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You’ll be matched with your personal volunteer travel expert who’ll guide you every step of the way.
Meet Your Travel Expert
Receive your welcome pack with everything you need: arrival info, contacts, visa and insurance help, packing tips, vaccines, language basics, and so much more.
Get Ready to Go!
Choose your dream project and apply for free—no commitment, just excitement!
Pick Your Destination & Apply
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Once your dates are confirmed, pay your program fee—choose to pay in full or in easy installments.
Secure Your Spot
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Want to volunteer on a Teaching & Sustainable Development program in Guatemala? Our Travel Roots teaching and sustainability program offers a transformative opportunity to immerse yourself in meaningful community-based projects while living sustainably in the lush highlands of Xenimajuyú.
This program is rooted in collaboration—working hand-in-hand with local families, teachers, and changemakers who are building a better future for their communities. You'll contribute to diverse areas based on your own skills and passions, while also being encouraged to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.
Key activities may include:
Creative Education: Support or lead classes in local schools, helping children and youth with reading, writing, English, and arts-based learning.
Permaculture & Organic Farming: Assist with agroecological food production, planting, harvesting, composting, and garden maintenance.
Eco-Construction: Help build the volunteer house and community spaces using natural building techniques like cob, adobe, or bamboo.
Youth & Women Empowerment: Support workshops on personal development, life skills, gender awareness, and holistic health.
Environmental Restoration: Engage in reforestation, erosion control, water conservation, and biodiversity monitoring.
Therapeutic Work: Optional involvement in equine therapy, yoga, or nature therapy for volunteers with relevant backgrounds or interests.
Cultural Exchange: Participate in language swaps, traditional Mayan cooking, weaving, and natural medicine sessions with local families.
Every week is different and shaped by your interests, the seasons, and the evolving needs of the community. Whether you're passionate about social justice, sustainability, or cultural learning—this is your chance to live, learn, and grow together with the people of Guatemala.
By volunteering on our Teaching & Sustainable Development program in Guatemala, you will:
Immerse yourself in a rural Mayan community and live in harmony with nature
Contribute to meaningful, grassroots education and development initiatives
Support eco-construction projects using natural and sustainable materials
Learn and practice permaculture and organic farming techniques
Take part in youth and women empowerment workshops
Experience cultural exchange through traditional weaving, cooking, and herbal medicine
Grow personally through self-development, mindfulness, and holistic living
Build lifelong connections while contributing to real change on the ground
Enjoy breathtaking landscapes, highland forests, and sunny skies every day
Be part of a movement that values creativity, sustainability, and community
What to Expect: A Day in the Life of a Teacher & Sustainability Volunteer
Life in the Guatemalan highlands is a vibrant rhythm of purpose and peace. Each day offers a balance of hands-on environmental action, deep community connection, and space for personal growth and creativity.
Example Day:
7:00 AM – Wake up to misty mornings and fresh mountain air in Xenimajuyú
7:30 AM – Shared breakfast with your host family or fellow volunteers
8:30 AM – Volunteer assignments begin: you might be teaching a youth workshop, working in the permaculture gardens, or helping construct eco-buildings with natural materials
12:00 PM – Lunch prepared using local ingredients (and maybe even by you!)
1:00 PM – Continue project work or assist with equine therapy, tree planting, or water conservation initiatives
3:30 PM – Free time: hike to a nearby forest, practice yoga, or join a weaving or cooking session with local women
6:00 PM – Group dinner and reflection time
7:30 PM – Cultural exchange activities, storytelling, stargazing, or simply winding down with a book
No two days are ever the same, and each volunteer’s journey is tailored to their interests, skills, and passions. Whether you're leading a self-development session, planting trees, or sharing a meal with a local family, each moment is a meaningful step in creating real impact—both outward and inward.
Your Impact As A Volunteer
By joining this immersive volunteer experience in Guatemala, you become a catalyst for meaningful transformation—both within yourself and the communities you support.
Your daily contributions support:
Sustainable infrastructure: From helping build homes and schools with natural materials to assisting in the development of a new community centre, your physical work leaves behind lasting, eco-conscious structures that benefit generations.
Creative education & cultural preservation: Your time spent in schools, workshops, and language exchanges strengthens community identity, encourages self-expression, and helps create a Culture of Peace through education.
Ecological restoration: Activities like tree planting, permaculture farming, and water conservation directly combat environmental degradation, promoting regeneration and biodiversity in the Tecpán region.
Community empowerment: Through skills-sharing, wellness sessions, and entrepreneurial support, your efforts help families improve their well-being, economic stability, and resilience.
Personal transformation: Perhaps most importantly, this experience empowers you too. You'll develop leadership, creativity, and cross-cultural communication skills while reconnecting with nature and your own inner values.
By choosing to volunteer here, you’re not just showing up—you’re standing beside local communities, sowing seeds of hope, healing, and harmony.
Your Home in Guatemala
Your home during the program is designed to immerse you in the tranquil rhythms of rural Guatemalan life, with two unique options to suit your preferences.
You can choose to live with a local host family in the Xenimajuyú community—offering a fully authentic experience of Guatemalan culture, hospitality, and day-to-day traditions. It’s an inspiring opportunity to build meaningful relationships and deepen your understanding of the local way of life.
Alternatively, stay at the volunteer house Casa San Vicente, located on the beautiful permaculture farm “Pasajinak”. Surrounded by horses, green fields, native trees, and a natural reserve, this peaceful retreat also functions as an intercultural learning centre. Here, you’ll share space with like-minded changemakers in a rustic, flower-filled setting that encourages reflection and connection.
