Lake Atitlan current news and updates

Panajachel Activities

2011-03-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Read more about current activities in Panajachel.

The Atitlan marathon will be organized in Panajachel, from the 25rd to 29th of May in 2012. The Marathon will become a yearly returning event supporting tourism and collecting funds for fighting the lake contamination. Information is available at the lake atitlan marathon website.

Ajachel Arts Center, Panajachel offers the following workshops and activities:

2010-10-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

Ajachel Arts Center, Calle del Frutal, Panajachel offers the following workshops and activities:

Clases de Yoga

Profesora: Malini

Horarios: Lunes, miercoles y viernes 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM, martes y jueves 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

Pagos: 35.Q x clase

Clases de Frances

Instructora: Luz

Horario: Flexible (de una hora y media)

Costo: Según el numero de alumnos o Q50 por clases individuales.

Interesados deben contactar a Luz al numero: 41449159

Taller de Actuación

Profesor: Alberto Famadas.
Telefono: 41700133.
alfamadas@gmail.com
Horarios: Lunes y jueves 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM.
Edades: Jóvenes y adultos.
Cupo mínimo: 8 personas
Duración: 8 semanas. (25 de octubre hasta el 16 de diciembre)
Pagos: 50.Q x clase o 600.Q x 16 clases (curso completo)
El taller culmina con un espectaculo teatral donde intervienen toas y todos los talleristas.Inscripciones: del 18 al 24 por telefono o correo electrónico.

Inicio: El lunes, 25 de octubre de 2010 a las 6:300PM.

Centro Artístico Ajachel. Calle del frutal, Panajachel.

Talleres de collage y otras técnicas mixtas

Profesora: Rebecca Cutter

Telefono: 57868033.
rebecutter@gmail.com
Horarios: miercoles 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM.
Edades: 8 años en adelante.

Cupo limitado: 15 personas.
Duración 9 semanas. (20 de octubre hasta el 15 de diciembre)
Pagos: 25.Q x clase o 200.Q x 9 clases (curso completo)

Los talleres culminan con una exposición de una selección de obras de todas y todos los talleristas y se exhibirá en el Centro Ajachel.

Inscripciones: Primera clase, miercoles 20 de octubre a las 15:30. Centro Artístico Ajachel, Calle del frutal, Panajachel.

Alternative road will be enabled to reach Panajachel

2010-10-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

Note: All roads have been restored. Map is useful for choosing alternative entries to the lake basin.

Around the 23rd of October the normal road between Panajachel and Sololá will not be available for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, for about 2 months. Covial will start work to repair the road around the “waterfall” and tourist as well as locals will have to take an alternate route from Sololá to Panajachel and visa versa.

An alternative road is being prepared as an option for entering the Lake Atitlan basin through Sololá. From Sololá you take the normal road down to San Jorge where you go down through the ‘Jaibal finca’, an old school coffee farm, to the shores of the lake from where you can take a 5 minute boat ride to Panajachel.

Source: Atitlan road map

Guatemala NGO Network

2010-10-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

Guatemala NGO Network

La Antigua Guatemala Network was created in November 2009 and is Guatemala's first NGO portal.

laantiguaguatemala.net

Purchasing real estate in Guatemala

2010-10-12T10:49:00.000-07:00

Source: Courtesy of Atitlan Real Estate Blog

Purchasing a home can be a long, frightening and complicated process, it is important to be well prepared. Knowledge is power when it comes to calculating in the difficult world of property value, interest rates and loans.

Like any investment however, real estate has intricate nuances and market trends that when ignored can cause an investor tremendous heart ache.

For a first time real estate investor in Guatemala it is important to start at a point “of expertise” with a capable, service minded and knowledgeable real estate professional. This will be a tremendous asset as the realtor takes the effort and time to evaluate your future needs and cover those. It’s like a good insurance policy against overlooking all the seemingly insignificant but important details that you have to be prepared for when buying real estate in Guatemala.

