Guatemala homestay accommodation
| country: | Guatemala |
| location: | San Jose |
| price: | From US $150 per person per week homestay including 3 meals a day |
description
Based in Guatemala in the small indigenous community of San José on the banks of Lago Petén Itzá, this community association and homestay will give you a warm welcome. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the Itzá culture and Spanish language.
Community members may come to talk about Guatemalan politics or Itzá culture and customs. They may teach the Maya Itzá language, or tell local legends and stories of rural life. You will have the chance to learn how to weave baskets from local vines, cook a traditional Itzá dish, practise local embroidery and learn its meanings, or tour the medicinal plants garden and learn about the uses for these plants.
Alternatively, you can take an excursion with a local guide, allowing you to explore unexcavated Mayan ruins, local sites and the traditions of San José, or our own Bio-Reserve. The Reserve is comprised of sub-tropical, humid forest and represents one of the few remaining vestiges of natural forest within the municipal limits of San José. A rich diversity of plants and animals can be found here.
Community members may come to talk about Guatemalan politics or Itzá culture and customs. They may teach the Maya Itzá language, or tell local legends and stories of rural life. You will have the chance to learn how to weave baskets from local vines, cook a traditional Itzá dish, practise local embroidery and learn its meanings, or tour the medicinal plants garden and learn about the uses for these plants.
Alternatively, you can take an excursion with a local guide, allowing you to explore unexcavated Mayan ruins, local sites and the traditions of San José, or our own Bio-Reserve. The Reserve is comprised of sub-tropical, humid forest and represents one of the few remaining vestiges of natural forest within the municipal limits of San José. A rich diversity of plants and animals can be found here.
rooms, food and facilities
Accommodation includes a private room with a fan, linen, a table and a light to study by. All homes have showers and purified drinking water and you will receive three meals a day, seven days a week (vegetarians catered for). One student per host-family is the usual placement, but couples and families are easily accommodated if notified in advance.
From Guatemala City to Flores/Santa Elena:
Plane: Several companies service the airport in Flores from Guatemala City. Upon arrival you can take a tuk-tuk (Q5) or a taxi (Q15) to the market in Santa Elena.
Bus: Several major bus companies run regular routes between Guatemala City and Flores. Buses range from small camionetas to two-level Pullmans (Q80-250, 8-10 hours).
From Belize to Flores/Santa Elena:
Bus: Regular services run between the Belizean boarder and Flores/Santa Elena including camionetas and minibuses (Q20, 1.5 hours).
From Flores/Santa Elena to San José:
Bus: There are direct buses from the central market in Santa Elena (Q5, 45 mins).
Boat: Services can be found on the east side of the Island just past the causeway. The service is not regular and is by rental only so prices are negotiable. (Q80-150, 35 mins).
special things to do and see here
We offer Spanish classes, weaving, cooking and guided tours. Other activities include birdwatching, medicinal plants, archaeological sites and mountain biking. how to find us
We are based in San José, Petén. Here are directions on how to find us: From Guatemala City to Flores/Santa Elena:
Plane: Several companies service the airport in Flores from Guatemala City. Upon arrival you can take a tuk-tuk (Q5) or a taxi (Q15) to the market in Santa Elena.
Bus: Several major bus companies run regular routes between Guatemala City and Flores. Buses range from small camionetas to two-level Pullmans (Q80-250, 8-10 hours).
From Belize to Flores/Santa Elena:
Bus: Regular services run between the Belizean boarder and Flores/Santa Elena including camionetas and minibuses (Q20, 1.5 hours).
From Flores/Santa Elena to San José:
Bus: There are direct buses from the central market in Santa Elena (Q5, 45 mins).
Boat: Services can be found on the east side of the Island just past the causeway. The service is not regular and is by rental only so prices are negotiable. (Q80-150, 35 mins).
how this holiday makes a difference
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The association was founded to preserve the Maya Itzá culture – all tourism income is reinvested in the association.
We instituted a programme to teach the Itzá language in local schools and work with American universities to catalogue the medicinal plants used in the community. We teach career skills to adults and teens, and use of medicinal plants to community members. We also organize cultural interchanges with Mayan groups from Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize.  We donate fruit-bearing trees to poor families in the area. The association maintains 36 km2 forest reserve in the Central American Ecological Corridor between the El Zotz and Tikal Biosphere reserves. The site contains four minor Mayan ruins. A training centre has been constructed onsite for community activities and we have set up group aimed at involving young people (15-25 years) from the community in activities to protect the environment and promote Itzá culture, while helping their personal development.  This holiday is part of the responsibletravel.com and Conservation International Community Based Tourism Programme to support and promote community based tourism ventures that offer significant conservation and development benefits to local communities. To see other community based tourism holidays and find out more about the programme click here. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |