Guatemala Program Details

Accommodation and Food

You will stay with a family in Quetzaltenango (Xela for short) where you will receive a private room and 3 meals per day. The families are always very friendly and excited to teach you about the culture of Guatemala! You will receive more details about your host family prior to departure.

Insurance, Health and Safety

United Planet provides emergency medical insurance for all of its Short Term volunteers. You receive policy information by email prior to departure, and also the emergency number to call if you are treated for any medical issues.  Insurance also covers baggage loss up to $500 and trip interruption due to extraordinary circumstances.* Upon sign up you will also receive a full guide to health and safety in your country. We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment a few months out to update your vaccinations, etc. or visiting a travel health clinic. Your doctor can recommend the appropriate vaccinations and travel medicine. Please see the Health and Safety page for more information.

Transportation and Flights

Volunteers fly into Guatemala City La Aurora International Airport (GUA) and from there will be collected by a United Planet representative and escorted to the bus station and put on a bus - 4 hours trip - to Xela. The United Planet Coordinator will meet you when the bus arrives in Xela and will introduce you to your host family.  Public transportation to/from your project is cheap and easy with Xela’s bus system.  Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.

Tips on how to find an inexpensive flight can be found in our Cost Savings 2010 guide.

Start Dates

 

Programs start any Monday of the month.


Activities

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It’s not all about hard work in Guatemala! Soak up some culture and history as well: While you’ll be volunteering on average between 30 and 40 hours a week, we also think it’s important that our volunteers relax and learn about their host community. All Short-Term Guatemala Quests include cultural activities (such as cooking or salsa dance lessons) and language lessons (10 hours per week). Please see below to find out which excursions are included in your program. One week stays do not include an excursion outside of Xela. 

 

What’s Included:

  • Pre-departure Training
  • Airport transfers
  • Bus between Guatemala City and Xela
  • Travel Insurance
  • Accommodations with host families
  • Meals
  • Full Coordination while in Xela
  • Cultural activities: Salsa and cooking lessons
  • 10 hours per week of private Spanish lessons
  • Exciting excursions every other weekend. Possible excursions include a visit to Volcan Tajumulco, trip to Pana and Antigua, and visiting the coast.
   What’s Not Included
  • Flights
  • Vaccination fees
  • Visa fees
  • Local transportation

Optional Excursion:
  • 1-2 Day trekking options

Optional Intensive Spanish Course (jump to bottom of page)


Program Fee

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  1
Week		 10
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Wks		 5
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Wks

Price

1665

1785

1965

2215

2440

2665

2890

3115

3340

3565

3790

4015

4240

*$25 Evaluation Refund

Discounts and Special Family Rates

Special Family Rates:
1st parent: Full Quest fee
2nd parent: 10% off of 1 full Quest fee
Children under 12: 50% off the full Quest fee
Children 12 and up: 10% off the full Quest fee

  

Discounts:
Couples: receive 10% off of 1 full Quest fee
Referrals: Introduce someone who signs up for a Quest program and you will receive a 10% discount!

*Evaluation Refund ($25)

Your feedback is very important to us! Upon receiving your online evaluation within one month of the completion of your Quest, you will be refunded $25. Instead of receiving your $25 refund, you may choose to donate that $25 to the Country Fund of your Quest host country. United Planet Country Funds support program development and sustainable development projects in volunteer host communities. Please note that UP will only refund one survey per family.

Optional Spanish Language Immersion Course

Rusty on your Spanish? You can add a one or two week intensive Spanish Language course and practice your conversation skills. Instead of starting work at your assigned project, volunteers spend the first one or two weeks studying Spanish in a language school in Xela.

Volunteers receive 25 hours of group lessons, or 25 hours of individual lessons (depending on Spanish level) per week. There is an additional charge for the Spanish Language Immersion Course on top of the Quest fee:

  • 1 week Spanish Language Immersion Course: $90
  • 2 week Spanish Language Immersion Course: $180

Why Pay to Volunteer

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Learn how your program fee is spent.

Still have Questions?

Please call one of our friendly Quest Coordinators at 1-800.292.2316 or Request Info here!

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