Volunteer in Guatemala | Education, Medical, Environmental & more

Volunteer in Guatemala | Education, Medical, Environmental & more

Location
  • Guatemala
    • Antigua
Length
2 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Age Min.
18
Age Max
100
Timeframe
Short Term Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family Hostel
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
469
Price Details
2 weeks $469
3 weeks $624
4 weeks $857
5 weeks $1004
6 weeks $1152
7 weeks $1300
8 weeks $1589

Accommodation:
Host family , in private room with two meals per day
OR
Dorms: In shared accommodation with breakfast. Add $4 per night.
Participation in cultural activities.
On call support throughout the service.
Coordination with the host country organization of volunteer service.
Orientation to volunteer work or intern placement
Welcome at airport with transport.
Certificate of program completion.
What's Included
Accommodation Airport Transfers Some Meals
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Some Meals SIM cards Transportation Travel Insurance Visa
Jul 28, 2022
Jan 22, 2026
75 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteer in Guatemala or intern and see why the country’s motto is the “country of eternal spring”. Its rich Mayan heritage, beautiful landscapes, varied climates, and charming people make it the perfect destination for your program.

Join a dedicated team of volunteers and interns working towards the development of Guatemala and its people. By joining our volunteering programs in Guatemala, you can be sure that you are joining an authentic experience, where we will match your skills and interests where you can make the most impact.

You can volunteer in:
-Childcare.
-Education.
-Sustainable Agriculture.
-Turtle conservation.
-Environmental preservation.
-Special education for people with disabilities.
-Animal Care.

You can also intern in:
-Micro-finance
-Medicine and Health.
-Veterinary sciences
-Physiotherapy
-Nursing
-Dental care

Program Highlights

  • Meet other volunteers from around the world!
  • Get to know Mayan culture
  • Challenge yourself with volcano hikes, camping trips and more outdoor activities
  • Give back to communities in need in quality programs
  • Choose how long and when you want to volunteer. Programs available from 2-24 weeks

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here.

Video and Photos

Program Impact

What makes us different?

We are Local

We are not a tourism company or corporation. We are committed to supporting the communities we work in by helping local projects and the local economy.

Responsibility

We work in each of our destinations. Our in-country knowledge is key to delivering participants to projects that need it the most. We use local staff and create local employment.

Safety

INLEX evaluates participants, projects, host families, and uses only trusted providers for their programs. By using our local staff’s knowledge and criteria we can establish a safe network of programs within each country.

Experience

INLEX has been working with volunteers and interns along with designing educational programs since 2005. Our experience and impact are constantly improving our programs.

Positive impact

Projects are carefully matched the participant’s skills. The projects and companies work with a volunteer or intern who will be useful to their goals and participants get useful and rewarding experience. The best match ensures a win-win situation for each party.

Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.86 Rating
based on 43 reviews
  • 5 rating 86.05%
  • 4 rating 13.95%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.6
  • Support 5
  • Fun 4.55
  • Value 4.75
  • Safety 4.8
  • Growth 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 3
  • Housing 4
  • Safety 5
Showing 9 - 16 of 43 reviews
fabio
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great expierience to Guatemala

I spent one month in Guatemala. As Physical thererapist i worked in a physio clinic in Tecpàn, chimaltenango district.
I can say that my expierience was incredibly great. The Family i live with was so human, kind and available.
The people in the clinic put me in comfort zone as we knew each other from many years.
The organization, inlexca, always supported me and always was present when i needed.
I have a guatemaltecan heart piece right now.
Thanks to all people i knew there, all in my mind, forever.
Por siempre agradecido.
Fabio.

175 people found this review helpful.
Adrian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Beautiful experience with amazing people

My trip to Guatemala was very daunting at first because I was traveling on my own and I had never been before so I didn't know what to expect. As soon as I started to interact with people and get to know them I felt like I could put my worries to rest, people where warm, charmful and funny and I honesntly feel I will always remember this trip very fondly. For those who love nature, hiking and going on aventures I highly recommend Guatemala. I'm very grateful to the organizers who always took care of me and saw that I was safe and having a good time.

Pros
  • Great people
  • Eye catching views
  • Tasty food
Cons
  • Not very safe to travel alone
  • Be mindful of food outside restaurants
  • Public transport stops working early
169 people found this review helpful.
Daniela
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical and childrens volunteer

I loved my host family so much, they were so welcoming and caring and they cooked amazing food for me. The coworkers I had at both volunteers were really nice too, specially at the Children’s care one. I wish I could have been more hands on in my medial volunteer, but I still felt as though I helped.
I also enjoyed the places to visit in Guatemala during the weekend. I visited the El Paredón beach, which was beautiful, I did the Acatenango volcano hike, which I most definitely recommend because even though it’s very hard it’s so so worth it in the end, and I also visited the Lake and toured some towns nearby.
It’s a great experience to both volunteer and explore a new country and it’s culture.

173 people found this review helpful.
Paul
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Internship at a Coffee Plantation close to Antigua

I spend a little more than 3 months in Guatemala with Inlex from end of April to the beginning of august 2021. I went there for an agricultural internship for my university and for the overall experience of solo travel, working and living abroud. Traveling inmits the covid pandemic i was very nervous about some obstacles that might pose but luckely the Inlex team was very prepared and i felt safe and taken care of the whole time.I stayed with a hoast familiy with whom i had a lot of fun and where i felt very welcomed. My program includet a 2 week language course in spanish and 8 weeks of working. Both of which i look back with good memories of experiences and the friends i made along the way. I am esperially thankful for the trips i took with people of the staff who took me along on hikes and to some places where i wouldn't normaly be able to go to aswell as help with planning my own roadtrips and travels. This made my stay in guatemala truely unique and has left me with some of the best memories of my life!

Pros
  • Amazing Nature (Vulcanos, Jungles, Wildlife,...)
  • Rich History (both colinial and Maya)
  • Unique Culture and People
Cons
  • Safety risks in some areas
  • Tropical illness, food digestibility
189 people found this review helpful.
Olivia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great friends and memories made at Corazon del Bosque!

Volunteering at Corazon del Bosque was an amazing experience. The work itself was very interesting - they have a great mindset for what they want to work towards. As long as you bring initiative, there are some really interesting opportunities to help out. The homestay with the local family was a great way to learn about local life, about Mayan culture, and to practice Spanish. My family was hugely accommodating, they made me feel at home the whole time there. The programme itself was also very supportive, checking in with me regularly, and always providing helpful advise when needed (either about the programme or about travel in Guatemala more generally). Overall a fantastic experience!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Lots of yummy food eaten and was great to learn about this, also trying to make tortillas (harder than it looks...) Caldo de pata was the most interesting and authentic thing to try!
191 people found this review helpful.
Wes
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Education and Learning Spanish in Guatemala

I highly recommend Inlex/CA, especially if you are considering a combination learn Spanish / volunteer experience.

From arrival at the airport in Guatemala City to my departure three weeks later, I was extremely well looked after. I never was concerned about how to get anywhere, how to do anything, or any other aspect of my stay, because the staff at Inlex/CA assisted me with every possible logistical detail and eventuality. The support is second-to-none.

One of the main reasons I chose Inlex/CA for my experience was because I wanted to learn Spanish, and I certainly was not disappointed. During my three weeks, I truly had an authentic immersion experience. With the support of the Inlex/CA staff, my incredible host family, an amazing one-on-one Spanish teacher (a total of 60 hours), and the staff at El Centro Sabor y Gracia, my Spanish went from beginner to advanced in only three weeks.

The volunteering aspect of the programme was also rewarding. I was able to teach English to a small group of primary (age 5 - 8) students, and another group of junior (age 9 to 12) students at the Centro Sabor y Gracia in Santo Tomas. The director and staff of this special project were also very supportive, and the children, although energetic and with a wide variety of learning needs, were responsive and appreciative of the time I spent with them.

The locale (Santa Lucia, Santo Tomas, and Antigua - the #1 tourist destination / jump-off point in Guatemala) was small enough to present an authentic picture of daily life in Guatemala, but it also provided close access to many popular trips around the entire country.

Inlex/CA really did give me the experience I was looking for; it effectively catered to both aspects (volunteering and learning Spanish) of my three-week "holiday."

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Climbing Pacaya Volcano was absolutely incredible. It is an absolute must if you visit this part of Guatemala.
144 people found this review helpful.
Asheigh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience in Guatemala

My experience in Guatemala was exceptional; I learned about the culture, the language, and the amazing people who live here. Throughout my trip, I was challenged with several obstacles that advanced my ability to adapt, problem-solve, and be patient. With the support of Alex, my host family, and the school system I was able to face these challenges and still progress as a student. I feel that leaving here I will have gained so much. The trip was so much fun and I will miss all my new friends dearly, especially the young children I got to meet. I believe that they taught me just as much as I taught them and that is something I will hold onto forever. Ultimately, this trip was an extraordinary learning experience and an opportunity that I am grateful that I got to attend.

What would you improve about this program?
I would make sure that there is wifi in the houses, just because some of the people traveling here are students and they need to do their homework.
141 people found this review helpful.
Maile
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Education in Guatemala

I had an amazing experience with this program. To begin, the staff was consistently available and offered advice and assistance each week. They also placed me in a homestay with a family who not only helped me to experience Guatemalan culture but fully immersed me in the Spanish language so that I was able to improve vastly during my time abroad. Second, my internship placement, which was teaching English at a school to children aged 5- 18 years old, allowed me to both teach the students and to learn from them. I was able to teach the students and to learn new methods that I could utilize in my own classes in the United States, and I learned about the students and their culture through teaching. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to broaden their horizons by experiencing teaching in another culture because it was an unforgettable and worthwhile experience.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Use as much Spanish as you can and practice every day
129 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers