Preparing for your arrival

Getting Here:

The best option for getting to Guatemala is by air. We can help to arrange the transportation that will bring you straight to the complex called, El Antiguo Aserradero. The airport information is below:

Airport La Aurora (Located in Guatemala City) - 1hr and 30 minutes from the complex, a complimentary service from Noma.

Arrival Process

Taxis will be organized to get from the International Airport La Aurora to our home in Antigua. If you opted for this option, a driver will be waiting for you with a NOMA COLLECTIVE sign.

If you opted to make your own way, please let us know.

Orientation

Once you are all settled in your room, we’ll have a Welcome ceremony, where we will give you an orientation whereby we will run through the program and show you around the hotel. This is also a great opportunity to meet other Noma community members! 

 .

Things you should know before you pack: 

Weather:

Guatemala is   known as the country of eternal spring. During November and December  its weather varies from sunny days and cloudy days as well. 

The average temperature in Antigua in December for a typical day ranges with an average high of 77°F (25°C) and a low of 57°F (14°C), it generally feels pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze. With that in mind, most people would dress in something light like your favorite t-shirt. It does get down to around freezing at night, a perfect weather to enjoy  of Guatemalan’s rich hot cacao!

Packing list our Community Manager recommends:

• Poncho 
• Sweater
• Spring clothing both long sleeve/ leg and short sleeve/ leg
• Swimwear
• Sneakers 
• Sandals
• Hiking-type clothes: Raincoat, gym clothes/comfortable sneakers/ water shoes/ hiking boots (An AMAZING activity we will do is hiking up the Volcan Acatenango; famous for being right next to the active lava volcano, Volcan De Fuego) Be sure to bring cold weather hiking clothes too! 
• Money belt – This isn’t essential, but it’s a nice way to hide cash on yourself for when things don’t go as planned.
• A dry bag for water excursions (useful)
• Earplugs
• Books or Kindle 
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent/oil
• Mosquito rackets (zappers)
• International credit/debit card
• A portable monitor if your work would benefit from this
• Ethernet cable for extra connection
• If you use supplements, we encourage you to pack extra as the ones in Guatemala are 2x more expensive
• Musicians, bring your instruments for nice jam time! :)

Communication

Important - all guest communication is on slack. 

Please click on the below image to join our Noma slack channel
Slack App is available on Web, Android and iOS. Please join Noma Collective on Slack clicking on the slack logo above.

When you join Noma Collective, you will see a list of channels on the left-hand side of the display.

News & Events - For anything related to on-site events and activity sign-ups.

@teamnoma_mariela uses this channel to let you know about the onsite event programme and a daily announcement

Onsite Chat - For community conversation. In order to respect people’s time, please keep it brief

Resources - Useful information regarding Antigua   

Alumni - For our whole Noma Collective Community

You can also DM anyone by selecting their name in the bottom left which will enable you to discuss anything in private.

Please can you add a display picture and a short bio sentence of current/ previous job roles and any personal information of interest that you’d like to share in the ‘what I do’ section in the edit profile section. This will help our Noma community identify each other!

If you have any questions for us or any issues with anything on-site, please DM @TeamNoma_mariela. Also, if you’d like to flag anything in a general chat for our attention, simply add @TeamNoma_mariela to your post and we’ll pick it up. 

We will monitor Slack between 8am and 8pm daily, if there’s anything urgent outside of those hours then please contact the front desk at the resort.

Location

The Neighborhood - Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala is a beautiful colorful colonial town, surrounded by volcanoes and nature. A city where people from all over the world visit, and many end up staying.

Its calmness intrigues those who breathe its air and walk its colorful wall streets. Each time you turn a corner you’ll be greeted by another picture postcard view! Antigua pulses with activity and boasts awe-inspiring architecture, absorbing culture, and seriously impressive views. 

Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish, and this is the essence of what you will encounter during your stay. Antigua is a city full of history, in it, you will find a Renaissance grid from the 16th century and ruins and monumental buildings in the Baroque style. These have survived along with cobbled streets, squares with fountains, and domestic architecture. 

The local people, are some of the most friendly and kind people that you will cross paths with on this earth. Most people appreciate their ancestral art, music, food, and culture. If you ask Guatemalans facts about their country they will happily tell you what they love and some might even show you! 

Antigua Guatemala is the perfect place to be located, as you are two hours from the beach, two hours and a half from Lake Atitlan, and one hour from Guatemala City. You are really located in a central place that offers you everything.

