Guatemala Volunteer Programs from $28/day | Most Affordable & Trusted

Absolutely life changing. The people, the culture the environment are incredible, Antigua was very safe when I was there, The children instantly love you as soon as you walk into the school and you’ll never want to leave! As a 16 year old, i wad horrified on exploring Guatemala by myself, but within the first day i met two of my best friends there and we did everything together. With IVHQ, it was super easy to make friends, which for me was the thing i worried about most. If you’re looking for a budget friendly or childcare program, I recommend Guatemala🇬🇹

I had a wonderfully meaningful experience volunteering at a day care center in Dueñas, Guatemala. I stayed with a local family in Antigua, one of the most beautiful and safest towns in Guate.
IVHQ was very thorough in preparing us for the trip and Maximo Nivel, the onsite contact, was excellent at making sure we were taken care of during the duration of our stay. They were organized, professional and very hospitable.

I enjoyed taking the famous chicken bus to Dueñas then working and playing with the children at the day care center for four hours each day. I assisted them in their daily assignments and meals and even played songs for them with a ukulele I brought. I also learned a lot from my Spanish instructor who was patient, funny and very organized.

I’m glad I decided to stay and extra few days to unwind after the volunteering portion of the trip, as Lake Atitlan was the perfect destination to end the trip on.

I left Guatemala feeling changed for the better and felt I made a difference to the children I met, as they certainly made an impression on me. I look forward to working through IVHQ again in the future and highly recommend them for anyone interested in volunteering.

I would highly recommend IVHQ Guatemala for anyone who is interested in volunteering abroad! As a premedical student on the medical project, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Mis Anos Dorados in Jocotenango, which was a free local day center for seniors 60 and older. In the facility's clinic, I helped to perform physical exams, take vitals, and consulted with the health care professionals at Maximo Nivel regarding patient concerns or other more serious medical conditions. I formed memorable relationships with many of the abuelitos at the clinic. They always brightened my day and even consoled me on my last day when I was sad about having to leave them! After volunteering, I also took Spanish classes in the evenings, which helped a lot with my Spanish at my volunteer site. In addition, my host family was so kind and professional. The meals were always delicious and the placement was comfortable and safe in Antigua. I found the Guatemalan culture so fascinating, and there was plenty of things to do during my free time such as trekking up Cerro de la Cruz! Thanks to IVHQ, I have learned so much and met so many wonderful people on the medical project. The support from both IVHQ and Maximo Nivel was wonderful as well. They were always there with advice when I needed it, both prior to my trip and while in-country. I had an unforgettable week, and I know you will too if you volunteer in Guatemala with IVHQ!

I have volunteered before with IVHQ in Sri Lanka. This year I decided to go to Guatemala and work out in a dog shelter. I have had an amazing experience as the people and dogs at my placement were so nice and lovely. Patty takes care of 70 dogs in and around her house and does an amazing job in vaccinate/castrate them, take care of the wounded and feeding all of them. I am grateful for being able to help her out and fundraising money to rebuild part of the shelter and providing food and vaccines.

Antigua is a lovely city, my host family was super nice and during the weekends we had enough time to travel and stroll around the city.

IVHQ has helped me with preparing for the trip and in country it was the staff at Maximo Nivel that supported me and provided me with information. I can highly recommend anyone wanting to do something good with their spare time to volunteer. I have had the time of my life!

I wanted to take my 15 year old niece on a volunteer trip to another country while she is still young. IVHQ was the perfect choice! The experience was everything we hoped for and more. The staff was very professional and any concerns I had were quickly put to rest after our first day in Antigua. We were also provided with many opportunities to experience other parts of the country (which we took advantage of) while we were there. We were able to hike up a volcano the weekend before we started volunteering and visit a beautiful lake the weekend after we volunteered. There was also time in the afternoon each day for us to explore Antigua, which was where we were based. The price was very reasonable too for such and memorable experience and we are already talking about doing another IVHQ trip next year!

I went to Guatemala for one week to Volunteer in the child care program. It has been the BEST experience that I have had in my life, I was looking to travel but also to do something special with and meaningful, this trip had that and so much more. I love how everything was very organized and clear from the time I applied online, my arrival to Guatemala and until know after returning home. I had the opportunity to meet people from different countries and cities from the USA, learn from a new culture, and met amazing teachers in the daycare program. I cannot wait to go back and spend more time in Antigua through this program, I will definitely stay longer than a week there is so much to see and learn.
Thank you so much for this wonderful experience.

I got the opportunity to work at a dog shelter that had 90 dogs! It was amazing and i fell in love with so many of the affectionate doggies. I got to help them in a meaningful way by providing them with water I had to carry from a nearby well. The lady who runs the shelter was very appreciative and welcoming. Of course I also took the time to explore guatemala itself and I got to ride a horse for the first time, up a volcano!! The most beautiful place I went to was the Earth Lodge ahhh so peaceful. A tip I'd give to volunteers is to make the most of your evenings/weekends and do as much sightseeing as you can and be very attentive on your orientation day as you have to usually travel to your placement by yourself. Also practice the local language

It is hard to put into words how amazing my trip to Guatemala was. I am absolutely in love with the people, culture, everything about this country. I have done similar volunteer projects in the past, and I’ve learned that going in without any expectations will help you ge the most out of this experience. This time, I did a one week childcare project in Antigua, Guatemala. Monday through Friday, I would be at a childcare center in a town 30 minutes away from Antigua from 8 am to noon . The kids were so loving and affectionate. The moment I stepped into the classroom, I was surrounded by kids all trying to hug me. My job was to help the teachers with any task they needed, help the kids with their projects, and play with them. It was so fun! Since volunteering was over at noon, I had the whole day to do other things. The staff at Maximo Nivel were so helpful with setting up my desired excursions and answering my numerous questions. I stayed with a lovely host family. They provided everything I needed and served delicious meals. I also met some other super cool volunteers through Maximo planned events. The Guatemalan cooking class and salsa dancing were my favorites. I highly recommend them! Before arriving to Guatemala, I highly suggest learning some basic Spanish. It makes everything much easier and more enjoyable. Overall this was a trip I will never forget. I loved it so much!