Guatemala Gap Year, Volunteering & Tours

Guatemala is the hidden gem of the Americas with amazing cities, ancient ruins, scenic towns and world famous lakes. Guatemala is far less touristy compared to similar countries in the region, but you will be rewarded if you take a gap year or go backpacking here.

Jobs, Volunteer Programs & Backpacker Trips in Guatemala

Gap Year in Guatemala

If you want to travel, go backpacking, volunteer, work, study or book an adventure, we can help you plan a dream trip. There are lots of things you can do including volunteering programs, teaching jobs and group tours. Guatemala is a very affordable destination and trips are available to book all year round. If you would like to visit more countries in the region view our guide to taking a gap year in Central America.

Guatemala Adventure Tours

On group tours you can experience the rich cultural history and tradition of the Maya, climb to the crater of one of Guatemala’s many volcanoes, relax on the black sand beaches of the Pacific coast, find ancient pyramids and temples hidden in the jungle.

Other highlights include hanging out in picturesque, cosmopolitan Spanish colonial towns, hiking through the many microclimates of the highlands, and sharing in local festivals full of color, sound, and excitement.

There is truly something for everyone in Guatemala and a small group tour allows you to experience the highlights of the country including Antigua, Tikal and Lake Atitlan. Additionally, if you would like to explore more of Central America, you can book trips which also include other popular destinations in the itinerary including Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica.

Volunteer in Guatemala

Spend a gap year volunteering in Guatemala and experience first-hand the unique and ancient culture of the Maya while improving, or gaining, Spanish language skills. There are a range of Guatemala volunteer experiences from teaching, to working on organic farms, helping animals or communities.

The UNESCO World Heritage town of Antigua, about an hour from Guatemala City, is where a lot of volunteer placements are located.

Some projects are on the shores of Lake Atitlan, a 12 mile diameter lake created by a dormant collapsed volcano. These small, unique and charming lakeside villages are geographically connected and volunteers are able to meet regularly via boat, creating an intertwined community of placements in a truly magical location.

Work or Teach in Guatemala

Are you interested in moving to Guatemala and finding a job? A popular option is to take a TEFL course and then teach English here. Local language schools hire English teachers all year round. During your weekends and time off, there are plenty of opportunities for you to explore the region around your placement as well as other parts of Guatemala!

Study Spanish in Guatemala

Are you keen to learn a language on a gap year? Guatemala is a great place to study Spanish and find out more about Latin American culture. Classes are great value for money and can be booked all year round.

There are a ridiculous amount of Spanish Schools in both Antigua and Quetzaltenango (often known as Xela). The fierce competition means that rates are some of the cheapest to be found in all Latin America. For example, typical prices are less than half those offered in Mexico. Many schools will also offer homestay opportunities with their programs, so you can really immerse yourself.

If you take lessons in the historic city of Antigua and you’ll be able to see wonderful sights, such as Saint Joseph Cathedral and the 18th-century La Merced Church, as well as try salsa dancing.

Best Things To Do When Backpacking in Guatemala

Guatemala may be small, but it’s packed full of things for travellers to do. Here, we have selected some of them and presented them in a completely original and groundbreaking list-like format for you. Isn’t the internet great?

Climb a volcano

Guatemala is not short on seismic activity, and as a result the country’s landscape is littered with towering volcanic peaks, both of the dormant and active type. The most accessible, and perhaps the most thrilling, is Pacaya, a couple of hours drive out of the tourist-hub of Antigua. Adventurers climb through volcanic rock on a quest to find real life flowing lava.

Depending on the conditions (remember it is a volcano and it is in a constant process of change), you may be lucky enough to come across a river-like rapid of glowing hot liquid gushing down the mountainside. Be sure of foot though, there are no protective fences between you and the lava. There are other more challenging climbs around Antigua, as well as Quetzaltenango (Xela) for the serious hiker. It is highly recommended to go along with a reputable tour company since danger abounds in various forms!

Stand atop an ancient Mayan temple

Tikal was once one of the most powerful Mayan cities, and much of its remnants have been restored for modern appreciation and learning. Deep in the El Peten jungle, its temple tops soar above the tallest of the trees. The brave of heart are able to climb several of the crazy steep structures to look down upon the canopy, people and, often, monkeys below. Awe-inspiring and educational at the same time, Tikal will blow the socks off everyone – from the most hardcore archaeology-nerd to the most historically naïve.

Boat across Lago de Atitlan

Aldous Huxley had an unrelenting passion for this lake, and it’s easy to see why. Its deep blue waters surrounded by steep volcano slopes and dotted in villages where traditional dress is still the norm, Atitlan is a breath-taking beauty. Amazingly, many of the villages speak entirely different native languages even though it is possible to stand on the shore of one and peer across the waters to a neighbouring community on the other side.

A particular highlight of Atitlan is in the village of Santiago, where an effigy of Maximon, a rum drinking, cigar smoking religious deity resides. Santiago also witnessed horrible atrocities during the violence of the 1980’s and early 90’s. Some evidence of the happenings can be seen in local art works. For the adventure-goers, seek out the cliffs near San Marcos for some extreme jumping possibilities!

Swim in the Green Pools of Semuc Champey

In the heart of Guatemala, not too far from the city of Coban, Semuc Champey is a series of refreshing green pools.

A powerful river roars underground for a short section, perhaps 200 metres long, while above ground, some sort of geological phenomenon causes the pools to form. They gently flow from one to the other in small steps with crystal clear, green water trickling down in harmonious bliss.

You can get the adrenalin going again in a series of caves just down the way. They can be explored, with the help of a guide. Light your way with a candle as you climb through waterfalls and jump off cliffs into the dark.

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