Our History

The story of Rutas Santa Fe is rooted between Guatemala and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Carmona family arrived in Santa Fe in the 1980s, seeking refuge and new opportunities after being affected by Guatemala’s internal armed conflict. There, they became part of the cultural fabric of the city. As Kaqchikel Maya, they carried with them stories that travel across generations and borders. Growing up near Navajo communities strengthened their identity and taught them the value of working with their hands and creating even when resources are limited.

From that spirit, Rutas Santa Fe was born, emerging from a dream that sought to unite paths, roots, and opportunities.

In 1996, Israel Carmona began purchasing decommissioned school buses in the United States, restoring them with dedication, and driving them all the way to Guatemala. What began as a practical solution soon became a symbol of creativity, resilience, and cultural pride. Those yellow buses, once forgotten in desert lots, were reborn as vibrant camionetas painted with a fusion of Chicano Nuevo Mexicano art and Maya Kaqchikel. 

Over time, these buses became bridges between two worlds: the high desert of Santa Fe and the highlands of Guatemala. They connected cultures and visions of progress, and they also opened essential routes. They were among the first vehicles to provide consistent transportation between San Antonio Aguas Calientes and Antigua Guatemala, giving the community access to work, markets, education, and opportunities that had once been out of reach.

Rutas Santa Fe was born out of movement, out of the need to keep going, out of the drive to create, and out of a deep desire to turn roads into possibilities. Today, that story continues to live on in every kilometer traveled.