TUQTUQUILAL Means a Good Place to Live

With origins in the Mayan language Q'eqchi, (tuuk-tuuk-iyl-lahl) is best translated into English as "harmony" or "natural flow."  It’s more than a name — it’s the foundation of everything we do. Tuqtuquilal is a living example of how regeneration can take root.

How It All Began

Founded in 2017 by Matthew McLeod, Tuqtuquilal sits in the tropical highlands of Lanquín, Guatemala. It began as a vision to regenerate degraded land and create space for community-led learning, healing, and production — in collaboration with the Q’eqchi’ Mayan community, caretakers of this territory.

Through Cacao, We Remember

Why cacao? Because it connects everything — land, people, culture, and memory. Cacao is medicine, food, and ritual. It holds the spirit of the territory and guides much of what we do. By focusing on cacao, we stay rooted in ancestral ways while building relationships that nourish both community and soil.

The Heart of Our Work: Regeneration

Our concept of regeneration was based on the principle of understanding the wisdom the land offers us so we can repair the natural, economic, and social fabric embedded in the territory where Tuqtuquilal is located. From that seed, we’ve grown a center where cacao, turmeric, cardamom, and more are produced in partnership with local farmers — all through the Red Ratzum Cacao Network. 

What Guides Us

  • A future rooted in beauty, abundance, and interconnectedness. Guided by Mayan cosmovision and collective care — so future generations can thrive.

  • To regenerate land and build community harmony through agroecology, artisanal production, ecotourism, education, and holistic well-being.

  • ❋ We care about the Earth that sustains us.

    ❋ We care for the people who make up the community.

    ❋ We share what we grow and build.

    ❋ We respect the Q’eqchi’ culture and its wisdom.

    ❋ We do the work together — with open hands and shared purpose.

Why is Regeneration Necessary in Q'eqchi Territory?

Forests Under Threat

Deforestation caused by monocultures, illegal logging, and cattle ranching is stripping the land of life. We respond with food forests, permaculture plots, and reforestation efforts.

Nourishment in Crisis

Poverty and malnutrition go hand in hand with the collapse of ancestral food systems. We work to restore food sovereignty through traditional practices and regenerative farming.

Education as Liberation

Only 1 in 5 youth access secondary education, and gender inequality remains high. We offer hands-on learning that meets the needs of the Q’eqchi’ community and builds long-term resilience.

Pollution at the Roots

Waste mismanagement has poisoned air and water in Lanquín. We support low-tech, daily practices and environmental education to help families reduce their ecological footprint.

The People Who Make This Possible

  • Vilma Caal

    Lanquín, Guatemala

  • Sacarias Rax

    Lanquín, Guatemala

  • Domingo Caal

    Lanquín, Guatemala

  • Lauro Caal

    Lanquín, Guatemala

  • Silvia Caal

    Lanquín, Guatemala

  • Robin Rutchik

    Maryland, USA

  • Kenzie Barth

    Illinois, USA

Join our Team!

Do you resonate with our mission and have useful skills to offer? If so, we’d love to talk and see how we can collaborate! Below are the roles we are looking to fill immediately:

If you’d like to learn more, send us an email (tuqtuquilal@gmail.com) introducing yourself, explaining your skills and interests and what questions you have. We’ll get back to you to start a conversation about working together.