El Antiguo Aserradero - Our Noma Home

Find yourself at the heart of Antigua Guatemala, the apartments at El Antiguo Aserradero offer a peaceful getaway. Just two blocks away, you will find Antigua's main points of interest such as Central Park and La Merced Church, countless restaurants, and much more.

Decorated in colonial style with local textiles and handicrafts. The apartments are all slightly different from each other, adding to the charm of the property. The living area of each apartment includes a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, sofa seating, workspace, and a television. 

In the center of the apartment is a private patio that brings natural light and air into the apartment and offers the perfect spot for your morning coffee, reading, and more.

Guests will also enjoy access to the common areas of the complex, including a lush garden patio and a communal terrace with stunning views of the volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. Uuff! wait till you see the Volcan de Fuego explode every day, it is truly mesmerizing...

Our Community Manager, Mariela, will be your first point of call for any queries about your room, the complex, or requirements. You can contact her via Slack chat, between 8am-8pm daily. 

Anything that is urgent outside of these hours, you can contact her directly on her Whatsapp number which will be provided the week before you arrive. 

Reach out to Mariela for: 

• All room issues
• Maintenance requests
• Internet/WiFi
• Airport transfers
• Contacting Housekeeping
• Any security issues

Address:

El Antiguo Aserradero

4 Avenida Norte 19E - Antigua

Guatemala

To locate yourself you can also write "Aqua Antigua" on your map, it is right in front of the complex :)

Food & Beverage 

Each apartment in our complex has its fully equipped kitchen and its own dining table for you to enjoy cooking from home, if you're not out trying the local restaurants within walking distance of the property.

When Going Offsite 

Some of our recommended favorite places to visit while in Antigua:

Swimming Pool

If you wanted to take a dip, a swimming pool is located inside Aqua, directly opposite the Noma complex. You can opt for a membership for the duration of your trip which allows you to use the pool and jacuzzi whenever you want! The perfect atmosphere with music, and a great place to relax with new friends. Also, the food here is amazing and it offers an alternative spot to work from. 

Fincas & Trails

- Finca el Pilar has an amazing trail surrounded by Nature. Located in the heart of the Central Volcanic Chain just a few minutes away from the center of Antigua. Perfect place to go birding, hiking, and mountain biking. Visitors can take a refreshing dip in three swimming pools fed with pure mountain water. It opens at 7am and closes at 4pm during the week. On weekends it is open from 7am to 5pm (Entrance to trails Q 65.00 per person).

- By putting Caoba Farms in your map ́s location, the app will take you straight toward a beautiful trail full of nature (It will be a 17 min walk from Central Park). Once you have completed your walk you can enjoy the exquisite organic food of Caoba Farms. Psst! they have a butterfly garden... and if you volunteer with them you get free lettuce!

- Finca La Azotea, is a beautiful place to spend the day. You will be able to go horseback riding, enter a coffee museum/tour, find chocolate workshops, and enjoy a beautiful and peaceful walk through nature.

- Everyone needs a place to rest when they are tired. Finca Philadelphia is a magnificent choice to rest. Known for its environment surrounded by nature and outdoor spaces. Here you can learn about Guatemalan coffee.

- Visit Hobbitenango, a village inspired by the books of the Lord of the Rings. Its architecture copies the village of the hobbits. Great place to visit if you are a fanatic! (Q50 per adult) And if you ever wonder how it must feel to live in a tiny house, you have a chance to book a small hobbit house, where you will enjoy the amazing view of Antigua City from above as well as a nice Guatemalan restaurant.

Bars

- Ulew, is a hidden bar known to be one of the perfect spots to have a fancy, mysterious, and delicious drink.

- Las Vibras is considered to be one of the most fun bars in Antigua. You will hear all types of music, hip hop, reggeaton, Afro beats, and electronic house music. It also has an exquisite pizza restaurant.

- Las Palmas! is the perfect spot to enjoy the Latino flavor! From Thursday to Sunday, you will be able to enjoy live Salsa, Bachata, Cumbia y Merengue music.

- El Barrio is a multi-bar complex where you will be able to sing karaoke on Wednesdays! Definitely try their Fish Bowl drinks...

- Doce, is considered to be the bar where you will enjoy reggeaton fully.

- Fridas! Food, tequila, and mezcal cocktails! Fun place with a buzz. Located right at the Iconic street "Calle Del Arco" Founded by Mexican and Guatemalan owners in 1995.