The list of documents that needs to be proofed can be overwhelming to a first time investor. Building permits, title policies, mineral leases, inspections, purchase contracts, insurance, environmental laws, etc.

You do not have to do it alone. We at Atitlan Solutions can remove most of the stress and bring the transaction or project to a smooth success.

We are here to inform you, contact us for any information or for an informal meeting to talk about your interest and possibilities for investing in Guatemala.

Armand Boissy
5493-6161 (Cell) or 7762-0959 (Office)

-Spanish- information, meeting, Todos por el Lago, 25th August. Audio

2010-08-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Lake Atitlan News

Here an MP3 recording from part of the meeting from “Todos por el Lago”, at the Lake Atitlan nature Reserve in Panajachel. (Spanish)

Download MP3 recording

A government representative giving a presentation updating the public on grey and black water sewage systems that are being build around Lake Atitlán, or are being planned to be build. An analysis of what is possible in the various municipalities when it comes to available terrains and costs and different ways for treating the grey and black-water. With a remark from “Pura Vida” in San Marcos la Laguna about the centralisation of water treatment in general and suggestions for alternatives.

Information recorded on the Todos por el Lago meeting, Wednesday 25th of August, at the Nature Reserve in Panajachel.

More information from this meeting will follow on the two websites mentioned above.

ESPANOL:

Aquí una grabación de MP3 de parte de la reunión de "Todos por El Lago", en el la Reserva natural Panajachel.

Bajar MP3

Un representante del gobierno de dar una presentación pública con una actualización sobre los plantas de tratamiento y otra maneras de tratar a las aguas gris y negros residuales que están siendo construir en el Lago de Atitlán. Un análisis de lo que es posible en los distintos municipios cuando se trata de terrenos disponibles y los costos y formas diferentes para tratar el agua gris y negro. Con un comentario de "Pura Vida" en San Marcos la Laguna contra la centralización del tratamiento de aguas en general y sugerencias de alternativas.

La información registrada en la reunión de Todos de El Lago, miércoles 25 de agosto, en la Reserva Natural en Panajachel.

Más información de esta reunión se siguen en los dos sitios web antes mencionados.

[In the background, the Vetiver plant]

Landslides complicate traffic on roads

2010-08-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday 4th of September,

The rains continued through the week with almost 24 hours of rain on thursday and friday and the heaviest period on friday night when a tropical depression drifted over Guatemala into Mexico.

Because of the saturated mountains, the road situation has not improved. Many landslides have been reported on the road throughout Guatemala. No access between Panajachel and Solola because of a multitude of small landslides.

In Panajachel the Friendship bridge sustained damaged during the storm of Friday Night. The bridge is cosed to traffic and in danger of sustaining more damage.
More information about repairing the Panajachel Friendship bridge after it sustained damaged in May 2010.

Youtube Video, Panajachel Friendship Bridge, September 4th, 2010

Monday 30 August,

Damages extend
The National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conrad) reported yesterday that the rain in recent days have caused flooding in 21 locations, and 29 landslides and have cut off several roads in the country.

Practically the entire country this weekend suffered the ravages of rain.

In Chiquimula, strong river currents dragged away six people, two of which were found dead, while four remained missing.

The overflowing of rivers Shiitake and Taco caused the destruction of 15 homes in the departmental capital, while several rivers rose and flooded homes in Quezaltepeque, Pinalito, maguey, San Juan and Esquipulas.

The road leading to the Chorti area and the border to El Florido “split apart”, which prevents the passage of vehicles. Landslides are also reported in Ipala.

14 departments affected

The departments affected are Alta Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Quiche, Sacatepéquez, Solola, Totonicapán, Zacapa, Izabal, Escuintla, Jutiapa and Petén.

The latest assessments indicate that there are 654 homes damaged and three thousand 614 evacuated and treated people in 54 shelters. 250 tons of food is provided for the people.

At a press conference at the headquarters of Conrad, Guillermo Castillo, Minister of Communications, reported that Q8 million have been transferred to his institution and Q2 million to Insivumeh, to address the current tragedy.

