San Pedro La Laguna Lake Atitlan
Cooperativa Spanish School
Learn Spanish in a pleasant environment in the heart of a beautiful San Pedro La Laguna., In our Spanish courses you will speak from day one and at the same time you will enjoy indigenous life and culture!
At Cooperativa Spanish School, our immersive learning model, which combines classes, cultural workshops, and homestays, emphasizes pushing students out of their comfort zone while giving them all of the necessary tools to succeed. Each of our trilingual teachers (Spanish-English-Mayan) has been extensively trained and certified by the Ministry of Education and Guatemalan Institute for Tourism (INGUAT) to teach Spanish as a second language. This certification prepares our teachers to work with students of all levels (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced).
One to One
We specialize in teaching Spanish one on one
Two- One
If you travel with another person we offer you a group class two-one
Children
We have specialized teachers to teach children using different methods
Home Stay
Spanish School Cooperativa San Pedro La Laguna
We are not a private school
We are a cooperative, that means that the school is our students and teachers.Our students can use the school before and after their classes, including activities such as yoga, small parties, etc.
Structured study program
We have our own program based on the student’s needs and we share our knowledge and experience with each other. All of our teachers have been trained and prepared for teaching Spanish.
We help our students to organize their activities
To avoid expensive costs from travel agencies, as cooperative we coordinate activities without intermediaries for our students.
We support our community
We have social project. This is very important for us as cooperative. You can ask your teacher or the director about our social projects.
Our Team Work
Griselda
Coordinator/Teacher
Antonio
Coordinator/Teacher
Elena
Coordinator
Manuel
Coordinator
Bryan
Coordinator/Teacher
Clarita
Teacher
Ana
Teacher
Ligia
Teacher
Nico
Teacher
Raquel
Teacher
Karen
Teacher
Madelyne
Teacher
Violeta
Teacher
Perla
Teacher
Likhi
Teacher
Magda
Teacher
Evelyn
Teacher
Estefany
Teacher
Deily
Teacher
Delfino
Gardener
About our school and classes
We are a cooperative school that facilitates Spanish teaching as a second language, our school is not a private school. We also offer extra activities for our students, avoiding the expensive travel agencies. You also have the option to live with a local host family to have a real immersion. Likewise, we contribute to the development of our community through our social projects.
Exclusive Structured Program.
Non Private School.
We teach with love.
Lewis
1 month ago
My third school. The classroom is like a mini botanical garden with flowers 🎋. The teachers are great. The snacks during breaks are different every day. Unlimited coffee, milk, and tea. Taking classes with Piki is the happiest time.
Miranda Nieboer
1 month ago
An amazing and highly recommended experience!
We are extremely happy with our experience at the school. From the very first moment, email communication was very quick and efficient. They also arranged our taxi transport from Antigua perfectly.
Through the school, we stayed with a lovely local family (homestay). Classes are held in the garden, and the teachers are very professional and well-prepared. We really appreciated the flexibility, as adapting or changing class times and days was never a problem. They also organize very fun activities.
What makes this school even more special is that a large part of its income goes towards local projects. As a student, you are involved in these projects; for example, supporting more than 20 families with food and basic supplies.
Without a doubt, a wonderful place to learn Spanish and support the local community at the same time. Highly recommended!
Dan Engel
1 month ago
Who would’ve thought that the most amazing experience I had while traveling Central America would be in a school? Cooperativa is more than a school though. It’s a community. I made friends, participated in various activities and most importantly Aprendí español. They have a curriculum and meet you where you’re at but they will also customize it to your specific needs (professional, traveling, etc.)
I strongly recommend the home stay because it’s a great opportunity to practice. But honestly, also for the food. I ate pretty good here. And the price can’t be beat.
Annika Gerock
4 months ago
I had the best 4.5 weeks at Cooperativa! I highly recommend this school to anyone looking to learn Spanish while immersing themselves in the local culture.
I learned a lot and had so much fun while learning both grammar and conversational Spanish with my teacher, Madelyne. I highly recommend asking for her!
My homestay with Angelica and Victor was a wonderful experience. It gave me the opportunity to practice my Spanish every day, enjoy delicious local food, and truly feel at home.
Everyone at the school is incredibly kind and helpful, special thanks to Manuel, who organized great activities and helped with all kinds of questions!
I met great people and the beautiful school grounds made the whole experience even more special. I’m so grateful for my time at Cooperativa and would recommend it to anyone considering learning Spanish in Guatemala.
