History

The Loma Linda community was founded in 1977 by several farm laborers from the San José estate who wished to become landowners. With the support of Father Celestino Gutiérrez, they were able to purchase the land from the state.

At the time, there was no basic infrastructure to live there. Through donations and loans, the construction of the current infrastructure was made possible. Reconstruction was necessary, and with the help of the Catholic Church and various foundations, improvements were made to the shelter area. Thanks to the efforts of the residents, 78 families were relocated to form the Loma Linda village.

In 1980, the community embraced cooperativism and founded the Loma Linda Cooperative, aiming to commercialize coffee and care for the plots of land. Over time, two other organizations related to fair trade emerged. Mundo Verde was initially formed by 35 women who took on the task of roasting, grinding, packing, and selling organic coffee, both nationally and internationally, with the goal of providing development alternatives for rural women.

In 2006, with the support of the National Youth Council (CONJUVE), approximately 80 young people began working on the idea of generating employment opportunities for the community. The main goal was to focus on tourism and conservation to create different sources of employment. Over the years, more people joined in seeking development for all.

In the same year, the Sustainable Association for the Integral and Tourist Development of Loma Linda (ASODILL) was founded. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the education and training of its members and the entire community. Loma Linda is a cooperative community supported by agriculture and coffee production.

Today, the Sustainable Development Association of Loma Linda (ASODILL) continues to promote sustainable community tourism, organic agriculture, and training in collaboration with various NGOs. Over the years, the community's efforts in tourism projects and organic fertilizer production have contributed to the socio-economic development of the village. However, coffee cultivation remains the largest source of income for the community. In 2000, the village faced a fall in coffee prices, and as a form of resilience, the production of pacaína (a type of palm) was increased due to its high demand in international markets. This crop is now part of agroforestry systems alongside bananas, pacaya (a local palm), and lime.

The village has 180 families, 112 of which are part of the cooperative. However, both members and non-members support the ecotourism program.

The Loma Linda Farm is a Community Private Natural Reserve located in the Loma Linda village, in the municipality of El Palmar, within the department of Quetzaltenango. It is situated within the biological corridor of the Central Volcanic Chain, making it the closest farm to the Santa María and Santiaguito volcanoes, as it is located just 6.5 kilometers in a straight line from the latter.

The farm lies within an altitudinal range of approximately 1,130 to 1,990 meters above sea level, within the Ocosito River basin, which drains into the Pacific slope. The farm contains several water bodies, including waterfalls and pools.

The farm is located in a Very Humid Subtropical Forest zone. The average temperature in the area ranges between 19°C - 25°C, and the terrain is steep and inclined, which leads to significant internal drainage and makes the area prone to risk, especially during the rainy season. The farm has potential natural tourist resources that can be utilized, valued, and promoted for the economic development of the community reserve.