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Help! So confused about Lago Atitlan and good Guatemala schools...

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Heard a lot of varying reports on which towns are best to stay in for immersion and Spanish schools in Guatemala -- especially around Lago Atitlan. Can you help by giving your opinion or additional resources? THANKS!
16 years ago, July 24th 2007 No: 1 Msg: #16783  
N Posts: 7
Lago Atitlan -- best spots for soaking up culture?

Which areas of Lago Atitlan are the best for soaking up local Mayan culture? Every guidebook seems to have a different take on which city is the most tourist-overrun, gringo-ized or least able to really get to know the Mayan culture and use your Spanish. Can anyone let us know what your experiences have been and your recommendations?

We're looking for a Spanish school, where we'd be staying in an area with opportunities to learn a lot about Mayan culture, use our Spanish (and hopeful not hear so much English) and learn more (from the locals?) about the civil war, since that region was one of the most devastated by it. We are not interested at all in the gringo night life scene, though we wouldn't mind it if it didn't intrude with the things we're looking for above. For instance, we've heard that the Spanish schools in San Pedro are really good and flexible, but read that it is one of the most Gringo-overrun. Anybody have any suggestions? What areas did you like the most?

Also, we've heard that you can take boats around to many of the villages dotting the lake, where Mayan culture and tradition is vibrant -- is this the kind of thing you get a guide to do, or do you visit markets, -- what do you do to experience that culture? Do you need a guide?

Just wanting to make the most of the Lago Atitlan experience. Any thoughts?
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16 years ago, July 30th 2007 No: 2 Msg: #17022  
Check Guatemala365.com Reply to this

16 years ago, August 14th 2007 No: 3 Msg: #17930  
B Posts: 18
You can go to Guatemala as a tourist or as a worker. The Presbyterian church USA supports a lot of mission projects in Guatemala. You could ask your local Presbetary about contacting CEDEPCA and then volunteer to go and work in Guatemala. I went with a group in 2006 and we helped paint a school and also painted desks in G-City in a school by the dump. (see my blogs about it, Goodsue.) Reply to this

16 years ago, September 1st 2007 No: 4 Msg: #18820  
I went to Guatemala for 1 month in 2006, Around the lake we stayed in Santa cruise, San Marcos, and San Pedro, San Pedro was my favorite out of those places. Santa cruise is really small and i don't even know if there is a spanish school there, we stayed at 'the Iguana' it was nice and had really good food. San marcos we didnt like at all, i think the only reason to go there would be to do yoga (there are some good yoga programs there but they were having a week of silence we were not so into that...) San pedro is really nice we LOVED it, we met some people doing spanish classes right overlooking the lake (sorry i don't know the name of the place) there are alot of hippies and travellers but also alot of local culture. there is also just so much to do there in your free time. you can go horseback riding, and they have really good hikes if you decide to go there you should do 'the nose hike' it is pretty tough but when you get over the top you get to a small village where there is literally no tourists. the people there acctually left the streets and went into their houses and peaked out the windows and doors (just like an old western movie!). okay enough, i just love reliving my trip! hope that helped
ps panahachal (the main city where most of the buses come into) was really really busy and we got constantly harassed to buy things i wouldn't plan to stay there if you can help it.) Reply to this

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