Santa Cruz la Laguna is “the town on the hill”. It’s only accessible by boat, or a treacherous dirt road that zigzags down the mountain. Many tourists stick to the waterfront, with its laid-back “vacation” feel. This is a great place to explore, go on walks, try out various restaurants and cafés, or simply sit and enjoy the amazing views. Santa Cruz is a great place to swim as well, since its located in a protected bay. But that’s not all there is to enjoy, check out these cool cultural tours in Santa Cruz!
Amigos de Santa Cruz Cultural Tours
Most of the cultural classes available in Santa Cruz la Laguna are organized by Amigos de Santa Cruz, a great NGO that seeks to improve the lives of local people through education and economic empowerment. This is tourism that helps the community, tourism you can feel good about.
Let’s dive in.
Café Sabor Cruceño Cooking Class
Dig into the best of Guatemalan culture with this tasty and informative cooking class! We’ve already talked about Café Sabor Cruceño in our post on Our Favorite Places to Eat Around Lake Atitlán. It’s a great place to stop in and eat delicious Guatemalan food.
But why not learn to make this food yourself? Then you can REALLY appreciate what goes into these great Guatemalan dishes, plus you can make it for your friends and family any time you wish.
The Café and its cooking class are run by culinary school graduates who make gourmet Guatemalan fare using fresh ingredients.
During the class, you’ll get to make amazing food under their tutelage, such as pepián, tamalitos, rellenitos, and tortillas. Pepián is on of my favorite Guatemalan dishes, and I’m pretty sure you’ll love it too.
These are foods you can easily make whether you’re here in Guatemala or back in your home country.
Many Guatemalan dishes begin with roasting tomatoes and peppers, toasting seeds, and then grinding them together with salt and herbs and annatto. The result is a delicious sauce with a deep flavor.
Are you salivating yet?
If so, it’s time to learn a handy Guatemalan phrase: “la boca se me hace agua.” Translated literally, it means your mouth is making water in anticipation of great flavors to come.
Details about the cooking class:
- The class lasts 2.5 hours and includes a three-course meal on the Café’s rooftop terrace
- It costs $28 and has a 2-person minimum
- It’s the top-rated tour in Santa Cruz!
How to reserve:
Email: reservations@amigosdesantacruz.org
Whatsapp: +502 3728 0944
Artisan Beading Class
If you’ve spent any time shopping for handicrafts, you’ll have probably noticed all the bead bracelets and baubles for sale. I lived with a Kaqchikel family for a while, and one of the things they taught me was how to make these bracelets. It’s a pretty cool process that involves using a simple loom, thread, a needle, and “mostacilla” the tiny beads used in the process.
This is a great opportunity to learn how to make your own custom bead bracelet.
Choose your color scheme, decide on a design, and get to it! You can write a word on your bracelet, or opt for a cool pattern. Either way, you’ll have created something very cool using traditional Mayan artisan practices.
Details about the beading class:
- The class last 2.5 hours, during which you’ll make your very own custom friendship bracelet with local artisans.
- It costs $20 per person, or $15 per person for groups of three or more.
How to reserve:
Email: reservations@amigosdesantacruz.org
Whatsapp: +502 3728 0944
Artisan Weaving Class
This class looks super cool. You’ll get to make your own scarf using a back-strap loom! I’m going to have to put this on my list of things to try. Backstrap weaving is an intricate art that looks very complicated. But the mysteries can be revealed to you in this cultural tour in Santa Cruz la Laguna.
Weave your very own custom scarf during this workshop!
Details about the weaving class:
- The class last 2.5 hours, during which you’ll make your very own custom scarf with a local weaver.
- It costs $20 per person and includes the scarf.
How to reserve:
Email: reservations@amigosdesantacruz.org
Whatsapp: +502 3728 0944