Antigua, Guatemala
Summary
Located in the central highlands of Guatemala, the city of Antigua (pop. 52,000) is the best-preserved colonial city in Spanish America. Antigua is famous for its Spanish-influenced architecture, Spanish language schools, surrounding volcanoes, moderate year-round climate, and for being the most popular tourist destination in Guatemala.
Programs
We have the following programs based in Antigua:
The Home Construction program takes place in the mountain areas around Antigua, approximately 30 minutes from Antigua proper where volunteers live. The orphanage volunteer work takes place both in Antigua proper as well as locations 15-30 minutes outside of Antigua.
Overview
In terms of the living and working experience for our volunteers, no other location on our website has Antigua's unique combination of natural beauty, architectural aesthetic, historical siginificance, meaningful volunteer work, walkability, safety, and proximity to North America.
To get a sense of this magnificent city and its environs, please click on the photos to the right and view our photo albums on our Facebook Page.
Getting There
Most volunteers fly into Guatemala City (GUA). Our local staff will meet you at the airport, then travel with you by
private minivan to Antigua. Depending on traffic, the drive from Guatemala City to Antigua takes 30-60 minutes. You will be dropped off at your host family for introductions and your first meal.
Language
Spanish is the main language in Antigua, followed by indigenous Mayan languages.
For the Home Construction program, no Spanish is required.
For orphanage volunteering, you must have at least beginner's Spanish, so that you can interact better with the children and staff.
Antigua has become known as one of the most famous spots in the world for foreigners to learn Spanish. There are language schools seemingly on every block. Fortunately, our local partners run one of the best schools around, where you get 10 free one-on-one lessons as part of your program fee. Because Antigua is so geared for tourists, you can get by with just English-only frequently, but making an effort to learn some words and phrases is best.
Accommodations
You will stay with a local Guatemalan family in the city of Antigua. The families speak
Spanish but also have at least one family member who speaks English. They will provide you with a clean and comfortable room, meals from Monday-Saturday, and generally help you adjust to and learn
about their culture and country. The host families have been hand-picked
and trained by our local Coordinators. Our families typically host several volunteers at a time, so you can easily stay in the same house
with your friends/partner/family. You can also stay in separate host
families that are very near to each other.
Meals
Meals at your Host Family:
The host family provides three meals a day from Monday-Saturday (on Sunday you're on your own). Meals are served at specific times, typically 730am, 1230pm, and 630pm. The meals will be a mix of Guatemalan and western food. Breakfast usually has cereal, oatmeal, fruit, bread, coffee, beans, eggs, in some combinations.
Lunch is the largest meal of the day in Guatemala, usually featuring food like tortillas, corn, eggs, beans, chicken, beef, rice, soup, salad, and vegetables. Dinner is typically a quick meal, consisting
of beans, rice, eggs, and tortillas. Pasta, ramen noodles, and tamales also makes an appearance occasionally.
Meals Outside Your Host Family:
There is a seemingly endless variety of options in Antigua. In the morning, bakeries have tons of pastries, local breads, and coffee. There are all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets for $5 USD. For lunch, try a huge plate of rice and chicken ("arroz con pollo") for $1 USD at a "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant. For dinner, you can find good Thai, sushi, Chinese food as well as fast-food chicken chain Pollo Campero. In between meals, try a snack or local drink from one of the street vendors.
Phones
We strongly urge you to have a mobile phone during your stay. The best option is to buy one upon arrival in Antigua. You can buy and activate a reliable basic Nokia phone for $25 USD (at one of the supermarkets). Alternatively, you can buy an "international phone" at home OR bring your own phone from home. Any phone you bring to Guatemala must work on the GSM 850 and 1900 frequencies in Guatemala (also you might need a shop in Antigua to "unlock" the phone).
Internet
Most families have WIFI, which you are free to use with your laptop. Some even have a common desktop computer for free use by volunteers. Alternatively, there are many Internet cafes around Antigua, with rates of $1 per hour.
Transportation
For the Home Construction project, door-to-door transportation is provided by the masons from your host family to the building site, as part of your program fee. For orphanage volunteering, volunteers take public transportation to the orphanage. This usually means a crowded public "chicken bus" (school bus) which costs about $2 per day round-trip.
Health
It is very easy to stay healthy Antigua.
The biggest problem faced by volunteers is usually an occasional
upset stomach as their bodies adjust to the food and water. You
cannot drink tap water; only drink bottled water (provided by your host family). Do not try any street food until you have been in Guatemala at least one week. Using hand sanitizer regularly is a good idea too. There are
hospitals with ER's as well as smaller clinics in Antigua.
For serious illnesses, we will take you immediately to one of the large hospitals in Guatemala City.
Safety
Antigua is very secure in terms of personal safety.
The city has armed tourist police everywhere, easily identified by their yellow vests. Taking normal precautions will ensure a safe stay, such as not walking in secluded areas alone, not walking alone at night (take taxis after 9pm), and not flashing a lot of cash or bling.
Climate/Weather
Antigua has a moderate climate year-round. There are two distinct seasons:
- Dry (winter) season from November to February. Average daytime temperatures range from 60-70F.
- Rainy (summer) season from May to October. Daytime temperatures get as high as 85F. Clear skies in the morning, then often showers in the afternoon and evening.
Sightseeing & Activities
The possibilities are seemingly endless! No trip to Guatemala would be complete without a visit to a volcano. There are also day trips to coffee farms ("fincas"), Mayan ruins, and rural villages. For 2-3 day trips, consider seeing Lago Atitlan, indigenous markets in Chichicastenango, and Quetzaltenango. You can also take a guided tour of the garbage slums of Guatemala city, given by a non-profit organization that helps children there.
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