Doing (Good) in Panajachel: Volunteer Opportunity at Bilingual School

Robert Miller LIFE School:

Click Photo for more pictures of Life School

Whether you are visiting the lake for a couple of days, or a couple months, the Life School’s doors are always open to volunteers. A small, private school, located in a quiet setting near the lake, the school teaches classes in English and Spanish, beginning in preschool and ending in 9th grade. Classes are small and intimate, and the kids are a joy to be around. If only in town for a day, volunteers are welcome to visit the school and spend time in one of the classes, reading to children or planning an activity to share with them. Longer term volunteer opportunities are also available for those who want to work as tutors, reading-buddies, or conversational partners for students.

Studying Spanish in Panajachel:

Jabel Tinamit Spanish School

Click pictures for more photos of Spanish School

Jabel Tinamit is a Mayan owned Spanish Language School, located across town from the lake in a beautiful building offering open air classrooms, a courtyard, reading library, and amazing views of Panajachel and the Lake. Prices for Spanish Classes start at $110/week, for one person, four hours a day. Costs are less if classes are shared between 2 or 3 people. They offer weekly excursions and activities for students, and a variety of volunteer opportunities in and around Panajachel. For sleeping arrangements, you can work with Jabel Tinamit to make arrangements that will work for you. Homestays start at $95/week. And as noted, there are also a number of hotels and hostels in Panajachel (Villa Lupita is next door). For stays of one week or more, you can inquire about renting an apartment. Visit their website for more detailed information, or to contact them with questions.

www.jabeltinamit.com/index.htm

Neighboring Villages:

Santa Catarina

More photos of Santa Catarina

While a majority of the Lakeside towns are accessible by water taxi, Santa Catarina and San Antonio are two exceptions. Both can be accessed only by private water taxi (read: expensive) or on the cheap from a pick up in Panajachel. Pick-ups leave from or near la Dispensa (the Grocery Store), on the road between Calle Principal and Calle Rancho Grande. To get to the Dispensa, take Calle Rancho Grande away from the lake until it ends. Look Left and you’ll see the grocery store, and look for the pick up trucks waiting around for passengers.

The ride costs 3-5Q, and takes 5-10 minutes. You’ll be dropped off on the main road, and won’t have trouble finding your way around once you arrive.

Santa Catarina is a small, quiet town, though no stranger to tourists around the lake. For handmade woven items, getting out of Panajachel and heading to Santa Catarina would be our recommendation.

GETTING // GOING          •          SLEEPING          •          EATING          •         DOING          •         OUR STORY

Take me back to LAKE ATITLAN // Take me back HOME