About Guatemala

COINED programs offered in Guatemala

Spanish Courses
Internships
Volunteer Program
SALUD Program

Guatemala Facts

- Outstanding landscapes, lost of mountains and volcanoes.

- Great Mayan influence

- Travel options for all budgets.

- Known destinations for Spanish students.

- Year-round spring-like weather.

Featured trips

Chichicastenango: Full day visit to one of the biggest open markets in America where you can buy wood products, ceramics and even gifts that the Mayan priests offer on their prehispanic altars. You can also admire the Church of Santo Tomas.

Quetzaltenango: Known in Guatemala as "The City that is the Soul of Culture." The city is has a lively music scene, and is home to numerous jazz and blues bands in addition to musicians playing int he native style. There is also a broader art art scene focused on painting, singing and sculpture.

Food & Drinks

Music & Dance

It is primarily influenced by the country's Mayan and Spanish cultures. Corn, beans, rice, cheese and tortillas form the backbone of most Guatemalan meals. Many meals in Guatemala take advantage of the country's abundant tropical fruits, like bananas, papaya, mangoes, and avocado.

The music of Guatemala is diverse. Music is played all over the country, even in the remotest corners. Towns also have wind and percussion bands -week processions, as well as on other occasions. Also, dozens of Rock bands have emerged in the last two decades, making rock music quite popular among young people.

Plastic Arts

Cinema

With varied influences, specially from the ancient civilizations once lived here, art is embedded in every corner of the country. Museums and art galleries offer, throughout the year, art exhibitions and various activities  presenting the different eras in the history of art.

Movies such as the american films "Across the Line" and "The fountain" were filmed in the country because of the outstanding landscapes it offers. Some local films you can find online are "El Silencio de Neto"  and "Los orígenes del silencio" both directed by Luis Argueta, an acclaimed film director and producer.
 

Science and technology

Sports

Guatemalan expenditure on research and development has incresed in the last years. You can find throughout the country many societies devoted to natural history, pediatrics, and engineering, and research institutes concerned with nuclear energy, industry, and earth sciences.

Guatemalans have a furious appetite for spectator sports and the daily papers always devote four or five pages to the subject. Football tops the bill, and if you get the chance to see a major game it's a thrilling experience, if only to watch the crowd.

Spare time

Literature

Guatemalans as most of Latin American people like to spend time with the family. On top of that, thanks to the nice weather and topography they get to do all sorts of outdoor activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, climbing volcanoes and festivals.

The "Popol Vuh", a compendium of Mayan stories and legends, is the most significant work of Guatemalan literature in the Quiché language. Today, literature is strongly influenced by politics. Most important writers are novelist Miguel Ángel Asturias, poet Luis Cardoza y Aragón, short story writer and novelist Augusto Monterroso and playwright Carlos Solórzano.