Studying Spanish In Antigua Guatemala: My Experience, Is It Worth It & More

Come find the best Spanish schools in Antigua and what to know before signing up. Since I studied Spanish here, I’ll walk you through everything from top schools, the city, what schools like, accommodation options, and more.

If you’re thinking of studying Spanish in Antigua, you’re already on the way to making a great decision. It’s a gorgeous city, so why not!

You could find yourself studying at one of the best Spanish schools in the morning, then hiking a volcano in the afternoon. And yes, I am speaking from experience here.

Whether you’re a complete beginner, been practicing on Duolingo, or just want to brush up, Antigua is perfect.

Personally, I had been learning Spanish on good ol’ Duolingo for the past year before my backpacking trip around Central America.

Though apart from asking for “la cuenta” or “mesa para uno”, my conversational skills were pretty damn lack laster. I may be traveling solo, but I still want to converse with people!

This is why I decided to continue learning Spanish here, and seriously, it made such a difference for the rest of my trip!

Why Learn Spanish In Guatemala

Okay, let’s start super broad.

Why Guatamala, out of all the countries in Central America?

Well first off, the accent here is pretty easy to understand for non native Spanish speakers. It’s also crazy helpful that they speak a bit slower than most Spanish speaking countries.

Secondly, Spanish courses here are actually super affordable!

Theres some gorgeous locations where you can study, such as Antigua or Lake Atitlan. Just do your morning or afternoon class and spend the rest of the day exploring.

I’ve traveled to 40+ countries, and never really had issues communicating in English. But here in Central America, it was next level difficult.

Seriously, the amount of times I was stuck on a Spanish-speaking tour, and the shuttle driver stops for lunch, but god knows how long for!

Why Should I Study Spanish In Antigua

Theres a few popular locations in Guatemala to study Spanish, though Antigua had my heart.

Here you’ll find plenty of Spanish schools (I’ll touch more on them below), in one of Central America’s most beautiful cities, studying the local language, and honestly being completely inspired.

I actually stayed in a hostel while studying and there were so many of us learning Spanish we would all hang out and hold lil study sessions in the afternoon.

Though if study sessions don’t sound anything like you, no biggie.

Theres still heaps of other things to do in the afternoon, such as volcano hiking, free walking tours, ruins to explore, and many delicious cafes.

On the weekends, you can even head a little bit further to El Paredon, Lake Atitlan, or even overnight camping on Acatenago.

Seriously, you get the best of both worlds here with city living in a quaint location.

Best Spanish Schools In Antigua Guatemala

Now, obviously you’ll want to study at a reputable and popular school, cause we aren’t spending all that money for nothing!

Some things to think about include:

• Whether you want to work one-on-one with a teacher or learn in a group classroom setting
• If you would like to do a full immersion experience by staying in a homestay with a local family
• Cost, how much do you want to spend as Antigua isn’t the cheapest place in Guatemala to learn Spanish

Spanish Academy Antiguena

No doubt, Spanish Academy Antiguena is the most popular choices when it comes to the best Spanish schools in Antigua.

They’ve been operating since 1985 and really pride themselves on their qualified teachers (all have university degrees specializing in teaching Spanish).

Spanish Academy Antiguena prioritizes what you want to get out of it and focus around this. It’s perfect for travelers who may only be interested in learning Spanish that you would need while traveling.

This is actually were I studied and honestly I chose it because the good reviews. However, I can promise it does live up to the hype.

I did the one on one teaching program and had the loveliest teacher, who was super passionate about improving my Spanish.

One-on-one Teaching: Yes

Group Teaching: No

Immersion Program: Yes, homestays are available for about $100.00 – $135.00 per week, including 3 meals a day, excluding Sundays.

Study Without Homestay: Yes, though classes do cost slightly more.

Cost: $115 for a week of classes (4 hours daily over 5 days, 8 am to 12 pm) with a Homestay. Otherwise $125 for a week of classes (4 hours daily over 5 days, 8 am to 12pm).

Office Location: 1a Calle Poniente #10 Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepequez 03001, Guatemala

School Location: Calle de Los Nazarenos 28b, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Ixchel Spanish School

Another excellent choice is Ixchel Spanish School, which has been operating since 1999.

They differentiate themselves by handpicking the top teachers and host families. You can study here knowing you will be in good hands.

Here you’ll have either physical courses or Skype sessions to choose from, perf if you’re keen to get some learning in before you leave.

They have bunch of courses available including:

• The standard immersion program
• Conversational based courses
• Specialized courses – Spanish for Children, Travelers, and Flight Attendants.

