San Andres, Guatemala

Summary
Live and volunteer in a beautiful and friendly rural town in Latin America.

Programs
We the following programs in San Andres:

   • Teaching English
   • Ecology Projects
   • Environment Education

Overview
San Andres is a quite small town of about 4,000 located on the northern shore of Lake Peten-Itza in the northern most department (region) in Guatemala, El Peten. San Andres was established in the mid 1800's and the majority of its inhabitants are a mix of Spanish, Belize, Mexican, and Itza
Mayan. Over the past 15 years, migrants from other regions of Guatemala have claimed land all throughout the Municipality of San Andres, which now contains over 70 villages and nearly 30,000 inhabitants. Everyone in town
speaks Spanish as their first language. The town consists of a beautiful beach front, lots of small family owned stores, a few dingy cantinas, evangelical churches, a pool hall, a central park, and soccer fields. San Andres is definitely off the "tourist" beat, and is one of the best places for "self-immersion" into rural Latin American culture.

Getting There
Most volunteers fly from home into Guatemala City, then travel by bus to the volunteer location of San Andres. The bus ride is about eight hours. There are also daily 45-minute flights from Guatemala City to Santa Elena, where volunteers then take a 30-minute bus ride to San Andres.

Language
In addition to Spanish, there are Amerindian languages spoken by 40% of the population. English is not widely spoken, however our Coordinator and fellow volunteers speak English.

Accommodations
You will stay with a local Guatemalan family who primarily speaks Spanish and will provide you with your own room, all meals, include you in family activities, and generally help you adjust to and learn about their culture and country. The host families have been hand-picked and trained by our local Coordinators. Our families can host more than one volunteer at a time, so you can stay in the same house with your friend(s) or partner. You can also stay in separate host families that are very near to each other.

Meals
Meals are simple and typical to the region. Breakfast usually contains Cereal, oatmeal, fruit, bread, coffee, beans, eggs, in some combinations. Lunch is typically the largest meal of the day, which usually contains eggs, beans, chicken, beef, rice, soup, tortillas, salad, vegetables, in some combinations. Dinner is typically a quick meal, consisting of beans, rice, eggs, and tortillas.

Local restaurants usually have chicken and beef platters with rice and salad. Hamburgers, beans and eggs, and sandwiches are also available in most restaurants in town (all two of them).

Most meals are vegetarian, as families usually eat meat 2-3 times a week. Therefore, it is very easy to accomodate vegetarians. Vegans and volunteers with other dietary needs should bring a cookbook with them and help educate
their local family on how to prepare their meals.

Communications
Mobile phones are widely available, and we strongly recommend that you buy one upon arrival or bring your GSM/unlocked phone from home. You can buy and activate a mobile phone for about 50 USD from a shop in San Andres. There are Internet cafes in San Andres for both Internet access and international phone calls. Your host family will most likely have a phone that you can use to receive international calls from family and friends back home.

Transportation
Our local Coordinator will arrange for a representative to accompany you from the airport in Guatemala City to San Andres. Our Coordinator will meet you in San Andres and introduce you to host family as well as the organization where you will volunteer. On a daily basis, you will be within walking distance to the place where you will volunteer. You can also buy an inexpensive bicycle for your daily "commute".

Health & Safety
San Andres is very safe in terms of personal safety as well as health. The biggest problem faced by volunteers is usually an occasional upset stomach as their bodies adjust to the food and water. You cannot drink tap water; only drink bottled/boiled water. There are medical clinics in San Andres for minor ailments and illnesses. For more serious treatment, there are large hospitals in nearby Flores or in Guatemala City.

Climate/Weather
San Andres has a hot, tropical climate with maximum rainfall between May and September. The average daily temperatures are: From November to March: Min: 60 Max: 90 and from April to October Min: 70 Max: 100.

Sightseeing & Activities
Numerous important Mayan ruins and Archeological park are located 1-2 hours from San Andres, which include Tikal, Yaxha, Uaxactun, El Zotz, Peru-Waka, Ceibal, Aguateca, Dos Pilas, and Mirador. Most can be visited in 1-2 days.
Other local attractions are the lake, caves in Santa Elena and Poptun, waterfalls in Dolores Peten, a zoo, and water park in nearby towns. Also, weekend trips can be made to Belize, and the Rio Dulce/Livingston region of Guatemala.