Visit a beautiful finca close to Xela and learn more about coffee and macadamia
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Price
Description
Price
Base Price
GTQ
175
* Foreign exchange rates are provided as a convinience only. The actual rate you pay may vary.
Description:
Spend some time at a coffee and macadamia finca and learn more about the history of the community, their projects and hike in the jungle.Tours available:
* Tour of the Community Projects: A one hour tour of the 100-year-old coffee processing plant includes in-depth explanations of the extensive process that converts raw coffee into the coffee we drink. A tour of the other community projects including: macadamia processing, micro hydroelectric plant, biodiesel workshop, water purification system, and bamboo workshop.
* History Talk: A member of the community gives a talk about the compelling history of the community’s struggle to obtain legal title to our land, a description of how the community is currently organized as a worker-owned cooperative, and the various projects we have initiated to pay off our debt and improve our quality of life.
* Nature Hike: A 2-3 hour walking tour through the community, plantation, and tropical forest; the tour more... includes explanations of coffee, macadamia, and local ornamental, edible, and medicinal plants. When the water is high enough, visitors also have the opportunity to swim in a natural bathing pool.
* Waterfall Hike: A short walk through tropical forest leads to a majestic waterfall, where visitors can relax and go for a swim. The best time of year for this is May through November, when the water is highest.
Conditions:
Inquire for prices at: info@comunidadnuevaalianza.org - English or Spanish
Rosa Gonzales, Hotel Administrator: (502) 5801-7849 - Spanish only
Responsible Action:
Since receiving legal title in late 2004, we have initiated many projects to generate income to pay off the outstanding debt for our land and to improve the health, education, and living conditions within the community.
1. Organic, Fair Trade Coffee and Macadamia plantation.
We are currently growing, maintaining, and processing organic coffee and macadamia nuts after obtaining official organic certification on December 9, 2008. Although our processes meet the strict requirements for fair trade, we do not yet have official certification. We are currently pursuing certification with the assistance of Agexport and Danida Premaca and hope to be certified fair trade by April 2009. The ultimate goal is to be able to export our products directly to international markets.
2. Ecotourism
Since May 2005, we have been running a successful tourism business out of the newly renovated colonial mansion, once occupied by the land owner. The community offers many attractions for tourists such as: a hike to two beautiful waterfalls, a tour of our community projects, including the biodiesel and coffee processing plants, and information about our edible and medicinal plants. Also, from the hotel, there are spectacular views of the active volcano Santiaguito and sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.
3. Micro Hydroelectric Plant and Biodiesel Project
Isolated from the main electricity grid, we have been forced to find creative solutions for our energy needs and have opted for environmentally sustainable projects to provide our office, homes, and various processing plants with power. Our micro hydroelectric plant utilizes the natural springs on the property and provides the entire community with electricity.
Thanks to the support of Matt Rudolf, who installed our first system, we are able to make biodiesel here on the plantation to operate our diesel generator and diesel trucks. Currently, the biodiesel is made from used cooking oil purchased from nearby restaurants. Our operation is now capable of producing up to 150 gallons per week. Due to the limited supply of used cooking oil, the production managers are also investigating options to extract oil from native plants to make biodiesel as well.
4. Agua Pura Alianza
Taking advantage of natural springs within the community, we are selling purified water in towns and cities nearby. Our process is environmentally friendly, and we are competing with other large, national producers based on the high quality of our water source and purification standards. We currently sell an average of 1000 5-gallon jugs per week.
5. Bamboo Furniture Workshop
On June 25, 2006, a group of young people from the community started a bamboo furniture workshop. Construction with bamboo is environmentally friendly because bamboo grows very quickly and does not require much land to grow. The workshop is currently producing items such as: bookshelves, dinner tables, reclining chairs, beds, large and small mirrors, and custom-made requests as well.
