What Quetzaltrekkers does

Quetzaltrekkers is a nonprofit, volunteer-run trekking and adventure tourism organization founded in 1994 and based in Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala. It is a fundraising arm of EDELAC (Asociación Escuela de la Calle), directing 100% of its trekking profits to EDELAC's primary school (serving 150+ children) and safe home, Hogar Hovde (housing 25+ children). The organization sells a portfolio of guided multi-day volcano and highland treks (Xela-Lake Atitlán 3-day, Nebaj-Todos Santos 5-day, Volcán Zunil 2-day, Volcán Tajumulco 2-day), single-day hikes (Volcán Santa María, Santiaguito Mirador), and a free walking tour of Xela. It also refers customers to partner operators for Acatenango/Fuego treks (V-Hiking Tours) and rock climbing (Miguel Arango), and curates a network of local social-impact partners (Chico Mendes reforestation, Trama Textiles, Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano).

The operating model is volunteer-run: international guides (typically committing 3+ months) and long-tenured local K'iche' guides deliver trek logistics, homestay coordination, and temescal (Mayan sauna) experiences. Bookings flow through a Rezdy-powered direct website funnel, walk-in office traffic in central Xela, and partner referrals; customer acquisition is primarily organic via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google reviews, TripAdvisor, and earned media (Lonely Planet, NYT). Pricing ranges from a free walking tour (suggested donation Q50–Q70) to 2,200Q for the flagship 5-day trek, with a separate monthly donation subscription tier ($25–$300) funding EDELAC programs. There is no proprietary technology, no external funding, no investors, and the organization is privately held as a nonprofit association under Guatemalan jurisdiction.

The strategic posture is conservation rather than growth: the organization has operated the same product core for decades, layering on partnerships and digital distribution to incrementally expand reach without scaling cost. Its competitive position rests on a 30-year brand among backpackers, embedded relationships with Mayan communities, and the differentiated impact narrative that commercial operators cannot replicate.

Name

Quetzaltrekkers

Legal name

Quetzaltrekkers

Website

https://quetzaltrekkers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quetzaltrekkers is a nonprofit, volunteer-run trekking organization in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, offering multi-day volcano and highland treks, day hikes, and a free walking tour, with 100% of profits funding EDELAC's school and safe home for vulnerable children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Trekking Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Adventure Multi-Day Expeditions (Trekking, Hut-to-Hut, Pack Trips) (THAAAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure & Expedition Travel Agencies (THAKAFAB), Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB), Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG)

Keywords

• Adventure trekking
• Volcano hiking tours
• Guided mountain treks
• Cultural immersion tours
• Responsible tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Quetzaltenango

HQ country

Guatemala

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Trek Booking Fees: Revenue is generated through fees charged for multi-day treks, day hikes, and the free walking tour. 100% of profits are directed to EDELAC social projects. Pricing varies by trek duration and complexity, ranging from free walking tours to multi-day volcano expeditions.
2. Referral Partnership (Rock Climbing): 25% of rock climbing fees with partner Miguel Arango are donated to EDELAC, providing a passive revenue stream from referral partnerships.
3. Referral Partnership (Acatenango): 10% of Acatenango trek fees booked through V-Hiking Tours referral link are donated to Quetzaltrekkers to support EDELAC projects.
4. Donations: Direct donations from supporters, with 100% going to EDELAC programs supporting vulnerable children in Xela with housing, care, and education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Quetzaltrekkers is a volunteer-run, nonprofit trekking organization that sells guided multi-day and single-day hiking expeditions through the Guatemalan Western Highlands, including volcano summit treks (Volcán Zunil, Volcán Tajumulco, Volcán Santa María, Santiaguito Mirador) and cultural long-distance routes (Xela to Lake Atitlán 3-day, Nebaj to Todos Santos 5-day). It also offers a free city walking tour of Xela and accepts direct donations, with 100% of trekking profits directed to EDELAC's school and safe home for vulnerable children in Quetzaltenango.

