High School Study Abroad in Guatemala

With a metropolitan area that is home to over 4 million people, Guatemala City sits prominently as the capital of the country and largest city in all of Central America. Founded as a Spanish colony some 250 years ago, Guatemala City has endured a tumultuous path of insurrections and revolutions to today become one of the region’s most booming cities. Boasting an array of trendy restaurants, theaters, museums, and many other cultural offerings, Guatemala City can be a very enriching place for high school programs in Guatemala. 

Other popular places for high school programs in Guatemala include Quetzaltenango, Chichicastenango, and Antigua. Quetzaltenango is Guatemala’s second largest city, sitting at an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet amidst a beautiful mountain valley. Chichicastenango, also situated high in the mountains, is a smaller Guatemala city, that is widely known for retaining its indigenous and traditional influences. Antigua is a very popular travel destination, and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its beautifully preserved Spanish architecture.

Many high school programs in Guatemala will allow you to travel throughout several of these regions and cities, so you can get a good taste of the diversity of life across Guatemala. The country is fairly small, with only 15 million inhabitants, so you can cover a good amount of ground even during a short program!