This celebration takes place on December 12th and is celebrated in all Latin America, but the biggest celebration happens in Mexico City at the Basilica de Guadalupe.

Paisaje Volcan de Agua

The extraordinary beauty of the Guatemalan territory and the warm spirit of its people make Guatemala a unique destination in the world – a perfect balance of beauty and soul. Guatemala is a country that opens its doors to visitors to share the greatness of its history, the beauty of its landscapes, the mystery of their ancestors, the spirit of their culture and the hearts of its people.

Unique Climate and culture

Located in the center of the Americas, Guatemala has become a major business center and a perfect tourist destination.

With a territory slightly larger than 108.800 km ² (a little bit larger than Portugal), Guatemala is divided into 22 departments and has 12 million inhabitants. The population has a unique culture from the mix of 22

Sundown in Antigua Guatemala

Maya ethnic groups, Ladino and Garinagu. The official language is Spanish, but also there are 23 other languages, 21 Maya, Garifuna and Xinca.

The warm climate of the coast of Guatemala is perfectly balanced with the mild climate of the plateau, which has led to Guatemala to be considered as one of the best and healthiest climates in the world, “Country of Eternal Spring.”

San Pedro La Laguna

Taking into account the richness and diversity of the tourism product of Guatemala, the area is promoted through seven tourism systems: Altiplano; Viva Maya Culture; The Pacific, exotic and diverse; Guatemala, Modern and Colonial (Antigua Guatemala); Izabal, a Caribbean Green; The Verapaces, Natural Paradise; East, Mystic, Natural; and Petén, Mayan Adventure World.
Tourist Activities

Guatemala offers a great variety of tourism activities for the enjoyment of visitors. Its varied geography and climate allows for a wide variety of opportunities to enjoy a holiday.

CULTURE

• Archaeology – Guatemala is the heart of mysticism, of Maya archeology. The country has countless archaeological sites of prehistoric periods. Tikal’s majestic city is the ultimate symbol of the Mayan culture. In the last decades have discovered other spectacular places as San Bartolo, with its magnificent murals; Yaxhá with referrals to the city beautiful and incredible lagoon; El Mirador, where the largest pyramid in the world, by volume; Takalik Abaj in Retalhuleu, south of the country, with ten terraces that rise 1,500 meters above the Pacific and that is the transition from the Olmec civilization to the Mayan and Mayan botanical gardens, such as Pilar near the border with Belize, which have begun to recreate as archaeologists learn more the way that the Maya were able to live harmoniously and sustainably with nature.
• Living Cultures – One of the elements that make it unique to Guatemala, is the living culture of the indigenous population. It is experienced every day in every corner of the country, especially in the western region. The colors, traditions, languages, rituals and customs of the country have their origin in the 23 ethnic gr
  

  Carpet

  oups living in Guatemala. Each clings to its ancestral roots, distinguished by their outfits, each peculiar to each population.

• Religious tourism – The religion of Guatemalans is breathed in every moment that lives in Guatemala. For its part, the Holy Week is a surprising mixture of symbols, sounds and aromas. Colorful carpets made of fresh pine leaves, dyed sawdust and flower petals under the perfume of incense, are leading the way, in cities and towns, the typical processions of the time. Holy Week has become one of the religious sites and most memorable and sought after by tourists from around the world.
• Crafts – Guatemalan handicrafts are famous, exotic and diverse. Guatemala is the center of production of these crafts and are found throughout the course of the country. The distinctive designs of textiles, especially the highlands, and the various utensils for daily use can be works of art in your home. The textile and wooden masks are some of the materials found in tourist destinations, samples of the mixture of indigenous and Christian cultures.
  

  Crafted Candies

• Folk Festivals - 23 different ethnic groups with different languages and a rich colonial past, have created an explosion of folk festivals: religious traditions or anything else of the imagination. Such is the case of Rabin Ajaw national folklore festival in Coban, Alta Verapaz, on July. On November 1st, All Saints’ Day, held two of the most important folk festivals: the horse races in Todos Santos and the flight of the giant kites in Santiago Sacatepequez and Sumpango.

