Globe Aware · Volunteer Vacations
Globe Aware · Volunteer Vacations
One Week.
A Lifetime
of Impact.
Deep in Guatemala’s Petén rainforest, beside the shimmering waters of Lake Petén Itzá, Globe Aware’s “Giving Guatemala” program is changing lives — including yours.
Explore the Program →What if your next vacation left the world measurably better than you found it? Globe Aware’s Guatemala program does exactly that — pairing you with local families and community projects in one of Central America’s most spectacular, and most overlooked, corners.
Guatemala is a country of staggering contrasts. Ancient Mayan temples rise above jungle canopies at Tikal. Volcanic peaks mirror themselves in highland lakes. Colorful markets burst with handwoven textiles. And yet, beneath this beauty, many Guatemalan communities face persistent poverty, low literacy rates, and limited access to clean water and sanitation. Globe Aware’s “Giving Guatemala” program plants volunteers right in the heart of this reality — not as observers, but as neighbors working side by side.
Where You’ll Be
The program is based around Lake Petén Itzá, a jewel-blue lake deep in the Petén region of northern Guatemala, within a biological rainforest reserve. The setting is extraordinary: howler monkeys call from the canopy at dawn, bioluminescent organisms glow in the lake at night, and butterflies fill the air during dry season. You’ll stay in a rustic lakeside hotel or, for those who want to upgrade, a full resort right on the water — complete with kayaks, hammocks, and stunning sunsets.
The nearby town of Flores and the world-famous Tikal National Park are both within easy reach, meaning this is very much a vacation alongside the volunteering — one of the most beautiful you’ll ever take.
The work projects we did directly impacted the community. I could see the benefit almost immediately.
— Globe Aware Guatemala VolunteerThe Work That Matters
Globe Aware’s philosophy is simple: communities know what they need. Every project is chosen by the locals themselves. The signature activity in Guatemala is installing cement floors in the homes of impoverished families. This may not sound glamorous, but the impact is profound — children crawling and sleeping on dirt floors are at serious risk for intestinal parasites and other diseases. A single cement floor changes a family’s health outcomes for decades.
Community Projects
Cement Floor Installation
Replace dirt floors in homes of families living in poverty, protecting children from parasites and illness.
Community Library
Work alongside children at the local library, supporting literacy in a region with some of the lowest reading rates in the world.
After-School Enrichment
Teach and engage children aged 5–12 from underprivileged homes through an afternoon enrichment program.
Women’s Garden Project
Help local women’s groups establish home gardens, introducing fresh vegetables into carbohydrate-heavy diets.
Forest Garden
Transform land at the Women’s Center — once planted with corn — into a productive forest garden.
English Pronunciation
Help students and teachers who have learned to write English but not speak it, practicing real conversation skills.
No special skills are required for any of these projects. Globe Aware coordinators lay the groundwork before you arrive, accompany you throughout the week, and adapt the project load to volunteers’ varying abilities. If something feels like too much — or too little — you’re encouraged to say so.
What’s Included
At $1,837 per person, the base program fee covers a week of accommodation, all breakfasts and dinners (plus most other meals), on-site transportation, medical insurance, emergency evacuation coverage, donations to community projects, and full volunteer coordination. As a registered U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Globe Aware’s program costs are also tax-deductible for American volunteers — including your airfare.
At a Glance
- Program Duration 7 days (Sun–Sat)
- Base Cost $1,837/person
- Location Lake Petén Itzá, Guatemala
- Nearest Airport Mundo Maya International (FRS), Flores
- Solo Room Add-on +$75 (budget) or +$570 (resort)
- Skills Required None — all are welcome
- Tax Deductible Yes (U.S. volunteers)
Culture, Food & Free Time
Globe Aware programs are never just about the work. Meals include chicken tamales with black bean salad, fresh local whitefish, rice, beans, and plenty of tropical fruit — always with meat, vegetarian, and vegan options. Special dinners are often hosted by the very families for whom volunteers have installed floors, creating moments of genuine connection across language and culture.
Optional cultural activities include tortilla-making classes, a Mayan flute concert, butterfly reserve visits, jungle herb walks with a local herbalist, and backstrap loom weaving. A boat tour to Flores and a visit to the town zoo and museum round out the options. And of course, there’s the jewel of the region: Tikal National Park, one of the greatest Mayan archaeological sites in the world, where towering temples emerge above the jungle canopy in scenes that feel genuinely cinematic.
Who Should Go?
Globe Aware’s Guatemala program welcomes solo travelers, families, couples, corporate groups, church and school groups, and retirees. The organization has experience running programs for groups from 5 to 500 participants, and the Guatemala project in particular has drawn volunteers from across the full age spectrum. If you’re wondering whether you’re “the type” to do this — you probably are.
Globe Aware has no religious or political affiliation. It works with communities as equals, not as aid providers, which means the experience never feels patronizing or performative. After decades of operation and thousands of volunteers sent around the world, their model is tested, trusted, and genuinely impactful.
