LearningHalf day to full day
Learning · One-to-one lessons in the colonial highlands
Learn Spanish in one of the world's great language-school hubs, with private daily lessons and a carefully chosen homestay or boutique hotel in Antigua or Xela.
The experience
Guatemala has been a favourite place to learn Spanish for decades. Teachers here speak clearly and at a relaxed pace, lessons are traditionally one-to-one, and Antigua and Quetzaltenango, also called Xela, both have dozens of long-established schools. Antigua offers colonial charm and great dining. Xela is a working highland city with fewer English speakers, which makes it ideal for faster progress.
We match you with a school we trust and a teacher suited to your level and goals, whether you are a nervous beginner or polishing your fluency. Most programmes run four hours a day, Monday to Friday, often in a quiet garden courtyard. Afternoons are free for school activities, cooking classes or simply putting your new words to use at the market.
You can stay with a vetted local family for real immersion, or base yourself in a boutique hotel and visit a family for dinner. Your specialist can also add weekends at Lake Atitlán or on a volcano hike.
Best for: Lifelong learnersBest for: Career breakersBest for: Families with teens
What's included
- Placement test and goal-setting with your school
- 20 hours of one-to-one lessons per week
- Vetted homestay with meals, or a boutique hotel of your choice
- Course materials and certificate of completion
- School cultural activities and local outings
- Private airport transfers
Good to know
- Lessons start on Mondays. Arrive on the weekend to settle in.
- Even one week makes a noticeable difference. Two to four weeks is ideal.
- Xela is cooler and higher (around 2,330 m), so pack warm layers.
- Couples and families can study together or take separate private teachers.
Where: Antigua, Quetzaltenango (Xela)
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Daily breakfast · 7 guided activities · All private transfers · Domestic flight
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- Private boat days between Atitlán's Maya villages
- Tikal at first light, plus a sunset over Yaxhá's lagoons
From$3,650per person
≈ $7,300 for two · international flights excluded
6 days, 5 nights Antigua · Lake Atitlán
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Daily breakfast · 4 guided activities · All private transfers
- Rooftop sunsets over Volcán de Agua
- A hands-on Guatemalan cooking class in Antigua
- Private boat day to Santiago and San Juan La Laguna
- Sunrise hike to the Indian Nose above the lake
From$1,290per person
≈ $2,580 for two · international flights excluded
Tell us a little about your trip. Your specialist will reply within one working day with ideas, not a sales pitch.