Phoenix_432
5 months ago
I had an amazing time at the school. I just learned Spanish with Duolingo before I took 2 weeks of 30h/week of Spanish classes in this school and it helped me understand the grammar and start having actual conversations. On top of that I had an amazing Hostfamily with outstanding food and great conversations. My teacher Ruben was perfect and we even did lessons on Saturday because I didn’t start the week on Monday. The activities with the other students were fun and additional opportunities to practice Spanish. I definitely will return to improve my Spanish in that beautiful place.
Joshua Murillo
5 months ago
This school is great! Highly recommend it to anyone thinking about learning Spanish in Guatemala! It's a beautiful school, in the lovely (and safe) little town of Snan Pedro La Laguna
My teacher, Violeta, was awesome!!! Everyone that worked there was very nice and super helpful whenever I had any issues or questions. They setup everything I needed, beside the schooling, they arranged my transportation to and from the city, as well as the homestay (big shout out my hostess, Wendy 🙂 she's fabulous!)
Christoph Heidenreich
8 months ago
From the very beginning, communication with Cooperativa Spanish School was easy, friendly, and very accommodating. We were even able to start our classes on a Wednesday, which wasn’t possible with any other schools.
After arriving, we were taken straight to our host family, where Flory welcomed us warmly into her home. Throughout the week, she spoiled us with incredibly delicious and authentic local food — it truly felt like being part of the family.
At the school, I had classes with Karen for one week and made huge progress in my Spanish. She was always patient, explained everything clearly, and made learning both effective and enjoyable.
During the breaks, the school also provided snacks, coffee, and tea, which was a really nice touch.
At the end of the week, we were genuinely sad that our time in San Pedro La Laguna was already over.
We can highly recommend this school to anyone who wants to learn Spanish in a welcoming and supportive environment!
Mona H.
8 months ago
Loved it! Took 1 week of Spanish class and the facilities were amazing, my teacher was amazing, the staff was so kind and helpful. They organized a lot of cultural activities throughout the week and there were snacks available every day at school as well. Can recommend for sure! The home stay was also amazing, best food ever from our host mom. My Spanish improved a lot! Thank you Cooperativa!
Emilie Ouellette
8 months ago
I've been to this school three times already and I love it. There's a warm, family atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. The teachers are attentive to the students and do everything they can to help us learn even more. Every week, they also offer after-school activities, which makes the experience even better. And they can also teach children. My 11-year-old daughter spent three weeks there and it was fantastic. I highly recommend it.
Jule F
8 months ago
Highly recommended!! Nico has been an amazing teacher with a lot of experience, patience and a great sense of humor! Would always choose Cooperativa again (they also helped me with delayed-luggage-problems, muchas gracias!)
Lots of love to Flora and her family, i had an amazing time with them as my host family! Met great compañeros alli!
Linus Spiegel
9 months ago
Edwin Gerhardt
9 months ago
We had a fantastic experience! Bryan was an excellent teacher!
Barney Murphy-King
9 months ago
Spent a month learning spanish here and it was an amazing experience. My teachers anny and griselda were brilliant - there was a good balance between grammar and conversation, with plenty of homework to keep me going in my own time. I need to mention anita, luis, edid, bryan and all the rest of the family who i stayed with as well. They were so kind, welcoming and the food was great! It was a real privilege to get to know what life is like for people in san pedro outside of the usual tourist/backpacker bubble. All the other students i met were great too and it was easy to make friends.
Gracias por todo!
Louis Murdoch
9 months ago
I spent 1 week here and I wish I could have stayed longer! Despite only spending a small amount of time there, my Spanish improved heaps in a week. Shoutout to my maestra Ligia who was super fun and friendly while teaching me so much. She made it easy to learn and adjusted to my level of Spanish perfectly. I also stayed with a host family for a week which I couldn't recommend more. It made the experience very immersive and forced me to speak Spanish outside of class which meant I was constantly improving. My host family were so accommodating and welcoming, it made for such a nice experience. My host mum Ana Maria especially was so lovely (and an incredible cook!!). Overall it Coopertiva are such an awesome and wholesome community and school I would recommend that anyone go here!
Ashley Bučinskas
10 months ago
We just finished a week of Spanish school with Coopertiva and it was easily a 5 star experience!!! The school has gorgeous gardens and outdoor cabinas set up for classes, and there are many activities to do alongside your classes to make sure you get to experience life in San Pedro while you’re there.
We had the opportunity to stay at an homestay with Teodora and Matias who were lovely hosts, helping us practice Spanish over meals and games of cards & feeding us the most delicious food all week!
