🧭 Field Guide · Lake Atitlán
The Viral Spanish School in Lake Atitlán: My Honest Review
You have seen the lush green cabanas along the stunning Lake Atitlán, home to the viral Spanish school we have all seen on social media. Why not pair learning another language with a beautiful setting? It is a unique experience that doesn’t come close to sitting in my high school classroom struggling to learn Spanish many years ago. I came to the school wanting a personalized experience to boost my Spanish level while traveling through Central and South America. I was coming in at about an A2 level, where I was comfortable ordering at restaurants, but if they went off the script in my head, I would quickly look to my fluent girlfriend with wide eyes, hoping she would fill in my gaps. By the end of my one week at Spanish school, I was shocked at my progress.
Quick Facts
- Best for anyone who wants to improve their Spanish level and prefers a 1-on-1 experience. You are ready to spend at least a week in San Pedro, with a minimum of 3 hours a day at the school.
- Cost: $135/week, not including homestay
- 3 hrs a day of instruction
- Verdict: Definitely go!
Lake Atitlan Spanish School
Lake Atitlan Spanish School sits right on the edge of the lake in San Pedro La Laguna, Lake Atitlán, in Guatemala. The setting itself is insanely beautiful, with lush gardens and a view of the lake from almost every part of the classroom, which is outdoors. San Pedro is a vibrant village along the lake known for the “party” scene but, in truth, has a lot of Maya culture, amazing restaurants, and opportunities to practice your Spanish. All of their teachers are from the community and have a wealth of knowledge and care about helping their students succeed.
Daily Schedule
I was balancing sightseeing and trying other local activities while also learning Spanish. This schedule was perfect for me, although in the future I would have preferred the morning slot, but I had a wonderful experience. I was commuting from San Marcos, so I will include that so you can get an idea of the timing as well.
1:00–1:30 pm: Catch a Lancha (boat) to San Pedro
1:30–2:00 pm: Coffee @Sababa and review my homework
2:00–3:30 pm: Individual Instruction
3:30–3:45 pm: Snack Break
3:45–5:00 pm: Individual Instruction
5:15–5:30 pm: Catch a lancha back to San Marcos
What I Absolutely Loved:
On my first day, my teacher & I spent time getting to know each other. He spoke to me in Spanish to get a good understanding of my level before diving into any real instruction.
He happened to be really passionate and knowledgeable about Maya culture and history. I was absolutely fascinated with it, and he & I spoke about Maya culture (in Spanish) for almost 2 hours. Firstly, I was shocked that I could understand as much as I could. Secondly, it opened my eyes to what learning Spanish could look like. Of course, there is the grammar and sentence structure to learn, but training your ear to listen to Spanish is just as important.
I am someone who learns better with personalized attention in short chunks. It was really nice to have that in-person instruction just focused on my learning at my own level. This was my first time getting back into speaking Spanish in a really long time, so I was also feeling a bit nervous about speaking in front of others.
Things to Know Before You Go
This school is open to all learners. When I was there, the demographic was mostly younger backpackers who were traveling more long-term. It also seemed a good chunk of them were utilizing the homestay option. I heard most people had really great experiences with their homestays.
If you are dead-set on coming to this Spanish school, I would at least stay in San Pedro for the convenience of not having to commute. There were many times I wanted to stay and hang out for dinner or some of their cultural activities after class, but I couldn’t participate because I had to catch the last lancha back to my village.
With that said, there are tons of Spanish schools around the lake that have wonderful reviews that aren’t viral on TikTok if you prefer to stay in another village and want something more convenient.
Cost Breakdown
All prices are in US dollars.
- Tuition Fee: $135 (paid in cash)
- Lancha Commute: $32.65 (both ways for the whole week)
- San Marcos Airbnb 7 Nights: $182 (monthly discount)
- Pre-Class Coffee & Treats: $19.32
Total: $368.97
Booking Step-by-Step
- Pay the $19 Registration Fee
- Check out the pricing page to determine what package is best for you. You can choose to include the homestay and decide how many hours a day you want instruction.
- Schedule the week(s) that you want to take classes
- Pay in cash the day before classes start
Final Verdict
If you have the time to dedicate to learning Spanish while traveling through Guatemala, I would highly recommend taking the opportunity to come to this Spanish school. It made me feel more confident while traveling in Central America. I felt like I was better able to connect with the locals and make a better effort to communicate with them.
Who This Guide Is For
Travelers spending a week or more at Lake Atitlán and considering taking Spanish classes.