Travelling in such close quarters presents its own unique challenges.

I found it surprising that so many indigenous families were forced to make a living along the sides of the highways resulting from the sale of their once communally owned land to private enterprise. Children, dogs, and livestock were immediately alongside the highway. In Canada, we would never allow our children or pets to be in such close proximity of speeding vehicles, but in Guatemala this was commonplace.

Occupying much of the productive soils of the south western coast of Guatemala, one can see endless coffee and...

... palm oil plantations, two more examples of large foreign owned fincas.

Selling off much of Guatemala's productive land has forced indigenous campesinos to cultivate less desirable agricultural land in steeper topography.

In contrast to the arid regions of central Guatemala (i.e. Jutiapa, Río Negro, and Rabinal) the western highlands, near Quetzaltengo, are very humid with lush vegetation.
(Photo credit: JP Laplante)

Grahame introduces Goldcorp's Marlin Mine located in San Miguel Ixtahuacán, in the department of San Marcos.

Marlin Mine (central left in the photograph) occupies one of the highest areas in the region and seems to hover over the community. I am looking forward to tomorrow's mine tour.
(Photo credit: JP Laplante)