7 Best Spanish Schools In Antigua Guatemala (2023)
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Looking for the best Spanish schools in Antigua Guatemala? You’re in the right place! Guatemala is one of the best countries in Central America to learn Spanish in for multiple reasons.
If you’re backpacking Central America, just doing your daily 15 minutes on Duolingo might not cut it (especially if you’re like me, and never had the chance to learn Spanish in school). Whilst Duolingo is great at familiarising you with basic words, it’s nothing compared to being back in a classroom and learning Spanish.
But, how do you decide which Spanish school to study in? There are a few things that you need to look for, which I will delve into in this post. From the cost, class sizes, immersive experiences and homestays, you will leave this post knowing a lot more about Antigua Spanish schools than you did before.
So, let’s get started and find out the best Spanish schools in Antigua Guatemala!
Do you know I have a whole post dedicated to helping you backpack Guatemala? From routes, itineraries, what to do, where to eat, what not to miss and everything in between! It’s a one-stop backpacking Guatemala guide – don’t forget to check it out!
🇬🇹 Other Guatemalan posts:
- Guatemala Independence Day: Everything You Need To Know!
- Is Guatemala Safe? Solo Female Travellers Advice (2023)
- 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala: The Perfect Itinerary
- 2 Weeks In Guatemala: Perfect Itinerary
Spanish Schools in Antigua: A Summary
Luckily, Spanish classes in Antigua are cheap. Even one-to-one lessons or small group classes are affordable for budget backpackers. This makes it one of the perfect places in Central America to learn Spanish, especially if you are continuing south (where it gets harder and harder to speak English).
So, what are the things to look for when finding the best Spanish school in Antigua, Guatemala?
First, you need to decide what you want from the lessons. Do you want conversational classes? Grammar? One-to-one sessions? Group classes? And how much are you willing to pay? Ultimately, when you are looking for the best Spanish school for you, you need to look at:
📍Location: are you able to get to your Spanish school on a daily basis, or if it’s a homestay, are you happy living in that area?
💸 Price: are the Spanish lessons within your budget?
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: do you want one-to-one lessons, or would you prefer to be taught in a group?
⏰ Timings: can you attend all of the classes around your schedule? Are they too long or too short?
In each of the summaries below, I’ve made it easy for you to decide by using these four main deciding factors. So, let’s discuss the best Spanish schools in Antigua Guatemala!
Related posts: 3 Days in Antigua | Backpacking Guatemala | 2 Weeks in Guatemala
7 Best Spanish Schools in Antigua Guatemala
1. La Union Spanish School
📍 Location: 7a calle poniente #31, Antigua Guatemala
💸 Price: $8-15 USD per hour
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: 1:1
⏰ Timings: 7am-12pm | 12pm-6pm
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
Advertised as your ‘second home’ in Antigua, La Union is one of the most popular Spanish schools in the area. It was established over 20 years ago, and all of the teachers are native Spanish speakers who live locally in Antigua.
You’ll start your 1:1 class with a free coffee and your own workbook to jot down notes. Classes are either run in the mornings (7-12 pm) or afternoons (12-6 pm), and vary in price depending on how many hours you purchase.
There’s also the opportunity to do complementary extracurricular activities if you are a student at La Union. From salsa lessons to hiking active volcanoes, tours of local museums and cookery classes, it’s an amazing added extra when learning Spanish with La Union!
For 23 years, ‘mi casa es tu casa‘ has been the La Union Spanish school vision. You’re getting more than just a Spanish school here – you’re getting a second family in Antigua.
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the La Union website here.
2. Máximo Nivel Spanish School
📍 Location: 6a. Avenida Norte #16-16A
💸 Price: from $60 per week (2 hours per day)
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: small groups and 1:1
⏰ Timings: variable depending on the course
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
Maximo Nivel is one of the highest-rated Spanish schools in Latin America, with locations in Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica. It offers an authentic in-country experience through immersive lessons, which claim to take you ‘beyond the classroom’.
