Antigua, Guatemala with Ari Espay

Join us in Antigua, Guatemala for one of the most breathtaking Easter traditions in the world - Semana Santa. With grand processions, lavish floats and intricately designed alfombras (“carpets”), Antigua, Guatemala hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year who yearn to be a part of the religious and cultural festivities. This captivating city was founded during the 16th century by Spanish colonialists, and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. With its Baroque architecture and thriving textile scene, this former colonial capital is among Central America's most beguiling destinations.

Combining indigenous traditions with Catholic customs to create a unique and memorable experience, Semana Santa (also known as Holy Week) is a week-long celebration leading up to Easter Sunday. From baking large amounts of bread to decorating streets with sawdust alfombras or “carpets”, you won’t find another country that celebrates Semana Santa quite like Guatemala does. The alfombras are made from sawdust, flowers, fruit, palm leaves, and paper, and are laid out in the streets. People work from around 1am to 5am using stencils to create the intricate designs. The sawdust has to be constantly sprayed with water to ensure it doesn’t fly away! 

 

 

Photography Workshop

DATES | 8 DAYS

April 14 - 21, 2025    2 SPOTS AVAILABLE  

PRICE

$5945 per person  

Companion fee $2895  (staying in the same room)

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
  • 7 Nights in luxury accommodations
  • On location classes, demos, and assistance in the field
  • 4 Classes/edit & critique sessions
  • All breakfasts
  • 2 Dinners
  • All local transportation
  • Shopping at Chichicastango, one of Central America's largest handcraft markets
  • Round trip airport transfers
  • Travel, landscape, architecture, festival, and people photography

 

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
  • Round trip airfare to and from Guatemala
  • Additional excursions for Companions not listed in our itinerary (though we will happily help with suggestions and arrangements)
  • Additional nights before or after the start and finish of the Workshop
  • Travel Insurance
  • Some meals

 

OUR LOCATIONS
  • Children's Procession from La Merced Church
  • San Francisco Procession
  • San Felipe Procession
  • Escuela de Cristo’s Female Procession
  • San Pedro Procession at Parque Central
  • Shopping at Chichicastenango hand craft market

 

OUR HOTEL

We will be staying in the heart of the city, at Conde Nast's Top Choice, the El Convento Boutique Hotel (or similar). A former convent, this 16 century property has been lovingly restored and makes a perfect home base for our workshop.

Arriving and departing in Guatemala City: The Westin Hotel Camino Real

 

WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP RIGHT FOR?
  • Amateur, enthusiast, and semi-pro photographers looking to build their portfolio
  • Photographers who love travel and learning about other cultures
  • DSLR, mirrorless, compact camera users

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for your trip. Aside from medical care, travel insurance can protect you in the case of lost or stolen luggage, equipment, and personal effects, trip cancellation, personal liability, funeral expenses (we don't mean to sound morbid, but dying overseas can be very, very expensive), emergency dental treatment and evacuation back to your country of residence. All that being said, please read the policy carefully (especially the exclusions) to make sure that it covers what you will need, especially trip cancellation. 

 

HOW DO I REGISTER?

We provide personalized service and you can sign up for a workshop by emailing us directly at liza@lizapoliti.com

Sign Up Via Email

About Ari Espay

Award-winning photographer, Ari Espay, has shot documentary pieces, campaigns and editorial essays for magazines in the US and all over South America including; Architectural Digest, Vogue Latin America, Que Pasa, and ED. He has worked for Maybelline, Gillette, Corpbanca and Ferouch and has shot portraits for Presidents, internationally known actors, Emmy Award winning directors, Broadway performers, politicians and high profile business people. Ari has won Chile’s prestigious Fondart Grant, was a finalist in National Geographic’s Photo Competition, “Luces de America” and in 2018, 2021, 2022 he was a ‘CHOSEN Winner’ in Latin American AI-AP. He has received an Honorable Mention in IPA's Deeper Perspective Category in 2023 for his series, "Butterfly Children".

With numerous gallery exhibitions, Ari’s most recent show, “A Glimpse of Southeast Asia” was featured at the Galleria d’Arte Moderna, a museum in Cento, Italy. Other exhibitions include; “Mingalabar Myanmar”(Rome and Bologna, Italy) and “The Faces of EB” in New York City. He has published 4 books. As a photographer, his work can be seen in "Colors of San Miguel" and he was the editor for Erin Feinberg’s "Diehards"(2013) with foreword by Bruce Springsteen and afterword by Neil Peart and for the multi-award winning, “2020 Unmasked”. For 10 years, he taught photography workshops for National Geographic, working with their legendary photographers.   www.ariespayphotographer.com

Additional Info

WEATHER | SUNRISE/SUNSET

April – Temps 80/58 F  

Sunrise 5:45am | Sunset 6:15pm 

 

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Airport: La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City

FUN FACTS

In February of 2023 Guatemala’s Semana Santa, also known as Holy Week, was recognized as an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. 

Built 1,500 m above sea-level, in an earthquake-prone region, Antigua was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773 but its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins.

Antigua's most famous landmark is the canary-yellow Santa Catalina arch, which dates to 1694. It was built to enable the nuns of the closed order of Santa Catalina to cross from their convent to the school on the other side of the street without being seen in public.

Chichicastenango still boasts one of the largest markets in Guatemala, serving villages in the neighboring highlands. It was a market center for the Cakchiquel Maya before the Spanish conquest. 

The original name of Guatemala was Quauhtlemallan, which means ‘place of many trees’ in the Mexican language Nahuatl. 

Nearly 80% of Guatemalans identify as Indigenous, with almost half being descendants from the Mayan civilization. The dominance of an Indigenous culture in Guatemala distinguishes it from its Central American neighbors. The modern society still practices pre-hispanic traditions that allow them to preserve their heritage. Today, around 20 different Mayan languages are still spoken and different Mayan communes are spread throughout the country.

 

More Info & FAQ's