San Pedro La Laguna is a small and beautiful town with a population of 18,500 Maya-Tz’utujil residents. More than 90% of the population speak both Spanish and Tz’utujil (the Mayan language). Located in the bay of the beautiful Lake Atitlán and the Volcano San Pedro, the town extends over 25km2. The town includes a Catholic church, various evangelical churches, schools of different levels (primary, secondary and non traditional schools), a museum, an artesanal market, a football stadium, a local market, a small hospital, a bank and ATMs.
San Pedro is a vibrant, colorful tourist town, with peaceful and kind people of the Mayan culture. There are many different activities that you can do in San Pedro and the surrounding towns, including:
- Canopy zip-lining
- Kayaking
- Excursions to the Volcano San Pedro
- Excursions to the Indian Nose mountain
- Horse back riding
- Swimming in the lake
- Hikes to various mountains or viewpoints
La Escuela de Español Cooperativa was founded in 2003 by a group of teachers with experience teaching Spanish as a second language, training under a specialised programme approved by the Ministry of Education and Guatemalan Institute for Tourism (INGUAT).
We are a leading Spanish school, recognised for the strength and dedication of our trilingual teachers (Spanish-English-Mayan). One of the core principals of the school is the inclusion of social projects addressing community needs.
To this date, we have taught over 8,000 students from various countries. We invite students from all over the world and of all levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced) to learn with us.
We offer individual classes, classes in pairs and group classes, all taking place in the peaceful open-air environment of our beautiful and well-kept garden overlooking the mountains. Courses range from one week to one month or longer. Instruction ranges from 3 to 6 hours per day, 5 days a week. We also offer classes on line if you prefer.
In addition to learning Spanish from the most experienced teachers in San Pedro La laguna, students have the opportunity to live with carefully chosen local families. Many students discover the richness of living within the culture, speaking Spanish regularly, and practicing their skills with members of their new family. The family package includes seven days accommodation, three meals per day, except Sunday and five days of classes. San Pedro also offers a wide range of affordable accommodations, from guest houses to hotels, for those who choose not to live with a family.
A percentage of our competitive tuition fees goes directly to help local families and a primary school for poor young children.