Guatemala

WHY we need you in Guatemala

group with kindergarten kids

Why Involvement Volunteers International?

medical participants in scrubs

Volunteer in Guatemala

South of Mexico, Guatemala is a mountainous region and a mix between ancient Latin cultures and more modern North American influences. Some parts of the country have a real European feel about them, with all the old colonial buildings lining the streets (such as in Antigua). Guatemala also has plenty of jungle to explore, mountains and historic towns. Despite the poverty and unemployment in Guatemala, the locals are incredibly friendly and welcoming to visitors.

Volunteer Projects in Guatemala

helping children with their work

ENGLISH TEACHING

Teach English to adults and children after going on an intro course on ESL teaching. Help with basic phrases, grammar, pronunciation, spelling, reading, writing and conversational skills. You can also get creative with fun educational games in the classroom.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

piggy backs!

CHILDCARE SUPPORT

Work at local day-care centres and after school programs, helping understaffed facilities and providing support for the local childcare workers. You can also help provide much needed help, support and care for the individual children who need it most.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

girl with parrot on her shoulder

CULTURAL IMMERSION

Live with a local Mayan Kakchikel-speaking family and assist within everyday life. Work includes helping in the fields, cooking traditional Guatemalan dishes, caring for animals, assisting with local construction projects, working at the local school, agricultural work and making handwoven textiles and crafts.

Location: Small town outside Antigua
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 18 Years (under 18 with guardian)
Special Requirements: N/A

treating a patient

MEDICAL CLINIC SUPPORT

Help with general check-ups, taking vital signs, preparing materials and equipment, and assisting during mealtimes. Volunteers can also help educate the community by creating medical campaigns to provide healthcare, dental check-ups, and hygiene education to disadvantaged communities outside of Antigua.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 1 Week
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: Medical/ health professional or final year medical students

doctor high fiving a child

COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE

Work at assisted living-facilities, helping with people who are physically or mentally disabled, elderly patients, and children infected with HIV. Get involved in all aspects of the patients care, including conversation and speech therapy, feeding, bathing, physical therapy, workshops, and generally putting a smile on patients faces.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 1 Week
Min Age: 18 Years
Special Requirements: 1st & 2nd year medical students

washing the dogs

STRAY DOG & CAT REHABILITATION

Help groom, exercise, and train both the dogs and cats. Assist with bathing, brushing, walking, leading obedience training, cleaning the kennels, medical treatment, spay/neuter programs, education, and fundraising.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

holding coffee beans

ECO FARMING & AGRICULTURE

Work with farmers just outside Antigua, where you learn about eco farming and volunteer on the coffee and macadamia nut farms. You will learn and provide assistance in every step of production, from growing, harvesting, and processing the crops and yield. Be prepared to put in hard work on this manual project!

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 18 Years (under 18 with guardian)
Special Requirements: N/A

using a hammer

CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

Get involved in digging, removing dirt, mixing cement, carrying bricks, painting, and plastering. Learn basic construction techniques under the guidance of a local coordinator. You’ll be taught how to use adobe, plaster, bamboo, cement block, drywall, and aluminium, as well as how to build, cut, mix, paint, and decorate.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16 Years
Special Requirements: N/A

creating a turtle hatchery on beach

TURTLE CONSERVATION

Work alongside biologists and researchers on the Pacific Coast, as well and learning about the local ecosystem, bio diversity and how to sustain the environment. Be taught how to collect data and educate the local community about environmental and conservation issues, as well as how to maintain this precious marine ecosystem.

Location: Offsite Location
Start Dates: Weekly All Year Round (Sat/Sun Arrivals)
Min Duration: 2 Weeks
Min Age: 18 Years (under 18 with guardian)
Special Requirements: N/A

*Currently not running. Check back soon or join another exciting project!

giving-present-to-child

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR HOLIDAY SPECIAL

Christmas and New Year brings about a season when we can reflect on our blessings, revel in the company of loved ones, and share happiness and gratitude, particularly with those who are less fortunate.

Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Start Dates: 17th Dec 2023 & 24th Dec 2023
Min Duration: One Week
Min Age: 16
Special Requirements: N/A

Testimonials...

Guatemala

What's Included
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Airport Pickup
  • Local Transportation
  • 1 Day Orientation
  • 24/7 In-Country Support
  • Project Materials & Equipment
  • Pre-departure Expert Advice
  • Preperation Tools & Checklists
  • Certificate of Completion

Fees

All prices in USD
  • 1 Week - $435
  • 2 Weeks - $685
  • 3 Weeks - $855
  • 1 Month - $1025
  • 2 Months - $1720
  • 3 Months - $2390
Home Stays
All prices in USD
  • 1 Week - $525
  • 2 Weeks - $835
  • 3 Weeks - $1075
  • 1 Month - $1370
  • 2 Months - $2395
  • 3 Months - $3395
Home Stays

Spanish Lessons


Learn Spanish
(2 or 4 hour group lesson)




All prices in USD
  • 2 hour class - $70 p/week
  • 4 hour class - $120 p/week
Vol Centre

4 Hour
Spanish Lessons


Learn Spanish (4 hour group lesson)




All prices in USD
  • $125 p/week
Vol Centre

30 Years Experience

IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.  We accept volunteers from all over the world and place them in meaningful overseas missions.  

Affordable Volunteer Travel

We’re not motivated by shareholder profits.   Our fees are fully transparent to ensure maximum benefit where it is most needed. 

Safe & Responsible Projects

All projects include a dedicated 24/7 in-country management team, operational & risk assessment & overseas support contact.   All projects are personally inspected to ensure very high quality.
 

Work Experience & University Credits

We place thousands of Uni students and can assist you with course credits and in-field experience points.   Many of our project coordinators are qualified practitioners in their respective fields allowing unique in-field supervision and Uni accreditation options

Limited access to education and healthcare, poverty, illness, unemployment and illiteracy continuing problems in Guatemala. Guatemala is bordered by El Salvador and Honduras to the South, Belize to the East, and Mexico to the North. There is plenty for outdoor and nature lovers here, including tropical coastal beaches and lush jungles, mountains, rivers and volcanoes. Guatemala has a population of 14 million people, half of that being indigenous. You will see plenty of ancient Mayan traditions and customs still alive today.

The climate in Guatemala changes somewhat dramatically. In the lowlands there is a hot, tropical and humid climate year-round. The mountain regions are a lot cooler and can even fall below freezing in the cooler months. The climate in the popular tourist destinations in Guatemala, such as Antigua and Guatemala City, is temperate and a comfortable warm temperature.

May to October is the rainy season, which brings short rains usually in the afternoon. This can be a great time to visit, as the landscape are lush and green. The dry season is from March to May.

Guatemala has strong Mayan and Latin influences, with the main language being Spanish, as well as some Mayan languages. The indigenous people are known for their colourful clothing and textiles and Guatemalans love their sport (soccer in particular) and music. The designs of the clothing vary in patterns from which village you come from. Religion in Guatemala varies from Mayan spirituality, Catholicism, and Evangelical Christianity. Muslim and Jewish populations can be seen in Guatemala City as well. A lot of the festivals here are influenced by religion.

The majority of our projects are located in the city of Antigua. Which was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. This is a popular tourist spot due to the pretty colonial buildings and ancient ruins. From the streets and rooftops, you can even see volcanoes towering over the city. Antigua’s Central Plaza has plenty of restaurants, shops, markets, and regular cultural events, making it an exciting city to call home.

We have a beautifully restored colonial building (with a pretty garden and fountain) for you to enjoy meeting all the other volunteers. Just a half-block away, with incredible views from the rooftop terrace is another volunteer centre, with common areas indoor and outdoors, to sit and relax after project, learn Spanish, use the internet or to interact with other volunteers.

