TRAVEL TO HELP Loving Arms is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded a decade ago. Our programs involve teaching English, art, Spanish reinforcement, mathematics, science and sport for children.

1 MONTH PROGRAM $1600.00 ALL INCLUSIVE*(Home Stay, , One on one Spanish Lessons, Tours & Trip´s and more...)

-One Month Volunteer Package-

GUATEMALA

ONE MONTH PACKAGE Loving Arms

The Loving Arms Charitable Corporation is a non-profit organization established in Canada for the sole purpose of helping the people of . The organization was founded in 2005, incorporated in 2007 and registered in 2008.

Our programs involve teaching English, art, Spanish reinforcement, mathematics, science and sport for children. The children we serve often come from families who have been marginalized by poverty, indigenous Mayan heritage, or rural backgrounds, and lack of access to the privilege of a primary school.

When you volunteer, you'll help change the lives of more than 300 children in Guatemala, you'll meet new people and experience things you never thought possible, and you'll make memories that will last a lifetime.

Our volunteers work directly with the children in providing day-to-day care and supervision of the children

Volunteering in this poverty-stricken country allows for a truly rewarding experience with plenty of opportunities to make a real difference in the life of a child or even a whole community

There are many different activities for volunteers during the weekend, such as lessons, lessons, day trips to exciting sites around Guatemala.

Guatemala is a traveler's delight for history buffs and nature lovers. The unique blend of the country’s ancient Mayan ruins and its colonial ancestry combine with expansive landscapes.

La Unión Spanish School in Antigua Guatemala is made up of experienced, committed teachers in the colonial city. We first earned our stripes preparing Peace Corps Volunteers in the Spanish Language, and have since broadened our student base and successfully instructed hundreds of students from all over the world in the Spanish language with our state of the art learning strategies.

La Union’s provides University credits for Spanish courses that are approved by The Rural University of Guatemala and authorized by the Republic of Guatemala and the Ministry of External Relations.

One to One System

The system consists of one teacher to one student in order to maximize what is learned by each student. We focus on intensive and individualized Spanish instruction for students according to their needs and desires. Teachers design special programs based on the level and interests of each student; no matter your age, we have techniques and systems that can help you learn quickly. These studies include written and oral exercises, as well as music and games to improve comprehension and pronunciation

1 st Week /6 hours per day /30 hours total

The morning schedule begins at 8:00am until 12:00 and the afternoon schedule begins at 3:00pm until 5:00 pm

Weeks 2nd, 3rd, 4th / Two hours per day /30 hours total

Monday-Friday from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

Total of 60 hours per Month

• Roundtrip to the airport and to the NGO. Loving Arms personally takes the volunteers to the different activities during the week to guarantee their safety.

Monday to Friday 7:00 am, meeting point at IGSS (roundtrip)

• Our volunteers will stay with a local family to give them a further insight into the culture and home life of Guatemala, so they can learn about their culture and customs, and can practice Spanish with native speakers.

• Our host families are located in the historic centre of Antigua within a few blocks of the school. The walk from the homestay to the school takes no more than five to ten minutes.

• We select our host families very carefully to make sure volunteers are comfortable and safe in their homestay and receive good service.

• Monday to Friday: and dinner included • Saturday: Breakfast, and dinner

Monday to Friday the volunteers will have lunch at school with the kids (Lunch provided by Loving Arms) *

Guatemala is an amazing country where you can find different weather and landscapes depending upon where you are. It has amazing beaches, forests, mountains, active volcanos, rivers, lakes, etc. And do not forget the people! The best part of Guatemala is the ! Amazing people that would share their culture, experience and their hearts, whatever is necessary for you to feel comfortable. This package offers you the opportunity to share not only a volunteer experience, but all the reality of living with a Guatemalan family and learning about the , traditions and idioms.

o Walking tour in Antigua Saturday morning and Cooking class for Saturday afternoon.

ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

Antigua Guatemala offers something for all travel tastes. Colonial history that is always present combines with an array of cultural activities which include art galleries and exhibits, performing arts, popular arts, films, forums, and cultural tourism in general.