NATURE

Parks and Reserves – Guatemala has one of the most important biological treasures of the world. It is the habitat for 10% of all recorded species on the planet. This includes 19 ecosystems,  300 micro climates and 33volcanoes, of which five are active. The tourists who visit Guatemala travel from a cloud forest to the beaches of black sand on the Pacific coast within minutes.

• Caving – Explore and study caves is one of the most extraordinary adventures that nature offers. A weekend or a day, inside a cave is a journey into another world as remote as the ocean or even the phase of another planet. For the Maya civilization, caves were the secret entrance to the underworld. Thanks to the abundance of limestone, Guatemala has caves of various sizes, shapes, lengths and depths. These caves can be visited on foot, swimming, canoes or boats. Candelaria Caves of Rey Marcos and Lankin are in the Verapaz region, while Peten is home to the cave Actun Kan.
• Canopy – What began as a study object for forests, became one of the most attractive tourist activities in the country. The Guatemalan jungle can be seen from more than 30 meters high, zigzagging from tree to tree and then landing on underlying platforms while advancing to the next tree: the combination of these actions will ensure a dose of adrenaline along the entire journey. To complete your adventure, if you decide to visit the park Ixpanpajul in Petén, you can cross the hanging bridges.
• Rafting – Guatemala is a country with many natural resources, where there are mountains and rivers. So it’s no wonder that in recent years the popularity of rafting is increasing. The variety of rivers in Guatemala to river rafting, kayaking, going from level two to level five, and they even found during the dry season from December to May. The rivers for rafting in the Caribbean side are not only spectacular in themselves, for their incredible blue water or green, but because along the way, on his way to lead the Atlantic, you can find monkeys, toucans and macaws.
• Lakes and Beaches - The Pacific coast of Guatemala is characterized by black volcanic sand that gives it a very exotic difference. In addition, the Guatemalan territory is characterized by many lakes and ponds that have many of them volcanic origin. The most spectacular is Lake Atitlan, which was formed 85.000 years ago, when one of the volcanoes of the zone erupted. Volcanoes Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro, which remain inactive, surround the lake and hide like if they were his guards. Another example is Lake Amatitlán, which is fed by waterfalls that contain sulfur, and the Boiler Lagoon, located on the slopes of the volcano Pacaya. Ipala Lagoon, in the department of Jutiapa, has an emerald, while the Lake Izabal, the country’s Atlantic coast, is the largest lake freshwater. The city of this region is Livingston, home of the Garifuna ethnic group and a place that should definitely visit.

City Walking Tour

Excursions plan by our Spanish School are to discover the Guatemala’s history, culture and surrounding landscapes of Antigua can be done every day. These have a cost of transportation that may vary, the students will pay the price of entrance

and food if necessary.

There excursions to different locations near Antigua Guatemala and they are being repeated every week with a minimum of students required. Here are some examples:

San Antonio Aguas Calientes Wedding Ceremony

• Excursion to the Volcano Pacaya
• Butterfly site
• Maya Matrimonial ceremony in San Antonio Aguas Calientes
• Visit to the museums of Antigua
• House of the first Bishop of Guatemala Francisco Marroquin

For learning Spanish

We have a number of different and exciting free activities that will help you to practice and to understand better the Spanish language. (Some activities may require a minimum number of students)

• Cinema: view famous Guatemalan films. After each screening there will be discussions and questions introducing new vocabulary.
  

  Cooking Classes

• City Walking Tour: Each Monday we tour the City of Antigua pointing out essential places such as banks, ATMs, market, mall, etc. and highlighting cultural and historical sites.
• Cooking Classes: we show you how to cook some traditional dishes of Guatemala. Our speciality, Pepian, a recipe handed down from mother to daughter is our favourite and is considered part of Guatemala’s cultural heritage.
• Coffee Plantation tour: in this tour you will learn about Antigua’s famous coffee and the care and preparation involved in producing it.
• Market tour: a walking tour to the market where you can enjoy the spectacle of indigenous people wearing colourful and traditional regional dress selling their own produce and hand crafted goods.
• Cerro de la Cruz: a walking tour to the Cerro de la Cruz, a hill north of the city offering the best view of Antigua for taking photos.

