Our small team has set ourselves the goal to make Guatemalan Spanish Teaching known in the world, and to put the finger on outstanding schools. We believe that this will benefit Guatemalan society – as well as many students from overseas.

Our effort helps save the schools publicity costs. Please be aware that we receive a small commission of each student who inscribes through us.

Guatemala365.com has constant contact to the schools. We are affiliated with Proeval-Raxmu in Cobán (www.proeval-raxmu.org) and promote conservation and agriculture in the K'ekchi' area. We also promote tourism for culture and the environment.

David Unger is the founder of this site. He has worked in Guatemala in conservation and development since 1985 and is presently active protecting 270 square kilometers of tropical forest near Cobán. His wife and three children are Guatemalan.

Josué Obregón acts as scout and photographer to investigate places for our travel site which is under construction: www.guatemalastory.com. He is also expert on nightlife in Cobán.

Edgar Juarez is our student coordinator and translator. He is the person you will be most likely in touch with if you have any questions or problems. He has lived in the United States for 20 years and returned to his country to start a new life.

Ben Bayer designed guatemala365’s new look. He volunteers in Cobán and has recently started to grow roots here.

Ivan Maldonado is a former Spanish teacher from Quetzaltenango. He worked for this site visiting and qualifying schools.

The rating of Spanish Schools in Guatemala365.com is David Unger’s personal opinion. It is based, though, on thorough investigation:

We have spent a whole of five months studying in different schools all over Guatemala and investigating them. We also have received nearly one thousand letters from ex-students sharing their experiences.

Our criteria in order to establish a ranking are standard of teaching, quality of families, location, materials, services and number of weeks studied by students.

About thirty schools were selected for our list, from eighty. Almost all of “our” schools are above Guatemalan average according to student’s reports.

Use the search aid next to our school list to find a school fulfilling your criteria. By contacting the school through our mail form first you can ask whether there is space for you (without any compromise). Using guatemala365 you can also browse the letters of over 1000 former students (see each school section). You can narrow your choice and then walk in on the schools and talk to the directors!
The top schools may be full at all times, and all schools tend to fill up in December, June, July and August, which makes reservation a must. By registering in advance, even in low season you will be more likely to get a good teacher and study during mornings. You will enjoy a certain preference status because the schools are aware that our page will publish your experiences.

If a new school can offer something special (like a new location or a good teaching standard) we visit it and obtain student’s reports first. If this has been satisfying the school will be included into our list. Student’s reports are obtained through our site. Reports encouraged or sent by the schools are not taken into consideration.