What I like about Ixchel Spanish School is they regularly run tours, providing the perfect opportunities to make friends and explore Guatemala.

This is something I loved when I was studying Spanish in Costa Rica! It was so much fun doing overnight and day tours to other parts of the country.

One-on-one Teaching: Yes

Group Teaching: No

Immersion Program: Yes. Homestays cost $185.00 per week, excluding meals. For meals included and a private bathroom, its $220.00 per week.

Study Without Homestay: Yes, you can study and organize your own accommodation, or they’ll provide rooms at the school.

Cost: $210 for one week of classes 4 hours 5 days. $145.00 for one week of classes 2 hours a day, or $16.00 per hour if you would just like to book hourly.

Office / School Location: 9 Calle Oriente 5, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Don Pedro de Alvarado Spanish School

Lastly, we have the Don Pedro de Alvarado Spanish School, which is actually one of the oldest schools in Antigua!

So here, theres actually a limit of 30 students at one time, so the teachers aren’t stretched, and you can get a personalized experience.

What is unique here is the language immersion program, where you work with two different teachers each day.

Your first 4 hours will be with a teacher working on grammar, and then your final 2 hours are with another teacher focusing on conversational skills.

Honestly, Don Pedro de Alvarado is the perfect option for those who really want to take their Spanish classes seriously and their skills to the next level.

Though, don’t stress, it’s not all work and no play, they also have afternoon activities where you can get to know other students and explore Antigua.

One-on-one Teaching: Yes

Group Teaching: No

Immersion Program: Yes, Homestays start at $100.00 per week for a basic room with meals.

Study Without Homestay: Yes

Cost: $195.00 for one week of classes 4 hours daily over 5 days, or $235.00 for one week of classes 6 hours a day over 5 days.

Office / School Location: 6a Avenida Norte 39, Antigua Guatemala 03001, Guatemala

How Much Is Spanish School In Antigua Guatemala

As you can see, a Spanish school typically sets you back between $115.00 to $210.00 for a one-week class with 4 hours of teaching per day.

This works out to between $5.75 – $10.50 per hour of teaching.

No matter how you look at it, learning Spanish in Antigua is a super affordable thing to do, and it’ll honestly change how you travel around Central America.

Now, this is quite a large difference in pricing, nearly double. Some schools push students through in large quantities, and even with one-on-one teaching, the high amount of students keep prices low.

Unfortunately, this can affect your experience as you may find it overwhelming at first, plus teachers can be a hit or miss.

The smaller schools generally have a more personal experience and offer free activities, allowing you to meet other students.

There’s nothing better than finally being able to communicate with your bus driver, locals on the street, and haggling in the markets. You may still look like a gringo, but at least you don’t sound like one.

Do I Need To Already Know Spanish?

Honestly, it doesn’t matter your level of Spanish, perhaps you speak none or quite a bit. We all need to start somewhere!

I spoke to many people who knew nothing before signing up to study Spanish in Antigua. If this is you, you’ll be best off staying for 2+ weeks to get a decent understanding before you venture out.

I will say though the teachers are quite good at creating lessons around what you want to focus on. For example, ordering at a restaurant, or like me, which was simply conversational Spanish.

The main thing is that you’re committed so that you and your teacher both find it a worthwhile experience.

You’ll have homework to complete, so you’ll need to finish this daily and prioritise your studies. Something that, if you’re traveling and meeting new people, can quickly end up on the back burner.

Plus, I don’t know about you, but for me, it had AGES since I had been in school.

It felt strange being in that setting again, and often I would quickly do my homework while having breakfast…. Try not be like me.

Accommodation Options

Now, no matter how long you are planning on studying, you’re going to need somewhere to stay.

Now, I’ve done a few different Spanish schools in different countries throughout the years and have stayed in essentially all options.

Homestays

The first one is the homestay where you stay with a local family. It can be quite full on but it’s a super immersive way to learn Spanish.

Basically, your household will only speak in Spanish, so prepare to get that translator app out and study hard!

For the most part, meals are included, and when you’re traveling, it’s so refreshing to have some home-cooked dishes! Especially if you’re feeling homesick.

Plus, you’ll be able to try some delicious Guatemalan favorites!

Now, if you’re introverted like me, jumping into this can feel overwhelming. Speaking a new language with strangers? Honestly, it’s tough.

However, it’s likely you’ll actually be in a homestay with another person from the school. If this is something you are keen to do, it’s best to contact the school to see if they can group you up.

Apartment

Alternatively, an excellent way to make some new friends is by staying in an apartment organized through your Spanish school.