Volunteer

Art from one kind of activity by NGO

Ixquic Spanish School recommend you that another way to maximize your educational experience is to immerse yourself by volunteering at one of the many local projects that help to support and educate Antigua Guatemala’s unfortunate, orphaned and abandoned children. We will be happy to introduce you to the wide variety of charitable

organizations in the area, and to help you to get involved in one that is right for you!  This way you can make a big difference while adding richness and fulfillment to your experience.

This schedule is organized to allow excellent results in learning the Spanish language in a short period of time.

• Five days a week: 8:00am to 12:00 noon, with a 30 minute break at 10:00am;
• or 2:00pm to 6:00pm, with a 30 minute break at 3:45pm. (Also, culd be taylored to your needs)
• Duration of course from 1 up to 20 weeks.
• All levels, from beginners to advanced.
• Course can be started any day from Monday to Friday.

Spanish Lessons Include:

• One-on-one instruction Spanish language instructors One-on-One
• Comfortable study environment
• Free Wi-Fi all day at working hours
• Complimentary coffee or tea with locally made bread, during school hours
• Afternoon activities

Family Stay
1 Person 1 Room with Shared Bathroom     $95.00
2 Person 1 Room with Shared Bathroom     $190.00
1 Person 1 Room with Private Bathroom     $110.00
2 Person 1 Room with Private Bathroom     $220.0

Accomodation will be in an average family, closer to the school.  The price includes three meals from Monday to Saturday.  Living in a family you will use the Spanish you learn at school and most important you will be able to know our culture.

* Ixquic works with non-governmental organizations that helps the less fortunate people in La Antigua Guatemala and Guatemala.

of the Quiche Mayas. Ixquic was the daughter of one of the lords of Xibalba, Kuchumakik, who was part of Maya history.

With Ixquic starts the third cycle of the Popol Vuh, the cycle of female culture. It is fitting that females play a major role in Ixquic Spanish School and their wide experience and total commitment to teaching Spanish ensures that your learning experience is life changing.

The Spanish you will learn will be of great help in your travels to Spanish speaking countries and will also provide advantages in your professional and personal life as Spanish becomes more widely spoken.

While studying at Ixquic Spanish School in Antigua Guatemala you have the opportunity to develop your knowledge of Spanish in an environment that will enable full immersion allowing you to expand your knowledge in the language and enjoy a variety of cultural and tourist attractions.

Sign up today and transcend the barriers of language in Latin America

History

Most of our teachers helped to develop the good reputation of the famous Spanish Schools in Antigua Guatemala, unfortunately when all the female teachers became older or began to fight for their rights at those schools they were dismissed. At that point, these teachers decided to start a new project with a united vision: Women helping women through education. That is one of our main objectives and a big part of mission. 

The teachers of our Spanish School became teachers for random reasons in their lives, such as becoming widows, or they were single mothers, real women who had to maintain their homes and their families.  The good thing is that they realized a career teaching, and they loved to teach and continued their education at universities in order to provide the best quality in education. Teachers

At Ixquic Spanish School we do not discriminate by age, contrary to that, we view advanced years as a sign of experience and knowledge that our teachers can impart to our students and help them facilitate the understanding in learning the language.

VISION
To be the best Spanish School in Central America

MISSION
We will satisfy the expectations of our students by employing competent, experienced professionals and utilising proven teaching methods.

Why Ixquic?

At Ixquic Spanish School you will have the opportunity to learn Spanish at your own pace in one of the most historic and beautiful places in Central America, La Antigua Guatemala.

Everyone agrees that the best way to learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself in that language’s culture and the curses at Ixquic Spanish School are designed so that you spend much of your time interacting with the warm and friendly people of Antigua Guatemala rather than sitting in a classroom. This will allow you to learn all about the fascinating history and rich culture of Antigua Guatemala and the special villages that surround it.