Check out some of the Team Noma favorite restaurants, bars, and cafe's in the local area:

Rincon Tipico

 La Cuevita de Los Urquizú

Caoba Farms

 Samsara

 Once Once

 Toku Baru

Patio La Primera

 Por Qué No? Cafe

 Maxan

Angie Angie

 Pitaya

Sabe Rico

Aqua

Hector's Bistro

Las Fridas

 La Bruja

Hector's Bistro

Pappy ́s Bbq

Luna de Miel

El local

12 Onzas

Quesos y Vino

Wachuma

Union Cafe

Fermento

Los Tres Tiempos

El Comalote

El Tenedor

Kombu

San Martin

Antojito Salvadoreño Pupuseria

Santo Spirito

Amanecer Juice Bar & Coffee

Saul

Casa Escobar

Pollo Campero

Cerveceria 14

A Saber Café

Cactus Taco

La Casa de las Sopas

Vice Pizerria

Como Como!

We completely recommend eating from the local grills and "mercaditos" (markets) that you encounter on your journeys around the city.

We can recommend personal chefs if there is a night to create a meal for you and your new friends at an incredibly reasonable price.

 Transportation 

The easiest way to get around Antigua is by tuk-tuk or Uber. Most fares around Antigua in tuk-tuk should be between Q18 - Q25 and on an Uber between Q18 - Q30

Work 

Your Digital Nomad Guide 

As digital nomads ourselves, we know how important it is to our community to change their working environments.

This is why we have multiple spaces to work from around the property. Be prepared to make your co-workers jealous of the Zoom backdrops!

The apartments also have table areas outside in case you needed some privacy on a work call.

Of course, all of these areas have great wifi however if there are any drops, you will be able to use the Mo-Fi provided to you for a Wi-Fi hotspot.

You can also contact the front desk and our technician will be with you as soon as possible.

Places to work offsite

- Ojala Hostel

- Fat Cat

- Artista de café

- Adra Hostel

- 12 Onzas

- Saul

- Cafe Boheme

- Selina

Community

Our community, events and code of conduct

Events Schedule

We announce the weekly events schedule on Slack every Monday morning which can include 1-2 events a day, offering something for everyone.

The events consist of 4 categories:

Wellbeing: yoga/ ceremonies/hiking/dancing classes.

Adventure: Weekly adventures exploring the town's secrets. Weekly group excursions ranging from boat trips to surfing, paddling, and wakeboard adventures to hikes, scavenger hunts, and more!

Community: We host various events to bring everyone together like our family dinner or potlucks, we host various community events to bring everyone together including weekly dinners, workshops, and dancing nights!

Professional Growth: Noma community members have the chance to host workshops that are either their professional background or something they find interesting or useful for other guests. If this is something you're interested in - please reach out to Mariela to plan this into our schedule.

Code of Conduct 

We are a diverse and inclusive community, committed to supporting one another in our shared journey. Please extend your support to those organizing events and don't hesitate to ask questions; there are no such things as 'stupid questions' or 'boring events.'

At Noma, the safety and comfort of every member are paramount. We have solo travelers and staggered arrivals, so let's make every newcomer feel genuinely welcome and supported in their experience.

Understanding and Consideration

Noma attracts individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ideologies. It's essential to be mindful of this diversity. Avoid making comments or jokes related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, divisive political figures, or national stereotypes. Let's practice empathy and understanding at all times.

Respectful Communication:

In our community, respectful communication is paramount. Avoid making any sexual references, innuendos, or passes that could make others uncomfortable. Let's foster an atmosphere of professionalism and mutual respect, ensuring everyone feels secure and valued.

Ensuring Safety:

1. Consent Matters: Never touch someone without their clear and enthusiastic consent.

2. Respect Personal Space: Everyone deserves their privacy and personal space; please respect their boundaries.

3. Reporting Concerns: If you witness any unsavory, criminal, or unwelcome behavior, please report it to a member of the resort staff immediately. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation and are unsure how to handle it, Team Noma is always available to assist.

Maintaining Confidentiality:

We value discretion and will handle issues with utmost sensitivity, unless you specify otherwise. Reach out to us in person or DM on slack if you have concerns or need assistance.

Accountability and Support:

If you wish to report something related to your Community Manager or escalate any issues, please feel free to email the Head of Community Operations at calla@noma-collective.com or DM her on Slack. Your safety and comfort are our top priority.

Thank you for making Noma a safe, respectful, and supportive community for everyone..

Leaving Process

Leaving Ceremony 

We will have a space to share how it was to spend a month in this wonderful colonial city! Drinks, food, and games will be in order.

Transfers to the Airport 

Taxis to Guatemala City airport La Aurora will be organized.

If you prefer to make your own way, please let us know.