Flying High in Guatemala

I recently had the opportunity to travel to both Haiti and Guatemala with an organization called Orphan’s Promise. The trip to Guatemala was planned as my in-laws wanted my wife and I to see the dedication of a new school facility that had been many years in the making. They first became aware of this school (and home) in the town of Chimaltenango, located in western Guatemala. The home serves special needs children in a region that is very poor. Families just don't have the resources to handle children that are born with severe disabilities.

When my in-laws first visited in 2008, the school had just been robbed of its propane tank and was unable to prepare cooked meals for the students. They helped clean, paint and build sidewalks at the home. They also provided for their most immediate need - food for the children!  Working with a local contact, my in-laws were able to have a well dug on site to provide an ongoing supply of fresh water. The next phase included building a high wall around the compound and building new classrooms and lodging for the students and staff.

When we first arrived at the school, we were escorted to an area that was set up for the dedication ceremony. After the ceremony and much cheering and laughter, we followed everyone to the outdoor dining area where much to our surprise they had prepared a birthday celebration for my father-in-law. The students entertained us with song and dance.

Prior to the trip, we procured backpacks and other school supplies for all of the students.

Although we went to Guatemala to celebrate the new facility and share in their excitement, it was each of us that returned blessed beyond measure.

Taking our intended purpose out of the equation, Guatemala is a country brimming with adventure activities. We flew into Guatemala City and were whisked away to the colonial city of Antigua with its beautiful Spanish architecture, jade markets and cobblestone streets surrounded by volcanos that are sometimes obscured by low hanging clouds. The city is a must-visit destination.

Most of our time on this short trip was spent visiting orphanages and schools. However, we did find an afternoon to embrace the opportunity to fly above the coffee plantation at Filadelfia Coffee Estate.

Our entire group traveled to the coffee estate where we had lunch and reflected on the past few days. Only three of us dared to take the leap of faith and sign up for an afternoon of ziplining.

I've enjoyed zip line adventures in numerous locations around the world and was even a certified ropes course/zip line instructor back in the late 90s. It is always a thrill to travel through the air suspended by a harness and length of aircraft cable.

After getting equipped and getting a general overview of the procedure, we loaded into the back of a Unimog truck (the ultimate off-road vehicle) for our climb to the top of the mountain. The drive took approximately twenty minutes, and we passed field after field of coffee plants on our way up the canyon.

Antigua Canopy Tours offers several options for adventure seekers, and we opted to tackle the combined Forest Express (6 lines) and Canyon Express (2 lines that are each approximately 1,700 feet long and 500 feet above the ground). There is nothing like the feeling of traveling 500 feet above the canyon floor for a 1/3 of a mile. Exhilarating to say the least!

While my wife and I have enjoyed zip line adventures in the past, we really enjoyed experiencing it with our friend who was venturing outside her comfort zone for the first time. On this trip, I was fortunate to experience both emotional and adrenaline highs!

Clay Abney is a PR guru and freelance writer living in the 'wild and wonderful' state of West Virginia where he spends his days trail running, mountain biking, hiking and working when the mood strikes. At 45 (the new 25), he still competes in multi-day adventure races and is always looking for his next great adventure!