Accommodation and Services

Accommodation

Both visitors and volunteers live the large Casa Grande, the home of the former landowner. The over 100-year old house is rustic, but definitely not without charm! You may choose to live in a dorm or a private bedroom.

Prices:
Visitors: 55Q/night
Volunteers: 35Q/night
Private bedroom: + 20Q/night

Meals

Eating with the families
Eating with the local families you will get to truly know the community. In their homes you will share their meals as well as their experience, while practicing your Spanish skills.
The families are well accustomed to visitors, and for example vegetarian food is easily available. The food consists of typical local dishes and the women take pride inusing the natural resources grown in the Community. For the families preparing meals for visitors is an important additional income.

Prices: (person/meal)
Breakfast: 15Q
Lunch: 15Q
Dinner: 15Q

Group Menus
For groups of 8 or more, the Ecotourism Project offers the option of a Group Menu.The group can choose their personal menu from a list of dishes available. The food will be prepared in the Community Kitchen in the Casa Grande by the women from the village.

Prices: (person/meal)
Breakfast: 18Q
Lunch: 25Q
Dinner: 18Q
Refreshments: 7Q

Cooking your own meals
Visiting La Florida, you have the option to cook your own meals. The Community Kitchen is at your use, and kitchen utilities can be rented for 5Q a day. Some basic food supplies can be found in the community; however, it is recommendable to make most of your shopping in the closest town of Colomba.

Laundry

There is a basin for washing your clothes in the Casa Grande, but once you get tired of scrubbing, the women of the village offer you their Laundry Service for 15Q-30Q. The Service is run by the widows and single women in the Community, from whom the additional income extremely welcome.

Telephone and Internet

The closest internet connection is found in Colomba, about 1.5 hours from La Florida. For phone calls the Ecotourism Project sells prepaid cards and rents their phone for the price of 1Q/min to make a call and 0.50Q/min to receive one.

Transportation

Due to the remote location of the community, the Ecotourism Project offers transportation services with the Community pick-up to and from Colomba and some of the major cities in the area.

Prices to/from:

Colomba: 150Q (6am-6pm) or 200Q (6pm-6am)

Coatepeque: 225Q (6am-6pm) or 350Q (6pm-6am)

Retalhuleu: 400Q

Quezaltenango: 600Q

In addition, if you choose to use the public transport, but would like some company, for 55Q a community member will personally accompany you to/from Colomba. A community member can also meet you at the Entrada al Paraíso (10Q), from where there is a 45min walk to La Florida.

Water and Electricity

Water is abundant in La Florida, thanks to the multiple springs and rivers in the area. There is a system of running water covering the whole village and the hydroelectric plant provides the community with electricity. There is running water throughout the year and electricity 24h/day during the rainy season (May-October). During the dry season (November-April) there is not enough water for electricity.

Good to know

The weather in La Florida is a mix of heat from the coast and the cold of the highlands. The dry season lasts from November to April and the rainy season from May to October. Even in the rainy season it rains mostly in the afternoons, while the mornings tend to be sunny. The weather is in general hot and humid, though it’s recommendable to bring warmer clothes for the night. It is also a good idea to bring along some insect repellent and your own mosquito net, if you want one!

If you are planning to volunteer on the communal plantations, you should bring boots or comfortable shoes for working and gloves. Tools are supplied by the community.

There are a couple of small shops in the community, where you can buy snacks, some food supplies and for example soap. Pick-ups leave daily from the Entrada al Paraíso (45min walk) to the closest town Colomba, where you can find basic necessities, but beware that the selection is limited.