Location
  • Guatemala
    • Antigua
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
Spanish
Timeframe
Spring Break Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Guesthouse Host Family
Groups
Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)
Travel Type
Budget Family Older Travelers Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price
385
Price Details
Fully hosted experience from only $385 for 1 week - this includes airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals and 24/7 in-country support.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
May 01, 2024
Dec 03, 2024
32 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Trusted by 136,000+ volunteers, IVHQ offers the world's #1 rated volunteer programs in Guatemala and 50+ destinations worldwide.

For the past 6 years, we've won the "Top Volunteer Abroad Provider Award" from GoOverseas, so you can trust that you're in the safest hands with IVHQ in Guatemala.

Our affordable projects start from $28/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement and local support. Projects run year-round, with durations from 1-24 weeks. Choose from 12 projects, ranging from Childcare, Medical, Teaching and Construction in the colorful city of Antigua and surrounding rural and coastal locations. Plus, you’ll stay with other like-minded, impact-focused travelers from around the world (private room options available).

With IVHQ’s superior pre-departure support services, you’ll gain exclusive access to your own Volunteer Travel Specialist, comprehensive preparation tools and volunteer training before you leave home.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Cheapest volunteer programs from $28/day for your accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, project placement & local support.
  • Volunteer for 1-24 weeks, year round start dates most Mondays
  • 15+ years experience & only B Corp certified volunteer travel organization
  • Get free changes up to 14 days before you start with our flexible booking policy
  • Affordable way to earn college credit - gain 5 credits for only US$500!

Popular Programs

Childcare volunteering in Guatemala with IVHQ

As a Childcare Volunteer in Guatemala, you'll provide assistance and care to children from disadvantaged communities. These children often lack support and guidance from their family and schooling, so your support will be fundamental to their development. Work varies according to your specific placement, but generally consists of playing with children, organizing games and activities, helping with lessons and assisting with homework.

Volunteer in Guatemala with IVHQ

Looking for a hands-on volunteer experience? As a Construction & Renovation Volunteer in Guatemala, you'll work alongside locals to improve the infrastructure around Antigua and uplift local economies and communities. Projects focus on home building and school renovation, as well as building playground and bathroom facilities. Your tasks can include laying bricks, carpentry, painting, laying tiles and landscaping.

Volunteer in Guatemala with IVHQ

If you're an aspiring Medical professional, this is the program for you. Volunteers are placed in elderly homes, clinics in under-resourced communities and special needs facilities where you'll be able to make a tangible difference to those in need. Tasks vary based on medical skills & experience (more experienced volunteers are able to act independently with hands-on tasks). For less experienced volunteers, your duties will be mostly observational, assisting local staff with routine jobs.

Volunteer in Guatemala with IVHQ

As an English Teacher Volunteer, you'll help Guatemalans improve their English skills which gives them a better opportunity to find work across a range of careers. Volunteer work varies but generally consists of teaching small groups of children, tutoring local students, setting up workshops, assisting local teachers and organizing educational games and activities.

Volunteer in Guatemala with IVHQ

As an Animal Care Volunteer, you'll work across dog and cat shelters, veterinary clinics and an exotic animal refuge, catering to crocodiles, snakes, lizards and turtles. This one-of-a-kind volunteering experience will allow you to interact with animals of all kinds, helping to improve their quality of life. This project is open to all volunteers and a veterinary background is not required, although is highly advantageous.

Program Reviews

4.91 Rating
based on 64 reviews
  • 5 rating 90.63%
  • 4 rating 9.38%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.75
  • Support 4.9
  • Fun 4.95
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.8
Showing 1 - 8 of 64 reviews
Default avatar
Annaka
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Volunteering in Guatemala as a 17 year old

I’d recommend traveling with a friend or group if under 18, home stays can be more isolating. However, the local team helped connect me to other minors and hosted plenty of free social events. I really benefited from the opportunity to explore on the weekends I travels to Lake Atitlan, Tikal, and hiked Acatenango with friends I met through the program. Antigua Guatemala is very safe for female travelers, even at night, so I visited a lot of local festivals and food stalls. Overall, I loved the opportunity to work with kids and learn Spanish.

What was your funniest moment?
I’d translate songs in English into Spanish for my host family, it usually didn’t make much sense.
Pros
  • Spanish immersion
  • Nature
  • Cultural exchange
Default avatar
Scott
5/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Volunteer experience in Guatemala

The local team was really well organized and I felt so supported by both them and IVHQ. My coordinator routinely checked in prior to my start date to ensure I was all set and provide any assistance I may have needed. My volunteering experience in Antigua, Guatemala was an absolutely incredible experience. I found my volunteer placement to be very rewarding and felt like I was making a contribution. Additionally, the home stay had such an amazing vibe. All the volunteers had so much fun together and our host family was really nice and helpful.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take advantage of all there is to do in Guatemala! Lake atitlan, Semuc champey, Tikal, el paredon are all such fun places and acatenango is an awesome hike!
Pros
  • Great support from local team
  • Great support from IVHQ
  • Lots of activities to do
33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Medical Volunteer

I was happy to have this experience volunteering in a community outreach program for elders from the Kakchiquel Maya community in Guatemala. I felt that I was able to both use my nursing skills and make a difference in my patient's lives. I believe that I was able to convey that I care about them as well. I would love to return in the future. I was able to schedule some fun side trips on the weekends such as a trip to the Pacific ocean, with a tour through the mangroves; a trip to a nearby coffee "finca," a trip to Pacaya volcano, and a trip to the markets at Chichicastenango.