Over just one week our Spanish has improved so much, thanks to our incredible teacher Anni!! She is so patient and kind, and we had many laughs together over the week ☺️ I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Coopertiva (especially maestra Anni!!!) to anyone looking to level up their Spanish in a relaxed and supportive environment. We really hope to be back soon 🤞
Kerry likes to eat
11 months ago
We had the best experience at this school! Myself and my husband originally booked two lessons at San Pedro school but they were full so we had lessons here. My teacher Dailey was very kind, patient and made the lessons fun. We had an amazing Xmas party with a BBQ, games and fireworks 🎇! I really recommend the extra activities as they are free. We did a chocolate class, saw how fabric was dyed naturally and had salsa classes!
Ingrid Thomson
11 months ago
I spent two weeks here, extending after the initial 1 week I had planned as I enjoyed it so much. My teacher Griselda was amazing, the lessons were well structured and organised and struck a good balance between grammar exercises and conversation. The school itself is beautiful and Delfino keeps the garden looking immaculate. The school organised a good range of activities in the afternoon and I met loads of great people here. Also, I would recommend doing a home stay, I did one for my first week and it was very interesting to learn more about life on the lake for local families and enjoy the delicious food Anita prepared! What stands out about Cooperativa is that the money funnels back into the community and I would recommend this school to anyone looking to improve their Spanish. Muchas gracias! 🙂
Michael Boniface
11 months ago
Outstanding Spanish school. We spent a couple of weeks there in total. Had great teachers including Magda, Griselda and Clarita. Lessons are really well organised and the school is in the most beautiful of settings. Really enjoyed our homestay too. One of our best experiences so far on our travels. Would love to return one day!
James O'Shea
1 year ago
Beautiful school grounds, our teacher Annie was amazing, very skilled, I was amazed at how much learning we achieved in a short time. Wonderful home cooked mid-morning snacks. It was even better that I had hoped, I highly recommend this school!!
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias James, ha sido un placer tenerlos en nuestra escuela!!
¡¡Saludos de Cooperativa Spanish School!!1 year ago
Jennifer Kronhardt
1 year ago
I had a great experience with this school. If you really whiling to learn the language, I highly recomend to choose Ana as your teacher. Many years of expiereince, a unique and fresh style of teaching and it was so much fun. Easy to understand and with a so much motivation. She tried evrything to make me understand until the very last minute. I feel so much more confident and not intimidated while talking with native speakers now. Thank you Ana!
I stayed with Flora and it was wounderful. They helped me practise evry day while talking at breakfast, lunch and dinner. I couldnt have wished for a better Family. The food was divers and we became very close over this 2 weeks. She is great to get along with and cares about you like her own family. The room is nice and clean and it is quite at night, so I could get a good night sleep to have enough energy for school.
Elena was always there to make sure I have evrything I needed, because I was also working remotly after my classes. She was always nice and friendly and if you want any changes, she is very flexible and understanding. So my recommondation is, to say exactly what you need and they are whilling to try evrything they can to make your stay as comfortable and special as possible.
Thank you all, if I ever get the chance of returning, I will....
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Jennifer por tus palabras, ha sido un placer tenerte en nuestra escuela!!
¡¡Saludos de Cooperativa Spanish School!!1 year ago
Yはるか
1 year ago
I studied here for two weeks.
Teacher Karen and my host family, Ana Maria, were both wonderful people, and I had a truly wonderful time.
The school also organized a wide variety of activities, which gave me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Guatemala and San Pedro. I highly recommend studying Spanish at Lake Atitlán.
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Haruka, ha sido un placer compartir tiempo y experiencias contigo, saludos de Cooperativa Spanish School!!1 year ago
Edward Robinson
1 year ago
Fionnuala and I just finished a fantastic week at the Cooperative Spanish school in San Pedro.
Firstly, it is in a beautiful location with amazing views and a well kept garden to keep you relaxed whilst you work. The complimentary tea, coffee and snacks is a great addition too.
We spent 5 days learning Spanish at a beginners level with Violeta. She was a great teacher, we learnt a lot and also had a lot of fun. It was very engaging and interactive.
There are also extra activities, we took part in a cooking class (very cheap) and a football game (free). They were both good fun and a great way to socialise.
There is a great sense of community here amongst students and staff.
Would highly reccomend
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Eddie por todo, por tus palabras, por tu experiencia compartida, les deseamos todo lo mejor!!
¡¡Saludos del equipo de Cooperativa Spanish School!!
