If you rent a house, the house staff will find a woman to come do your laundry, weekly or more frequently, if needed. This will cost about Q20 or $3/load. Be advised that hand washing can be hard on delicate fabrics, so you might want to give special instructions. Or, bring more durable cotton fabrics. If you do a home stay, your laundry may be included in the cost. However, if your clothing is heavy or difficult to wash, you may be charged extra. There is a laundromat in town, called Home360, that charges 5q per pound of clothes. They use machine washes and dryers, and will fold clothes.
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There are a number of Spanish teachers, with varying levels of experience. Classes range from conversation to formal. The medical volunteer coordinator can help. Classes are one-on-one.
Santiago Atitlán has a thriving indoors market that is open daily but better to shop in the morning. Fresh produce from around Guatemala is available at cheap prices. There are a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans and meats. In addition, there are a number of small “convenience” stores that sell packaged foodstuffs. The town also has a number of restaurants. You will receive a map when you arrive where grocery stores are marked. If there is any specialty food that you must have during your time in Santiago Atitlán, it is best to pick it up in Guatemala City prior to arriving.
In 2025, the postal system began to function after nearly 20 years without service. Letters will arrive in about six weeks. You can send packages through Fed-Ex or DHL if necessary, but you will be asked to pay taxes on the contents.
• Semana Santa — the week leading up to Easter Sunday • Fiesta of Santiago, celebrating the patron saint of Santiago Atitlán — July 25th • Guatemalan Independence Day —September 15th • Todos Santos (All Souls Day) — November 1st and 2nd Anniversary of the Massacre of Santiago Atitlán – December 2nd • Christmas holidays — Begin in mid-December and last until January 6th (Three Kings Day).