There are several volunteer opportunities available in and around Xela, as there’s plenty of work to be done in Guatemala’s impoverished Western Highlands. Any of the town’s language schools can help you get plugged in to volunteer projects.

A particularly helpful organization for volunteer opportunities is EntreMundos (El Espacio, 6a Calle 7-31 Zona 1, tel. 5606-9070 or 7761-2179, www.entremundos.org), which publishes a widely available free publication (EntreMundos) and has several resources on its website, including a database with contact information and descriptions for more than 150 NGOs in Xela and vicinity.