Mission: After many collective years in social development, seems there are no medium to large organizations and very few small organizations, that can really do what needs to be done without sucking excessive and unjustifiable ‘juice’ from social development initiatives. We’re working towards a way of avoiding the ‘juice sucking’ pitfall – that’s the dream of la Danta Project – a sustainable and easily clone-able approach to social development based on community, not bureaucracy and decreased efficiency as the organization grows.
la Danta Project is about permaculture. From Wikipedia’s permaculture entry…
“Permaculture is a system of agricultural and social design principles centered around simulating or directly utilizing the patterns and features observed in natural ecosystems. The term permaculture (as a systematic method) was first coined by Australians David Holmgren, then a graduate student, and his professor, Bill Mollison, in 1978. The word permaculture originally referred to “permanent agriculture”,[1] but was expanded to stand also for “permanent culture”, as it was understood that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system as inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s natural farming philosophy.”
La Danta Project is all encompassing in its application of “permanent culture” as permaculture.
La Danta Project is not-for-profit. We’re simply about helping poor Maya families, promoting permaculture, keeping the bills paid and providing you with an authentic adventure traveler experience.
Results: Since 2011, with the help of thousands of supporters and volunteers from all over the world, our registered Guatemala women’s nonprofit has brought to Petén Guatemala: thousands of hours of English classes for kids, planted hundreds of organic gardens and thousands of trees, built and gifted sustainable homes and clean/efficient wood stoves to deserving Maya families of Petén Guatemala.
Target demographics: Maya villages around lake Peten Itza
Direct beneficiaries per year: 4 Maya villages around lake Peten Itza
Geographic areas served: Social Development
Programs: food, homes, ecotourism, voluntourism and agrotourism
OMG!!! This place is sooo much fun. We went to el Mirador and stood ontop of the biggest pyramid in the world, Tikal, Yaxha, el Zotz and Uaxactun - wonderful guides. Great meals and homemade to-go-Maya-jungle-snacks. Wonderful place full of wonderful people. Do it. You'll love it!!!
Tamara and I both enjoyed our vacation at la Danta. Angelica was so helpful, kind and made delicious vegetarian meals for us. Memo is a hoot. Come stay at this wonderful, crazy place and support a project that's doing wonderful things in Guatemala. We'll see you next year for that Bike Ride!
I spent 5 weeks in a little Q'eqchi' Maya community teaching English classes to a group of children and another group of older students who are training to be guides for their community. It was the hardest and the best and more rewarding time of my life. Very highly recommended for travelers who want to know the REAL Guatemala.
Where do I begin... my boyfriend Paul and I arrived late the first night and Angelica had a wonderful meal of Chicken Pepean waiting for us and Memo had a liter of cold beer waiting in the frig. Excellent. The second day we spent at the beach with Memo, the two youngest kids and Vaca fetching rocks from the bottom of the lake. Very fun. The Third day we spent at Tikal for an amazing sunset experience. Cannot recommend la Danta high enough. The price is great. We had an excellent time.
This place is the Bomb. Spent 3 weeks on the beach working with local family. Helping around their home and teaching English to a group of local Guatemalan kids. Very fun.
Started out with another project in Peten and learned of la Danta through a friend I met at a local hostel. Spent 3 weeks teaching English in a little Kechi village. Amazing and tremendously rewarding experience. Memo's doing good work - keep it up, Dude!
Had a really good time with la Danta Project. Met interesting and kindly local Maya families, learned about permaculture and made some amazing coconut oïl. It was a very enriching experience.
What a nice week spent with our Maya family! Thank you for your hospitality, it was a stay full of inspiration for us. We learn so much about medicinal plants, plus how to Cook tamalitos and how to make organic soap. We would definitely come back!
Met some wonderfully kind and skilled local Maya families. Learned to make coconut oil, traditional Mayan food and Maya medicinal rainforest plants. So close to the beach – huge plus. Thanks, Memo!
Memo is the ultimate beach house host for la Danta Project – wants nothing more than to help the local Maya people – talking with with him is very interesting. When you go to la Danta Project, stay longer. Always lots of adventure travelers. Enjoyed the beach house where you can swim, no crocodiles! lol
La Danta project was an unexpected heart-warming experience for me. Had a brilliant time hanging at the beach house and helping local Maya families. There are lots of activies and possibilies for doing good in the Maya beach communities – do it. La Danta Project is exactly what adventure travel should be about – give a little (or a lot) and you get a hell of a lot of love back. Just a wicked idea, wicked location, wicked people and an absolutely GROOVY beach house host. Anyone with a good heart, go to la Danta Project and explore it to the fullest!
la Danta es un perfecto lugar a descansar y conocer Peten Guatemala. La casa en la playa es muy hermosa con bueno vista del lago. Memo el antifiron es muy amable. Recommendo mucho!
Me gustó mi estancia con la Danta y su antifiron Memo, es una excelente persona me dio estancia de manera amable, me platico sobre el proyecto de la Danta que es muy interesante ya que realmente ayuda a la comunidad Maya de San José PetenFue una experiencia agradable, sería bueno regresar para quedarme más tiempo a ayudar en le proyecto, 100% recomendable. ;) Pd. La ubicación es excelente tiene la laguna enfrente de la casa y es muy fácil llegar desde ahí a Tikal o hacer el recorrido con guías locales (el mejor precio que vas a encontrar) a él sitio arqueológico el Mirador.
This place was amazing and a perfect break from our motorcycle trip to Panama. Drank some beers. Hung out at the beach. Swam every day. It was perfect!
Am from San Diego California and spent several days at la Danta. Had a beautiful time – the beach is beautiful here – best beach on the lake. The Maya town is lovely – wonderful people – beautiful. Highly recommended. Definitely come! Have a good time!
