Language Schools:Xela is an excellent place to take language lessons both Spanish and some of the Mayan languages specific to the area. There are various schools and NGOs in the city most offer rates based on one week of instruction approx. 5 hours per day. Some schools offer volunteer opportunities for an additional cost while others offer it for free. Most also offer home stay options, which is an excellent way to make sure you keep practicing at all times. One of the best reasons to learn in Xela is the price. You can expect to pay about US$140-160 per week including home stay. This often includes internet access at the school. Arrangements can be made ahead of time or upon arrival most schools have multilingual administrators who can help make arrangements via email or phone - some even offer airport pick up from Guatemala City.
Casa Xelaju (http://www.casaxelaju.com) tel 612 235 4307
Celas Maya (http://www.celasmaya.edu.gt) tel 502 7761-4342
Centro Bilingue Amerindia
Founded in 1989, CBA is one of the oldest language schools in Xela. Its university-trained instructors teach classes in Spanish as well as Mayan languages in a family environment. School profits go to various development projects.
Centro Maya Xela (http://www.centromayaxela.org)
Educacion para Todos (http://www.spanishschools.biz)
El Nahual Language School (http://www.languageselnah...) 100% Non-Profit Volunteer Led Organization
El Mundo en Español (http://www.elmundoenespan...)
El Portal Spanish School (http://www.spanishschoole...) A well-recommended, professional, good value and friendly, non-profit institution which uses fees to support the kids of single mothers through a scholarship program.
Guatemalensis Spanish School
(http://www.spanland.com) a fairly inexpensive option with excellent coordinators. great planned activities and sense of community.
Opportunities to participate in some great community development programs next to Spanish classes. Staff is friendly and helpfull.
Juan Sisay (http://www.xelapages.com/...)
Kamalbe Spanish school and cultural learning centre (http://www.schoolkamalbe.com) tel50254888 317
Kie Balam (http://www.kiebalam.com)
La Comunidad Spanish School (http://www.xelaspanish.com) Very good school with English speaking teachers. Also the cheapest rates in the entire city, even $65 per week cheaper than some! Excellent volunteering activities also.
La Democracia (http://www.lademocracia.net)
La Paz (http://www.xelapages.com/lapaz)
Madre Tierra (http://www.madre-tierra.org/)
The MesoAmerica Academy (http://www.mesoamericaspa...)
Offers one-on-one classes, homestay with meals, many volunteer opportunities, and specialized instruction. Optional medical Spanish program with clinic and hospital volunteering. University credit available.
Miguel Cervantes School of Spanish (http://www.learn2speakspa...)
Minerva (http://www.xelapages.com/...)
Pop Wuj - Spanish School Guatemala (http://www.pop-wuj.org) Non-Profit Organization run by teachers to support sustainable community development. Provides One-to-One Spanish Instruction (http://www.pop-wuj.org/sp...), Medical Spanish (http://www.pop-wuj.org/me...) (http://www.pop-wuj.org/vo...) for Social workers; There is a clinic supported by the Timmy Foundation (http://www.timmyfoundation.org) located under the school. Medical students come to work at the clinic and learn or improve their Spanish. Living arrangements usually with community based families.
Proyecto Linguistico Quetzalteco (http://www.xelapages.com/plqe)
Sakribal (http://www.sakribal.com)
outdoors
Xela is also well-known for its abundance of volcanoes, mountains, and hot springs.
Quetzaltrekkers (http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com) offers trips to local natural wonders at reasonable prices, as well as extended treks to Lago de Atitlan and the Cuchumatanes. All guides are either foreign volunteers or local Guatemalans. All profits go towards La Escuela de la Calle, a school in the poorest neighborhood of Xela.
internet
Xela Pages 4ta Calle 19-48, Zona 1 Between 19 and 20 Ave on 4ta Calle, Zona 1" +5027761-4396 (http://www.xelapages.com) Hours= 8AM-8PM Price= Q5.00/hour. Xela Pages is by far the most famous web portal about Quetzaltenango. They list Spanish schools, hotel, restaurants, dentist, doctors, festivals...etc. They also have a killer discussion board where you can find up to the minute information about what is going on in Xela. One of the greatest resources for travelers because the owners answer emails about any subject. They also run a top notch Internet Cafe in Xela.
(http://xelawho.com/) for lots of info about Xela this English-language magazine is available in many spots around the city center... it has lots of cultural info and details about palces to go out, eat, drink, etc, plus some fairly silly/humorous articles
dance
The salsa scene is also very active in Xela. Lessons are cheap and there are lots of clubs.
Volunteering
There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities with organizations and groups in and around Xela, ranging from one day projects to long term placements.
Non-profit organization Entremundos hosts a database of local opportunties, accessable for free at (http://www.entremundos.org) They offer an additional personalized volunteer service for a donation of Q25 $3 which includes access to all of their 150 listings, a meeting with their volunteer coordinator to discuss possible opportunities for you, and use of internet and phone to contact organizations and they can even do this for you They also rent rooms to people studying or volunteering with local organizations From Q750 a month. Entremundos, 6a calle, 7-31, Zona 1 For more info email [email protected]
Many of the schools listed above offer opportunities for their students. For other volunteer opportunities, see the list below.
Asociación Nuevos Horizontes
Women's and childrenâ´s rights non-profit organization (http://www.ahnh.org)
El Nahual Community Center
non-profit offers volunteer teaching opportunities in schools around xela. all are welcome at the weekly organizational meeting held monday at 5:30pm at the blue angel cafã© (http://www.languageselnah...).
La Pedrera Community Project
non-profit offers volunteer work and internships with an indigenous community (http://www.casaxelaju.com...).
(http://www.entremundos.or...) Volunteers are always welcome. This is another site with opportunities