I studied Spanish at Celas Maya for two weeks. I had a wonderful experience at this school. Prior to arrival, the communication was professional and the school was very helpful in organizing and setting everything up. The teachers at the school were kind and engaged. The atmosphere is warm and social. I felt very comfortable the moment I walked in. Generally speaking, all classes are private one-on-one. Thus it is very easy to tailor the classes to one's level and interests. My lessons felt challenging enough to lead to progress but at the same time were still fun. The school offers daily activities for all students in the afternoon. The activities are interesting, diverse and ensure that you explore different aspects of Guatemalan culture (from watching a movie, to visiting museums, cooking, salsa classes to longer weekend excursions with overnight stays). I greatly enjoyed meeting and spending time with all the other students and their teachers during these activities. It was the perfect blend of individualized study and socializing while having fun and learning more about Guatemala. I highly recommend Celas Maya to anyone looking to seriously improve their Spanish while meeting wonderful people and experiencing a different culture!

I’ve had the opportunity to study at Celas Maya twice: once on my own twenty years ago and again recently for two weeks with my wife. Both experiences were wonderful! The teachers were a joy to be with and professional, speaking and teaching extremely clear Spanish. The administrative staff—Leslye, Federico and Gloria--were very kind and supportive when we needed to make adjustments to our class schedule. The one-on-one format of classes were customized to our specific learning needs and teachers made sure to identify our goals each week with a structured lesson plan. My 4 hours a day went by very fast. Every afternoon there was an optional activity--trips to nearby towns, cooking classes, and lessons on Guatemalan slang—all of which helped immerse us into Guatemalan culture. Finally, the space is a beautiful colonial building with a lovely courtyard and a new espresso bar where we enjoyed a nice cup of coffee or tea during the breaks. If you want to learn Spanish, I highly recommend Celas Maya!

Just finished an 8 week stint at the school and I had a wonderful (and educational) time! I highly recommend it if you're looking for a serious language school in Guatemala.

I really enjoyed my time learning at Celas-Maya. My goal was to learn about Mayan cultures in addition to use my Spanish at a higher level, and my teacher was Kich'e. Even though I was only there for two weeks, since each student works one on one with a teacher it is intense, and I learned a lot. Everyone was very nice and the administration is organized and professional. Many of the students are beginners or intermediate students, and the afternoon activities and home stays give students an opportunity to utilize their language skills in real life situations. Xela is not touristy so one will not run into people on the corner with whom to speak English--it can be a true immersion experience. My favorite trips were to Las Fuentes Georginas, Cantel and to the Museo Ixkik (mayan clothing).

Celas Maya is an incredible school and I can't recommend it enough for anyone who is interested in starting to learn or improving their Spanish language skills. Regardless of your level of Spanish, the teachers meet you where you are at and the one-on-one lessons allow you to improve at your own pace and spend extra time on the specific topics that you struggle with. The teachers are invested and passionate about teaching and make the lessons applicable to what you want to learn (whether that is medical Spanish or general conversational Spanish). Lessons are held in a cozy courtyard of the school and you can look forward to delicious mid-morning coffee breaks daily. During my two week stay in Xela, I did classes in the morning and participated in activities put on by the school during the afternoon. These activities such as cooking classes, trips to neighboring towns, movie nights, and volcano hikes are led by the teachers and are a great way to reinforce the Spanish you are learning as well as a way to learn about the Guatemalan culture. Even after only a two week stay, everyone at the school felt like family and it was hard to say goodbye. Luckily, they offer online Spanish classes with the teachers in the school that I have continued weekly since returning home. Although my Spanish hasn't been improving as fast as it did while in Guatemala (obviously), it is a great way to maintain my conversational skills and motivate me to continue working on my grammar. I highly recommend both the in-person and online classes offered by Celas Maya!

I have been taking K'iche Maya language classes on line here for a year, and spent a month this summer taking classes in person with Pablo. My experience with Celas Mayas has been wonderful. Pablo has been an incredible teacher, helping me not only learn the language, but learn about the K'iche culture through videos, stories, games, and real life experiences. My teacher has been amazing at creating a classroom environment of friendship, experiential learning, and where I feel comfortable trying to speak in K'iche. Going in person was also so lovely. The actual building has good wifi, a beautiful open space with plants and trees, and a very friendly atmosphere. Everyone is so kind and professional. I have studied several languages, and can confidently say that this school is really worth investing in. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from them. Highly recommend (:

My Spanish improved tremendously at Celas Maya. The entire experience (staying with a host family, 1-on-1 teaching, afternoon activities) was incredible. The teachers are kind and very knowledgeable when it comes to teaching Spanish. I got a lot of practice in speaking, reading, writing, and listening/understanding. We were able to tailor my lessons to revolve around medical Spanish, and the lessons they designed were incredible practice for me. I used so much of what I learned at Celas Maya at a clinic later on in Guatemala. I especially enjoyed the optional afternoon and weekend activities!

If you are looking to advance your Spanish skills (no matter what level) in a short amount of time, then look no further than Celas Maya. I signed up for 6-weeks of schooling and did a homestay, and it was all completely worth it. First, with my homestay experience - I had absolutely no idea what to think going in because I’ve never done anything like this before. I ended up hitting the jackpot because the family I stayed with was the kindest, sweetest, most considerate people I’ve ever met. Maripaz and her mother Carmen (who I called Abuelita) were so generous and thoughtful while I stayed with them. I had my own bedroom and bathroom in their lovely, spacious home. They also cooked 3 meals a day for me which were always delicious. Next for the Spanish school - I went into Celas Maya barely knowing any Spanish (except for the basics I learned in high school 16 years ago), but I left the school Xela with a level of Spanish I thought I’d never be able to achieve. Each day I was greeted by the lovely teachers and staff members upon entering the school, which is an amazing environment conducive for learning a new language. They have a beautiful courtyard where you take your lessons with your teacher. Celas Maya does 1:1 tutoring to ensure they are maximizing their students’ full learning potential. I had the tremendous privilege of having Byron as my teacher. For 5-hours a day, and 5-days a week Byron completely transformed my Spanish into what it is now. He was kind, patient, and empathetic - even though at times it was definitely difficult to teach me. I’d get frustrated, but he always knew how to explain things in a way that would help me understand before we moved on. He challenged me and pushed my boundaries, because of this - I learned so much more which I am truly thankful for. All of the teachers and staff are incredibly kind, compassionate, and warmhearted people - and I cannot express enough gratitude for their hospitality. Muchas gracias Celas Maya!

A place could not be better! Such supportive, kind and welcoming teachers.

Celas Maya es una excelente opción para estudiar español en Xela. Estudié aquí en dos ocasiones. La primera vez fue en 2019 por 3 meses y la segunda vez fue en 2023 por 6 semanas. Es un instituto muy organizado, fiable y profesional. Se mantienen en contacto contigo por cualquier duda o problema que tengas. No tienes que preocuparte por nada desde que te recogen del aeropuerto hasta tu último día con ellos. Además de la amplia variedad de cursos que ofrecen, hay diferentes actividades todos los días. Los profesores y las familias (si optas por alojamiento) son muy amables. Siempre la paso bien con ellos y se los recomendaría a cualquiera que tenga interés en estudiar español en Guatemala. Gracias por todo Celas Maya.