Product overview

Quetzaltrekkers is a nonprofit volunteer-run hiking organization based in Xela (Quetzaltenango), Guatemala, where 100% of profits fund EDELAC's school and safe home for vulnerable children. The company offers a portfolio of hiking products including multi-day treks (Xela to Lake Atitlán 3-day, Nebaj to Todos Santos 5-day, Volcán Zunil 2-day, Volcán Tajumulco 2-day), day hikes (Volcán Santa María, Santiaguito Mirador), and a free walking tour. Additional offerings include recommended partner services (Cerro Quemado rock climbing, Acatenango & Fuego treks) and social impact programs (Chico Mendes reforestation, Trama Textiles, Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano). All treks are primarily conducted in English with volunteer guides.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Xela to Lake Atitlán Trek A 3-day multi-day trek from Quetzaltenango (Xela) to Lake Atitlán, featuring cloud forests, coffee groves, rural villages, homestays with Mayan communities, temescal (traditional sauna) experience, and sunrise views over the lake. Priced at 1,250Q per person.
• Nebaj to Todos Santos Trek A 5-day adventure through the remote Cuchumatanes Mountains in northern Guatemala highlands, featuring visits to Ixil Region villages, Mayan culture, temescal experiences, homestays, and hiking to La Torre (the highest non-volcanic peak in Central America). Priced at 2,200Q per person with a 20% discount for Guatemalan locals.
• Volcán Zunil Trek A 2-day overnight camping adventure to the summit of Volcán Zunil featuring sunrise views of up to 16 volcanoes, cloud forest hiking, and a soak in Fuentes Georginas hot springs. Priced at 800Q per person.
• Volcán Tajumulco Trek A 2-day trek to the highest point in Central America (4,220m/13,850 ft) featuring sunrise views, pine forest hiking, crater circumnavigation, and overnight camping. Price not publicly listed on website.
• Volcán Santa María Day Hike A single-day hike to the summit of Volcán Santa María (3,772m), featuring views of the active Santiaguito volcano, pine forest hiking, and panoramic volcanic landscapes. Priced at 300Q per person.
• Santiaguito Mirador Trek A half-day hike to viewpoints of the active Santiaguito volcano, featuring breakfast with views of one of Guatemala's most active volcanoes, gradual uphill walking through farmland and pine forests. Priced at 250Q per person (Q100 for Guatemalan locals).
• Free Walking Tour A free 2-3 hour walking tour of Xela (Quetzaltenango) city center, covering local history, culture, hidden gems, and stories of daily life, departing from Parque Central on Tuesdays and Sundays. Free with suggested donation of Q50-Q70 going to EDELAC.
• Cerro Quemado Rock Climbing (Referral Partner) Rock climbing experiences at Cerro Quemado led by local guide Miguel Arango, featuring lava fields with routes from 5.6 to 5.13 difficulty, suitable for beginners to advanced climbers. Priced at Q400 per person, with 25% of fees donated to EDELAC.
• Acatenango & Fuego Trek (Referral Partner) Trekking tours to Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes near Antigua, operated by V-Hiking Tours (a local operator), featuring overnight cabin accommodation at base camp and views of active Fuego volcano eruptions. 10% of booking fees are donated to EDELAC.
• Donation Program Direct donation program supporting EDELAC's school and safe home for vulnerable children in Xela, with 100% of monthly donations going to educational and welfare opportunities for children living in poverty. Available tiers: $25 (school supplies for one child for a year), $50 (monthly nutritious food for one child), $100 (healthcare for one child for half a year), $300 (clothing for two children for a year).

Quantifiable outcome

• Zunil trek profits provide all school supplies for primary school children for a week
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• EDELAC (Asociación Escuela de la Calle)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDELAC is the parent nonprofit organization that Quetzaltrekkers is part of. 100% of Quetzaltrekkers' profits fund EDELAC's social projects, including a primary school serving 150+ children and a safe home (Hogar Hovde) for 25+ children in Xela, Guatemala.
• V-Hiking ToursminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal tour operator offering Acatenango & Fuego treks near Antigua. Quetzaltrekkers refers travelers seeking these experiences with 10% of booking fees donated back to support EDELAC projects.
• Miguel Arango (Cerro Quemado Rock Climbing)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal rock climbing guide with 40+ years experience developing routes at Cerro Quemado. Referrals receive 25% of booking fees donated to EDELAC.
• Chico Mendes Reforestation ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity nonprofit reforestation initiative founded in 1998 in Pachaj village near Xela. Quetzaltrekkers promotes tree planting donations add-on with treks and recommends volunteer opportunities. Founded by Armando López.
• Trama Textiles CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorker-owned textile cooperative founded in 1988 by women who lost family in the armed conflict. Quetzaltrekkers includes Trama Textiles on their Free Walking Tour to support indigenous weaving traditions and economic empowerment.
• Asociación de Mujeres del Altiplano (AMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's NGO empowering indigenous women through traditional midwifery, community therapy, capacity building, education, and civic participation since 1993. Quetzaltrekkers promotes AMA's textile cooperative Pixan featuring traditional backstrap loom weaving.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ox Expeditions: Antigua-based adventure tour operator offering volcano hikes (Acatenango, Pacaya), Lake Atitlán crossings, and multi-day expeditions — directly overlapping with QT's Guatemalan highlands portfolio.
• Maya Expeditions: Guatemalan tour operator specializing in adventure, cultural, and Mayan heritage trips — overlapping with QT's volcano and cultural immersion offerings.
• Wicho & Charlie's: Long-standing Guatemalan outfitter offering Acatenango, Pacaya, and Lake Atitlán tours. Competes for the same backpacker and adventure-traveler customer base in the same country.
• V-Hiking Tours: Local operator running Acatenango & Fuego treks near Antigua. Active referral partner (10% of bookings donated to Quetzaltrekkers/EDELAC), offering the same volcano-trek product line that QT recommends to its customers.
• Old Town Outfitters: Antigua Guatemala adventure tour operator offering volcano hikes, cultural tours, and multi-day excursions — comparable product mix and Guatemala-based operations.
• Authentic Guatemala Travel: Guatemala-based tour operator offering volcano hikes, Lake Atitlán tours, and cultural experiences — competing for the same adventure and cultural-tourism segments.
• Atitrans: Lake Atitlán-focused transport and tour operator; overlaps with QT's Lake Atitlán itineraries and serves the same traveler demographic in the Guatemalan highlands.
• Tierras Mayas Adventures: Guatemalan tour company offering cultural and adventure itineraries across the country, including volcano climbs and Lake Atitlán — comparable customer and route overlap.

Broad incumbents

• G Adventures: Global adventure travel company offering multi-day trekking and cultural tours across Latin America, including Guatemala — broader portfolio but overlapping customer profile and tour style.
• Intrepid Travel: Large international adventure and small-group tour operator with Central America itineraries; comparable customer base and product (multi-day volcano/cultural treks) but at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/quetzaltrekkersxela
• Facebookfacebook.com/QuetzaltrekkersGuatemala
• Instagraminstagram.com/quetzaltrekkers
• Xx.com/Quetzaltrekkers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quetzaltrekkers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quetzaltrekkers