Antigua Guatemala was once the third most important Spanish colony in the Americas. More than 30 monastic orders called Antigua home and built stunning monasteries, convents and cathedrals in the town. Its setting is majestic, nestled between three dramatic volcanoes: Agua, Fuego and Acatenango.

You will experience in the first weekend a walking tour in this amazing city where you will spend the whole month. Churches, museums, jade factories and colonial buildings will be part of it.

Antigua hosts the largest celebrations for Lent and Easter in the Western Hemisphere. The history of the processions dates back to the early 1500s and began with the arrival of Don Pedro de Alvarado from Spain. While many are attracted to the solemn religious fervor, others enjoy the beautiful “alfombras” (sawdust & flower carpets) that are made along the processional routes.

COOKING CLASS

Guatemala food and drink are primarily influenced by the country's Mayan and Spanish cultures. However, it also received influences from African and cultures. Therefore, you need to experience this cooking class where you prepare 2 meals and a dessert with corn, beans, , pork, beef, chicken, cheese and tortillas, which form the backbone of most Guatemalan . Meat (caldos) and soups (sopas) are easily the most popular dishes among locals.

This class is the perfect exercise for you to experience all of this in a great environment surrounded by delicious ingredients and fun cooks who will share the secrets of Guatemala food. o Pacaya Volcano Tour for Sunday. It could be in the morning or afternoon.

PACAYA VOLCANO

SMALL but POWERFUL! Surprise eruptions that burst lava flows from the already cracked crater continue to change the landscape and keep this little volcano exciting.

Active, easy and fun for the whole family, Pacaya is the little volcano that just keeps on giving. Quieter now since the last eruption in May 2010, it is easy to trek over cooled lava flows in search of gas vents and "HOT" spots to roast marshmallows.

You can choose between two schedules to hike this volcano.

• Leaving at 6am and return at 12pm, or Leaving at 2pm and returning at 8pm.

All you need to take with you is a bottle of water and a snack.

o Atitlan Boat Tour + Bed and Breakfast. 2 LAKE ATITLAN

Atitlan is a destination for the curious traveler. It is not a tourist destination like a Cancun in that it has not been cleaned up and pasteurized for the tourists. Atitlan is still real.

Here you will be somewhere unlike anywhere you have been before, and you will meet a people unlike any you have met before. The local Mayans women wear their colorful traditional clothing not to impress travelers, but for their own cultural reasons. Most couldn't imagine wearing anything else.

With this tour you will be able to visit 3 villages, as follows:

OPTION 1: El Paredon beach (transport, Bed and Breakfast)

EL PAREDON

The beach at El Paredon seems to stretch forever in either direction. It has to be 20 miles long. Or maybe 200. Or even 2,000. Hard to say. The Pacific coast of Mexico and forms one long snake of beach, occasionally interrupted by cliffs, forests, rivers and cities.

Here you find the best waves in Guatemala and an exotic black-sand beach located in a quiet fishing village at the Naranjo National Park just two hours away from Guatemala City or La Antigua.

This is a great place for anyone from experienced surfers, beginners or travelers with a taste for a rustic, relaxing, hostel-style place to stay on the beach. This is a truly unspoiled surfing destination, so be sure to visit.

Departing at 9am on Saturday you will spend the day at this beautiful beach and stay at one of the best hotels in the area, returning next day at 1:30pm.

OPTION 2: Monterrico beach (transport, Bed and Breakfast)

MONTERRICO OPTION 2: Monterrico beach (transport, Bed and Breakfast)

MONTERRICO

It is considered by many to be Guatemala's best beach, black sand as well. This beach has many places to eat and to stay. The mangroves are beautiful, and many animals live there so tours are offered daily for visitors.

