Fearless Journeys group engaging with top entrepreneurs in Guatemala
So far this week, we have spent quality time with five previous guests of the Agents of Innovation podcast, among other great adventures in this incredible country.
The Fearless Journeys group trip to Guatemala has been going amazing.
So far, the 8 members of our group have met and spent quality time with FOUR previous guests of the Agents of Innovation podcast — among many other locals!
On Friday, our opening night welcome dinner included a culinary experience with Diego Jarquin, the head chef and owner of Restaurante Kabel, which boasts a rooftop terrace in the center of Guatemala City. Diego is one of the best young chefs in Guatemala and was my guest on Episode 103 of the Agents of Innovation podcast. He sources food from the Guatemalan farm he and his family own. An opening course included ceviche; entree included goat meat with pasta, followed by a wonderful dessert. Then Diego showed us his private wine room and treated us to a rare 2005 wine from Mendoza, one they do not make any more. I told the group that Diego is just trying to help them transition to the next Fearless Journeys group trip which includes the Mendoza wine country of Argentina. He’s considering joining us.
On Saturday evening, we also dined with Jake Denburg, a chef and owner of Jake’s Restaurant, which has been here in Guatemala City for over 30 years, with a recent move (2 years ago) to a new shopping and dining complex. Jake grew up in New York and New Jersey and moved to Guatemala in the early 1980s. He loves it so much he hasn’t left. He was also my guest on Episode 101 of the Agents of Innovation podcast.
On Sunday, we drove an hour outside of Guatemala City to the small city of Palencia. We visited the coffee finca owned by the Reyes-Mendez family, shepherded by their father Beto Reyes, who is also the mayor of Palencia.
Beto started this finca 25 years ago, the same year his middle son Saul was born. I was blessed to meet Saul last year while I lived here and gain a great friendship with him. He and his family have continued to welcome me and members of the Fearless Journeys community onto their massive finca, which includes multiple levels of elevation, with the top level around 6,500 feet. They drove us around the unpaved mountain roads on 4 x 4 vehicles and served us the national dish of Guatemala, a chicken soup — like one you’ve never had before — made by Beto’s wife.
I interviewed Beto on Episode 108 of the Agents of Innovation podcast. On this trip, our Fearless Journeys group was able to spend about a half hour with the Mayor learning about his business and its growth since he and his brothers bought a few acres of land 25 years ago. When he was just 18 years old, Beto was making just one US dollar a day doing carpentry work. 
Today, this finca has about 217 acres and serves customers as far away as England and New Zealand. And, among thousands of coffee producers in Guatemala, San Patricio El Limón is ranked the 14th best in Guatemala‘s cup of excellence! We want to come back and celebrate with them when they take the number one spot.
God has blessed this family and they continue to show how much of a blessing they are to others. Visiting them is always one of the most special opportunities we have here in Guatemala.
On Monday, I took the group to the Universidad Francisco Marroquin (UFM), a truly unique place where I have been fortunate to have been a visiting professor in 2021 and early 2022. With a free-market approach, UFM helps prepare students with an entrepreneurial mindset so they can go out and impact others in their country positively. It was founded just over 50 years ago (in 1971) and has become one of the most respected elite institutions in Guatemala.
During our visit there, our group had lunch with one of their recent alums, Maria Sofia Castillo, who was a guest on Episode 110 of the Agents of Innovation podcast. she is the co-founder of a Core Code, which helps educate and connect Guatemalan entrepreneurs in the coding space. Earlier this year, she spent some time in Silicon Valley. And, just two weeks ago, her company was sold to an investor. However, they have retained her as the CEO. It was nice to celebrate this great accomplishment with her. We also had the opportunity to have lunch with three exceptional students who are here at UFM on a full financial scholarship.
This Thursday, we’ll also be having lunch with one more entrepreneur that was interviewed on Episode 105 the Agents of Innovation podcast — Alex Kronick. He is the founder and owner of Caoba Farms in Antigua. I can’t wait for the group to meet him and also have an experience at his farm and farm-to-table restaurant.
On our trip, we have visited landmarks in Guatemala City like the Plaza de la Constitution, shopped in the massive underground Central Market, and enjoyed an amazing Beatles cover band at Trova Jazz. We’ve also seen many volcanoes during our time at Lake Atitlan, where I am writing to you from right now. Today, we took in a nature hike in the Atitlan Natural Reserve, crossing waterfalls on suspension bridges — and one member of our group even zip lined from massive heights.
This evening we’ll be enjoying sunset drinks and dinner from an amazing vantage point, one of the best views of Lake Atitlan. You can follow it all on my Instagram stories!
While we visit all these great places, I think what makes Fearless Journeys special is that we don’t JUST take you to the landmarks of a city or the landscapes of the beautiful countryside. We introduce you to the local people. We involved you in important conversations. We inspire you to take action. We help you make connections and build friendships. We fill you with many emotions. We help embolden you to be courageous and move forward.
If you want to learn more about how to join us on one of our future trips, please reply to this mail or visit the travel page at FearlessJourneys.org.
We are also now accepting sign-ups for our next trip, which will take place in Uruguay and Argentina between March 24 to April 5. We will have options to join us for one, two, or all three parts of the trip! This is designed to accommodate those that want to come for 5 nights, 9 nights, or all 12 nights in two amazing South American countries. I hope to see you soon on a Fearless Journeys group trip!
