San Juan Eco Spanish School
San Juan Eco Spanish School
5
Monday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
17 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Redfoxwellness
Great Barrington, MA100 contributions
Feb 2022
I cannot recommend Eco Spanish School highly enough. I arrived in Guatemala with almost no Spanish skills and I was amazed at how much I learned after studying at this school for less than a month. Maria, the owner of the school was my teacher. She was amazing! So patient, so skillful. She taught me a lot about the local culture in addition to teaching me Spanish. Maria also set me up with a homestay with her sister’s family, which was a wonderful experience. I lived with this family for over three weeks. They really made me feel like part of the family and were so kind about helping me with my Spanish, teaching me how to cook local dishes and sharing their life with me. If you can do a homestay while you’re studying at the school, I highly recommend it. Also, Eco Spanish School is a woman-owned, indigenous-owned business that I feel really about supporting. Maria and her artist husband (and fellow Spanish teacher), Benedicto, use some of the proceeds from their school to help less fortunate people (an animals) in the community. I meant a lot of the other teachers at the school and they were all lovely. The school offers flexible hours, there is no minimum number of classes or hours that you need to commit to. I did 2.5 hours of classes every weekday afternoon and that was perfect for me. I also thought that the cost of the instruction was very reasonable. I also LOVED the beautiful outdoor setting. Think lake, garden, flowers, trees and cute puppies. What’s not to like? The last thing that I wanted was to be trapped in a classroom while on my trip, ha ha. We got a snack and tea or (amazing) coffee every day and this was a great time to meet the other teachers and students and chat in Spanish. I would go back and study Spanish at San Juan Eco Spanish School again in a heartbeat. In fact, I am already planning my next trip!
Written March 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ian morlock
2 contributions
Dec 2021
My wife and I, and our 4 year-old daughter, just spent 3 weeks with the staff at Eco Spanish school over the Christmas and New Year holidays. It was absolutely magical. The instructors were friendly and patient. The school was set in a beautiful lakeside location just off of the main calle that brings visitors and locals from the boat launch right up to the center of town. The one-on-one instruction gave us all a big step forward in our individual understanding of conversational spanish and we got to use it every day after class when we explored the town and surrounding areas. Maria and Benidicto were gracious hosts and we look forward to our next visit. Highly recommend Eco Spanish School and San Juan La Laguna for a truly cultural experience.
Written February 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nathaniel
1 contribution
Oct 2021
My son (14) and I were staying in San Juan la Laguna for a few days, and we wanted to take some 1:1 Spanish lessons. Maria and Julia at the Eco Spanish School were amazing! The language lessons (for my son, very introductory; for me, advanced conversation) were extremely productive and enjoyable. The location is very pleasant, the whole family is very warm and welcoming, and it feels great to be connecting with people who have such deep local roots.
Written November 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tricia K
2 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
María and Benedicto, the founders of Eco Spanish School, were incredibly helpful with helping me plan my classes and homestay. And I learned a lot about their efforts to help their local community.
The school is located on an old coffee finca at the edge of Lake Atitlan, with study spaces spread out around the beautiful grounds. Gaspar, my teacher, met my needs perfectly, often providing a more native way to say things rather than my schoolbook Spanish. Delicious coffee and snacks were served daily at the break. And I was well taken care of by my homestay hosts.
Loved the town of San Juan La Laguna, one of the least touristy of the towns bordering the lake. Can’t recommend Eco Spanish School enough!
The school is located on an old coffee finca at the edge of Lake Atitlan, with study spaces spread out around the beautiful grounds. Gaspar, my teacher, met my needs perfectly, often providing a more native way to say things rather than my schoolbook Spanish. Delicious coffee and snacks were served daily at the break. And I was well taken care of by my homestay hosts.
Loved the town of San Juan La Laguna, one of the least touristy of the towns bordering the lake. Can’t recommend Eco Spanish School enough!
Written November 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
david
Salt Lake City, UT1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Solo
One of the best experiences I have ever had in my entire life. Maria and her family (founders of the school) are phenomenal people and truly care to make every student's experience as positive as possible. If you are looking for an authentic emersion program where you get to learn not only spanish, but also the culture and history of the are, Eco Spanish School is by far your best bet. The teachers are also top notch, I was able to in a three week span go from 1a to 2a thanks to their teaching style which they adjust based on each unique student's preferred learning methods.
I highly recommend this school as well as the emersion program where you stay with one of the families that work at the school. You will not regret it!!!
