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 💙

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 🌎

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

Reece Adams Profile Picture
Reece
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL online

It was an experience that pushed me and made me understand what it means to be a teacher and solidify what I want to do a truly well-made course that shows how to properly teach all different form of teaching and all things that will be important to know for when you become a teacher. With a tutor that you have 10 hours of tutoring with and a well thought out plan, this is truly a course for those who want to learn experience and be teachers. This course is highly recommended for those who want a good path forward.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
keep making mistakes so that you can learn from them
Pros
  • challenging
  • insitful
  • well made
Cons
  • a lot to read through
Kethlyn Goutsis Profile Picture
Kethlyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The BEST time in Cusco

I’ve been in Cusco with Máximo Nivel for almost 2 weeks and I am having the best time of my life!

Not only the city is beautiful and the food is amazing, practicing my Spanish the whole time is very helpful!

I had support since before I got here with all the information needed and as soon as I arrived, I saw the yellow happy flag!!
At Máximo Nivel, all the employers are really kind and supportive! They explain everything we need to know, and also give us a lot of tips from places to go and restaurants.

My teacher Vilma is the most patient person with me during our class, she is helping me anytime I have a hard time learning something new in Spanish.

I HAD to add one more week here with Máximo at Cusco! Maybe I can keep learning with them next year at Costa Rica ;)

Anastaisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My best experience in South America

I am currently doing a Spanish immersion program in Cusco, Peru and can not be any happier by choosing this school. From the very beginning when I booked the program to my arrival and orientation, I was given a full support and clear guidance. I was housed with a lovely family and 7 other students, giving me an opportunity to practice my Spanish on a daily basis and meeting new people. My classes are in the morning and in the afternoon, giving me plenty of time for lunch or to explore the city. My professor is making sure our classes are fun but also very productive. Coming here with very basic knowledge of Spanish I can already tell, I have improved significantly within the last week. My only regret is not booking the program for a longer period of time but I’ll make sure to be back !

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don’t hesitate to book and ask questions. There are a lot of free time activities being offered by Maximo.
Charlotte
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent TEFL Curriculum

I was so impressed with the online content and structure of the TEFL curriculum with Maximo Nivel. Historically, I have learned Spanish with Maximo in both Peru and Guatemala, as well as online. I always appreciated the Spanish curriculum and workbook they provide to their Spanish students.

Well, the TEFL curriculum was just as impressive if not more so. The content and online platform were engaging and approachable. The exercises, resources, and tools provided were incredibly helpful. All of this coupled with the opportunity to observe a real live online class, resulted in my feeling super prepared for my teaching week. I was also so happy to have the trainer-debriefs after each lesson during my Practical Teaching week; he had excellent tips that I was able to put into practice the very next lesson.

While I am not looking for work at this moment, they made sure to let me know that my trainer is my "trainer for life" and he will be available when I am job hunting if I need support. He also provided a letter of recommendation informed by my Teaching Practical week, which is very appreciated.

All in all a wonderful experience getting TEFL certified and the price simply can't be beat.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Teaching real classes via Zoom was definitely nerve-racking. I overcame the nerves by being prepared. Maximo Nivel's TEFL curriculum offered lesson plan templates, suggested structure for engaging, practicing and activating, and hammered into me the importance of eliciting and concept checking, versus explaining. Keeping these things in mind allowed me to lead a successful lesson right out of the gate!
Pros
  • Trainer support
  • Resources and tools
  • Engaging online content
Sherri
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great program!

Antigua, Guatemala is all around an excellent place to be! The town is walkable, the food is delicious, and the attractions are delightful. There are so many surprises that don't show up on TripAdvisor or Viator that are just wonderful things to see and do. Maximo Nivel offers a great program at an outstanding bargain, and you can tailor your experience to meet your needs. Because I was on spring break (from teaching), I chose two-hour private classes for one week. I was able to speak about current and relevant topics at my level, ask questions about whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, and delve deeper into complex grammatical topics.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
We hiked Acatenango during our visit! It was a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend it!

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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