Guatemala Experience
Study Spanish, do volunteer work and explore the Land of Eternal Spring!

Week One – Introduction to Guatemala
An introduction to Guatemalan culture and the Spanish language. You will be studying at our Spanish school in Antigua Guatemala, a beautiful colonial city with a lively and colourful market, bars, restaurants, museums and much more. Here you will learn Spanish and get to know local culture. Accommodation with a host family including 3 meals per day, except on Sundays.

Week Two & Three – Community or building volunteer project
You will get the opportunity to work in either a community development project or a construction project to help Guatemalan children and families. For the community development project, you can choose between a hospital, a day care centre, a home for malnourished babies and children or an educational project. Accommodation with a host family including 3 meals per day, except on Sunday.

Week Four – The best of Guatemala
In your last week you will get the chance to experience Guatemala in all its aspects.
You will explore the stunning Maya ruins of Tikal in the north of Guatemala and marvel at the natural beauty of the volcanic lake Atitlán and Semuc Champey with its small ponds and pools. You will visit a large typical handicrafts market, take a boat trip on the Río Dulce and relax on one of the beautiful beaches. Accommodation in a hotel (on the basis of a double room) ONLY breakfast included.

The 4 week program includes:
• Airport pick up and drop off
• 1 week of private Spanish lessons (20 hours)
• Orientation tour in Antigua on the first Monday after your arrival
• 2 weeks of volunteer work with the following options: Obras Sociales, Hogares
  Comunitarios, Casa Jackson, ConstruCasa or Semillero Mi Ángel Guardián (The volunteer program will be organized depending on the month of arrival).
• 1 week of traveling through Guatemala
• 3 weeks of host family accommodation + 1 extra night at the end of the travel week
• 3 weeks of optional extracurricular activities organized by the school during the Spanish lessons and volunteer work, including a visit to the Pacaya volcano (the visit to Pacaya is included, some activities are free of charge and others require a small fee)

The program will start on the Monday after your arrival with Spanish lessons either in the morning or in the afternoon. On the first Wednesday you will visit your volunteer project (with the option to change the project if it is not what you expected). After the 2 weeks of volunteering you will leave for the week of traveling. You will return to the host family for 1 night after the trip (usually on a Saturday) and leave the family on Sunday to get your flight home.

Price & Start Dates
Guatemala Experience (4 weeks): $ 1600
Start Dates: February 1st, 2009 - March 1st, 2009 - April 5th, 2009 (Holy Week) - May 3rd, 2009 - June 7th, 2009 - July 5th, 2009 - August 2nd, 2009 - September 6th, 2009 - October 4th, 2009 - November 1st, 2009

Itinerary

Week 1 – Introduction to Guatemala
You will start your Spanish classes on the first Monday after your arrival and will study 4 hours per day with a private teacher, either in the morning or in the afternoon. On the first Monday you will get an orientation tour in Antigua. During your free time you can take part in activities organized by the school. Typical activities are: visits to indigenous villages, museums and ruins, salsa classes, conversation classes, sports, etc. While studying, you will live with a Guatemalan host family where you will have your own room, a shared bath and 3 meals a day, except on Sundays.

Week 2 & 3 – Community or Building Volunteer Project
You can choose to work in one of the following four projects: a building project (ConstruCasa), a day care centre (Hogares comunitarios), a home for malnourished babies and children (Casa Jackson), a hospital (Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro) or an educational project (Semillero Mi Ángel Guardián). During the volunteer work you will stay in your host family and can still participate in the activities organized by the school in your free time.

Week 4 – The Best of Guatemala
During your final week you will travel through and explore the wonders of Guatemala.
You will visit the famous market of Chichicastenango, beautiful Lake Atitlán, the city of Cobán with Semuc-Champey and the Lanquín Caves, the Mayan ruins of Tikal in the north of Guatemala and the Río Dulce with Lívingston at the Caribbean coast.

More information about the tour can be send upon request.