From beginners to advanced, you will choose a course suitable for you, and either work with a teacher 1:1 or in a small group setting. As well as regular daily lessons, Maximo Nivel aims to teach through salsa lessons, cooking classes, volcano hiking, coffee tours and more.
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the Maximo Nivel website here.
3. Ixchel Spanish School
📍 Location: 9a Calle Oriente #5
💸 Price: $8-16 USD per hour, depending on the number of lessons bought
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: 1:1 and homestays
⏰ Timings: Flexible
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
Offering homestays as well as conversation and grammar classes, Ixchel is popular with those wanting to learn Spanish in an intense setting. With immersion programs and courses, you will learn Spanish with Ixchel with native speakers and host families from the get-go.
Ixchel is known as one of the leading Spanish schools in Antigua and was the first to develop career-specific courses for professionals, which allows you to study the kind of Spanish you actually need. You can also continue your Spanish course over Skype when you have left Antigua!
If you want a Spanish school with a total immersion into Guatemalan life and speaking Spanish around the clock, I highly recommend Ixchel!
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the Ixchel website here.
4. Antigueña Academy
📍 Location: 1a Calle Poniente #10
💸 Price: $115 per week for 4 hours per day (more offers available)
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: 1:1 and small group classes
⏰ Timings: variable depending on the course
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
With hundreds of excellent reviews, Antiguena Academy is another popular Spanish school in Antigua. Located in a beautiful colonial building and garden in Antigua, the academy offers both standard lessons, enhanced teaching techniques and extracurricular activities to boost your learning.
With high-quality teachers, the academy aims to focus on every individual need of each student and work towards their strengths and weaknesses, as each Spanish program is designed uniquely.
Antigueña Academy has been running for 37 years and prides itself on the best Spanish lessons with the most experienced teachers in the area. They also aim to make learning fun and engaging to provide students with a memorable experience.
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the Antigueña Academy website here.
5. Mundo Spanish school
📍 Location:
💸 Price:
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes:
⏰ Timings: 8am to 12pm | 2 pm to 6 pm (Monday to Friday)
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
Founded 23 years ago, Mundo Spanish School is known for having two language schools; one in Antigua, and one in a small town named San Juan del Obispo.
They predominantly teach ‘everyday’ conversational skills, perfect for those travelling through Central America. They also offer homestay experiences for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the experience.
The Spanish school offers both 1:1 and group classes, as well as lessons for those who have never spoken Spanish before, and those a little more advanced.
If you would like a total immersion experience in the rural countryside of Guatemala, I recommend booking classes in San Juan de Obispo.
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the Mundo Spanish school website here.
6. Don Pedro de Alvarado
📍 Location: 6a. Avenida Norte No. 39
💸 Price: from $95 USD per week (2 hours daily)
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: 1:1
⏰ Timings: both morning and afternoon classes
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
Teaching Spanish for over 47 years, Don Pedro is another firm Spanish school favourite in Antigua. It’s one of the oldest schools in the area and has over 300 positive reviews and experiences on its Facebook page.
Lessons are taught one-to-one, and again, encourage total immersion. The school provides extracurricular activities and specialist courses to ensure the student gets the best out of their experience.
For example, there is a course for ‘travellers Spanish’, where you will learn daily conversational phrases for transport, supermarkets, restaurants and everyday life. Or, if you would like to learn a little deeper, there are courses for those moving to Guatemala or a Spanish-speaking country.
The school encourages learning for six hours per day, so it’s a great school for those who really want to take their Spanish seriously.
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the Don Pedro de Alvarado website.
7. Christian Spanish Academy
📍 Location: 6a Avenida Norte
💸 Price: $8-12 USD per hour (depending on amount of lessons bought)
👩🏼🏫 Class sizes: 1:1
⏰ Timings: variable
🇬🇹 Summary of the Spanish school:
Another one of the best Spanish schools in Antigua offering 1:1 lessons, the Christian Spanish Academy offers a basic assessment when first attending their classes. This will then allow them to personalise a course for you and find the best teacher.