World Heritage Site listed Antigua Guatemala is a town of bougainvillea lined, cobblestone streets huddled by three volcanoes. It has an abundaHallwaynce of beautiful old colonial churches, a wonderful vibrant market and the incredibly kind and friendly people will make you feel at home. In fact Antigua Guatemala was the winner of the Wanderlust travel awards City of 2009.

Reasons to choose Ixquic:

• Transport service from the international airport at Guatemala City (La Aurora) to La Antigua Guatemala.
• Lodging at student residences or with selected host families.
• Personalized and professional Spanish language tuition.
• Recreational and traveling opportunities.
• Voluntary work in projects empowering the poorest people of Guatemala.
• Wi-Fi at working hours.
• Relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
• We specialize in teaching people with learning difficulties.
• We welcome people of Hispanic descent who wish to practice and learn Spanish Language.
• We provide informal education for those preferring a relaxed method of learning.

One-on-One method

20 hours weekly @ 4 hours/ daily     $115.00

25 hours weekly @ 5 hours/ daily     $125.00

30 hours weekly @ 6 hours/ daily     $140.00

35 hours weekly @ 7 hours/ daily     $150.00

This schedule is organized to allow excellent results in learning the Spanish language in a short period of time.

• Five days a week: 8:00am to 12:00 noon, with a 30 minute break at 10:00am;
• or 2:00pm to 6:00pm, with a 30 minute break at 3:45pm. (Also, could be taylored to your needs)
• Duration of course from 1 up to 20 weeks.
  

  Intuitive method

• All levels, from beginners to advanced.
• Course can be started any day from Monday to Friday.

Spanish Lessons Include:

• One-on-one instruction Spanish language instructors One-on-One
• Comfortable study environment
• Free Wi-Fi all day at working hours
• Complimentary coffee or tea with locally made bread, during school hours
• Afternoon activities

Family Stay

Kids are welcome

1 Person 1 Room with Shared Bathroom         $95.00

2 Person 1 Room with Shared Bathroom      $190.00
1 Person 1 Room with Private Bathroom      $110.00
2 Person 1 Room with Private Bathroom     $220.00

Accomodation will be in an average family, closer to the school.  The price includes three meals from Monday to Saturday.  Living in a family you will use the Spanish you learn at school and most important you will be able to know our culture.

* Ixquic works with non-governmental organizations that helps the less fortunate people in La Antigua Guatemala and Guatemala.

Courses tailored to the needs of the students

student.

• Some students just want the elementary level of Spanish in a short term, reason why Ixquic Spanish School likes to uses with them the informal classes.
• Progressive and Logical for those who planned to stay longer we know that the best way to understand the Spanish language is to learn the structure and grammar.
• For those students that are comfortable with everyday conversation because they are with advanced levels we suggest Transitional-Intermediate.
• Advanced, for students with high levels of grammar it helps for review the structure of  Spanish, and take aspects of Latin American literature and our culture.

It is not necessary to take an exam to review your level in Spanish language, our teachers since the first day rate your oral level and grammar level, of course you can take one exam if you preffer.  At the end of the week you have a review of what you have learned, and is up to your request to take an exam.

Method

One-on-One method

The method used by the teachers of Ixquic Spanish School is called direct communication. The activities and exercises in all the lessons are easy and have been elaborated to develop oral and written expressions. The educational program consists in activities based on real life, combined with grammatical support. The activities will help you to use the structures learned and will give confidence to speak Spanish.

The immersion in the language and culture of Guatemala, combined with the quality of the lessons will help you from the first day. The best way to learn a language is by speaking, listening, reading and thinking the majority of the time. At Ixquic Spanish School you can learn in a fun way,  the street, the restaurants but also with your host family. Our families are warm and kind people and will be more than happy to help you with your Spanish.

Fun activities

The Ixquic Spanish School in Antigua Guatemala gives attention to your education needs. We are proficient and we will help you to ensure that your primary need of learning the Spanish Language be achieved.

