Learn Spanish, Sea Turtle & Marine Conservation

Guatemala’s ‘must visit’ destination Antigua is a place of rare beauty, major historical significance, vibrant culture and a global hot spot. The immaculately maintained cobbled streets, glorious colonial buildings and imposing Agua Volcano have earned the city UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Your first week is spent in Antigua enjoying homestay accommodation with 3 meals daily in the center of town. Each morning Monday to Friday there are 3 x 45 minute Spanish lessons with one morning volunteering in a local junior school to start your immersion into life in Guatemala and to prepare you for volunteering in Monterrico!

Your cultural immersion continues in week 2 when you transfer 80km south to the beautiful Pacific coastal village of Monterrico. A busy schedule of Spanish lessons and volunteering help you maximise your time here, before you transfer (3 week program only) a few kilometers along the coast for your final week volunteering with ARCAS.

ARCAS are a wildlife rescue and conservation centre who do important environmental and conservation work focusing on the vitally important sea turtle nesting grounds as well as mangrove forest that surround this unique ecosystem.

Your homestay in a private room is thoroughly vetted with regular feedback and inspections. It is centrally located, provides 3 meals daily and always hosts two or more guests. You also have access to a ‘Social Enterprise Hub’ operated by Cambio/Niño’s de Guatemala with a help desk open during normal office hours providing program support and ideas how to enjoy your free time. This is where Spanish lessons are taken and free weekly cultural activities.

All our Spanish teachers are licensed and qualified, and lessons follow the internationally recognized Cervantes curriculum – a world-recognized leader in Spanish language tuition. After a short test on day one you are allocated to a class that suits your level; beginner, intermediate or advanced. There are no more than 4 students per class. On Wednesday morning we go to a local school to assist/volunteer in class and during recreational periods. This is a great opportunity to practice your Spanish and is good preparation for your busier volunteering schedule during week 2 in Monterrico.

Week 3 – The 2 week program combines one week in Antigua with one week in Monterrico (starts Antigua and finishes Monterrico). However, the 3 week program includes a final week a few kilometers along the coast from Monterrico on Hawaii beach for a volunteer placement at ARCAS wildlife rescue & conservation center. Here our efforts are centered around sea turtle conservation and the hatchery (in season), rehabilitation efforts for other species cared for here and the local mangrove forest.