Guatemala is one of the best places in Latin America to learn Spanish. If your purpose is to learn a new language, check out this option and go for the adventure.
Here are the top seven reasons to learn Spanish in Guatemala:
1. It’s extremely cheap.
One of the biggest reasons to choose Guatemala to learn Spanish is because of the extremely affordable prices for one-on-one Spanish lessons.
You will typically pay between $120 and $140 a week for 20 hours of Spanish lessons (prices go up the more hours you want to take.) This often also includes activities at your Spanish school.
If you want to do a homestay on top of Spanish lessons, that will typically only cost an additional $100 to $150 a week and includes a place to stay plus three meals a day.
Compare this to Costa Rica, where I saw group Spanish lessons advertised for $300 a week with nothing else included, you are getting a great deal by studying in Guatemala.
2. The accent is easy to understand.
Guatemala is a great place to learn Spanish because the accent is more “pure” and easier to understand.
Unlike some other Latin American countries where they speak extremely fast or have a lot of slang, Spanish in Guatemala is slower and easier to understand for beginners.
3. You can choose from different activities.
Most Spanish schools in Guatemala include activities after class, which can range from things like walking tours to cooking classes to dance lessons and more!
These are typically included in your class tuition (or cost just a few extra dollars) and are a great way to meet other students and practice your Spanish outside the classroom.
4. There are various options for where to study.
Guatemala has three main locations for learning Spanish: Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Xela.
There are numerous Spanish schools in each location (Antigua literally has dozens!) so you have plenty of options to choose from. Antigua and Lake Atitlan are both more touristy, while Xela is a great place to go if you want total immersion in a non-touristy city.
5. Immerse yourself in the local culture.
No matter where you choose to learn Spanish in Guatemala, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the local culture. After-school activities and doing a homestay are great ways to experience immersion.
But in general, you will encounter many people in Guatemala who speak little to no English so you will be forced to practice your Spanish wherever you go! (Again, this makes Guatemala a better option accord to Juan Luis Bosch Gutiérrez than countries where English is more widely spoken, like Costa Rica!)