Be aware these will be more pricey than a homestay, though the facilities will be quite nice.

You’ll have a furnished bedroom, a private or shared bathroom, and communal spaces like a lounge and kitchen.

Sort Your Own Accommodation

Now, as you may have figured, self-organized literally means just sorting accommodations for yourself.

I actually did this when I was at Spanish Academy Antiguena simply because I was on a budget and wasn’t keen on a homestay again (I just wanted more meals alone and downtime).

I decided to stay in a shared dorm at Maya Papaya in Antigua. This was a great choice, and I met others also studying Spanish. Of course, we’d have lil study sessions which was an awesome vibe.

By organizing it yourself, you have the freedom to stay wherever, whether that’s a hostel, guesthouse, Airbnb, or hotel.

The one noticeable downside is that school time was focused, and I wasn’t given any opportunities to interact with other students except at lunch.

Whereas everyone who was staying at the homestays had become close friends and hung out heaps.

What’s a Typical Day Like?

If you decide to learn Spanish in Antigua, then good chance your classes will be in the morning.

Generally, they start around 8 am, and then, depending how long you’ve booked, will determine when they finish.

Personally, I did 4 hours a day, which is a pretty common choice. We’d do 2 hours of learning, a 30-minute break, and then another 2 hours.

During the break, local sellers would come to serve food, and there was free tea and coffee available. I’d often use this time to make friends and learn about others’ experiences here.

Nevertheless, doing 4 hours per day was the perfect amount of time, as towards the end, my brain would start blanking, and I’d hit my limit.

If you are thinking of booking longer classes, think carefully, or perhaps book a smaller amount and up it after a week if you can handle it.

Since it’s a lot of one-on-one learning, it’s pretty full on, and you’re getting a lot out of a small amount of time.

Even if you can nail an 8-hour day at school, it’s group learning with questions answered among the class. This is A LOT more mentally exhausting, plus you’ll have homework to do each day.

What Happens If I Don’t Like My Teacher

Now this is a legitimate concern, and it does happen. You’ll know pretty quickly whether you and your teacher don’t vibe.

This may be from a lack of passion, your styles don’t match, or you’re simply getting strange vibes.

Don’t be afraid to bring it up to one of the office staff! Seriously, you’re paying for these courses and want to get the most out of the experience.

Who you get as a teacher is a bit of luck of the draw.

I happened to be super duper lucky and got an incredible teacher who was passionate about his country, had some excellent stories, and wasn’t afraid to talk about more taboo subjects (crime, drugs, cartels).

He was interested in learning about me and, basically, everything you could want as someone building confidence in their conversational skills.

However, I could easily imagine he may talk too much for learners just trying to understand the basics.

The school will try pair you with the right person, but you’ll need to have the confidence to say something if things don’t feel right.

Your teacher can truly make or break your experience studying in Antigua.

My Experience Studying Spanish Here In Antigua

So I studied at Spanish Academy Antiguena for a couple of weeks. First of all, I am so glad I chose Antigua. I absolutely fell in love with this place and its somewhere I could see myself living.

In terms of why Spanish Academy Antigua, it was simply due to price. I wasn’t keen on a homestay, and it was super easy to book a self organised accommodation course.

Honestly, I didn’t have too much of an idea what I was getting myself into. I mean I only signed up with a weeks notice!

I sent a simple email, and they replied asking asking if I needed a homestay, how many hours I would like to do, if I needed an airport transfer and my current level of Spanish.

With a quick reply, it was all organized and locked in.

Rolling up at 8 am, having just had time for the hostel breakfast, I headed to the office where I paid my fee in cash and met my teacher for the first time.

From there we walked through the streets of Antigua as he tested my current level, and I struggled along.

Soon enough, we headed off the main road and through a small door in a gate that opened up to a large courtyard, my new school.

I won’t go through my complete day-to-day, though my lessons would often consist of 3 hours of general conversational Spanish, as well as about 1 hour of past tense Spanish.

Obviously, you do use a lot of past tense in conversation, so there was quite an overlap.

We’d do 2 hours of learning, break for 30 minutes, and then another 2 hours. This was perfect as my brain would start turning to mush towards the end. I don’t think I could’ve done any longer.

Pros Of Studying With Spanish Academy Antiguena:

• My teacher was amazing, and he had a great sense of humor
• The location was in a beautiful garden with views of the surrounding volcanoes
• It was an affordable option

Con’s Of Studying With Spanish Academy Antiguena:

• There were not enough social events. It seems like those staying in homestays did things, but the rest of us were left out

Other Locations To Study Spanish In Guatemala

If you do even the smallest amount of research you’ll quickly see how many places in Guatemala are known for their Spanish schools.