Our main objective is that our students reach their maximum capacity in the learning language and can communicate correctly in Spanish.

Our courses are focused on the following aspects:

1. A well prepared class with objectives, varied methods of work, different methods of learning, special emphasis in the abilities of the language.
   

   Facilities

2. The emotional dimension of learning allows the student to their free creative potential.
3. Directly address the students, recognizing that each person has a different way of learning.

Teachers
Our teachers are certified Spanish Teachers as a second language for foreign students, issued by the Universidad Rafael Landívar, with over 17 years experience in Spanish Language Schools.

Teachers Ixquic Spanish School

Ixquic Spanish School is a project in the city of Antigua Guatemala dedicated to providing the highest quality education to its students. The name Ixquic is taken from the Popol Vuh, the sacred book of the Quiche Mayas. Ixquic was the daughter of one of the lords of Xibalba, Kuchumakik, who was part of Maya history.

With Ixquic starts the third cycle of the Popol Vuh, the cycle of female culture. It is fitting that females play a major role in Ixquic Spanish School and their wide experience and total commitment to teaching Spanish ensures that your learning experience is life changing.

The Spanish you will learn will be of great help in your travels to Spanish speaking countries and will also provide advantages in your professional and personal life as Spanish becomes more widely spoken.

While studying at Ixquic Spanish School in Antigua Guatemala you have the opportunity to develop your knowledge of Spanish in an environment that will enable full immersion allowing you to expand your knowledge in the language and enjoy a variety of cultural and tourist attractions.

Sign up today and transcend the barriers of language in Latin America.

History

Most of our teachers helped to develop the good reputation of the famous Spanish Schools in Antigua Guatemala, unfortunately when all the female teachers became older or began to fight for their rights at those schools they were dismissed. At that point, these teachers decided to start a new project with a united vision: Women helping women through education. That is one of our main objectives and a big part of mission.

The teachers of our Spanish School became teachers for random reasons in their lives, such as becoming widows, or they were single mothers, real women who had to maintain their homes and their families.  The good thing is that they realized a career teaching, and they loved to teach and continued their education at universities in order to provide the best quality in education. Teachers

At Ixquic Spanish School we do not discriminate by age, contrary to that, we view advanced years as a sign of experience and knowledge that our teachers can impart to our students and help them facilitate the understanding in learning the language.

Vision
To be the best Spanish School in Central America

Mission
We will satisfy the expectations of our students by employing competent, experienced professionals and utilising proven teaching methods.

Why Ixquic?

At Ixquic Spanish School you will have the opportunity to learn Spanish at your own pace in one of the most historic and beautiful places in Central America, La Antigua Guatemala.

Everyone agrees that the best way to learn a foreign language is to immerse yourself in that language’s culture and the curses at Ixquic Spanish School are designed so that you spend much of your time interacting with the warm and friendly people of Antigua Guatemala rather than sitting in a classroom. This will allow you to learn all about the fascinating history and rich culture of Antigua Guatemala and the special villages that surround it.

World Heritage Site listed Antigua Guatemala is a town of bougainvillea lined, cobblestone streets huddled by three volcanoes. It has an abundaHallwaynce of beautiful old colonial churches, a wonderful vibrant market and the incredibly kind and friendly people will make you feel at home. In fact Antigua Guatemala was the winner of the Wanderlust travel awards City of 2009.

Reasons to choose Ixquic:

• Transport service from the international airport at Guatemala City (La Aurora) to La Antigua Guatemala.
• Lodging at student residences or with selected host families.
• Personalized and professional Spanish language tuition.
  

  Nice atmosphere

• Recreational and traveling opportunities.
• Voluntary work in projects empowering the poorest people of Guatemala.
• Wi-Fi at working hours.
• Relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
• We specialize in teaching people with learning difficulties.
• We welcome people of Hispanic descent who wish to practice and learn Spanish Language.
• We provide informal education for those preferring a relaxed method of learning.