Learn Spanish and Travel Guatemala. During this trip you will learn about the ancient Mayan culture and the Spanish language. In places like Quetzaltenango, Lake Atitlán and Chichicastenango, you will meet Mayan people who practice traditions that have existed for thousands of years. In our school students have the option to obtain the international DELE by the Instituto of Cervantes.
Upon your arrival a driver will be waiting for you at the international airport to take you to the city of Quetzaltenango.
Upon your arrival, you will be given all the information about the location of the school, your classes and an orientation of the town. Today you will start with your Spanish classes in the afternoon.
You will stay in Quetzaltenango for 5 days while you study Spanish. This beautiful city is settled in a large valley surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. Xela conserves the antique traditions of the Mayan, mixed up with a colonial past and dynamic modern life.
Quetzaltenango is also known in Central America as “The Cradle of culture”. It is home to numerous jazz and blues bands, in addition to traditional musicians There is also a broad art scene focused on painting, singing and sculpture. Xela is a major tourist destination and attracts large numbers of students seeking to learn Spanish.
Spanish classes will take place for 5 hours each morning with different cultural activities organized each afternoon.
Personalized classes:
The classes will always be one-on-one, just you and your teacher. Your teacher will work directly with you to meet your specific needs and goals throughout your learning process.
Schedule:
This week of classes includes 25 hours of studying one-on-one with your teacher for a 5-day period. The classes will take place in the morning from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Activities:
During the week, we organize a variety of daily activities that will take place in the afternoon. This gives you the opportunity to practice the Spanish that you have learned, as well as gaining a deeper insight into Latin American culture.
Day 2. Conference about the Mayan civilization.
Day 3. Visit to one of the local social projects we support.
Day 4. Visit to the volcanic hot springs, Fuentes Georginas.
Day 5. City tour of Quetzaltenango in the afternoon, salsa classes in the evening.
Day 6. In the afternoon, we will depart to Lake Atitlán.
Day 7. Lake Atitlán
Located at 5,000 feet above sea level, this is the second largest lake in Guatemala. The famous novelist, Aldous Huxley, considers Lake Atitlán to be one of the most beautiful in the world. With the volcanoes of Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro forming a majestic backdrop, you can choose from a great variety of beaches to relax upon. The lake is also surrounded by many villages, in which the Mayan culture is still alive. Every town has its own traditional Maya dress, which shows the richness and diversity of the Guatemalan culture.
Today, a boat will take you to the village of Santiago Atitlán where you will have some time to explore the market. One of the most notable characteristics of the population in Santiago Atitlán is that they are very skillful at producing handicrafts.
At the daily market you will find all manner of souvenirs, paintings and traditional clothing. The handicrafts of Santiago have gained popularity worldwide because of the variety of textiles, wooden and stone sculptures. During the boat ride to Santiago Atitlán you will enjoy stunning views of the Volcano Atitlán, Volcano Tolimán and the Golden Hill.
See our virtual tour in Lake Atitlan here.
In the morning you will go to Antigua Guatemala. Antigua Guatemala was declared a National Monument by the Guatemalan government in 1944 and in 1979 Antigua was designed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Antigua is considered to be the most beautiful colonial city of the Americas. It is famous for its well-preserved, Spanish architecture, as well as a number of stunning ruins of colonial convents and churches. Besides the beautiful architecture, the triple ascent of the volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango form a majestic background to this city. Your guide will show you the most beautiful places of Antigua.
This morning you will be taken to the Pacaya Volcano for an amazing hike. You will first walk on a small path made of back sand, through a green colored forest. While hiking up, you will have the possibility to take a lot of beautiful pictures of the amazing views over the country.
On the top point, you will walk on the black lava stones and if you are lucky, you will also see real running lava. To demonstrate how hot it is inside the volcano, we will roast marshmallows and you will be impressed by how fast they are cooked.
Not ready to go home just yet? If you would like to extend your holiday, try combining your Guatemala Trip with one of our other travel packages. A popular combination trip is Guatemala and Belize. Perhaps you would like Spanish language lessons or to dive the coral reef. Contact one of our knowledgeable agents to begin customizing your tour package today!
Along the way to Lake Atitlan, you will have the choice to stop at the Atitlan Nature Reserve to experience the largest zipline canopy adventure in Central America as well as views of waterfalls and exceptional hiking. You will hike to a high point of a mountain and choose to follow either the extreme or super extreme canopy tour.
Experience the forest canopy from a bird’s eye view, see monkeys and jungle species, and learn about nature, all while having an adrenaline-pumping thrill excursion. In the reserve there are also options for a variety of hikes.
Duration: 1 and a half hours. Price per person from: $35
It is a wonderful hike with views of various other volcanoes, eruptions of the neighbouring volcano Santiaguito, and on a clear day you can even the Pacific Ocean. During the day, stock up on snacks at the local market, before heading up to the volcano to spend the night hiking and then watching the sunset, sitting around a campfire.
From the summit of the volcano watch the marvelous sunrise before eating breakfast and hiking back down.
Duration: 1 night. Price per guest from: $80
This gorgeous thermal Spa is an oasis of relaxation and relief, fenced in marvelous mountains and a natural habitat. The Spa is a destination where particular aspects are mixed crucial to accomplish inner well-being, stress alleviation and as a consequence balanced result mind, soul and body. The therapies are created considering the problems that daily work can cause in people nowadays.
Duration: half day. Price per guest from: $35
The clouds, a private ranch now open to the public. Hundreds of acres of horses running free surrounded by breathtaking volcanoes and the lush ancient ranch house, jungle, eco-organic gardens, all at 8,000 feet above sea level. An authentic cultural experience, an opulence horseback ride around five volcanoes, and a magical exploration of vegetation and fauna.
Duration: 1 day. Price per guest from: $115