Lake Atitlan: Now, I’ll say Lake Atitlan is probs the most popular place to study here in Guatemala.

It’s for sure an even more relaxed pace than Antigua and surrounded by an incredible lake, impressive volcanos and some cute villages.

Find out how to get to Lake Atitlan

Xela: Xela (Quetzaltenango) is another popular spot and is actually the 2nd largest city in the country. However it’s not on the main backpacking trail so you’ll find cheaper prices and less tourists.

Where To Stay In Antigua

I absolutely love Antigua, no doubt it was one of my favorite spots in Guatemala! I’d happily move here to live!

You’ll find hotels and restaurants with the most incredible views, where you can even see Acatenago Volcano erupting on a clear night.

Theres an excellent hostel scene here in Antigua, with some super luxe options. You’ll be able to find pod-style dorm rooms, common rooms playing Netflix, bars, kitchens, and even pools.

However, AC is something I found hostels here lacking, and depending on when you visit it may be quite warm.

I stayed at Maya Papaya in Antigua, and I loved it so much that I booked 4 separate stays over my month in the country! The staff are lovely, the beds comfortable, and a super clean kitchen, awesome location, and chill hangout areas.

Be aware that the nicer hostels here can be pricey, where you’ll easily be paying $20.00+ per night.

My friend actually joined me in Guatemala, and we often found it was cheaper to book a nice guesthouse rather than two dorm beds.

Things To Do In Antigua

Being one of the most popular destinations in Guatemala theres seriously so many things to do here! I stayed for 2 weeks and can confidently say I checked off MOST of the top ones:

Pacaya Volcano: This is the easier of the two volcano hikes, just taking a couple of hours. Though this volcano is nowhere as active so don’t expect lava. Though you can eat a pizza cooked on the hot rocks!

Acatenango Volcano Hike: This is for sure the harder of the two volcanos. It’s an overnight experince where you’ll watch Fuego erupt right opposite your camp. No doubt, this is a bucketlist activity!

Explore The Ruins: My favorite ruins here are Convento Capuchinas and Convento La Recoleccion. Though there are numerous spots around the city worth checking out.

Shopping: I love the handicrafts in Guatemala, and Antigua has so many shops! If you don’t like haggling and perfer fixed prices I can recommend Nim Po’t.

Hobbitenango: Being from New Zealand, I thought Hobbitenango was kind of strange, and yes it is, but it’s still worth a visit. Here you’ll find Instagram spots, incredible views, and many games. Just best not to visit on a weekend.

Wrap Up: Studying Spanish In Antigua

Now you should know all about my experince studying in Antigua and why Guatemala is the perfect country to learn.

Honestly it made such a difference to my confidence when speaking and I ended up being the go to person on tours who’d communicate in Spanish with locals.

The complete opposite to what I had started my backpacking Central America trip doing!

If you’re thinking about it just do it! The sooner you start the more usefull it’ll be!

Want more Guatemala Inspiration? Check out….

• Backpacking Guatemala Travel Guide
• 3 Weeks In Guatemala Itinerary
• Cost To Travel Guatemala & My $50.00 Budget
• Mexico, Belize & Guatemala Itinerary
• Acatenango Volcano Hike Difficulty & Travel Guide
• Pacaya Volcano Hike Difficulty & Travel Guide
• Studying Spanish In Antigua, Guatemala
• Visiting Hobbitenango In Antigua
• 4 Days In Antigua Guatemala Itinerary
• Backpacking Antigua Travel Guide
• Best Hostels In Antigua, Guatemala
• Antigua To El Paredon Transport Guide
• Best Hostels In El Paredon
• El Paredon For Budget Travelers
• Travel San Ignacio To Flores & Crossing The Border Into Guatemala
• Best Hostels In Flores For Backpackers
• Going On A Tikal Tour From Flores
• Is Flores Guatemala Worth Visiting?
• Jorge’s Rope Swing In Flores
• Flores To Semuc Champey Transport Guide
• Lanquin To Semuc Champey Transport Guide
• Is Semuc Champey Worth It?
• Best Hostels In Semuc Champey
• Visiting Semuc Champey Mirador & Pools
• How To Travel Semuc Champey To Antigua
• Antigua To Lake Atitlan Transport Guide
• Can You Swim In Lake Atitlan Guatemala?
• Traveling Panajachel To San Pedro In Lake Atitlan
• How To Get Around Lake Atitlan
• The 8 BEST Hostels In Lake Atitlan
• How To Travel Antigua To Copan Ruinas