Volunteer in Guatemala or intern and see why the country’s motto is the “country of eternal spring”. Its rich Mayan heritage, beautiful landscapes, varied climates, and charming people make it the perfect destination for your program.
Join a dedicated team of volunteers and interns working towards the development of Guatemala and its people. The programs in Guatemala range from 2 to 24 weeks and can be in a myriad of programs like education, turtle conservation, micro finance and more.
Guatemala is well known for its Mayan Ruins, massive volcanoes(some of them active volcanoes!), and rich culture. The other side of Guatemala is one of much inequality, poverty, and underdevelopment. As a volunteer in Guatemala, you will be able to help change the country’s future by joining one of its many programs that work towards community development, education, wildlife preservation and more.
The work of volunteers in Guatemala is very much appreciated by local projects as it brings extra hands on deck to tackle complex tasks in projects while bringing new ideas.
By joining our volunteering programs in Guatemala, you can be sure that you are joining an authentic experience, where we will match your skills and interests where you can make the most impact.
Ready!? Select your program and apply.
Gain real-world experience with companies and projects specializing in your field.
Guatemala offers great internship opportunities for those looking to build their resume. Some of the most prominent fields we offer include coffee production internships, medical internships, micro-finance internships, veterinary, and physiotherapy among others.
You can rest assured we will help you find a position in the field you are looking for. New opportunities are coming up all the time, so if we don’t yet have your field listed feel free to reach out to us.
Depending on your project you can volunteer in Antigua Guatemala, volunteer in the Mayan highlands, volunteer in Lake Atitlan or on the Pacific coast. See each project for a detailed description.
Pickups are available from 8 am-11 pm all Sundays expect the last two Sundays of the year.
Can’t make on a Sunday?
Let us know, we are flexible!
We don’t expect volunteers or interns to be experts in Spanish, but we want them to be able to communicate in their projects.
If you don’t know Spanish, don’t worry! We offer intensive Spanish classes before your program.
Bear in mind that if you join an internship in Guatemala, you will be expected to communicate in Spanish.
Welcome at the airport and private transport to your host family.
24-hour on-call support from in-country staff and emergency assistance.
Program and project orientation.
Private room accommodation (shared bathroom) with a host family with two meals per day OR shared room in hostel accommodation.
Certificate of completion of the program
Extra costs:
Flights to and from Guatemala
Transportation upon finishing the program
Mandatory travel health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance, we can help you purchase a policy
Two accommodation choices are available:
Host Family: You will be provided with your room in a welcoming local host family near your project. The host family provided two meals per day.
Volunteer hostel: The hostel option is for people who want to meet other travelers and volunteers. The accommodation is dormitory-style, includes breakfast and a locker. Hostel accommodation is available only at some project choices.
Many volunteers are surprised to find that they have to pay a fee, but to make our programs sustainable, we have to charge a fee per volunteer. Many of the costs are incurred even before you leave your home country.
Included in your program are Spanish classes (if you included them), housing, food, orientation, walking tour, emergency support, transport from the airport, use of our facilities, etc. Your fees go into paying our kind staff, teachers, legal fees, taxes, host families, food, transportation, internet, phone bills, other utilities,maintenance, rental space, insurance, office supplies, volunteer application process, emergency support, arranging and designing all of our programs, infrastructure, maintaining our website, making promotional material, establishing new partnerships with other organizations and much more! But most importantly, these fees go into making sure you have great experience volunteering and everything runs smoothly.
You will arrive at Aurora international airport in Guatemala City (GUA) where you will be greeted by one of our friendly staff members. Please look for a sign with your name on it.
Costs vary depending on how long you want to stay, visit our costs section and options you choose.
This beauty of a country in Central America is bordered by Mexico to the West and North, the Pacific Ocean to the South, Belize to the Northeast, the Caribbean to the Northeast, Honduras to the East, and El Salvador to the Southeast. Its area is of 108,890 km2 (42,043 sq mi) with a population of 16 million.
Its name comes from the Nauhatl Cuauhtemallan “Place of many trees” and Guatemala is known as “El país de la eterna primavera” or the country of eternal spring.
Climate:
Weather conditions vary from season to season and region to region. The rainy season is from May to October and the dry season overlaps from the end of October to the end of May. Temperatures vary little during the year. the average high temperature is 32ºC and the lowest it gets to is 8ºC in the highlands.
History
Once the site of an impressive ancient Mayan civilization, Guatemala was conquered by the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado in 1524 and it became a republic in 1839 after the United Provinces of Central America collapsed. From 1898 to 1920, dictator Manuel Estrada Cabrera ran the country, and from 1931 to 1944, Gen. Jorge Ubico Castaneda served as a strongman.
Currency: El Quetzal (bearing the name of the national bird). USD 1.00 = Q 7.7 (average exchange rate, September 2019). Dollars can be used in some tourist places but not throughout the country.
Daily staple foods: Corn, rice, black beans, chicken, diversity of vegetables and fruits.
Volunteer by assisting local staff with cooking, elaborating educational material, playing games, teaching basic colors, letters and creating a safe environment for children from low-income communities.
Volunteer teaching children in schools of after school programs. You can teach a class directly or become a teacher assistant depending on the group, knowledge in a specific field, and other factors. Popular subjects include English teaching, math, art, science, and other core subjects.
Volunteer with sea turtles by helping during their nesting season in hatcheries,beach patrols and preservation education
Environmental conservation volunteers work in national parks, environmental reservations, and research stations. The work revolves around keeping a healthy Eco-system, educational campaigns and sometimes research.
Pre-med volunteering is perfect for people who are in pre-med stages or are thinking of majoring in medicine or a related field. As opposed to the medical intern program, volunteers in health support schools, elderly homes, chronic pain clinics, and programs for individuals with disabilities.
This program is designed to make the most out of education tailored to individuals with special needs. Volunteers in this program will be assisting and helping educate of people with various mental and physical disabilities.
Work in rural clinics assisting doctors and nurses tend to appointments and emergencies alike.
Work in clinics under the guidance of head nurses and administrative staff .
The microfinance and business internship program is perfect for people with a background in finance, economics, accounting, marketing, and related fields. Interns in this program work to mentor small and medium business owners to have sustainable growth and the right tools to manage their company and small loans.
The physiotherapy internship program is for people that are studying or have completed a degree in physiotherapy, rehabilitation or occupational therapy. The clinic in Costa Rica focuses on individuals with restricted mobility and chronic pain. Interns can also help in physiotherapy sessions at an assisted living facility.
The veterinary program places vet students in clinics where they can assist veterinary doctors and technicians.
Hospitality and tourism internships are for participants who want real-world experience in the fast-moving world of the travel industry.
Dental internships abroad are a great opportunity to work with seasoned professionals.
¨Guatemala was a brilliant way to spend my summer. It was a great learning experience and a fantastic opportunity to meet and bond with people of a different culture, and a great chance to mix hard work with lots of fun¨
©INLEXCA 2022
EN 
ES 
FR 
DE