"There is still a certain amount of food, but if there was another event as" Agatha", said Castillo, who asked Congress for Q500 million to its portfolio to cover these emergency.

No fishing in Champerico

The destruction of a bridge in Champerico, Retalhuleu, and the entry of large amounts of sand in the new harbour have left the fishing area unusable in the region.

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Courtesy of La Prensa Libre

Sunday 29th August,
Updates on Road problems in Guatemala

The “Dirección de Protección Vial” (Provial) reported that the biggest problem is in at kilometer 215 of the Interamericana road, between Cuatro Caminos and Huehuetenango, since there is movement in any lane and machinery has no way to reach and clean the road.

Between km 171 and 175, the same route, at the summit of Alaska, there's debris restricting one lane to the capital.

In the 45th kilometer of the route to the Pacific formed a water-pool that requires motorists to slow down.

Another landslide blocked two of three lanes of the 107 km route to the Atlantico at San Cristobal Acasaguastlán, El Progreso, on the way up to Teculután, Zacapa.

Landslides complicate traffic on roads
Saturday 28th August,
Road problems

The rain of Friday night (27 August) has left considerable landslides on major roads, as effects of the passage of an easterly rain wave that will keep on for the next days.

The route of Villa Canales to the capital is locked in its three lanes at kilometer 11.8, reported the local Municipal Police Transit (PMT).

On the Interamericana there is a landslide blocking the entire 230 km between Huehuetenango and Cuatro Caminos, Totonicapán.

It is also blocked at kilometer 107 of the same route, Nahualá, Solola, and at 144 to Panajachel.

Vial Protection Directorate (Provial) reported that the companies responsible for cleaning felt that the passage will be restored today, Saturday.

At kilometre 19 the road to the Atlantic, in Palencia, a retaining wall is fragile it can collapse.

The bridge Lajas, between Antigua and Escuintla, is risky for the passage of vehicles.

Landslide

The overnight rain brought down a cliff burying several homes in the colony Tecum Uman Chinautla Zone 6, which left five adults and children with injuries that required hospitalization.

Heavy rain

The Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteología and Hydrology (Insivumeh) income forecast a wave from the east from Pacific to shed heavy rain across the country.

Though the season has been normal, the Insivumeh warned in August it rained 46 percent more than the same month of previous years.

Some information about roads and weather in Guatemala.

Cycle Messenger World Championships - Panajachel

2010-08-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Original article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cycle-messenger-world-championships-head-to-central-america-for-the-first-time-2064547.html

Bunnyhops, balancing acts, sprints and skidmarks are all part of the fun at this year's Cycle Messenger World Championships (CMWC) in the lakeside town of Panajachel, Guatemala, September 3-13.

Previous iterations of the elite contest have been in the world cities of North America and Europe, with recent years seeing Sydney and Tokyo assume hosting duties.

Now participants and spectators will be providing a welcome economic boost to scenic Panajachel, still recovering from the impact of 2005's Hurricane Stan, and a 24km uphill time trial rewards 100 local entrants with a place at the championships.

Though the title of World Champion is reserved for pro messengers only, it's a case of the more the merrier as far as the CMWC's Bill Thain is concerned. Registration is open to all-comers at an event that can boast 50-year-olds among its entrants.

The Main Race Finals will see 100 riders weaving their way through a hectic downtown dispatch challenge on September 12, but there's certainly plenty going on beforehand with bicycle polo and balance challenges, sprint, heavy cargo, and figure-8 races, and contests for the biggest bunnyhops, most backwards circles, and longest skids.

Spectators can watch for free, and those that purchase a $60 pass are brought into the fold with a swag bag, September 10th's welcome party, the 11th's pre-race breakfast, and the 7pm-til-late closing ceremony on the 12th.

For those that can't make it but still want a piece of the action, the CMWC are hopeful that remote Panajachel will be able to support live web broadcasts.

Meanwhile, an introductory video presented by event organizer and former cycle messenger Nadir Olivet is already up on the championship's official site, CMWCguatemala.com.

