Guide Training Week 2024

What happens when you put 54 guides from six different countries together in Antigua Guatemala ? A little bit of chaos, a lot of learning, and plenty of unforgettable moments. At the end of last year, we gathered guides from Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Belize, and Guatemala for a few days of skill-building, collaboration, and good old-fashioned fun. Enjoy the gallery below!

The week kicked off with a city-wide rally that had guides running, puzzling, and maybe even sweating a little as they teamed up with colleagues from other countries to tackle challenges across Antigua. Some were cracking riddles in front of ruins, others were racing to complete physical tasks, and a few may have gotten a little too competitive (no names mentioned). After the high-energy start, we settled into a mix of workshops and discussions. Carlos Vivar, a director and fellow guide, led a refresher on Viaventure’s guiding principles, Carolina from our Logistics team dove into customer service, and James, another director, opened the floor for guides to pitch new travel experiences based on what’s happening in their regions. Kevin from sales led an eye-opening session on diversity in the workplace, followed by an exercise where guides had to describe places without using sight, a challenge that completely changed how we think about storytelling. The day wrapped up with a sustainability talk from Tom at Rio Vista Lodge and an inspiring session on perseverance led by Guatemalan triathlete Juan Carlos.

The final day took us beyond the training room and into the community. In Santa Apolonia, near Tecpán, we visited a school where students are outgrowing their space faster than they can build. With only a handful of classrooms, they needed materials to keep expanding, so we rolled up our sleeves and helped pour cement for the first floor of a new classroom. The real highlight? A football match with the local kids, who may or may not have outplayed us. After sharing a meal, we wrapped up the event with a farewell dinner at San Jose El Viejo, toasting to new friendships and a successful training.

The speeches that night hit home. Many guides shared how rare it is for companies to truly invest in them—not just as professionals but as people. Some said they’d never felt a sense of community like this before. A few even got emotional (and we’re not saying it was just the speeches, those farewell toasts can be powerful, too). While we know there’s still work to do, we left feeling inspired, grateful, and already thinking about how to make next year’s event even better!

Contact us for more information about Creative Retreats, Semana Santa, Itineraries in Guatemala or across Central America.