resilience and the creation of Atitlán Women Weavers, a cooperative supporting local Mayan women through sustainable weaving and dignified income.
We rolled tortillas, chopped, stirred, laughed, tasted, and learned. We left not just inspired, but changed.
Our farewell dinner in Panajachel was full of gratitude, gelato, hugs, and that quiet kind of happiness that comes after a meaningful journey.
More Than a Trip: Ethical Vegan Travel as Activism
This tour wasn’t about being vegan abroad. It was about:
- Support, not extraction
- Connection, not consumption
- Nourishment, not novelty
We shared tables, kitchen spaces, stories, gardens, and laughter. And we left fuller than when we arrived.
Want to Join Us Next Year?
If this kind of travel speaks to you: slow, delicious, ethical, and rooted in community- you’re invited to come with us next year.
Join the waitlist to get early access + first dibs on limited spots.
This trip will sell out, and the waitlist gets early registration.
Travel with intention.
Hear the stories behind the food.
Experience Guatemala, beyond the plate. 💚
Questions? Email me anytime: Kristin @ WTFVeganFood . com
