How to Volunteer in Guatemala Affordably and Impactfully

Article by Jonathon Engels, photos by Emma Gallagher

Happy times in El Hato.

Many of us would like the opportunity to both experience a new country as well as to help people there in need. The truth is that there are many possibilities for doing so. However, one problem that prevents many of us from volunteering is the issue of funds. After analyzing the cost of airline tickets, shelter, food, transportation, medical insurance, and other necessities, financing such an adventure seems unreachable. Fortunately, there is a way.

I live in one of the most NGO-dense countries in the world: Guatemala. Here, some NGOs provide education aid, build schools, houses, and industries, work to save the environment, and provide medical and nutritional assistance… something to fill almost every need. Of course, this does not solve those annoying money issues, but I have found a great way to do so. Many assistance providers are directly sponsored by or linked to hostels that do something called "work trades."

Volunteer work generally entails working a reception shift a few days a week at the hostel in return for room and board. For most hostels, this means a few hours of welcoming guests, showing them to their room, handling the phone, pouring a few drinks, etc. Therefore, it ultimately functions as a great way to meet fellow travelers. Meanwhile, hostel volunteers are free to do as they wish during their off-hours, such as helping with nearby NGO projects.

In addition, working in a hostel in this manner provides contacts all across the country, including participants, even organizers, of aid organizations ranging from eco-friendly construction to turtle conservation. It allows a would-be volunteer to survey the possibilities without spending a fortune on food and shelter. Perhaps the best options are those hostels and guesthouses that involve themselves directly in the process — and they are everywhere.

Antigua, Guatemala:  Earth Lodge and Las Manos de Christine

Antigua once was the political capital of Central America. Still, after suffering massive destruction from earthquakes, the former powerhouse has given way to Guatemala City and settled for being a top tourist/ex-pat hub. Still very pastel and colonial in appearance, with cobbled streets and a beautiful square, Antigua is set in a valley surrounded by three volcanoes, offers endless ruins to visit, and is known for being one of the safest spots in Guatemala.

On the outskirts of the city lies a little village named Aldea El Hato, which is unknown save for one of the most popular destinations in the country, a little guesthouse called Earth Lodge. When "the Lodge" began, El Hato had no running water or electricity and was only accessible via a dirt road. Not only was the guesthouse instrumental in the village acquiring these things, but the owners — Drew and Bri — have provided the school with assistance for years.

In 2010, my wife and I were asked to come in and pilot an English program for an educational NGO, Las Manos de Christine, which had teamed up with Earth Lodge to start a joint project in El Hato. Now in its third year, the English classes are still going strong. Classes have even expanded to include a new pre-school. Nearly every Earth Lodge volunteer manages to involve themselves in the school somehow. The initial project has undergone an astonishing evolution.

Of course, there are only a few such places in this area. While these hostels are not directly involved in NGOs, they also do the work-trade agreement. They could provide the chance to volunteer with Antigua-based projects: Black Cat Hostel and Black Cat Inn. In addition to hostels, Antigua, being so popular with foreigners and locals alike, is home to many non-profits doing great work nearby, including Los Niños de Guatemala.

Capturing the moment in art class — it's me.
Unprompted Portrait. What an honor!

Lago Atitlan: La Iguana Perdida and Los Amigos de Santa Cruz

Lago Atitlan is renowned as one of the world's most beautiful lakes. Like Antigua and much of western Guatemala, the landscape is dotted with spectacular volcanoes. Like any big body of water, Atitlan offers a remarkable range of activities, including scuba diving. San Marcos de La Laguna on the lake is famous for its yoga courses and mystical locale. The lake is surrounded by wonderfully unique and lively villages to explore.

San Marcos is between Panajachel, where most of Atitlan's tourist shuttles arrive and depart. The San Marcos is a village called Santa Cruz, where an excellent hostel, La Iguana Perdida, has been operating for over twenty years. "The Iguana," however, is not simply a hostel. It has aided the village in the mountains above it and is a driving force to keep the lake clean. The hostel is always looking for volunteers to assist in the cleaning. The hostel also promotes recycled plastic bottle construction to build more sanitary sewage systems around the lake. In recent years, the Iguana's affiliated dive shop has also helped with algae problems caused by lake pollution. The owners offer great help in getting involved.

With villages in just about every cove, the lake is full of great spots to visit and, thus, hostels to accommodate tourists, many of which will offer work options in exchange for accommodations and more. Again, as with much of Guatemala, there are many organizations and opportunities to assist local communities.

Rio Dulce: Hotel Backpackers and Casa Guatemala

Rio Dulce is in the southeast corner of Guatemala, the river linking Lago Izabal and the Caribbean Sea. It has a much more tropical feel than the rest of the country. The weather is hot, and the surrounding jungles are full of wildlife, especially migrating birds and waterfowl. The river and lake offer good swimming options and other water sports, and there are loads of nearby sights to see, including waterfalls and the Garifuna community in Livingston. At the mouth of the river, it is possible to take boat trips to Belize or Honduras's Bay Islands.

Locals paddling a boat on the Rio Dolce.

Casa Guatemala School for Vulnerable Children is an NGO that supplies care and education for children who have been abandoned, abused, and/or were living in extreme poverty. The organization, coined initially "Casa Canada," as it was opened by two Canadians, has been providing aid since 1977, so the motivation behind the volunteer work is to ensure continuity. Not only does the place help children here and now but many businesses have also been opened to provide children of age with viable work. There are many opportunities to get deeply involved with this incredible project, and a great FAQ page on the website to help prepare Guatemala-bound volunteers and travelers. The organization stresses that it prefers volunteers offering some skills (including teaching), specifies the supplies it needs, urges donations, and breaks down its expenses for transparency.

Other exciting options for responsible travelers and eco-tourists around Rio Dulce include Finca Tatin, which is ecological in its mission and has some exciting things going on to preserve the surrounding jungle. Tatin is still in the fledgling stages of the work exchange, but it could be a very interesting place to try. Backpacker's Hostel and Tortugal River Lodge is yet another work-trade option.

Thatch-roofed huts like these, a building style not found in other parts of Guatemala, line the banks of the Rio Dulce.

Despite its rather rough reputation, Guatemala is a tremendous country to visit. It offers some extremely worthwhile volunteering options that benefit locals directly. I am living here for the third time, working with my third different NGO, and on yet another exciting project. Having figured out how to team hostel volunteering with philanthropy, I can travel, help locals, and live for a minimal cost. I have met some incredible people with truly inspiring causes and unbelievable drive.

The opportunities listed above are a small sample of what is to be done in Guatemala, the beautiful places to visit, and the tremendous collaborative efforts to improve the lives of people in need. Any of these hostels or NGOs would be a great way to begin a life abroad, get a foothold on volunteering, and experience something beyond the standard 2-week holiday package. The hostels and NGOs I have found offer something that has altered the direction of many travelers' lives and undoubtedly remain in the memories of thousands more. At least as importantly, you will have the opportunity to help make a positive difference in the lives of locals in need.

Jonathon Engels earned an MFA in creative writing. He has lived, worked and/or volunteered in seven different countries, traveling his way through nearly 40 countries between them. His many interests include permaculture, veganism, and ways to live sustainably.