Holiday Experience Volunteer Program in Guatemala - Antigua
Want to deck the halls and have a Holiday Experience as a volunteer in Guatemala? International Volunteer HQ’s Holiday program enables volunteers to help with a range of community initiatives over the festive season. These could include volunteering with disadvantaged children, coordinating holiday parties for residents in elderly care facilities, or helping in an animal shelter or at a coffee farm. It’s a great way to contribute meaningfully to the community over the holidays in a variety of areas when many volunteer projects are closed, while also getting to enjoy the sparkling atmosphere of Antigua over Christmas and New Year.
Highlights:
- Only available the weeks of Christmas and New Years
- Affordable fees from CA$673 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Help arrange festive activities and make a difference during the holidays
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Discover Guatemala’s incredible volcanoes and beaches
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Celebrate Christmas and New Year with a local family or other volunteers
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
The holiday period in Guatemala is vibrant, colorful and exciting. This special project is designed to help volunteers enjoy the festive season while pitching in with valuable community initiatives. Many projects are closed at this time of year, but this provides an inspiring way to still do something meaningful and contribute to the local community.
Please note, the order of this work may be subject to change based on local requirements. In 2023, this project is only available to volunteers who begin the weeks of 18th and 25th December - volunteers should arrive on the day before the project starts.
See the Holiday Experience Schedule for 2023 to learn more about what to expect.
Why do Holiday Experience volunteering in Antigua with IVHQ?
When you volunteer during the holidays in Guatemala you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Bringing the community together over the holiday season
- Connecting with the young and old
- Practicing your Spanish
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining a variety of volunteer experiences
- Immersing yourself in Guatemalan culture
- Experiencing the festive season in vibrant Antigua
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program
- Volunteers aged 16-18 are required to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
- All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
- All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
- All volunteers must speak fluent English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Guatemala photo gallery
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course creditRead reviews from Holiday Experience volunteers in Antigua
”It was wonderful to see our kids so excited about helping. They really threw themselves into the work. My job is stressful and our cases seem interminable, so I really appreciated the instant gratification of hoeing and painting. It was rewarding to know that the locals who passed by the weather-worn clinic in the morning would see a brighter facade on their way home that day and in the future.”
Megan, American, 49
Read reviews from Holiday Experience volunteers in Antigua
Location
When you walk the cobblestone streets of Antigua it is easy to see why it has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Baroque architecture, Spanish colonial churches and brightly painted buildings can be admired on nearly every corner. The urban environment speaks to the rich history of the city which dates back to the 1500s and includes a number of destructive earthquakes which have seen it repaired and rebuilt over a long period of time.
IVHQ’s Guatemala program is based in Antigua with placements in the city and surrounding areas. At these placements you’re likely to see the struggle faced by many Guatemalans living with limited resources. Despite the beauty of the place and its busy tourism industry, Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Its citizens can benefit greatly from the support volunteers can give local initiatives which strive to improve their lives.
Antigua is located approximately 30 minutes from Guatemala City.
Arrival and orientation
WEEK 1: December 18th start date
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City on the Sunday before your start date.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Antigua. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Guatemala prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Antigua on the day before your program orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our local team at their office in Antigua. Orientation begins on Sunday and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Guatemala – an introduction to Guatemala, Guatemalan customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Guatemala, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Your check out is at 11am on the last Saturday of your program.
WEEK 2: December 25th start date
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City on the Monday before your start date.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Antigua. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Guatemala prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up in Antigua on the day before your program orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our local team at their office in Antigua. Orientation begins on Monday and covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Guatemala – an introduction to Guatemala, Guatemalan customs, language training details, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Guatemala, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Your check out is at 11am on the last Saturday of your program.
