The hospitality exchange networks are changing the way of traveling all over the world, not only offering free accommodation but beyond that, giving travelers a more authentic experience by been able to participate in the daily life of locals. Couchsurfing is the biggest organization of this type with almost 600,000 members all over the world… 600,000 people willing to share a couch with you, a meal, go out for a drink or even take sometime to show you their cities.
Guatemala has a bit more than 400 members all over the country in places like Guatemala City, Antigua Guatemala, Xela and Flores. Even is a small community considering in places like Germany there is over 50,000 members, the Guatemalan community is without a doubt one of the warmest and organized in the region.
“I love couchsurfing, I got to know a lot of people over the past few years and made great friends. The most important thing for me of all this, is that people gets to know a country beyond the guidebook, and you leave feeling a bit local yourself” says Alvaro, a local Couchsurfer. This 26 year old Guatemalan guy hosted more than 100 travelers from all over the world in his house over the past 4 years, and when time allows it he even joins them to travel trough the country.
“The Guatemalan community organize weekly meetings in Antigua Guatemala every Friday night, so if you are already a Couchsurfer or you would like to learn more about it, you are welcome to join us, just ask the bartender where you can find us” says Cynthia, another Guatemalan Couchsurfer. The meetings take place in the bar/restaurant Estudio 35 (5 Ave. Norte #35) located in the arch street, every Friday night at 8pm.
To register or further information please visit the Couchsurfing Website.
Comment by Laurent at Jul 14th, 2008 6:16 pm ↑
Hello!
Couch surfint is one off my best experience in travelling!
I already met people from all around the world and with couch surfing you can meet people and share culture, activities and more. The best way for me to discover a country! And the meeting in Antigua is really great and cool. You can enjoy a drink with good music and really nice people. I will try to comme back before to leave Guatemala!
And thanks Alvaro to invited me at this event!
Comment by Helena at Jul 15th, 2008 1:13 pm ↑
I met Guatemalan couchsurfers in my country- in Estonia- and we became great friends. Later I was couchsurfing myself in Guate and had the best travelguidesyou could ever dream - my host Alvaro and Hugo - discovering Gutemala with me. For those beautiful experiences I just love Couchsurfing!
Comment by Darko at Jul 18th, 2008 4:36 am ↑
Guatemala is amazing country, but seeing it with the “local eyes” makes it something special. I’ve been 2 there and will be back, thanks to the great friends I met thru couchsurfing, but not only. Greetings from sunny Croatia
Comment by Marc Jähnchen at Jul 21st, 2008 4:26 pm ↑
CouchSurfing.com and HospitalityClub.org are simply the best definition of the word humanity I have found so far - and the CS community in Guatemala (first and foremost Alvaro with his unfailing will to help!) have shaped that fact for me. If you ever imagined a world where people help each other out without asking for anything in return, where strangers become friends overnight, enabling both of them -the local and the tourist- to the see the city with new eyes… then CouchSurfing and HospitalityClub will get you there.
Im Lexikon müsste unter “Menschlichkeit” ein Bild von CouchSurfing.com und HospitalityClub.org sein; es gibt keine Reise-Organisation, die diesem Wort mehr Leben einhaucht. Einige meiner besten Freundschaften (wie mit Alvaro) entstanden über CS oder HC, aber ausnahmslos alle waren freundliche Begegnungen und bescherten mir bleibende Erinnerungen. Wer auf der Suche ist nach einer Gemeinschaft, wo einander geholfen wird ohne lang nach dem Warum zu fragen, der wird sich in dieser Familie zu Hause fühlen.
Hasta ahora, CouchSurfing.com & HospitalityClub.org han sido la mejor definición que se encuentra en la enciclopedia del viajero. Ya he dormido en mas que 50 camas, hamacas, sofás, colchones y suelos; muchas veces encontré amigos con cuales mantengo el contacto después de anos, pero siempre se me quedaron memorias increíbles de personas tan abiertas y amables con un forastero como yo ante de sus puertas. CouchSurfing: Participa en crear un mundo mejor, un sofá a la vez.
Pingback by » 3rd Americas Social Forum - Guatemala at Sep 9th, 2008 2:09 pm ↑
[…] There is one more option, and if you heard before about the hospitality exchange organizations before this is probably a great time to start using them. There is a couple of this organizations in Guatemala, but the most popular right now is The Couchsurfing Project. […]
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