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

I arrived to Guatemala yesterday and have had Maximos support since arrival. Our orientation was fun and our group felt comfortable asking questions.
My homestay is in a safe location and my room includes a bathroom which is great.
Antigua is a great place for volunteers as it is friendly and safe during the day and there is always someone available to help.
I think its wonderful that Maximo offers a contact for outside of hours.

I was super nervous before going on my solo adventure to Antigua, Guatemala. However, as soon as I arrived I felt anxiously excited and yet still very peaceful. Everyone involved in the program was nice and welcoming. They set me up in a great home with great people and I really enjoyed my project. I learned so much about myself and really grew as an independent person. I can't wait to go on another trip with IVHQ!

Buenos Días! My experience with International Volunteer HQ, Maximo Nivel was wonderful. It's always been my dream to volunteer abroad and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do so. During my two weeks in Antigua, I volunteered at an orphanage and at a construction site where I had the opportunity to assist in building a local medical clinic for the Guatemalan population. Throughout my volunteer journey, I was constantly learning something new about the Guatemalan culture, environment, and meeting new people from around the world. What I loved most about my volunteer experience was there was always something new happening every day. For example, I had the opportunity to participate in creating Alfombras for Semana Santa with the Maximo Nivel staff and volunteers. This allowed me to meet new people and learn about the beautiful culture. My host family was amazing! They were accommodating and very understanding. The staff at Maximo Nivel were wonderful, sincere, and accommodating. They made my experience even more enjoyable. Maximo Nivel offered various classes, programs, and excursions for volunteers that were engaging, interactive, and simply fun. Although having a background in Spanish was not necessary for my volunteer projects, it was sometimes difficult to speak to the locals so please keep in mind to learn a bit of Spanish before you volunteer in Antigua. I also took donations with me and it made a huge difference for the Guatemalan community. Overall my experience with International Volunteer HQ, Maximo Nivel was amazing and rewarding. The fact that I was able to create an impact on thousands of lives during my time in Antigua simply made me realize that I can do more in other countries. I recommend those of you that want to make a difference in the world to check out IVHQ. Thank you International Volunteer HQ, Maximo Nivel for making my time in Guatemala surreal!

Hi, I'm Deenuka from Toronto and I just got back from my two week volunteer medical position from Guatemala. To sum up my experience- it was amazing! I went with no expectations and came back super happy. I worked at a local village at a family care clinic called Mother Theresa. The difference in medicine from North America to Guatemala really did open my eyes. I got to see a whole new side to Medical are that I have never seen before. The people of Guatemala are so generous, welcoming and are so grateful for any help that they receive. My favourite part of my trip was when I got to go to a old age home and do complete check ups. The elders were so happy and appreciative of all our help. Initially the thought of setting up this volunteer position was daunting, I didn't know where to start. IVHQ did such a thorough job giving us simple steps and guild lines to follow to make our registration process seamless. Any questions I had they got back to me within a day. The project managers on site- Maximo Nivel were also amazing. They were so helpful and accommodating and made sure we felt welcomed. Although I was in a different country that I've never been to before, I had comfort knowing that I had such warm people around. Over all, the whole experience was a positive one from setting up the project to physically being there to volunteer. Thank you IVHQ and Maximo Nivel for making such a positive influence and allowing me to be apart of it.

First off, I officially decided to take the leap and register for health care about 1 month before I was due to leave. A co-worker jumped on board about 2 weeks after that. The registration process and introductory things were super easy and helpful. My coordinator at IVHQ was patient and excellent with getting back to me quickly with answers to my many questions.

Once in country, we met with the local team we would work with for that week, Maximo Nivel, and I have to say, they were an incredible group of people who truly wanted to make a difference and helped make my experience there a great one. Special thanks to Jorje who went above and beyond for us, and placed us in a clinic that suited our skills. I really enjoyed the time we spend at the clinic, and one day I'd love to return to help out again.

The city of Antigua was absolutely amazing. It's beauty and charm will grab you, and hold a little piece of your heart. There is SO much to do and see in and around the city. So many shops, markets, restaurants, and landmarks to see. Honestly, I could just sit on a rooftop cafe and stare at the city and volcanoes all day.

One piece of advice I would give would be to just jump in. If you're at a clinic, jump in and do a blood pressure, a temp, a height or weight. Ask to cut gauze for them, if you have spare time. Carry boxes. Ask what the need is, meet it. You're only there for a short time, so make the best of it. Jump in with the culture. The food. The city. The way of life. The pace. The language. Try everything. Go in the shops. Take the tour. Jump in with both feet. You won't regret it.

I had an amazing time during my two weeks in Antigua, Guatemala. My project during the first week was holiday experience where I worked with the elderly, painted a school, and worked with children at an orphanage. During my second week I worked with kids at a different orphanage just outside Antigua. I really loved the holiday experience and getting a taste of a few of the different projects IVHQ has to offer. The staff were all very supportive and quick to respond with anything I needed. The housing was very safe and clean and the staff there were very kind and helpful. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to volunteer, learn about Guatemala, live in a beautiful city, and practice or learn Spanish. It was truly a memorable experience!

I spent my 2017 holiday season in Antigua, Guatemala, to volunteer with the Holiday Experience project, and it absolutely was one of the best trips of my life. In the 1 week that I spent with Maximo Nivel-Guatemala, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a coffee plantation, an orphanage, and a disability facility. All three of these placements opened my eyes in different ways; I was pushed out of my comfort zone (in a good way), and found myself appreciating all the little things as a result.

I was drawn to IVHQ because they had the most reasonable fees of all the other volunteer organizations I found in my research, but my entire experience with them has been exceptional. They were very responsive throughout my application process and helped to clear my doubts before I officially applied.

I came to Antigua wanting to give back over the holidays, but left with the realization that you don't have to wait for that time of year to do so. This was my first time throwing myself into anything like this, but it definitely won't be my last!

In the summer of 2017, I volunteered in Antigua, Guatemala with the construction group. The work was enjoyable and I felt like what I did had a positive impact on the community. I met a lot of cool people and made new friends. I did quite a few excursions which I enjoyed. The staff was extremely helpful, friendly, and accommodating. Being a vegetarian, I was worried that it would be an inconvenience, but it didn't turn out to be that way. I would definitely volunteer with IVHQ again.