Todos por el lago - meeting August 25

2010-08-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Meeting - "Save Lake Atitlan"

by: Todos por el Lago

Faced with the imminent blooming of cyanobacteria in Lake Atitlan and the responses of citizens and authorities, we have decided to setup another meeting to evaluate and participate in the proper management of Lake Atitlan.

This will take place on Wednesday 25 August, 8:30AM in the Auditorium of the Atitlan Nature Reserve, Panajachel. For any success, it is important that we have a large representation from all civil sectors of the lake, please let any one know who has interest to attend this meeting.

Objectives:

i) Report on the new blooms of Cyanobacteria in Lake Atitlan and review the communication campaign to for letting basic information flow to the public.

ii) advise on the projects and programs implemented within the Comprehensive Action Plan (Plan de Acción Integral, private and public sector ).

iii) evaluate the operation and improvement of existing social networks.

iii) to see participants compromise themselves to follow up with actions.

The activity is aimed at all interested in saving Lake Atitlan. We would like to see representatives of organized community-based groups (associations of fishermen, farmers, artisans, tourist guides, boatmen, tuc tuc owners, cooperatives, service sector, etc..), Entrepreneurs, NGOs, international cooperation agencies, institutions central government, municipal governments, environmental movements, educational institutions, and basically any other business that intends help the lake.

Schedule:

8:30 am Registration of the participants

8:50 a.m. Welcome to participants and opening remarks by Dr. Alberto Rivera

9:00 a.m. Cyanobacteria, Agatha and pollution. Drs. Margaret Dix Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and Eliska Rejmankova, University of California at Davis.

9:40 a.m. Water Filters / cyanotoxins. Mr. Martin Mendez, AISA.

9:45 a.m. Government Development Plan and prioritize projects Ivan municipality Azurdia presentation and Ana Mendez

10:15 a.m. Advances private sector and NGOs: Diego Castañeda

10:45 a.m. Coffee

11:00 a.m. active social networks, where are we. Maria Isabel Quezada

11:45 p.m. Questions and Answers

24:30 Lunch

1:15 p.m.
* Communication roundtable (information on the state of Lake Atitlan)

* Roundtable on social networking, consolidation and distribution of

responsibilities.

* Roundtable on citizen action (legal action, mobilization of neighborhoods and towns).

2:15 pm presentations

3:15 pm Event closing

Exhibitors:

Dr. Margaret Dix, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala.
Dr. Eliska Rejmankova, University of California at Davis
Lic. Maria Isabel Quezada, Movimento All the Lake
Dr Ivan Azurdia
Ana Mendez Licda
Licdo Diego Castañeda
Mr. Martin Mendez, Association of Healthcare Engineers and Aambientales
Moderator
Dr. Alberto Rivera Gutierrez, Director of the Atitlan Nature Reserve

Sponsors:

Atitlan Nature Reserve
Prolago Association
UVG Altiplano
Association Ati’t Ala’
Todos por el Lago
Organizing Committee
Maria Isabel Quezada, tel. 5204-4905
Alberto Rivera Gutierrez Atitlan Nature Reserve Tel: 5407-4493
Laura Wheelock, Association Ati’t Ala’

Atitlan Nature Reserve, Panjachel, Guatemala www.atitlanreserva.com Tel: (502) 7762-2565

(Cyanobacteria)

Todos por el Lago

III Encuentro ciudadano para la gestión del lago Atitlán

Fecha: miércoles 25 de agosto de 2010 Lugar: Reserva Natural Atitlán, Auditorio Hora: 8:30 am.

Objetivos: i) Informar sobre el nuevo florecimientos de cianobacteria en el Lago Atitlán y revisar la campaña de comunicación para diseminar a la población la información básica; ii) informar sobre los proyectos y programas ejecutados dentro del Plan de Acción Integral (sector privado y estatal); iii) evaluar el funcionamiento y mejora de las redes sociales existentes; y iii) llegar a compromisos de seguimiento por parte de los participantes.

