Working in partnership with the local community, GDR hosts volunteers in the Guatemalan Highlands of San Martín Jilotepeque to serve the indigenous Maya community. Volunteers experience a true immersion experience while in San Martín — days are spent eating local foods, exploring the market while walking to the clinic each morning, and seeing firsthand true Maya culture. Volunteers work for one week and then have two days of sightseeing in the beautiful ancient capital of Antigua.
Project Cost: $1,880 (based on double occupancy)
Clinic-Only: $1,550 (based on double occupancy)
Clinic-Only: $1,550 (based on double occupancy)
Call our office for single-occupancy rates.
*Note that we cannot usually accommodate single rooms in the San Martin guesthouse during the week of the clinic.
The project duration is 10 days, which includes: travel time to Guatemala, orientation, walking tour of Antigua, five days working in the dental clinic and a weekend in Antigua for sightseeing.
Volunteers may opt out of the sightseeing portion of the project and head home after the clinic.
Project Dates
- May 30 – June 8, 2025
- June 6 – 15, 2025
- July 18 – 27, 2025
- July 25 – August 3, 2025
- August 1 – 10, 2025
- May 22 – 31, 2026
- May 29 – June 7, 2026
- July 17 – 26, 2026
- July 24 – August 2, 2026
- July 31 – August 9, 2026
What’s Included?
- 3-4 star hotel accommodations while in Antigua
- Basic guesthouse accommodation while working the clinic in San Martín
- Three meals a day while working in the clinic
- Breakfast while in Antigua
- All internal overland transportation within Guatemala
- Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle
- Sightseeing as listed in the project itinerary
- Celebratory farewell dinner
Plus, you will get all this too:
- A small group of 14 to 18 international volunteers
- The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world
- GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
- Two GDR designated trip leaders
- A GDR volunteer coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip
- All tips for guides and drivers (except for arrival and departure transfers)
Sightseeing Itinerary
- Day 1 Fly from the U.S. to Guatemala City — Antigua. On arrival in Guatemala City, transfer from the airport to Antigua. Afternoon at leisure in Antigua. Overnight in Antigua. (-/‐/-)
- Day 2 Antigua. Morning walking tour of Antigua. Afternoon project briefing. Overnight in Antigua. (B)
- Day 3 Antigua — San Martín Jilotepeque. Early morning drive from Antigua to San Martín, where we will work for the next week. After a project briefing, we will begin working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 4 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L)
- Day 5 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 6 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 7 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 8 San Martín Jilotepeque — Antigua. Working in the clinic. Return to Antigua in late afternoon. Overnight in Antigua. (B/L)
- Day 9 Antigua. Enjoy a hike up Pacaya volcano or a zipline tour this morning. Return to Antigua in the early afternoon. The balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Antigua. (B/‐/‐)
- Day 10 Antigua — Guatemala City. Early morning departure from Antigua to the airport in Guatemala City in time to catch your flight back home.
Clinic-Only Itinerary
- Day 1 Fly from the U.S. to Guatemala City — Antigua. On arrival in Guatemala City, transfer from the airport to Antigua. Afternoon project briefing. Overnight in Antigua. (-/‐/-)
- Day 2 Antigua — San Martín Jilotepeque. Early morning drive from Antigua to San Martín where we will work for the next week. After a project briefing, we will begin working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 3 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L)
- Day 4 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 5 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 6 San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)
- Day 7 San Martín Jilotepeque — Antigua. Working in the clinic. Return to Antigua in the late afternoon. Overnight in Antigua. (B/L)
- Day 8 Antigua — Guatemala City. Early morning departure from Antigua to the airport in Guatemala City in time to catch your flight back home. (B/-/-)
Physical Demands
Volunteer dental clinics are fast paced and require a fair amount of physical activity each day. Volunteers attending our service trip clinics in San Martín should be able to:
- Walk at a steady pace during cultural tour, approximately 4 hours (including climbing stairs).
- Sleep with street noise (stray dogs, car horns, etc.).
- Walk to and from the clinic site, approximately 15 minutes, daily.
- Limited access to Wi-Fi/phone use while in San Martín.
- Eat a diet of primarily local Maya food while in San Martín.
- After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location.