Volunteer schedule example
WEEK 1:
| Sunday, December 17th | Arrival & Orientation - Arrival, pick-up, transportation to housing and orientation |
| Monday, December 18th | Holiday Party for the Elderly - Spread the Holiday Spirit at an elderly home by playing games, preparing a special holiday snack, dancing, and providing much needed company and conversation. |
| Tuesday, December 19th | Conservation Project - Support eco-sustainable agriculture volunteering alongside local farmers. |
| Wednesday, December 20th | Community Development - Paint, garden, work on light repairs or construction work. Work varies depending on community needs. |
| Thursday, December 21st | Mayan Immersion - Enjoy a day of celebration with a local Mayan community and learn more about how they celebrate the holiday season! |
| Friday, December 22nd | Children’s Holiday Party - Show the kids a great time for the holiday! Play games, arts and crafts– celebrate by bringing gifts and food to the project. |
| Saturday, December 23rd | Departure |
WEEK 2:
| Sunday, December 24th | Arrival & Orientation - Arrival, pick-up, transportation to housing and orientation |
| Monday, December 25th | Christmas Day - Closed |
| Tuesday, December 26th | Holiday Party for the Elderly - Spread the Holiday Spirit at an elderly home by playing games, preparing a special holiday snack, dancing, and providing much needed company and conversation. |
| Wednesday, December 27th | Community Development - Paint, garden, work on light repairs or construction work. Work varies depending on community needs. |
| Thursday, December 28th | Conservation Project - Support eco-sustainable agriculture volunteering next to local farmers. |
| Friday, December 29th | Children’s Holiday Party - Show the kids a great time for the holiday! Play games, arts and crafts– celebrate by bringing gifts and food to the project. |
| Saturday, December 30th | Departure |
Accommodation and WiFi
Volunteers who are under the age of 27 are accommodated alongside other volunteers in a large, dormitory style volunteer house, and those over the age of 27 are accommodated in smaller local homestays. If you are traveling as a family, the local team will place you in a home-stay.
Living is comfortable with electricity, running water and western bathrooms. Low pressure showers should be expected and the water is not always heated. You will need to bring your own towel and toiletries, but bed linen is provided.
Bedrooms have single beds and bunk beds with bedding provided. You can expect to share a room with 2 - 6 other volunteers of the same gender. Private room upgrades are available in Antigua and cost $62 per person, per week.
WiFi is available at the volunteer houses and homestays. However, the connection may not be as reliable as what you are used to at home. You will also have access to computers and WiFi at the local team’s office in Antigua.
Please note, volunteers under the age of 18 who are traveling solo will be accommodated separately from those over the age of 18, in a homestay. If there are other volunteers under the age of 18 participating at the same time, the local team will do their best to ensure they are accommodated together.
Meals
Volunteers are provided breakfast and dinner at their accommodation. Breakfast will be bread or tortillas, spreads, fruit and eggs with tea or coffee. Dinner commonly consists of meat, beans, starches and vegetables.
Lunches are not provided to Antigua-based volunteers as they are usually away from their accommodation around midday. We recommend budgeting between CA$4 and CA$7 per day to buy lunch at local restaurants recommended by staff. Tap water in Guatemala is not potable and drinking water is not provided for you in your accommodation, however bottled water is easy to purchase and inexpensive throughout Guatemala. Tap water can be used for showers and brushing your teeth.
When you apply for the program, please be sure to notify us of any special dietary requirements so we can make arrangements for you.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
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|---|---|
| 1 week | CA$673 Equivalent to CA$96/day |
| 2 weeks | CA$1153 Equivalent to CA$82/day |
- Accommodation
- Breakfast and dinner
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Discounts on language lessons
- Discounts on travel and tour add-ons
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately CA$471) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in CAD.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transportation to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Guatemala generally find US$100 per week to be sufficient for expenses, such as lunches (except for Beach and Turtle Conservation and Mayan Cultural Immersion volunteers), in-country tours, and Spanish language lessons.
Recommended activities and tour add-ons
We believe that no volunteer adventure would be complete without experiencing the natural wonders of your host country. That’s why we offer volcano and coffee farm tours, surfing lessons and mini adventures, exclusively available to IVHQ volunteers in Guatemala as affordable add-ons.
Please note that volunteers on the Beach & Turtle Conservation, Mayan Cultural Immersion and Eco-Agriculture projects are only able to do the following add ons before or after their program, not during.
Please contact us or your IVHQ Program Manager to book or get more information about any of the following activities and tours.