As you finish each level (levels which have been created by the school, ranging from A-G), you will be tested before being allowed to progress. This is a great way to see how much progress you are making, and where you have areas of weakness.
The school also offers accommodation and homestays to immerse yourself into the world of speaking Spanish!
➡ For prices, availability and information about the Spanish school, check out the Christian Spanish Academy.
Related posts: 3 Days in Antigua | Backpacking Guatemala | 2 Weeks in Guatemala
Other locations to learn Spanish in Guatemala
As I previously mentioned, Guatemala is one of the best countries in Central America to study Spanish. There are three main locations in Guatemala to learn Spanish, and they are, of course, Antigua, and:
Lake Atitlan: I have so many friends who did a few weeks of Spanish school at Lake Atitlan. Most of the schools are homestays, and you can wake up in the morning and drink your cup of coffee overlooking the lake. I’ve heard so many good things about learning Spanish here, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Quetzaltenango (Xela): is a city in Guatemala in the Western Highlands. It’s popular with backpackers wanting to go a little off the beaten track – and it’s the perfect location for learning Spanish. Classes are well-priced, and many have homestays and immersive experiences.
Related posts: Antigua to Lake Atitlan
Where to stay in Antigua
There are so many amazing hostels to choose from in Antigua that it’s hard to pick the best one! However, after staying in some myself, and talking to other backpackers, we’ve found these are the most popular choices.
Remember: things change quickly when it comes to hostels! Make sure you always read the reviews first.
- Somos: a social hostel with amazing rooftop views
- Hostel Antigueno: another social hostel with a large communal garden
- The Purpose Hostel: beautiful rooftop views of all 3 volcanos
- Barbara’s Boutique Hostel: the most expensive hostel in Antigua, but also one of the most luxurious!
- Casi Casa: a ‘home away from home‘ kind of hostel with comfy beds, a roof terrace and homemade breakfast
- Tropicana: best for solo travellers wanting to party in Antigua!
Did you know I have a whole post dedicated to helping you backpack Guatemala? From routes, itineraries, what to do, where to eat, what not to miss and everything in between! It’s a one-stop backpacking Guatemala guide – don’t forget to check it out!
Other things to do in Antigua
If you’re looking for some bucket-list experiences, check out some of the following bucket-list tours and day trips from Antigua Guatemala!
🌋 Hiking Pacaya or Acatenango Volcano ➡ check prices and availability here
☕️ Coffee tour in the mountains ➡ check prices and availability here
🚤 Lake Atitlan cruise and sightseeing tour ➡ check prices and availability here
🍫 Bean-to-bar chocolate making workshop ➡ check prices and availability here
🚶🏼♂️Informational walking tour of Antigua ➡ check prices and availability here
🇬🇹 Chichicastenango and Iximche Pyramids ➡ check prices and availability here
Related post: Best Things To Do In Antigua In 3 Days | Guatemala Independence Day: September | Antigua to Leon
Spanish Schools in Antigua: FAQs
1) How many Spanish schools are in Antigua Guatemala?
There are over 12 Spanish schools in Antigua to choose from. Each Spanish school offers something different – so be sure to do your research first!
2) What language is spoken in Antigua Guatemala?
Spanish is the official language of Antigua Guatemala. Most locals will speak Spanish as their first language. That’s why it’s great to enrol in a Spanish school and learn the language!
3) How much does it cost to learn Spanish in Guatemala?
Most Spanish schools in Guatemala charge between $8-15 USD per hour, but this depends on the Spanish school, the hours booked and what type of Spanish lessons you are taking.
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Spanish Schools in Antigua Guatemala: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best Spanish schools in Antigua Guatemala. When you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Guatemala content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
You might also like:
- Backpacking Guatemala: COMPLETE Guide + ROUTES
- Antigua To Leon (Guatemala to Nicaragua) FULL Guide
- 15 BEST Day Trips From Antigua, Guatemala
- 3 Days in Antigua Guatemala: The Perfect Itinerary
MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
