Internships in Guatemala

All Intern Abroad HQ programs include a guided reflection course, which combines personal development with professional competency building. Interns receive weekly reflection modules to complete during their program, which foster the acquisition of essential soft skills for employability and a resilient career. Each reflective journaling task introduces a new topic, presents learning objectives, and provides specific prompts that inspire and guide the learning process.

Intern Abroad HQ does not award grades for the completion of our internship programs, but interns can be supported to independently arrange academic credit through their home educational provider. Upon completion of the internship duration and reflection course, interns receive a portfolio as documentation of their experience. This includes a certificate of internship completion, alongside a summary of the internship goals, skill development, highlights, and a compilation of the reflection work.

Programs begin on the first and third Monday of each month and participants may choose to spend a minimum of 2 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 week. All participants fly into the La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in order to be picked up and transported to the accommodation, unless alternative arrangements for an overland arrival have been made. Orientation is given by our local hosts at their offices in Santa Lucia Milpas Altas and covers important details concerning introductions, support, culture, customs, safety, rules and expectations, things to see and do, and more.

All interns in Guatemala are accommodated in various homestay accommodations. Interns are matched to an appropriate host family, taking into consideration convenient proximity to their internship placement. Typical host families in Guatemala usually comprise of two parents and children or a single parent with children (the ages of a host family’s children can range from young and still living at home, to adults living independently). There are usually 1 - 2 bedrooms in most home-stays and everyone has their own bedroom (unless special requests are made in advance to share with a friend or partner). Bathrooms are shared. Living is comfortable and home-stays offer electricity, running water and western bathrooms. However, showers can be low pressure and unheated/tepid. WiFi is provided in most of the home-stays but it is important to note that it is not guaranteed.

Accommodation upgrades are available at an additional cost, for those who would prefer more independent accommodation and social interaction with other travelers. Interns who have confirmed their participation may opt to arrange hostel accommodation, in either a dorm (sharing a room with 4-8 beds) or a private room. Dormitories provide lockers, so that guests may securely store their personal items. Bathrooms are typically shared. Amenities include WiFi and a common area for guest use. Please note that hostel accommodation is subject to availability (depending on the location of your internship) and includes daily breakfast only. Interns who are interested in arranging an accommodation upgrade are welcome to speak with their Internship Program Manager for more information.

Internships in Guatemala include two meals per day, served at the home stay. A typical Guatemalan breakfast is provided and consists of bread, spreads, fruit and eggs accompanied with tea or coffee. Dinner commonly consists of meat (often chicken), soups, pastas, starches and vegetables. Please be sure to let us know of any specific dietary requirements that you have in advance, so that we may ensure your hosts are aware and make recommendations accordingly.

Spanish lessons

Fluency in Spanish is not a prerequisite for all of the Guatemala internship programs, however basic Spanish skills are required. This is in order to encourage maximum engagement and enjoyment of the learning experience. Basic Spanish skills (Level A2) includes the ability to exchange brief information with questions and answers, use and understand simple language in daily situations and cultural aspects.

We strongly recommend that all program participants take advantage of the very affordable language lessons offered exclusively to Intern Abroad HQ participants by our host organization. The price is US$121 per week (20 hours, morning lessons) and is paid directly to the host organization in Guatemala.

These Spanish lessons can be arranged directly with the local team once registered for the program (ask about online Skype lessons) or at the orientation in-country. Language lessons are tailored to each individual’s current level of Spanish and classes run from Monday through to Friday.

Weekends and travel

During the weekends, free time is available to relax, engage in tourism activities and explore other parts of Guatemala. The program is based in the Santa Lucía Milpas Altas municipality, approximately 9 km / 5.5 mi from Antigua city. Antigua is a fantastic weekend hub for excellent cuisine, sightseeing, colonial churches, coffee tours, chocolate-making classes, museums, shopping, and transportation. Public buses are available from Antigua to other parts of the country and many travel agencies also offer shuttles to key touristic places such as Monterrico beach, Lake Atitlan, Coban, Lanquín (Semuc Champey), or Tikal. Popular tourism attractions throughout the region include:

• Pacaya National Park and Kawilal Hot Springs: Home to the active Pacaya Volcano, you can take about a 60 minute hike from the San Vicente de Pacaya village to the crater - many tours continue afterward to the Kawilal Hot Springs, where their complex has thermal pools, thermal steam baths and hydrotherapy baths (plus, check out their spa services menu in advance if you want to really treat yourself).

• Acatenango Volcano: This volcano is joined with the Volcán de Fuego (fire volcano) that you frequently see puffing away from Antigua. Acatenango itself has two peaks - Pico Mayor (the highest peak) and Yepocapa. Although you can’t hike the Volcán de Fuego, you can reach the summit of Acatenango, which is a brilliant vantage point to watch the Fuego peak in action! It’s important to arrange this hike through an established tour operator and recommended to do it over two days. Ensure to seek advance from the tour company in advance about packing considerations to complete this hike safely and comfortably.

• Lake Atitlan and villages: Tour operators provide boat rides to visit the picturesque villages that are located on the shores of Guatemala’s largest lake. The main villages to check out are San Pedro la Laguna, San Juan la Laguna, and Santiago Atitlan (home of the Cojolya Weaving Center and Museum). San Pedro la Laguna is also located beneath the San Pedro volcano, which is an additional attraction for hiking.

• Iximché Ruins: These Mayan ruins are accessed via the town of Tecpán, which is about 55 km / 35 mi from Antigua. They are open daily and there’s also a small museum where artefacts are displayed. Many of the sites at this archeological site date back as far as 1400 BC.

• Valhalla Experimental Station: This interesting farm is located about 10 minutes outside of Antigua, where they focus on eco-tourism, environmental education, and developing self-sustaining agriculture. Visitors mainly spend time at the macadamia farm, where you can sample macadamia nuts, chocolates and purchase macadamia skin care products. There’s also legendary macadamia pancakes on the menu, in addition to other breakfast dishes and sandwiches.

• Chichicastenango Market: To visit the famous market in Chichicastenango - “Chichi” - there are morning shuttles that depart Antigua on the market days of Thursdays and Sundays. If you want to shop for souvenirs, then this is a great place to do it. They sell handicrafts, woodcarving, traditional masks, textiles, food and condiments, flowers and medicinal plants, pottery, candles, traditional incense, grindstones, and much more.

Weather and climate: Guatemala has a range of micro climates and the high altitude of Guatemala City results in a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) in this region. There aren’t distinct seasons in Guatemala and the temperature is typically mild year round. Temperatures range from 22°C to 28°C (72°F to 82°F) during the day, and 12°C to 17°C (54°F to 63°F) at night. The country attracts winds and rain during the months of May to October with the hottest month being April.