This incredible historic site is located 60 minutes from Antigua. The tour is available at 2 different times each day, either 8 AM or 1 PM, and lasts approximately 6 hours. You will be picked up and dropped off at the local team’s office. Bilingual guide and entrance tickets are included
Sample local fresh fruits while you visit the famous Central Market and Market El Carmen. Continue your tour with a visit to Museo San Francisco and Casa Santo Domingo.
Walking tour of Antigua with special visits to sample 4 local cuisines
Experience fantastic views of the Panchoy Valley and roast marshmallows on hot lava rocks! At sunset, participants get to enjoy wine/beer or non-alcoholic beverages accompanied by a cheese, grapes, and nuts plate. Bilingual guide and entrance tickets included.
Learn about ancient Mayan customs and traditions, including cooking, dance, costumes, and weaving. A traditional lunch is included.
Explore the grounds of the eco-village, enjoy any of their restaurants, and have access to play the different games that have been set up for guests to unwind and have some fun.
Participants will have the chance to see diverse wildlife, and potentially even some animal births while there! Every safari adventure is a new experience, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see the different species of flora and fauna from the region. The tour is by car and boat ride. Please note, this tour is only available Thursday to Sunday each week.
Participants take in the beautiful sights of the Santo Tomás church and stroll Santander Street. Participants eat lunch on their own in the market or at local restaurants. Bilingual guide and entrance tickets included.
Monterrico is a beautiful black sand beach that is situated on the Guatemalan Pacific ocean. On arrival at the Pacific Coast you will take a mangrove tour by boat. During your tour of the mangroves you will see many different seabirds that are endemic to Guatemala, like pelicans, herons, kingfishers.
Visit the coastal town of El Paredon on the Pacific Coast. Kayak or paddleboard along the mangroves, where you will see many different seabirds that are endemic to Guatemala, like pelicans, herons, and kingfishers. After the tour, your driver will take you to the beachfront hotel where you can enjoy the facilities during the day. You can swim in their pool, use the yoga deck or just enjoy the beach breeze while you have a bite to eat. Transport and guided kayak/paddleboard tour included.
Participants visit the pueblos of San Juan and Santiago around Lake Atitlan by private boat. You will immerse in the traditional market in Chichicastenango, and spend the night in Panajechel. Hotel accommodation, breakfast, bilingual guide and entrance tickets included.
Learn how to surf at a local Surf School in El Zonte, El Salvador - a charming coastal community that is popular amongst surfers. Just a short journey from your volunteer placement in Antigua, you won’t want to miss out on this surfers paradise. Transport, accommodation in dormitory-style housing, expert surf instructors, and surfboard included.
Visit a lush, tropical park known for its jungle views, numerous caves & swimming holes You will depart in the morning for a full day’s drive to Lanquin, where you can enjoy some relaxing time for the evening. On the second day, you will leave in a 4X4 ride for the Semuc Champey National Park. There you will enjoy a hike to “El Mirador”; Visit the Sumidero (where the river flows under the ground and back into the open), the Natural turquoise pools; an awesome tour of the Kamba caves; and tubing in the Cahabon river. On day three, you will return to Antigua early in the morning, with a stop at a Coffee Farm in Coban, before your return to Antigua.
Learn the history of the region by visiting the Copán Archaeological Park, one of the most important sites in Mayan history and UNESCO World Heritage Site. After exploring the secrets of the Mayan culture, you’ll visit Macaw Mountain, an impressive bird park working towards bird rehabilitation, breeding, and protection against poaching. Return transport Antigua - Copan Ruinas, and hotel accommodation included.
Your half-day Volcano Tour will take you to Pacaya Volcano, an active volcano within a national park with exciting thermal activity and stunning scenic views. Enjoy taking amazing photos and even roasting marshmallows over warm lava rocks.
Want to make sure you tick off all the must-see sites in Guatemala? The Mini Adventure combines the major hot spots in Guatemala into a 1-week excursion that can be added at the beginning or end of your volunteer program. You will be accompanied by a certified, bilingual tour guide for each trip, using Antigua as your home base between tours. The 6-day adventure complements your volunteer experience, without the stress of trip planning! It will begin on Sunday and finish the following Saturday morning, and accommodation is included from the Saturday before your adventure begins. Please note that your meals are not included on this trip.