Leaving at 8am on Saturday you will spend the day at this beautiful beach and stay at one of the best hotels in the area, returning the next day at 4pm.

o OPTION 3: Acatenango Volcano tour (overnight, all included)

ACATENANGO VOLCANO

This beautiful beast is one of the most visited volcanoes in Guatemala. Travelers rated it as the most beautiful volcano in all Central America. Its beauty is due to the twin volcano Fuego which is active and performs an extraordinary eruption for all the travelers at the camping area on Acatenango. This can be observed from the villages around the volcano but that has no comparison with what you will see up there. And the next morning you will

o OPTION 3: Acatenango Volcano tour (overnight, all included)

ACATENANGO VOLCANO

This beautiful beast is one of the most visited volcanoes in Guatemala. Travelers rated it as the most beautiful volcano in all Central America. Its beauty is due to the twin volcano Fuego which is active and performs an extraordinary eruption for all the travelers at the camping area on Acatenango. This can be observed from the villages around the volcano but that has no comparison with what you will see up there. And the next morning you will see the sunrise on the top of Acatenango.

This hiking is overnight, so the departing will be at 9am and the return will be at 1pm next day. This adventure is perfect for a weekend. see the sunrise on the top of Acatenango

o OPTION 1: Semuc Champey Tour (transport, Caves, Bed and Breakfast) SEMUC CHAMPEY

Deep in Guatemala's Alta Verapaz department, about 70 km from Coban, lies a jewel of stunning natural splendor that relatively few travelers visit: Semuc Champey. Those who go, however, agree that it's one of the loveliest spots in Guatemala and well worth a visit!

In Semuc Champey, the Cahabon river flows underground for about 350 m. Above it a natural limestone bridge has formed and is home to a series of pools and small ponds, which are fed by creeks and waterfalls running down the surrounding mountain slopes.

The pools are about one meter deep and range in color from emerald green to turquoise to dark sapphire blue. The locals like to go for a swim in the crystal-clear water of the pools, and you are most welcome to do likewise!

For this tour you will need to depart on Friday at 6am to arrive at the hotel at 5pm. Then the second day you will spend the whole morning and part of the afternoon on the tour doing tubing, swimming and having a lot of fun. Finally, the third day you will return to Antigua.

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o OPTION 2: Tikal tour (transport, Bed and Breakfast)**

TIKAL

In the heart of the jungle, surrounded by lush vegetation, lies one of the major sites of Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. The ceremonial centre contains superb temples and palaces, and public squares accessed by means of ramps. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.

The site’s major structures include five pyramidal temples and three large complexes, often called acropoles; these presumably were temples and palaces for the upper class. One such complex is composed of numerous buildings beneath which have been found richly prepared burial chambers. Pyramid I is topped by the Temple of the Jaguar and rises to 148 feet (45 meters). Just west of Pyramid I and facing it is Pyramid II, standing 138 feet (42 meters) above the jungle floor and supporting the Temple of the Masks. Pyramid III is 180 feet (55 meters) high. Near the Plaza of the Seven Temples stands Pyramid V (187 feet [57 metes]). The highest of the Tikal monuments is Pyramid IV (213 feet [65 metes]), which is the westernmost of the major ruins and the site of the Temple of the Two-Headed Serpent. Pyramid IV is one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures in the Western Hemisphere.

Apart from harboring Tikal and numerous other intriguing remnants of the Classic Maya civilization, El Petén is also Guatemala’s natural wonderland boasting an extraordinary biodiversity and various ways to access it. As a vital complement to these attractions there’s Flores, the beautiful islet with the most sophisticated tourism infrastructure in the country. This is the place where you will be spending some time and sleeping one night.

You will be departing Antigua Guatemala on Friday at 6:30pm. Arriving to the bus terminal in Guatemala City at 8pm. Departing from Guatemala City to Petén at 8:30pm

On Saturday you will arrive at 6am the shuttles will be waiting for you to take you to the hostel in Flores. You will have breakfast and rest a little bit to get energy for the tour. At 8am the shuttle will pick you up to start the tour. The tour price includes transportation both ways in a private shuttle and a full guided tour by an experienced fluent English-speaking guide.

You will return at 4pm. You can take a shower and rest. The rest of the evening is free for you to walk around this islet.

Next morning you will have breakfast and get ready to leave. The bus departs at 10am. This tour has an extra charge of $100.**