Travel with ViviendasLeón to Guatemala in 2026
On this immersive journey, experience Guatemalan cultures, languages and histories in the center of the Mayan Highlands region, Lake Atitlán.
Our mission supports indigenous communities to restore their farming heritage through contemporary training in intensive organic farming, climate change mitigation and small business training.
Take part in these projects and work side by side with families who are learning these new techniques, feeding their families and communities, and rebuilding their local agricultural economy.
Since 2006, ViviendasLeon has operated a service learning travel program, bringing more than 2,000 volunteers to Central America. Our family service program supports our organization’s mission: Alleviating poverty by empowering and equipping rural communities to become the agents of their own development. The program is well structured, combining cultural and language learning with hands-on experiences in community projects, and returning home with a deeper understanding of the complex world beyond our borders.
“It’s hard to put into words the experiences my family and I have had on our immersion trips with ViviendasLeón. Each one has been truly amazing. Family immersion trips are an incredibly special way to travel.”
Will Robbins, Immersion Travel program, 2017
Register:
Registration is now open. Use this link to register for this unique educational travel experience. .
Highlights:
- Stay with host families in the lakeside town of San Juan la Laguna, and enjoy traditional foods, Spanish language conversations and lake community culture.
- Spend multiple days getting to know families living in indigenous rural communities while working side by side on their small, organic farms, over our mid-day lunch, and through cultural activities.
- On weekends, enjoy regional visits to other lake communities with unique cultural activities, historic sites and nature reserves.
Program details:
Dates: April 4-11, 2026
Cost: $1,900 per person, all expenses included except airfare
Our daily activity summary:
Sunday April 5 will be a day of various cultural, historical and nature based activities. Our routine schedule begins on Monday morning and runs through the week.
Our typical daily itinerary: *
- 7:00 – 8:00 AM: Start the day at breakfast with your homestay family.
- 8:30 – 9:00 AM: Gather for a group meeting to discuss the day’s planned activities
- 9:00 -11:30 AM: Enjoy a morning activity focused on a cultural, historical or guided tour
- 11:30 -12:30 PM: Lunchtime
- 12:30 -1:30 PM: Travel to the rural community, Los Planes
- 1:30 – 5:00 PM: Work with the rural community families on their development projects
- 5:00 – 7:00 PM: Return to our homestay town and relax for an hour
- 7:00 – 8:00 PM: Enjoy dinner and conversation with your homestay family
- 8:00 – 9:00 PM: Gather as a group to debrief the day, and hear an introduction to the following day’s activities.
Saturday April 11
We wake up early, have breakfast, and board our bus to the airport.
*Given the time constraint of one week, this serves as a comprehensive overview rather than an exact itinerary, as not all elements may be included. The full itinerary is being finalized and will be shared shortly.
Learn more: Download our Family Travel Guide