What was your funniest moment?
For me, fun moments are meaningful. I loved having the experience of caring for elders from the Maya community and learning about their health conditions and concerns. Working together with the other 2 medical volunteers with me, we were able to make a difference in their lives for the better.
Pros
  • Medical experience, learning about new conditions
  • Use of Spanish language skills
  • Getting to know other volunteers
Cons
  • Stay with family food not sufficient, inflexible meal times
  • Hard to sleep due to noise, fireworks, family dog barking on daily basis
  • Was sick the 2nd week
42 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tiffany
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

IVHQ Jamaica was by far my favorite!

I’d honestly recommend IVHQ to anyone interested in volunteer abroad. Both trips came at angelic timing. Jamaica was one heck of a cultural adventure and Guatemala provided lots of solitude and reflection. Both journeys came with great support, especially by program manager Lina, and basically the whole registration process was seemingly smooth and straight forward. I enjoyed the plentiful options that are offered with IVHQ. 10/10! I can’t wait to experience another excursion again especially since I’m connected to the FB page which is encouraging to remain in contact with the community, and I believe that’s a great feature IVHQ offers.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The most nerve racking moment was speaking another language 24/7, minimal English and 85%+ Spanish. Having to turn on my creativity cap for constantly adjusting to that cultural difference made it nerve wracking at times more than others. At first, I dived right into the culture, starting small at the grocery store, semi Google translating and asking for things/to be assisted.
Pros
  • Gained additional confidence
  • Reconnected with my Jamaican roots
  • Completed healing cycles through my wanderlusting
Cons
  • The home stays in Guatemala were not comfortable nor 100% cleanly
  • Máximo Nivel’s local team could highly improve. In fact, field Manager Kayla could definitely repeat training in certain areas that involve leadership and properly/respectfully guiding a group to join her in humanitarian efforts.
  • Maybe include more food in Guatemala’s program since transport to and from Maximo was dependen upon the volunteer as a treat.
48 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Charles
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Eco Agriculture Conservation - Guatemala

I just finished a wonderful IVHQ trip to Guatemala! It was one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of my life. I felt that I was able to make a contribution, learn about a new culture and create some new / lasting friendships. Great coordination between IVHQ and their local partner. Already planning my next trip. I would also encourage people to participate regardless of their age. I thought I might be too old but it was totally not an issue. I even met some great people my age. Experiencing new food was also a plus.

What was your funniest moment?
My Spanish needs work. Getting some laughs from the locals when trying to converse was very funny for us both!
Pros
  • Helping people
  • Learning about new culture
  • Friendly group of volunteers
Cons
  • Flight delays
47 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Greg
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life Changing

If you love people and learning about different cultures, the IVHQ Mayan Immersion program is fantastic. Had the opportunity to live with an indigenous family for a week in their village in Guatemala. To walk in the shoes with these people and be involved in the day to day life’s is priceless. As always when giving the recipients are rewarded, but your reward are even greater. This program will soften your heart and want to do more. Don’t miss this, take a chance and you will have no regrets. Great executions also to hike volcanos or visit ruins.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Keep an open mind and ask lots of questions. Listen and learn.
Pros
  • Loving Family
  • Variety of Tasks
  • Willingness to Open Yp
Cons
  • I was solo volunteer
47 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
ellen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best program for flexibiity, time and helping

I loved volunteering at IVHQ and Maximo Nivel. They start every monday so you don't have to go at the time the group is going. It's also very affordable. The fee pays for your homestay, 2 meals and 5 hours/day of volunteering. They custom made our volunteer program as I'm a rehab physician and I don't do acute medicine. All the patients were similar to patients I see in the US. They gave us a translator (even though I speak spanish, as many of the patients speak their mayan dialect) We also got to teach yoga and do some wellness care. I was with a pre med student and a nursing student. Our clinic was called "Mis Anos Dorado" or the golden years. The patients were so grateful and you felt like you could really help. Next time I'm bringing yoga mats and eyeglasses!

What was your funniest moment?
One of the patients said she had "asientos" which meant she had diarrhea and was having to sit on the toilet all day
Pros
  • Close to Antigua, patients were very kind and grateful, clinic was well staffed.
Cons
  • not many really. All was about perfect. Might remember betadyne wipes next time
46 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ronnie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Lifechanging Experience

I volunteered for a week in Guatemala doing the animal rights project!!! This project was helping take care of exotic animals and helping them rehabilitate to then be re-released back into the wild. Working with the animals was beyond special! I enjoyed being able to practice and utilize my Spanish, meet new people from all over the world, enjoy new and delicious foods, while traveling and exploring Guatemala as well. You will be uncomfortable at times, but this is where the real growth happens and where your character develops. Be open, and trust that this is an experience that you will not regret!

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was having the dog that belonged to my home stay family bust into my room each and every morning, jumping on my roommates bed and licking his feet. This would always catch him off guard and wake him up. I found it to be the funniest thing.
Pros
  • You will learn a new language and be able to immerse yourself in Spanish
  • You are making in an impact, even with small steps that are taken
  • There is an abundance of places and destinations to see and explore
Cons
  • You may encounter other volunteers who are closed minded
49 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hi Henry, The program fee for two weeks is $515, add to that either $50 - $55 a week (depending on if you want a 2 hour small group language class or a 1 hour private one) which bring the total to around $625. Hope this helps!