GUATEMALA
CHILDREN OF THE MAYA
With stunning landscapes, warm hospitality and rich Maya culture, Guatemala offers adventure and the chance to make a meaningful difference for local children and your host community.
Program Overview
On this program, you will be immersed in indigenous culture, Maya heritage, and Guatemala’s epic mountainous landscapes. Based in Xela (pronounced “shay-lah”), the local name for the vibrant town of Quetzaltenango, this experience offers collaborative volunteer opportunities focused on education and children’s initiatives. Known for their warmth and pride in preserving ancient traditions, the Xela residents welcome student volunteers to partner with schools on projects that support educational efforts, language learning and infrastructure. Alongside your volunteer work, you’ll zipline through Guatemala’s mountains and explore the sacred Lake Atitlán during your time in Central America.
On GLA’s Guatemala: Children of the Maya™ program you will:
- Support education initiatives at local Guatemalan public schools
- Journey across the world-famous Lake Atitlán and take in sweeping views
- Attend a traditional ceremony led by a Maya shaman
- Stroll through the largest indigenous craft market in the hemisphere
- Zipline through Guatemala’s scenic mountains
Program Menu
GUATEMALA
CHILDREN OF THE MAYA
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Days 1-2: Arrival & Orientation
Arrive at La Aurora International Airport (GUA/MGGT) in Guatemala City, where a GLA staff member will greet you. We’ll then drive to Antigua for orientation, where you’ll meet other students, learn about Guatemalan cultural norms, review the GLA Code of Conduct, and begin your journey. You’ll also meet local Maya women who will teach the Maya wedding ceremony customs, followed by a hands-on experience making tortillas and roasting coffee traditionally.
Days 3-7: Service & Adventure
The next morning, you’ll start your community service project at a local school. Begin by meeting the teachers to understand the community’s socioeconomic situation, which will help you make a bigger impact on the children’s lives.
At midday, enjoy the lively chaos of recess! Play with Guatemalan elementary students, jumping rope and playing soccer, setting an energetic tone for your volunteer work. In the classroom, help students improve their English through art, conversation, learning games, and by evaluating the methods you and your peers use. Daily volunteering will give insight into local challenges like education, children’s issues, and preserving indigenous culture.
In the afternoons, enjoy cultural activities, including a textile workshop with local weavers, ziplining through the forest, and relaxing in natural hot springs!
Days 8-9: Two-Day Excursion to Lake Atitlán
In the morning, we’ll drive to Lake Atitlán, the sacred Maya lake and one of the world’s most beautiful. Enjoy a boat ride to a Maya village, explore local artisan markets, and take in the stunning scenery. We’ll spend the night at a lakeside hotel.
The next morning, we’ll travel to Chichicastenango, home to the largest Maya craft market in the Americas, where artisans from across the country gather—an unforgettable sight!
Days 10-12: Service Wrap-Up, Adventure & More Mayan Culture
As your service projects at the school wrap up, you’ll teach final lessons, plant trees, paint a mural, or complete any other projects you’ve worked on to support the community.
Next, explore Maya cosmology with a visit to a sacred mountain, where a local shaman will lead an ancient ceremony. You’ll also enjoy a chocolate workshop and take a salsa dancing class!
Day 13: Adventure & Final Celebration
Our group will depart Xela early in the morning for Antigua, where you’ll spend your last afternoon exploring the colonial city and doing some final shopping. We’ll also visit an organic coffee plantation with delicious samples! In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner and reflect on your time in Guatemala.
Day 14: Departures
After breakfast and final goodbyes, we’ll head to the airport to begin our journey home. GLA staff will assist with check-in and ensure you’re ready for the trip. ¡Buen Viaje!
Program Map
GUATEMALA
CHILDREN OF THE MAYA
Community Service
Spend your days in Xela fully engaged with the local primary school and surrounding community. You and your peers will volunteer on community-led initiatives that promote better access to education, such as helping refurbish the library, classrooms, or other school facilities. You’ll also have the opportunity to play games with children during recess and collaborate with organizations working to improve school grounds. While volunteering on these meaningful projects, you’ll learn about the social issues affecting Maya youth today.
Hands-on Learning
Learn about key issues facing communities in Guatemala, including access to quality education and the challenge of preserving indigenous culture in a rapidly evolving world. You’ll meet local leaders who will share diverse perspectives on Guatemala’s rich history. To deepen your cultural immersion, you’ll also meet a local shaman who will introduce you to indigenous cosmology. Learn from master artisans about traditional arts like weaving, and visit a chocolate museum and an organic coffee plantation—complete with samples for you to enjoy!
Adventure
You’ll hike to Laguna Chicabal, a crater lake nestled within a dormant volcano, as you journey through a stretch of Central American wilderness. Zipline with your new friends against the backdrop of the region’s lush, mountainous landscape. For a taste of city life, you’ll venture to the small city of Antigua, a colonial gem known for its stunning architecture, colorful alleys, and cobblestone streets. As part of a weekend excursion, you’ll spend a night at sacred Lake Atitlán and visit the vibrant Chichicastenango market, the largest Maya craft market in the world.
Lodging & Meals
Your GLA Home Base is an enclosed compound in the heart of Xela. This comfortable lodge offers students and staff a peaceful retreat from the bustling town and community service sites. Students stay in gender-segregated rooms, with shared bathrooms and hot showers. The Home Base is quaint, with a welcoming atmosphere that fosters close connections and a strong sense of community.
GUATEMALA
CHILDREN OF THE MAYA
Dates & Tuition
14-Day Program
2025 Session Dates
July 01 – July 14, 2025
Program Details
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“My GLA experience was amazing. I went to Guatemala for two weeks this past summer and I definitely felt like a different person when I returned. Not only did I make friends that I am still in contact with, but I met many Guatemalan children and adults that I will surely never forget. These experiences were incredibly eye-opening and I felt that I could really immerse in the culture.”
Lauren A. | Student | 2019
GUATEMALA
CHILDREN OF THE MAYA
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