MAXIMO NIVEL

My overall trip was pretty great just because I made it that way by the activities I chose, the people I met, the lovely host family and the beauty I was surrounded with, HOWEVER: First of all the person who coordinated my trip completely forgot to pick me up at the airport at 7am so I was there in the freezing cold until 8am when I finally decided to pay for a taxi in hopes that they knew where I was headed (to Maximo Nivel). ** I met numerous people who had been "forgotten" throughout my stay. Secondly, I told my host family, the office and everyone that I knew that I was going on a trip to Machu Picchu for the weekend after I graduated from the class then I would be back for one more night before my flight to Panama the following day.. When I got home - Maximo Nivel staff took it upon themselves to go through ALL of my things, pack up my backpack and lock it up in my host parent's room to make space for a new person. They had double-booked my room and then blamed it on me and said that I hadn't paid for these extra days. Whether I had paid for these extra days or not (which they still don't have proof that I didn't) they should NEVER have gone through my things and booked the room while I was gone. My host family was even upset about it because they knew my plans!! Most importantly, I got to know my host family very well and I was informed that they hardly get paid enough to supply us with everything we need. I paid $600 for the whole month of stay and they didn't even see HALF of that. So, that means the organization is using it for other things. Sure, that would be ok if they told us that, but on their website they said the price helps a local family whom you will be living with. Many of the other volunteers in the house that I lived with also had money complications or were put into the wrong program or some other related issue. I do not recommend Maximo Nivel, not one bit. I did enjoy my TEFL course, but that is quite separate from the rest of the organization.

Best experience ever. Wonderful to see a country from the inside out. All Maximo people and host family were excellent. Hope to do this again in a few months

The two doctors that I shadowed were extremely knowledgeable and kind. I was able to learn lots while also helping out. It was also very interesting getting to see a more rural part of Guatemala.