The Mini Adventure includes:
PACAYA VOLCANO Set out on a half-day hike to climb Pacaya Volcano, a fully-active volcano and one of Guatemala’s best national parks. Take amazing photos and roast marshmallows over hot magma.
YALU COFEE FARM Start the day with an exhilarating zipline tour through the trees! Next, learn how the people of Yalu produce their rich and flavorful coffee. Choose two more activities to round out your day—pick fresh blackberries, walk the eco-trails, go horseback riding, catch some fish, or help milk the cows! End the day with a cup of Yalu’s finest coffee.
SURF SCHOOL Leave the town of Antigua and head over to the village of El Zonte in El Salvador. Enjoy your stay at a local surf hostel, and 2 days of private surf lessons with certified surfing instructors. Relax on the beach, try body boarding, and explore nearby caves and waterfalls. The hostel has a great ocean view, a nice pool, and hammocks for relaxing. Based on field conditions and logistics, surf school may be moved to Guatemala’s well-known Playa Hawaii surf destination.
TIKAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE Take a short flight from Guatemala City to Santa Elena, where you meet your guide and travel to Tikal National Park. Explore the “City of Voices” and learn about Mayan civilization and history. The next day you have an early breakfast and visit the Temple of the Jaguar, the Great Plaza, the Lost World, and you climb Temple IV. In the afternoon you fly back to Guatemala City.
If you would like to add a Mini Adventure to your trip, you can arrange this directly with your Program Manager once you are registered for the program.
Enjoy a challenging 2-day trek and camping adventure on the active Acatangego Volcano. You’ll hike 11 miles (8 kms) round-trip up this active volcano with an elevation gain of 5,150 ft (1,500 meterss). Be sure to pack your camera to capture the stunning views with neighboring volcanoes spewing lava while camping at 13,000 ft (3,963 meterss).
Spend a full day trekking up Acatenango Volcano, an active volcano in Guatemala with stunning views of neighboring volcanoes.
Enjoy a half-day tour of the Yalu Coffee Farm or Philadelphia Coffee Plantation, both working coffee farms, led by your own expert guide. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about the coffee production from plant to cup, and enjoy a coffee tasting at the end of your tour.
How to book IVHQ’s recommended add-ons:
When you apply for an IVHQ volunteer program, make a note of which tours and add-ons you’re interested in on your application form so we can check availability and prices for you.
Once you’ve paid your registration fee, your IVHQ Program Manager will be able to book your place on the tour(s) you have chosen and help you organize your trip.
Affordable Spanish language lessons
Fluency in Spanish is not a prerequisite for the IVHQ Guatemala program, however on certain projects volunteer work will be restricted with limited language ability. We recommend that volunteers take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers by our partner staff in Guatemala. Past volunteers feel that taking these lessons help immensely with day-to-day volunteer work and communicating with local people. Volunteers interested in taking Spanish lessons can arrange these directly with the IVHQ Program Manager prior to departure. The language lessons are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Spanish and classes run from Monday through to Friday. The cost is very affordable and offered exclusively to IVHQ volunteers. These lessons are not available for volunteers during the Beach and Turtle Conservation project, Mayan Cultural Immersion project, Eco-Agriculture project or Holiday Experience project due to the remoteness of these project locations. Volunteers on these projects can arrange lessons before or after their projects if they wish to stay longer in Antigua.
- 2-hour Small Group Classes: from CA$93 per week
- 1-hour Private Classes: from CA$100 per week
- 2-hour Private Classes: from CA$200 per week
How to book IVHQ’s language lessons: When you apply for your IVHQ volunteer program, make a note in your application of the language classes you’re interested in.
Once you’ve paid your registration fee, your IVHQ Program Manager will be able to book your place on your chosen language classes.
Check what's required to visit Guatemala
Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
| Capital | Guatemala City |
| Population | 15.08 million |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Currency | Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
Weather and climate: Guatemala has a range of micro climates and the high altitude of Guatemala City results in a subtropical highland climate in this region. There aren’t distinct seasons in Guatemala and the temperature is typically mild year round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 28°C (72°F to 82°F) during the day, and 12°C to 17°C (54°F to 63°F) at night. The country attracts winds and rain during the months of May to October with the hottest month being April.
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