GUATEMALA
LAND OF THE MAYA
Children & Education Track
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.
Note: This service-learning track is combined with our Guatemala: Land of the Maya – Medicine & Public Health Track. All students share the same Home Base, cultural immersion and adventure activities. However, service-specific experiences such as service work, hands-on projects and site visits are tailored to each track, ensuring you gain focused learning within your chosen academic theme.
On GLA’s Guatemala: Land of the Maya – Children & Education Track 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
- Zipline through Guatemala’s scenic mountains
- Learn traditional weaving techniques from master artisans and sample local delicacies at a chocolate museum
Program Menu
GUATEMALA
LAND 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
Fly into La Aurora International Airport (GUA/MGGT) in Guatemala City, where you’ll be met at the airport by a GLA staff member. We’ll drive to the colonial town of Antigua, where you’ll meet the other students, and we’ll begin our orientation. Learn about some important cultural norms in Guatemala, review the GLA Code of Conduct, and start to get to know each other as we begin this exciting journey.
Days 3-6: Service & Adventure
Start your mornings volunteering at a local school—meet teachers, learn about the community, and support students through English activities, art, and games. Recess is a highlight, with energetic playtime alongside Guatemalan kids. Each day offers new insights into education and culture in Guatemala. Afternoons are for adventure and exploration: zipline through the forest, join a salsa class, and dive into a hands-on chocolate workshop with local artisans.
Days 7-9: Adventure Continues & Service Wrap Up
Take a break from service and head out on a hike at Lake Chicabal where we will witness a Mayan ceremony taking place. Continue your adventure the next day and head out to enjoy a natural hot spring!
Get ready to wrap up your service projects at the school, including teaching final lessons to the kids, planting trees to beautify the campus, painting a mural, or any other projects that you’ve become involved in to address community needs.
Days 10-11: Excursion To Lake Atitlán & Mayan Culture
Travel to stunning Lake Atitlán for a boat ride to a Maya village, local market visits, and breathtaking views. Back in Antigua, explore the colonial city, visit an organic coffee farm (with samples!), and learn about Maya wedding traditions from local women—complete with tortilla-making and traditional coffee roasting.
End the journey with a special farewell dinner and reflection on your time in Guatemala.
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast and final goodbyes, we’ll travel to the airport to begin our journey home. GLA staff will ensure that you’re checked in for your flight and are prepared for the trip home. ¡Buen Viaje!
Program Map
GUATEMALA
LAND OF THE MAYA
Program Details
Dates & Tuition
2027 Session Dates
June 26 – July 07, 2027
July 19 – July 30, 2027
What's Included in Tuition
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
to hold your spot on-program.
Program at a Glance
Program Location: Guatemala
Program Type(s): Career Exploration, Service-Learning
Every GLA Program is 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
Gabrielle | 2015 Alumni Student
“I traveled with Global Leadership Adventures on the Children of the Maya trip to Guatemala, and I can truly say that it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I not only met some amazing people from the country itself, but I met other students who are now some of my closest friends. Working with the kids at the schools where we volunteered was so heartwarming. We were all able to connect with these kids and to feel like we were making an impact. On top of all that, I gained a whole new understanding of Guatemalan culture that I never could have gotten without traveling with GLA and learning from the mentors and the local people we met. It was truly a life-changing experience, one that I will never forget.”
The Program Experience
Career Exploration
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!
Service Learning
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.
Adventure
Take a short hike to Laguna Chicabal, a serene crater lake nestled in the caldera of a volcano, where you’ll uncover the mystique and natural beauty of Guatemala. Zipline through the Guatemalan mountains, taking in breathtaking views. Explore the charm of Antigua’s streets, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and immerse yourself in its colonial architecture. As part of a two-day excursion, you’ll also spend a night on the shores of sacred Lake Atitlán.
Country Spotlight
Experience the rich Maya heritage and vibrant mountain culture of Xela and the Guatemalan highlands.
Lodging: 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.
Meals: Savor wholesome, fresh meals rooted in Guatemalan traditions, featuring local staples such as handmade tortillas, beans, rice, fresh vegetables, tropical fruits and traditional regional dishes served fresh at Home Base.
GUATEMALA
LAND OF THE MAYA
Photo Gallery
GUATEMALA
LAND OF THE MAYA
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