I highly recommend this school as well as the emersion program where you stay with one of the families that work at the school. You will not regret it!!!
Written November 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joel F
1 contribution
Nov 2022
The highlight of my trip was my homestay with Maria and Benedicto. Being Spanish teachers at the school, they spoke at the right speed for me to understand them yet challenge my skill and gently correct me. Meals were often traditional Mayan cuisine and Maria accommodated my difficult dietary needs (I have celiac disease and am vegetarian). I left feeling like part of the family.
My in class instruction was very good and the setting at the school was beautiful with flowers and trees all around with a view of Lake Atitlan. The school also served as a showcase for Tata Coffee so I became more aware of traditional methods of harvesting and processing of coffee beans.
The town of San Juan La Laguna was very pleasant and small enough that you could walk anywhere from the school although it is a steep uphill from the lake. There were several interesting and challenging hikes from San Juan and there were nearby towns that you can get to by boat for less than about 3 dollars a trip. Each town has a distinctive personality and attracts a different type of tourist, so there are a wide variety of things to do on the weekends or evenings.
Lastly, the Eco part of the school name is not hype. The owners support the local community through the funding they get from the school and coffee business as well as from hiring local people to teach Spanish. (And I even understood these things when they were explained to me in Spanish after I inquired from my teacher!)
I almost forgot that Lake Atitlan is gorgeous.
My in class instruction was very good and the setting at the school was beautiful with flowers and trees all around with a view of Lake Atitlan. The school also served as a showcase for Tata Coffee so I became more aware of traditional methods of harvesting and processing of coffee beans.
The town of San Juan La Laguna was very pleasant and small enough that you could walk anywhere from the school although it is a steep uphill from the lake. There were several interesting and challenging hikes from San Juan and there were nearby towns that you can get to by boat for less than about 3 dollars a trip. Each town has a distinctive personality and attracts a different type of tourist, so there are a wide variety of things to do on the weekends or evenings.
Lastly, the Eco part of the school name is not hype. The owners support the local community through the funding they get from the school and coffee business as well as from hiring local people to teach Spanish. (And I even understood these things when they were explained to me in Spanish after I inquired from my teacher!)
I almost forgot that Lake Atitlan is gorgeous.
Written November 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sinéad Butler
44 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
I "shopped around" before deciding on San Juan la Laguna, and on this school, as a way of shifting from Duolingo Spanish to using it for real communication. The choice was perfect for me. Unlike some other towns on Atitlan, visitors are not the main focus here - arts and crafts are. So it's a lovely, authentic, friendly environment I felt very comfortable in. I opted for a home stay (organised by the school) for a really immersive experience, not just speaking Spanish (a second language for all of us) but sharing meals and gaining some insights into the daily life of wonderful people. At the school, four hours a day of intense one to one in a beautiful garden. Julia, my brilliant teacher, was very well prepared with teaching aids, but sometimes we just got so caught up in chatting that I forgot I was doing it through Spanish. She answered all my questions, gently corrected me, and boosted my confidence in both speaking and understanding. The week I spent here flew by and was a positive experience in every way. I wholeheartedly recommend this school, everyone connected with it is so genuine! And they cater for all levels of learners, including complete beginners, and children. Thank you!
Written March 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Olivia B
London, UK3 contributions
Feb 2022 • Solo
I cannot recommend Eco Spanish School highly enough. After a week of 1-to-1 private classes, I went from stilted Spanish to confidently conversational and couldn't be happier. The teachers were welcoming and supportive and María and her family gave us a homestay experience to cherish. One thing that isn't well publicised (but should be!) is exactly how much the school does for the local community. I very much hope to visit again.
Written February 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica S
8 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
I am incredibly grateful for my experience at Eco Spanish School. I learned so much in terms of the Spanish language but also about history, culture, and context of San Juan. I highly recommend the homestay to further your language practice and learn more the culture. The school is beautiful and the experience was incredible!
Written November 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marielle
1 contribution
Dec 2021
Our little family spent 3 weeks at Eco Spanish School and every day was such a treat. We had individual instruction, perfectly suited to our needs and abilities and Maria and her team took incredible care to make us feel part of their family and their community. They helped us find a beautiful home for our stay and even facilitated transport in private taxi from Guatemala City. We loved the school grounds, such a beautiful place, and after class each day, we would meet up for a delicious coffee (we may have bought them out of their coffee). My daughter asks about her teacher almost every day and I hope to be able to return to learn from them again soon.
Written February 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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