Maximo Nivel

Maximo Nivel

Why choose Maximo Nivel?

Founded in 2003, Maximo Nivel is a leading organization in study abroad and educational travel. We are an internationally accredited organization with 4 locally based institutes in 3 of the most beautiful countries in the world—Costa Rica, Guatemala. and Peru. At Maximo Nivel, we strive to set ourselves apart and provide the best education and travel experiences in Latin America, as well as top-notch client service and great home base facilities.

Since 2003, our commitment to quality programs and great client service has made Maximo Nivel the leading study abroad and educational travel organization in Latin America. Our job is to provide you with great work-study-travel programs in a safe and supportive environment. We are here to make sure your experience is nothing short of excellent! The Maximo team is available 24/7, so please reach out and let us know when you need support or help along the way.

Diversity & Inclusion

LGBTQIA+ Support

At Maximo Nivel, we deeply value diversity in all its forms. We maintain an open-minded approach, recognizing the significance of varied perspectives, intelligent discourse, and the transformative power of a positive mindset. We warmly welcome and respect individuals from all backgrounds, irrespective of politics, gender, gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Whether it’s volunteering, Spanish immersion, TEFL certification, international internships, university courses, or GAP year experiences, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are wholeheartedly invited to participate in our programs.

Impact

Ethical Impact

At Maximo Nivel, we work in close partnership with our local communities in Latin America to ensure that volunteer projects align with genuine local needs, fostering meaningful and relevant impact. We emphasize sustainable initiatives designed for enduring change, rather than short-term interventions. By promoting cultural sensitivity, we facilitate enriching exchanges rooted in mutual respect, and our commitment to local employment further integrates and supports the communities we serve.

Reviews

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Addison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Course and Staff

The Maximo Nivel online TEFL course was comprehensive and hugely informative. This course gave me all the necessary tools to teach English as a second language. The layout of the course was easy to navigate and arranged in such a way that the course work never seemed too daunting or unachievable in any way. Additionally, the support I received throughout the course was amazing. My trainer MacKenzie was always only an email away, and gave great advice during the process. I recommend this course to anyone seeking a TEFL certification.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
If you have a little extra money to spare, taking an in-person TEFL course is super fun and leads to meeting tons of new friends.
Pros
  • Accessibility
Cons
  • Rigorous studying
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JURGEN CARLOS
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL experience

I was feeling apprehensive before starting this journey. As a non native speaker, I wanted to prove to myself that I was able to take an advanced and well qualified course in English. As the days went by I felt more comfortable doing the course. My classmates and Sean made this small adventure one of the best I've ever had. Maximo Nivel and its staff are amazing, I really recommended taking this course. We covered everything from teaching methodologies, English grammar, teaching with games, the differences between teaching adults and teenagers. We started practice teaching on the 3rd day of course with real English students. The highlight was the practical teaching week at the end of the course.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be open-minded and have fun.
Pros
  • Lots of practice teaching
Cons
  • None
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Alexander
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wayne was exceptional teacher of TEFL

To put it simply- Wayne is a remarkable teacher who truly cares about the growth of his learners. He was very well organized and explained the concepts professionally and with a good amount of humor which kept us laughing and learning.

He taught one class to us on Japanese in order for us to see the importance of the techniques and that we could truly learn some of a new language without knowing anything beforehand. This was an eye-opening experience and provided an important perspective that I kept throughout the class.

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was having to elicit the word "flushing" and I pretended to go to the bathroom in front of the whole class.
Pros
  • Organization
  • Professionalism
  • Materials
Cons
  • Not able to do other activities for fun during class.
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Steve
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching English in San Juan, Guatemala

I've had an amazing experience in Guatemala! I've felt supported by the volunteer agency, Maximo Nivel, at every stage of my volunteer journey.

I've spent a fortnight teaching English at San Juan, helping to improve the English of children here. I worked to augment their existing education to improve their life chances and career opportunities in the future.

The challenge is that the student numbers are small and attendance is variable! Also, their ages and abilities vary, so be prepared to teach 3 things at once to different kids! But they are a delight to teach and they have a willing attitude to learn.

They learning points for me were to realise that I can't change the world in a fortnight: to teach in baby steps and look to achieve 100% percent of a few things rather that 10% of everything!

Overall, a great experience 😊

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
One of my most memorable experiences was spending a morning making a traditional breakfast with 2 Mayan ladies, then making some tapestry with them. The cultural experience was an add-on I chose and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone for an authentic cultural immersion.
Pros
  • Cultural immersion
  • Meeting new people
  • Sharing experiences with other volunteers and students
Cons
  • Poor cleanliness in homestay
  • Limited catering for a vegan diet
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Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Mission

This was an extremely impactful experience with an efficient and compassionate team. We travelled near and far to serve a myriad of patients. The car rides were fun, the work was rewarding, and the local team made all the difference in creating a meaningful clinic for those who visited. Every day felt like a little surprise, and was an excellent way to practice being okay with the “unknown.” A quality very important to all medical professionals! Overall, I leave this trip feeling enlightened, humbled, and excited for the next opportunity to serve communities around the world.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice for future travelers on the medical mission is to enjoy the experience to the fullest. Get to know your host family. Be okay with the unknowns, get ready to practice your Spanish, and care for some extremely hardworking people and lovely kids!
Pros
  • Got to visit many different places
  • Many opportunities to practice assessments and spanish
  • Such an amazing team!!!!

Jobs

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I wanted an opportunity to change my career path from a dissatisfying corporate job to a rewarding career that can take me traveling around the world and enable me to gain cultural experiences in different diverse countries whilst helping others in learning a 2nd language to enable better job opportunities.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Maximo Nivel program provided me with top quality information travel assistance, support staff and teachers who were extremely knowledgeable and made the whole experience extremely worthwhile.

They organized my volunteer program and also the accommodation at my host family, and assisted with holiday and activity options.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If I were to do the course again, I would definitely choose a professional organization that is well-credentialed and respected like Maximo. It makes it so much easier having a strong support base and experienced team.

I would definitely allow for more travel time either before or after the course, so you can get to appreciate the country you are visiting.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The program is very solid and lots to fit in every day, as it is a compact course.

Having said that, there were still afternoons off and a couple of free days to chill. And an average day consisted of about 8 hours at school with a mixture of theory and practical class observations and activities.

After school, you would generally need to do 2 hours of homework or reading.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I guess my only fear was not finishing the course or not being able to do the assignments and lesson plans in time. But the course structure and support of the teachers was a huge benefit in allaying my fears. This made a big difference in my ability to manage the course effectively and get everything done.

Any last thoughts?

This is a really fun and rewarding opportunity. It is full-on but satisfying in so many ways. You learn so much about yourself and build up comradery with people from all over the world, with diverse backgrounds and age ranges. It will give you great confidence and belief that you can do whatever you want to set your mind to.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

Visiting Panama is definitely my most memorable travel experience. It was my first time traveling alone and I met a lot of new people. Seeing new places, experiencing a new culture and being by myself for the first time was amazing.

I participated in a lot of tours and activities and I learned a lot. This experience motivated me to keep travelling.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to be part of the Mini Adventure program in Guatemala. I have always wanted to go to Tikal and learn more about the Mayan Culture in Guatemala.

I feel the Mini Adventure gives you the opportunity to visit really nice places in Guatemala in a short period of time.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I feel proud of my team every time we happily adapt to last minute changes in order to make the participants experience be awesome and unforgettable.

Professional Associations

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