Host Family

The majority of volunteers stay with a pre-approved middle-class Guatemalan family. You may choose from a shared or a private room. Shared rooms are between 1-3 other people (same gender & age group). You are provided with a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please, we ask you to respect the rules of the family.

Our host families live in and around Antigua and are 10-25 minutes walking or by bus from the volunteer centre.

Student Accommodation

Student residence rooms (subject to availability) may be shared or private, as requested. Shared rooms are single gender. The accommodation will be within a 10-minute walk from the volunteer centre and the Central Park.

Apartment

Apartments are private (or you can share the apartment with a travel partner). You receive a key and are free to come and go as you please. All apartments are middleclass and fully furnished including linens, towels, kitchen utensils, and Wifi. Meals are not included in apartments stays. The accommodation will be within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the volunteer centre.

Hostel

Hostel rooms can be shared (single gender) or private, as requested. Please note, meals are not included in hostel stays. You will be situated within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the volunteer centre.

Hotel

Hotel rooms are private unless planning to share with your travel partner. Meals are not included in hotel stays. You’ll be within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the volunteer centre.

Breakfast and dinner are provided 7 days a week* and will generally be of local cuisine. Corn, rice, beans, beef, pork, chicken, cheese, and tortillas form the basis of the typical local foods. Meat stews and soups are very popular also.

*Meals are not provided for apartment, hostel & hotel stays

Each project will include a 1-day orientation to familiarise yourself with the local area, rules, safety advice and general information. Your host family will show you the best way to get to/from your accommodation to the volunteer centre. Orientation will include health and safety advice, do’s and don’ts, cultural norms, activities and tours you can do on weekends, and a short walking tour, showing you the local area. You are also able to take a free Spanish placement exam. On your first day the local coordinator will take you to the placement, where you will be introduced to everyone and shown around the project.

Our projects are situated in the Antigua area. The most effective way to get you your project is to walk or take the bus. Travel time can vary between projects, and you should expect to spend 20-60 minutes travelling each way. You may need to change buses, depending on where your accommodation/project is located. Taxis are widely available but much more expensive than the bus.

PLEASE NOTE: You are responsible for your daily transportation to and from your project site. Local bus journeys are very affordable and will typically cost Q8 (about US $1) or less each way but may cost more if your project is further outside Antigua. We recommend budgeting about US $5 per day for transport.

There is so much to see and do around Antigua, including cultural events, tours and treks, and exploring the various markets. The local coordinators regularly post a monthly events calendar to let you know of the activities going on nearby. For more ideas on things to do in Guatemala…

Tikal Ruins

These Mayan ruins are set amidst the jungle of northern Guatemala and close to the borders between Belize and Mexico. The incredible ruins are a little hard to get to but have a spectacular backdrop. The ruins used to be one of the most influential cities in the Mayan empire.

Semuc Champey Pools

Another destination a little hard to get to (think long and windy bus ride) but definitely worth it for the incredibly blue pools of water you will find here, all surrounded by Guatemalan jungle. You can go swimming in the pools too!

Acitve Volcanoes

Pacaya, Santiaguito and Fuego are active volcanoes which visitors can climb up. These 3 are still active but Guatemala also has 37 volcanoes dotted around the country. If you love hiking, then make sure to try one of these treks for spectacular views.

Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan is a place where you can easily spend several days. This pretty lake has the backdrop of volcanoes and pretty wildflowers around the edge of the water. There are lots of small towns around the lake to explore, or you could simply relax by the sparling water or try SUP and kayaking.

Indian Nose Hike

This is a spectacular viewpoint which will only take around a 45 minutes climb. Situated close to San Pedro, this mountain is known for incredible sunrises, but we would recommend going with a tour group for this, for safety reasons. 

Check out this amazing blog with step by step info on how to raise funds for your overseas volunteer experience to help maximize your impact abroad. Guide to Fundraising

Weekends & Extra Tours

Ready to Volunteer in Guatemala?