Amenities include:
Private or shared rooms
Fully equipped kitchen
Workspace and Wi-Fi
Three wholesome vegetarian meals per day
Access to permaculture gardens, a stable, and guided opportunities to learn Mayan crafts, food preparation, and ancestral knowledge
Whether you choose a homestay or the volunteer house, your accommodation will become a meaningful part of your journey—supporting your comfort, personal growth, and cultural immersion.
History
This inspiring initiative began in 2015, when two Swedish changemakers, Sofie and Sabina, met their Guatemalan soulmate Marietta. Their shared vision sparked a colourful journey—one rooted in empathy, sustainability, and cross-cultural connection.
What began as a dream soon transformed into action: building schools, homes, and soon a vibrant community development centre in the heart of rural Guatemala. From humble beginnings, this collaborative movement has grown into a powerful force for community-driven change.
Mission & Vision
Their mission is to empower vulnerable rural communities in the Tecpán region through environmental regeneration and holistic human development. By promoting creative education, water conservation, and sustainable living, they strive to build resilient, harmonious communities where both people and nature can thrive.
Their vision is simple but transformative: nourish inner peace to create outer change. They believe that true regeneration starts within—and by embracing self-development, cultural exchange, and environmental awareness, we can co-create a more peaceful, equitable world. Volunteers play a vital role in this journey, joining hands with local families to cultivate a future rooted in compassion, creativity, and sustainability.
Program Fees & What’s Included
Program Fees
Program fees are currently being updated, you can contact us directly for the most accurate and up-to-date pricing based on your preferred length of stay and type of accommodation.
Whats Included
No matter your path, your program includes:
✅ Three vegetarian meals per day
✅ Comfortable private or shared accommodation
✅ Access to permaculture gardens, workshops, and cultural learning experiences
✅ Volunteer orientation and hands-on training
✅ Opportunity to develop your own creative or educational projects
✅ Full support before, during, and after your program
✅ Welcome pack full of necessary and useful info
✅ Expert guidance from passionate and experienced field mentors
✅ 100% Cancellation Money-Back Guarantee
✅ So much moreYour Investment in Community, Conservation & Yourself
Volunteer fees are not just a contribution to the organization—they are an investment in the future of the communities, ecosystems, and individuals you’ll work alongside. Your support helps cover project expenses, maintain on-site operations, and directly contribute to the local economy.
By joining us, you’re not only empowering grassroots conservation and community development—you’re also investing in your own growth. Volunteers gain transferable skills in sustainability, education, permaculture, cross-cultural communication, and social leadership—skills that will support your journey long after your stay.
Your Volunteer Destination: Xenimajuyú, Tecpán, Guatemala
Nestled in the western highlands of Guatemala, the Xenimajuyú community in Tecpán offers a vibrant and deeply authentic setting for your volunteer journey. Surrounded by green fields, forests, and a backdrop of ancient Mayan history, this region is as culturally rich as it is naturally beautiful.
Xenimajuyú & Tecpán
Located about 2 hours from Guatemala City and 1.5 hours from Antigua, Tecpán is known as the “Cradle of Culture.”
The community of Xenimajuyú is rural and welcoming, offering volunteers a meaningful opportunity to live and work alongside local families.
The area is dotted with traditional homes, vibrant markets, sacred Mayan sites, and scenic farms.
Guatemala: Culture, Nature & Resilience
Guatemala is a country full of contrasts—towering volcanoes, ancient ruins, colorful textiles, and powerful traditions.
Despite facing social and economic challenges, Guatemalan communities are strong, proud, and deeply rooted in their heritage.
The country is home to 22 recognized indigenous groups, many of which still speak their ancestral languages and follow traditional customs.
Language:
Spanish is the official language, and some communities speak indigenous Mayan languages. Volunteers are encouraged to learn or practice Spanish for deeper engagement.
Climate:
The region has a temperate climate year-round, with cooler nights and warm, sunny days. The rainy season typically runs from May to October.
When you’re not volunteering, the Tecpán region and surrounding areas offer a wide variety of cultural, historical, and natural experiences:
Explore Mayan Ruins
Visit the ancient ruins of Iximché, just a few kilometers away, where you can walk through centuries of Kaqchikel Mayan history surrounded by pine forest.
Horseback Riding
Spend your afternoons riding through the countryside on horseback, guided by local farmers and staff—an authentic way to experience rural Guatemala.
Permaculture & Herbal Wisdom
Learn the principles of permaculture or explore natural healing techniques through community workshops led by local experts.
Cooking & Craft Classes
Join local women in traditional cooking classes over open fire, or learn how to make handmade Mayan textiles, candles, and jewelry.
Camp in the Cloud Forest
Go on guided overnight adventures in the nearby cloud forests. Camp under the stars and wake up to birdsong in a biodiverse environment.
Day Trips to Antigua or Lake Atitlán
On weekends, venture out to colonial Antigua or the magical Lake Atitlán—both are within 2–3 hours and easily accessible for a short getaway.
Yoga, Meditation & Reflection
Reconnect with yourself in the peaceful garden of Casa San Vicente, where yoga mats and quiet corners await for mindful moments.
Community Events
Get involved in local festivals, music nights, or storytelling sessions with elders. These moments of cultural exchange are deeply enriching.