Participantes: La actividad está dirigida a todos los sectores interesados en salvar el lago Atitlán. La invitación se gira a representantes de grupos organizados de base comunitaria (asociaciones de pescadores, agricultores, artesanos, guías de turismo, lancheros, tuctuqueros, cooperativas, sector servicios, etc.), empresarios, organizaciones no gubernamentales, organismos de cooperación internacional, instituciones del gobierno central, gobiernos municipales, movimientos ambientalistas, educativos, y básicamente cualquier otro sector que se proponga sumar esfuerzos.

Horario de actividades:

8:30 am	Registro de participantes
8:50 am	Bienvenida a los participantes y apertura del evento por el Dr.
	Alberto Rivera
9:00 am	Cianobacteria, Agatha y contaminación. Dras. Margaret Dix,
	Universidad del Valle de Guatemala y Eliska Rejmankova,
	Universidad de California en Davis.
9:40 am	Filtros de agua / Cianotoxina. Ing. Martín Méndez, AISA.
9:45 am	Avances del plan de Gobierno y priorización de proyectos por
	municipio presentación de Ivan Azurdia y Ana de Méndez
10:15 am	Avances del sector privado y ONGs: Diego Castañeda
10:45 am	Café y champurradas
11:00 am	Redes sociales activas, cómo estamos. María Isabel Quezada
11:45 pm	Preguntas y respuestas
12:30 pm	Almuerzo
1:15 pm	Mesa sobre comunicación (campaña de información sobre el
	estado del lago)
	Mesa sobre las redes sociales, su consolidación, distribución de
	responsabilidades
	Mesa sobre acción ciudadana (accionar legal, movilización de
	barrios y poblaciones.

2:15 pm Presentaciones de las mesas3:15 pm Cierre del evento

Expositores

Dra. Margaret Dix, Universidad del Valle de Guatemala.
Dra. Eliska Rejmankova, Universidad de California en Davis
Licda. María Isabel Quezada, Movimento Todos por el Lago
Dr Ivan Azurdia
Licda Ana de Méndez
Licdo Diego Castañeda
Ing. Martín Méndez, Asociación de Ingenieros Sanitarios y Aambientales

Moderador

Dr. Alberto Rivera Gutiérrez, Director de la Reserva Natural Atitlán

Patrocinadores

Reserva Natural Atitlán
Asociación Prolago
UVG Altiplano
Asociación Ati’t Ala’
Todos por el Lago

Comité organizador

María Isabel Quezada, tel. 5204-4905
Alberto Rivera Gutiérrez, Reserva Natural Atitlán tel: 5407-4493
Laura Wheelock, Asociación Ati’t Ala’

Radio Ati

2010-08-04T22:23:00.000-07:00

An afternoon that will work itself into midnight through art, communication, ecology, culture, free speech and music. Saturday August 7th the launch of Ati Radio will be broadcasted live from the Chapiteau and public will be engaged in the whole experience. Audio and Video stream will be broadcasted on Eco-Book.

Panajachel Chapiteau - Agenda Saturday August 7th:

16:00 Native Culture, the film "El Negocio del Oro, de Collectif Guatemala" and a CineForum.

18:30 Public forum moderated by Karla Olascoaga where the environmental situation of Lake Atitlan will be discussed with projections from the documentary "Agua pura 100% contaminada de Amatitlán".

20:00 Music, art and performance with Michel Peraza, JM Arrivillaga, Pablo Robledo, René Dionisio, Josué Eleazar y Patza’ and Artzurdo.

21:00 Music with energetic mixes from "Mia" from Guatemala City and Dj Bullon from Costa Rica.

read more about the launch of Radio Ati and Movimiento Ati in Guatemala.

Lake Atitlan News

2010-07-30T18:03:00.000-07:00

This site harbors part of the Lake Atitlan community and is one of the options for anyone abroad to follow the current news. It has different sections for news, a classifieds section and news in the form of blogs.

Updates can be brought in the form of photos and pictures. The same people have a collection of pictures and photos online from different places in Guatemala, Panajachel and Antigua.