Learn Spanish, Sea Turtle & Marine Conservation
Book with Flex Option!
Choose new departure dates or change to a different volunteer program at no extra costs.
Highlights
Location - starting in Antigua, a beautiful and fun colonial city ringed by spectacular volcanoes, less than an hour from the airport and continuing to Monterrico right on the beach and Pacific ocean
Cultural immersion - Spanish lessons combined with sea turtle & marine conservation volunteering to connect, understand and enjoy this amazing country
Volunteer - meaningful environmental and community volunteering including in local junior schools
Sea turtles - Monterrico/Hawaii is a unique biosphere and sea turtles nest on our beach in huge numbers each year... sea turtle related volunteering is especially important in Guatemala
Program Support - we have Program Managers on hand 24/7 to help you max and enjoy your time with us
First week in Antigua learning Spanish, then Monterrico enjoying a variety of community & environmental volunteering. Third week in a sea turtle & wildlife sanctuary.
This volunteer program is especially suitable for:
Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
Groups
50+
Enjoy the ¡Buena Onda! of Antigua & Monterrico – quality time in Antigua followed by a hammock-swinging coastal village with Guatemala's best ocean beach!
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.
Sea Turtle Conservation
#Hotspots
Waste Reduction
Language Course
Leatherback Turtle
Antigua
Plastic Reduction
Learn Spanish
Green Sea Turtle
Hawksbill Turtle
Typical day
Week 1 – Antigua is an easy 1+hour transfer from Guatemala International Airport. We can arrange private airport transfer – or you can hop onto an airport shuttle bus – either of which will take you directly to your homestay address.
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 2 – After acclimatizing to Guatemala with your first week in Antigua we take a 3 hour shuttle bus to Monterrico. Here we pick up the pace with more Spanish lessons each day Monday to Friday, plus volunteering. Volunteering tasks are varied and we enlist junior school pupils in many of our projects – many hands make light work!
Projects include Mangrove/Native Reforestation, Beach Conservation & Coastal Cleanup, School Premises Upgrade (including light reconstruction)... and Eco Block!
Part of our objective/legacy is to ensure that today’s kids become model citizens enjoying and respecting the local environment including wildlife to be found in the nearby Mangrove forest, and sea life including sea turtles that nest here in huge numbers. Volunteering with school kids is also the best way to turbo charge your Spanish!
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.
Free-time activities
The areas you are staying are spectacularly beautiful and the culture of the indigenous Mayan peoples fascinating. Antigua also has a vibrant nightlife so whether you are staying in Antigua or Monterrico you will not be short of things to do during your free time. Your Program Manager will offer ideas and there will be lots of impromtu socialising and fun stuff going on.
In Monterrico you will be staying at El Delfin Hotel - a cool backpacker hostel with swimming pool, beach and pool volleyball, fussball and of course the Pacific ocean which is right in front of us. You can enjoy breakfast with your feet in the sand and laze around in a hammock to do your Spanish homework!
Water Sports
Swimming
Concert/
Music
Music
Sightseeing
Shopping/
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
Hiking
Sports
Riding
Requirements
In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.
You need to speak English (basic level)
required
No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.
An open mind and spirit of adventure!
Your helping hand will be required on
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
from
14:00
- 17:30
What's Included
Price includes accommodation, meals (3 meals daily in Antigua & ARCAS, breakfast & lunch with brunch at weekends in Monterrico), Spanish lessons, volunteer activities, transfer Antigua to Monterrico plus other activities described above.
Program start/end day is Sunday but clients are welcome to arrive Saturday or earlier and prepay for extra nights as required. The program starts in Antigua and finishes in Monterrico.
In Antigua 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.
In Monterrico accommodation is at El Delfin Hotel - sharing with up to 3 pax (single room is available upon payment of a supplement) OR free upgrade to private room, double/twin or triple, if booking with friends.
During your final week at ARCAS sea turtle & animal welfare sanctuary accommodation is single sex dorm rooms only!
Three meals daily during weeks 1 & 3 - in Antigua and ARCAS.
Breakfast & lunch only during week 2 at El Delfin Hotel.
Good access at the project site
Visa, flights, travel insurance or vaccinations are NOT included in the program fees.
An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.
The nearest airport is La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City. We assist you to find cheap flights to Guatemala.
Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Guatemala provides security and is a plus to have.
If you are intending to volunteer in Guatemala you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Guatemala.
Dates & Fees
NO CREDIT CARD FEES
Details on arrival
This program is available all year round. Even outside the sea turtle nesting & hatching season - which runs from approximately June to January... there is still lots of work to do at the sea turtle hatchery preparing/cleaning the 300 x 3 (900 total) nesting sites and looking after the welfare of other animals looked after here.
Start dates are 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month as follows;
Program Start Dates 2019: 29-Sep, 13-Oct, 27-Oct, 10-Nov, 24-Nov, 08-Dec Start Dates 2020: 12-Jan, 26-Jan, 9-Feb, 23-Feb, 8-Mar, 31-May, 14-Jun, 28-Jun, 12-Jul, 26-Jul, 9-Aug, 30-Aug, 13-Sep, 27-Sep, 11-Oct, 25-Oct, 8-Nov, 29-Nov
NOTE : though programs start (and end) on a Sunday you are welcome to arrive earlier or stay later and can prepay for extra nights as required. We are open 365 days a year!
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
2 - 3 weeks
Program fees
2 weeks
(min. stay)
$755
3 weeks
(max. stay)
$1,115
Average fees
$375
/week
Please note that the above shown program fees are estimated.
Monterrico Adventure
will let you know about the final price during your application process.
The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.
Your final payment will be agreed with Monterrico Adventure during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.
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application process
- including all necessary payments. Planning your next meaningful trip with Volunteer World gives you free access to our:
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Change your reservation at no extra costs
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All program fees are charged directly by Monterrico Adventure.
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Learn Spanish, Sea Turtle & Marine Conservation
First week in Antigua learning Spanish, then Monterrico enjoying a variety of community & environmental volunteering. Third week in a sea turtle & wildlife sanctuary.
$375/week
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