1 year ago
ofri ginsburg
1 year ago
Amazing experience, private lessons and some social vibe on the breaks and after school. We had a super professional teacher and I feel I improved a lot in only one week
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias chicas, saludos del equipo de Cooperativa Spanish School!!1 year ago
Rayna Benzeev
1 year ago
My experience at Cooperativa far exceeded my expectations. I had originally planned to stay for five weeks, but I was so enamored by San Pedro and the school that I canceled my other plans to study for a full two months. I formed a very tight-knit relationship with my teacher, Violeta, who became much more than a teacher to me, but also a lens into the reality of life in San Pedro and a very dear friend. Her kindness, contagious laughter, and vulnerability made me super excited to come to school every day and immerse myself in Spanish language and Mayan culture. My two host families, Flora and Teodora, were very caring, cooked amazing food, and generated much meal-time fun and laughter. I also found that the other students at the school were kinder and more down-to-earth than the usual tourist crowd—they were people who truly valued contributing to social projects and learning about the local community. I highly recommend Cooperativa, it was everything I was looking for in a Spanish school, and I had a life-changing experience during my time there.
Response from the owner
¡¡Mihxas gracias Rayna por tu preferencia, tu experiencia compartida y por tu tiempo en nuestra escuela. Te deseamos todo lo mejor!!
¡¡Saludos de Cooperativa Spanish School!!1 year ago
Lili He
1 year ago
I studied Spanish for 2 weeks with Cooperativa Spanish School. The school is beautiful with a garden that has view to the lake. My teacher Nico is amazing and he was able to tailor his teaching to my level and specific things I would like to enhance through the sessions. They also organize after school activities almost every day. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking to attend Spanish school in lake Atitlan to go to this school. The teachers here are highly qualified and they have structured learning materials.
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Lili, buen viaje!!1 year ago
Emani Mascardo
1 year ago
amazing, you learn quick, amazing teaching strategies. It feels like a family. i love it here
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Emani, ha sido un placer tenerte a ti y a tu familia en nuestra escuela. Nos satisface que hayan disfrutado su tiempo con nosotros!!
¡¡Feliz retorno a casa!!1 year ago
Antoine S
1 year ago
It was a pleasure studying at this cooperative.
My teacher, Carlita, took the time to teach me tenses, repeat examples, and send me exercises... it was a pleasure studying with her. Thank you, Carlita!
The place is also very cozy and warm; we study in the garden.
There are varied activities every day, too.
Thank you so much for this week. I would recommend the cooperative to anyone who wants to learn Spanish. 😊
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Antonio por todo, que sigas aprendiendo y practicando el español!!
¡¡Nuestros mejores deseos para ti!!1 year ago
Angé Robert
1 year ago
It's a good/super school! I studied here for a week: the teachers are very kind, the lessons are very interesting, and the school's location makes you want to learn.
This school has a good goal of helping various poor families.
I recommend this school to everyone.
Response from the owner
¡¡Muchas gracias Angé por tus palabras, por la preferencia y por el tiempo compartido en nuestra escuela, te deseamos todo lo mejor y que sigas aprendiendo y practicando español y que continúes disfrutando tu viaje!!
¡¡Saludos de Cooperativa Spanish School!!1 year ago
Avalon
2 years ago
Nicolas was an amazing teacher and was very patient with me as beginner. He tailors the classes to your needs which is really useful. The school has a lovely garden in which you take your classes and activities in the evening to let you get to know other students. I did a homestay with Theodoria and Matias, they were very welcoming and patient in helping me converse with them in Spanish.
Megan Ritchie
2 years ago
Attending this school was the best decision I made while in Guatemala! My friend and I took classes with Ligia, and in less than a week we went from next to no knowledge to speaking in full sentences. Since then, I’ve been able to hold short conversations back stateside—well enough that no one switches over to English, at least! I can’t believe the amount of progress made in such a short time; classes in the US didn’t get me nearly this far. The school’s lesson plans are extremely practical, and Ligia was able to adapt to the specific topics my friend and I hoped to cover. Four hours of lessons passed all too quickly; school soon became our favorite part of the day.
All of that not even to mention the school’s beauty, or their flexibility in airport pickups (they were kind enough to send someone for us at close to midnight). My only regret is not being able to enroll for longer than a week.
¡Muchas gracias a Ligia y la cooperativa!
Travel Wiseley
2 years ago
Everything we had hoped the Spanish immersion trip would be and more. We scheduled four weeks of classes together. We were at similar level with our beginning Spanish. We attended school from 8 am to 12 pm Monday through Friday. We were given option for Saturday class the first week since we started on a Wednesday ending on Tuesday. We ended up doing 2 “extra” classes on Saturday for a total of 88 hours of class. We did ask for and usually received homework which took 1-2 hours in the evening.
