Yes, San Pedro is very safe for travelers. Many female students come to San Pedro for school because of the security they feel here. The country of Guatemala is generally quite safe, but you do need to be mindful of where you are.
San Pedro La Laguna, on the shore of Lake Atitlan, is a traditional Mayan town in the center with a strong traveler/international presence on the outskirts. The local Tzutujil people are friendly and welcoming, especially when visitors remember to respect local customs and the local people.
Guatemala City is a large and impoverished city with a high crime rate. Reputable tour operators operate quite safely here, but it may be unwise to take local taxi cabs or wander in the city.

San Pedro and most major towns in Guatemala have ATM access. You can get Quetzales, the local currency, at a very good exchange rate from them. You may pay in dollars but only tickets $50 and $100. It is almost impossible to get Canadian dollars exchanged and also often difficult to exchange Euros. A lot of businesses including hotels and hostels DO NOT accept credit cards, so be sure to get some cash shortly after arriving in Guatemala City for food and travel. The airport has a bank that will take many other currencies and exchange them for Quetzales.

You can often find lodging with a shared bath and a clean bed for as little as 25 Quetzales a night and for 40 plus Quetzales a night you can have your own bathroom. Many hotels and hostels offer scantly equipped kitchens for their guests use. When negotiating room prices you will almost always receive a discount for stays of a week or more. Try to avoid paying for more than a few days in advance and never pay for more than a week in advance in case you decide you want to change hotels.
Meals at local comidors, simple set menu local eateries, can range from 25-35 Quetzales. If you want to eat at one of the many foreign run traveler spots you can expect to spend 25-75Q for a meal and a beverage. A beer runs 10-15Q and a cup of local coffee goes for about Q7.

Yes, there are a wide variety of restaurants, cafe’s and bars to socialize at. San Pedro currently has a mandatory closing time of 11pm for all restaurants and bars. You can enjoy live music and dj’s at many of the Bars/Pubs several nights a week.

Normally classes run from Monday to Friday and homestays from Sunday to Sunday. Please let us know as earlier as possible if you would like to start classes or your homestay on your arrival day (or the day after you arrive).

Yes, our homestay families live a maximum of a 10 minute walk from the school.

Yes, it’s possible to stay with a family if you are vegan or vegetarian.

Yes, you can pay for extra meals as well as extra nights if you wish to extend your stay.