Guatemala:
A Living Classroom for Maternal Health
Join Modern Traditions for a seven-day maternal health immersion in Guatemala, where traditional midwifery and modern medicine intersect in powerful ways.
From Antigua to Lake Atitlán, this experience invites healthcare professionals to explore culturally aligned care through community partnership, reflection, and place-based learning.
Why Guatemala?
Guatemala is a place where birth is both a clinical event and a cultural rite—where centuries-old traditions exist alongside modern medicine, and where maternal health is shaped as much by history, language, and community as it is by biology.
With one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Latin America, Guatemala offers a powerful opportunity to explore what happens when systems are stretched—and how communities respond with resilience, innovation, and care rooted in tradition. Traditional midwives, known as comadronas, continue to play a vital role in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care, particularly in Indigenous communities.
For healthcare professionals, Guatemala is not just a destination. It is a living classroom—one that invites curiosity, humility, and a deeper understanding of what culturally aligned care can look like in practice.
What You Are Booking
You’re reserving a place on an intentionally small, community-centered journey exploring maternal health through culture, tradition, and lived experience.
This is not a tour.
It’s a shared learning experience—designed with care, humility, and respect.
Dates: Nov 14–21, 2026
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Locations: Antigua + Lake Atitlán
Investment: starting at $2,500 USD
CME: 10 CME credits included
Group Size: 10 travelers
Our Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrival
Antigua
After arriving in Guatemala City, we’ll transfer you to Antigua, a quiet town framed by volcano views and vibrant architecture. That evening, we’ll gather for a welcome dinner where we will set intentions, share our “why,” and ground ourselves in the roots of Maya culture and Guatemala’s evolving healthcare system. It’s a soft landing into a week of connection.
Meals: Dinner
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Day 2: History & Healing
Antigua
We’ll explore Antigua on foot, learning its colonial history and modern-day realities before diving into conversations around reproductive health, access, and the balance between modern medicine and tradition. The day blends learning, reflection, and hands-on engagement-ending with a shared meal that mirrors the themes of old and new.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
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Day 3: Off to Lake Atitlán!
Antigua → Lake Atitlán
A slower morning before we journey to Lake Atitlan, one of the most breathtaking places in the world! After settling into our lakefront retreat, we’ll gather in the evening to hear from women leading the maternal health efforts in the region— stories that ground global health concepts in lived experience.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
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Day 4: A Shared Table
Lake Atitlán Villages
After breakfast, we’ll start with a local market visit, followed by a lunchtime cooking experience focused on ancestral foods that support pregnancy and maternal wellness. The afternoon is intentionally open—time to rest by the lake or explore nearby villages where art, weaving, and rebozo traditions reflect generations of care.
Meals: breakfast, lunch
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Day 5: Birth & Belonging
Lake Atitlán
This day centers pregnancy and birth. We’ll spend time learning from community-based maternal health spaces, shadowing birth attendants and observing how skill, spirituality, and community come together in care.
Meals: Breakfast
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Day 6: The Postpartum Circle
Lake Atitlán
Our final full day at the lake focuses on postpartum care and recovery. We’ll explore traditional postpartum rituals and participate in a temazcal-style ceremony— symbolizing rest, renewal, and rebirth. It’s a day to slow down, release, and honor the full arc of motherhood.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
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Day 7: Return & Reflection
Lake Atitlan—>Antigua
We return to Antigua for a final evening together. The afternoon is free for markets, cafes, or quiet wandering, followed by a farewell dinner celebrating Guatemalan women’s culinary traditions. We’ll close with reflections and a final toast—to connection, compassion, and the complexity of care.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
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Day 8: Departure
Antigua—> Guatemala City
After breakfast, transfers to the airport are arranged. You’ll head home with new friendships, renewed purpose, and insights that stay with you long after the trip ends.
Meals: breakfast
Things You Might Be Wondering
Who is this trip for?
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Healthcare professionals who are curious, reflective, and interested in culturally grounded care. No global health background needed—just openness and respect
What’s woven into the journey?
This trip includes:
8 days / 7 nights of curated programming
Boutique accommodations in Antigua & Lake Atitlán
Daily breakfast + select group lunches and dinners
All scheduled site visits, workshops, and experiences
Ground transportation during programmed days
Guided cultural and historical experiences
CME-approved educational programming
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What do I need to arrange?
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You’ll be responsible for the following:
International airfare to/from Guatemala
Airport transfers outside scheduled arrival/departure windows
Travel insurance (required)
Personal expenses or additional meals/alcohol not listed
Optional add-on experiences
Is the Continuing Education legit?
Thanks to our partnership with Learn At Pinnacle, this trip is approved for 10 hours of CE credit for the following:
Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Dentists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Dieticians
Don’t worry, midwives…we are working with the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) to get you the same CE credits!
