Hello,
I'm leaving tomorrow- flying into Guatemala City, and don't know where to go from there! I have 2 weeks, and I want to spend them studying Spanish before I move on to Bogota for an internship.
I'm female, 27, traveling alone and a little nervous about that. I want to study someplace friendly, preferably warm weather, in a location where I'll be able to make the most of my afternoons and weekends (whether it be volunteering, sight-seeing, hiking...) since that will be the only free time I have in C.A. before heading south.
The cities that keep popping up in Thorn Tree searches are Xela, Antigua, Copan... what are the +/- of those? Is there someplace else I should consider? As long as I can get there within a day by bus/taxi from Guatemala City, I'll consider it. What do you recommend (and why)?
Thanks folks!!
Jennie
Not a lot of time to discuss choices, and not a lot of information to make informed recommendations. But I think I have an excellent suggestion. After landing in Guatemala City take a shuttle or taxi to Antigua and tell the driver to take you to Hotel Posada San Pedro at 3a Avenida Sur #15. This is one of the very best housing values in the whole town. A small family run place with nine rooms on two levers. Look at a couple rooms at the back on each level. If you like what you see you can commit for a weekly single rate of about $30 or so a night. Check in, then walk a few blocks to Academia de Espanol Sevilla (check their website) on the east side of 1a Avenida (get the address from the website). It is one of the best language schools in all Latin America,with experienced well-trained teachers. If you like what you see commit for one week of morning private lessons. There is another school a block south called La Union (website). It is a clone of Sevilla. The director used to teach at Sevilla. It is very good, too. Both schools will have daily activities, mostly in the afternoon, some free, some at small cost. Both schools can steer you to volunteer work. Antigua is a good town for sight-seeing. After a few days you can decide what to do the second week. Now, after enrolling for school go to the blue building on the east side of 1a Avenida a few doors north of Sevilla, enter and go upstairs to Cafe Sky. Enjoy the breeze, the magnaficant view of Volcan Aqua, and a cold beer. Maybe some chicken quesadillas.
Buen viaje!
Should have noted, Antigua is about an hour from the airport. The combi shuttle is $10 a head. A taxi is about $30 for the cab. Both will drip you off at your doorstep. You might find someone on the plane or in the immigration line to share a ride. Ask around.
Buen viaje!
Another vote for Aloysius recommendations. Both places are good schools. Antigua is a very nice place to study.
Antigua is a very nice place to study, Guatemala to antigua 35km. fter a few days in antigua you can decide what to do because antigua is a lovely place
Re Spanish immersion...the experience is what YOU make it. If you insist on hanging out with non-Spanish speakers, going to only tourist restaurants and bars at night then you will feel Antigua is a "touristy" place. If you eat in out of the way places and avoid the tourist bars then you have the same Spanish language experience you would have in Xela...it is up to you. MOst of the locals in Antigua do not speak English at all...it is hanging out with other students that makes tourists complain ,"there are too many tourists in Antigua".
Of course, we ex-pats complain about all the tourists, but that is because we don't want to share the place with too many gringos. this term, by the way, is not reserved for Americans here in Guatemala, it applies to anyone who looks like they are of European descent....
Xela is colder than Antigua, it is a big city while Antigua is a small town, and Xela doesn't have the amenities that most tourists actually want: a wide variety of restuarants with menus catering to tourist tastes; bars that appeal to tourists for nighttime entertainment/socializing.THe one big advantage of Xela is Spanish classes cost less and also accomodations are cheaper.
Aloysius has given you great advice: Antigua first, then go on to the lake or elsewhere, but I would choose Lake Atitlan, one of the villages there, over either Coban or Xela.
Here are links to schools that have been recommended highly to me in Antigua (Spanish Academy Antigüeña) and in San Pedro (Cooperative School). I attended Ixbalanque in Copán Ruinas and had a great experience. This summer I'll be attending the Cooperative school for a week and the school in Nebaj - can't wait!!
Good luck and keep us posted!
trusted partner
