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Ten years ago we landed San Marcos, Lake Atitlan, as backpackers with a plan to stay a month or two... Once here, we fell in love with the magnificient views of the lake, mountains and erupting volcanos, and even more so with the people and their culture.
We brought our love for travelling, yoga, wellness, music, theatre, and people and combined our passions into establishing what became one of the premier hostel\bar\restaurants in Guatemala.
Over this last decade we had two beautiful children, now aged 8 and 10, and when Covid hit we decided that enough was enough with the high turnover tourism and late night events, and to instead move back into the property and create a quieter kind of life...
We spent the last 18 months renovating the old restaurant into a home, and have kept the room rentals and recently opened a new cafe/bar on the property as well in conjunction with two friends who came to us as volunteers at the end of 2020! We are interested in hearing from people with hospitality experience; anything in hostels/hotels/bars/restaurants and front desk/front of house type work, and housekeeping, as well as carpentry, electric, construction of any kind, gardeners, handy-people, interior design, and at the right moments social media/website/marketing skills.
We are sure you will fall in love with our little piece of paradise as we did, and look forward to hearing from you if our location and projects appeal!!
Sarah, Bryan, and kids!!
Charity Work
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
We offer links with several local foundations and schools. At times we take on too many volunteers in order to directly impact and aid these organizations. We encourage our volunteers to forge relationships with our lovely Mayan staff, who are always interested in teaching words and phrases in their Mayan dialect, Kakchikel.
San Marcos as a tourist town is known for longer stay travelers who engage with the many learning opportunities offered. Yoga, meditation, healing therapies, Mayan chocolate ceremonies, kirtan, fermentation classes, permaculture, traditional textiles, massage workshops, and many other number of random interesting things that pop in and out of this quirky town. We hope you take part in whatever draws your interest!
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Do you consider yourself a ‘finisher’, in either carpentry or drywall?
We are currently very interested in hearing from people with detail oriented ‘finished’ carpentry experience, and drywall installation, as well as ...
Help with hosting and welcoming guests, and reception duties.
We are always interested in hearing from people with skills/background in education or working with kids. Our kids love circus/gymnastics/dance/rock climbing/most physical activities, as well as creative writing/science projects/and most things that can be taught to kids by enthusiastic adults!!
We are also always interested to hear from specialists in interior design, painting, construction, electric, and gardening to help on projects that we always have going on!!
Website/marketing/social media specialists also welcome at the right times!!
We ask for a 6 week minimum commitment. Though at certain times for specific skill sets we can accept a shorter work trade.
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
We offer shared and private rooms depending on amount of volunteers and season.
We also have 2 vans that are refitted as housing (these are the most requested spaces)!!!
We have a fun little set up here! Many people who have volunteered with us have said it feels like family, and stay much longer than originally planned.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
This host can provide space for campervans.
More than two
maximum 4-5 hours, 5 days a week.
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.9)