Maximo Nivel

Program Reviews

Default avatar
Glenn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Eco Agriculture

I volunteered on Eco Farm Antigua. The staff gave a very detailed tour of the property the first day. We learned so much about the processes they are incorporating and the future plans of their organization. Very nice accommodating volunteer environment, and I hope to do it again. The volunteer opportunity was so much more than advertised, in a good way. I was expecting a basic coffee farm, but was able to experience so much more on the complex Eco Farm. Great experience! I hope to do it again in the near future.

Pros
  • Help promote organic movement
  • Learn about Mayan agriculture
  • Very comfortable volunteer environment
Default avatar
Marina
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So Glad I Booked the Trip!

At first I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I booked my volunteering in Guatemala, but I’m so glad I did! Everyone here is super friendly and helpful and I hope to be back someday! The children that I was teaching were awesome and the other volunteer I was teaching with was so nice and we became friends quickly. I also loved my homestay location and host family! The meals were great and I felt very taken care of. Can’t wait to come back and explore more that Guatemala has to offer! Thanks for a great time!

Pros
  • Learning Spanish with immersion
  • Exploring a new city
  • Meeting like minded people
Cons
  • Safety is a concern
  • Don’t know who is joining your program ahead of time
  • Sometimes hard to make friends
Default avatar
Kari
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

To very interesting weeks

I will say that I've had two extraordinary weeks here at Maximo. A indeed great experience. There are hard-working staff and teachers at the school, yet a relaxed and good atmosphere.

it is easy to get to know the other students and nice activities to participate in after the lessons. It feels safe and homely to be here and there are nice areas to stay in outside of teaching.

Staying in a private home was a gift to get to know local Guatemalans. I feel like I'm leaving my family.

Thank you very much!

What was your funniest moment?
The salsacourse
Pros
  • Staying with a family
  • Tandem conversations
Cons
  • Difficult to absorbe all the information
Default avatar
Caroline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So fun and a great learning experience!

It was definitely a different experience from what we’re used to in the United States, which I think was super valuable to see. I was with Kevin for the week and he was awesome as a translator while also being very helpful organizing everything and directing the group. I got to practice taking vitals and interacting with patients which was helpful for my future career as a nurse. Seeing the doctor interact with patients was also really cool. Loved this experience but it was definitely out of my comfort zone. So glad I did it. 100% recommend

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have gone for 1 week instead of 2
Pros
  • Unique opportunity
  • Learning experience
  • Beautiful scenery
Cons
  • Tiring
  • Language barrier
  • Repetitive
Default avatar
Lydia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Mission

This experience was a great time and one that I can’t repeat because of the time we spent with each patient. The time with the doctor was a great way to immerse into the culture more. I would highly recommend this program to many people and to take the jump of faith of trying something unfamiliar. I felt like I learned so much more knowledge and customs that I never would have expected in America or other countries. I also loved meeting people staying at the host family and learning more about their lives from all over the world.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
A pork empanadas maybe we weren’t sure what it was at the host family.
Pros
  • Experience
  • Gain of knowledge
  • New culture
Cons
  • Wish I knew more of what it was coming in
  • Tiredness
  • Needed to know more medical knowledge
Default avatar
Caroline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

It was definitely a different experience from what we’re used to in the United States, which I think was super valuable to see. I was with Kevin for the week and he was awesome as a translator while also being very helpful organizing everything and directing the group. I got to practice taking vitals and interacting with patients which was helpful for my future career as a nurse. Seeing the doctor interact with patients was also really cool. Loved this experience but it was definitely out of my comfort zone. So glad I did it. 100% recommend

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have gone for 1 week instead of 2
Pros
  • Unique opportunity
  • Learning experience
  • Beautiful scenery
Cons
  • Tiring
  • Language barrier
  • Repetitive
Default avatar
Mark
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

January 2025

It was a great experience overall! I enjoyed working with everyone. Working with Kevin, the other translators, and the doctor was amazing!!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The doctor performing surgery
Pros
  • Putting myself out there
  • Gaining medical knowlege
  • Trying out the food here
Cons
  • Got robbed
  • Got stomach bug
  • Got homesick
Default avatar
Camryn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

KSU MED MISSION

A great experience overall and I would recommend it to anyone! I had never participated in a medical mission before but this exceeded all expectations! I really enjoyed my time in Antigua not only volunteering each and every day at the various clinics but also having time to explore the city and see what all it had to offer. From hiking the Pacaya volcano to traveling to lake Atitlan for the weekend I feel like I got to experience a good portion of Guatemala and the culture here! I loved every part of this experience.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
empanadas type pastry with ground up meat and vegetables
Pros
  • food
  • atmosphere
  • views
Cons
  • travel time
Default avatar
Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Kids and Community

I loved playing with the kids in the communities and being able to contribute in a way I never have before. It was wonderful to be able to learn how to do physical exams and to acquire new Spanish vocabulary in order to fully immerse myself in the experience and talk to the locals. The smiles from the elderly and the new clinical information is priceless, and I will keep this experience with me for the rest of my life. I am extremely grateful for my time in Guatemala- nothing else could compare.

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was playing tag with kids and then slipping and falling on the dirt. A nice kid came over and brushed the dirt off of my jacket and helped me get on my feet
Pros
  • Experience
  • Restaurant Food
  • Contribution
Cons
  • Cleanliness
  • Host Family Food
  • Toilet paper flushing
Default avatar
Alayna
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Nivel - Medical Mission Campaign

The program and experience was amazing! There is nothing in the US like this experience! You get to put your medical knowledge to use and make an impact on so many people’s lives with so many different things! It is such an eye opening experience and would recommend this to everyone in the medicine field!

The one thing that was difficult was weren’t told barely anything about the living conditions or where we would be living with or with who. We were very unaware we would be staying in a house with multiple other people as well as people who weren’t even in the program.