The school has a good system starting with an exam to help determine your level. The teachers are all very patient yet exact about proper use of Spanish. They help correct errors and continuously encourage writing, reading, and the hardest, but most important speaking in Spanish.
We did the home stay option with a family who treated us as members of their family speaking with us during and after meals to encourage more listening and getting us to speak in Spanish. Four weeks really did fly by. It was challenging, rewarding and a truly great experience for us. We are already making plans to return for future classes.
We also used the transportation option to get picked up and returned to La Aurora airport. They were very considerate and made sure we arrived safely and on time. The roads and other vehicles are an experience that is hard to put into words. Thankful our driver was experienced and knew the roads extremely well.
Gracias por todo.
Romina Cara
2 years ago
I came with no knowledge of Spanish. I had Spanish lessons in the mornings for 2 weeks and lived with a host family. The school has a beautiful garden, learning spaces and various activities. It was the perfect introduction for me to learn Spanish and to get an authentic impression of life in Guatemala. Again and again!
Marty Moore
2 years ago
The Cooperative School is fabulous. They have excellent teachers and an excellent program -- for a great price. I highly recommend the homestay option as a way to improve your Spanish and get to know local Guatemaltecos.
Ioana Stoicescu
2 years ago
Had a fantastic week studying at Cooperativa Spanish School! My teacher Violeta was very knowledgeable and supportive. The school has one of the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen, with an amazing view of the lake. Overall it was a great learning environment and I would strongly recommend it!
Ju Lika
2 years ago
If you're looking for the perfect place to learn Spanish, Cooperativa Language School in San Pedro it is! From the moment I arrived, I felt at home thanks to the incredibly welcoming team and environment. My teacher, Violeta, was exceptionally well-trained, tailoring lessons perfectly to my needs and making the learning process both fun and effective.
The school is very flexible, accommodating your schedule whether you prefer morning or afternoon classes, and allowing you to choose how many hours you want to study each day (3-6 hours).
But this place is more than a school: The community at Cooperativa is a true highlight – both students and staff form a close-knit group, making it feel more like family. We shared meals, laughs, and activities together. The school organizes daily events like cooking classes, conversation tables, football matches, salsa evenings and bonfire nights. It’s a true immersion experience where you’re not just visiting San Pedro but becoming part of its culture.
The setting by Lake Atitlán is stunning, offering endless opportunities to swim, hike, explore nearby villages, or relax with friends at a nearby bar. The school’s beautiful garden invites to hang out, study or have a chat with co-students and teachers.
My homestay with Ana was another unforgettable aspect. She provided delicious, healthy meals and spent time chatting with us every day, giving us a chance to practice Spanish and experience local life firsthand.
No matter your Spanish level, Cooperativa will help you progress quickly – I saw an incredible improvement within just a few weeks. I kept extending my time week after week because it was such an incredible experience - and still after 6 weeks it was hard to leave. I give this place 100% recommendation and cannot wait to return!
Meridith Heckler
2 years ago
I had an amazing experience at Cooperativa Spanish School and highly recommend it! From the start, everything was seamlessly arranged, with smooth, stress-free transportation to and from the airport.
My host family was wonderful—welcoming and making me feel at home right away. The home-cooked meals were delicious and gave me a true taste of Guatemalan cuisine. The accommodations were comfortable and provided a relaxing environment after a day of learning.
The Spanish lessons were perfectly tailored to my needs, and my instructor was patient, knowledgeable, and encouraging, which greatly helped my progress. I also appreciated completing a test on the first day to identify areas of Spanish grammar I could improve upon.
The school also organized engaging activities, allowing me to better understand the local culture and practice Spanish in a relaxed, real-world setting. One of my favorite experiences was a weaving class where I learned about traditional Mayan crafts while practicing Spanish with local artisans.
If you’re looking to improve your Spanish and immerse yourself in the warmth of Guatemalan culture, I highly recommend Cooperative Spanish School. It was the perfect mix of learning, culture, and comfort. I can’t wait to return!
Florine van Overveld
2 years ago
We had a great experience with Cooperativa Spanish School! The teachers are really really nice and good 🙂 The lessons take place in the beautiful garden of the school with lake view!
The school takes care of everything: study materials, coffee, tea and even a snack in the break. Also, the homestay with a Spanish family was a great experience and ours was even located next to the school. Very much recommended!!!!