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HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER
PROGRAMS ABROAD

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS ABROAD

Christmas, New Year’s, and the entire holiday season is a wonderful time of year to count your blessings, celebrate with those you love, and then leave home! The mission of Maximo Nivel’s holiday programs is to spread joy and gratitude to everyone, especially those who are less fortunate. Bring season’s greetings and tidings of good cheer to communities and children in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Help change lives this year instead of participating in the usual shopping frenzy. Come solo, with your family, or with your friends and discover the true meaning of giving back. Jump start your year with an open heart and a helping hand.

Special holiday itineraries give you an inside peek and experience working at a number of different projects. International volunteers always feel the love, gratitude, and hope that comes with making a positive impact to communities in need. Throughout your six to thirteen days, you volunteer working with kids, doing light construction, assisting the elderly, caring for abandoned animals, and even working on a coffee farm. This is absolutely the best holiday plan you can ever make! It is not all work and no play, as there is always time for some adventure on the weekends, including Machu Picchu, Tikal, white water rafting, trekking up volcanoes, and so much more in these beautiful countries.

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– At least 16 years of age
– Participants under 16 are welcome when there is a faculty leader, parent, or guardian present
– Full of holiday cheer and ready to spread happiness
– Able to be creative with limited resources
– Hard working, ready to do anything!
– Positive mindset
– Spanish language skills are not required
– Background check is required for all volunteers working with children

VOLUNTEER VIDEO

Work Schedule
– Minimum 1 week; we recommend 2 weeks
– 3-4 hours/day of volunteer work, Monday through Friday
– Work hours are morning or afternoon depending on project
– Daily transportation is provided to project sites (only on holiday program)
– Maximo Nivel institutes are closed 25 December and 1 January

WHAT TO EXPECT

– Airport pick-up
– Host family accommodations (shared room)
– Breakfast and dinner, 7 days/week
– 3-4 hours/day practical work, Monday-Friday
– Official certificate of volunteer service
– Letter of recommendation
– Emergency contact number 24/7

AND MUCH MORE!

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Antigua
Guatemala		 Cusco
Peru		 San Jose
Costa Rica
1 week $735 $735 $845
2 weeks $995 $995 $1,145

*A special project surcharge of $95/week applies to the holiday programs.

Why I Maximo Nivel

I was fortunate enough to take part in the Holiday Experience and the Childcare Program. Coming here, I was super nervous about traveling alone to a country I was not familiar with and could barely speak the language. Thanks to Maximo I was never alone! I met some great friends on my very first day and saw so much of Costa Rica with them. The Maximo Staff were so helpful in organizing volunteer activities, activities outside of volunteering and were always willing to help in any way they could – whether it was recommendations or just a general chat. The Maximo facility was a cool place to hang out.

Jorjia K.
Volunteer Holiday Program Video

HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN COSTA RICA

Christmas Week: 21 December – 25 December
New Year’s Week: 28 December – 01 January

Each week in Costa Rica is carefully organized and structured. The first visit is a beautification project at a local childcare facility, where you assist with painting, gardening, and light construction. As the week continues, you volunteer working with kids by leading and organizing arts and crafts, games, sports, and other activities.

You also participate in a holiday party for the children—wrapping and distributing gifts, serving holiday food and snacks, and taking part in special dances and games. For many children, this is the only holiday celebration and gifts they receive, and it is important to make it memorable! As a volunteer, you may also visit an elderly care facility to help spread even more holiday cheer, including food, games, and spending quality time.

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HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN GUATEMALA

Christmas Week: 21 December – 25 December
New Year’s Week: 28 December – 01 January

The holiday program in Guatemala is organized to be 1 to 2 weeks long. As an international volunteer, you spend your time working with kids, accompanying the residents at an elderly care facility, and doing light construction. You take part in a very important children’s holiday party and another at the elderly home.

This includes wrapping and distributing gifts, playing games and activities, serving food to the guests, and making the holiday special for everyone. For many of the people attending these parties, this is the only holiday celebration and gifts they receive. The holiday program changes a little every year depending on the needs our Field Managers see in the communities, so you should also be ready to work with people with special needs, or even get involved working with local coffee farmers. No matter what, this is one of the best ways to spend your holiday! Weekends are still available for travel, trekking, culture, and adventure.

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Christmas Volunteer Program in Guatemala
Christmas Volunteer Program in Peru

HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN PERU

Christmas Week: 21 December – 25 December
New Year’s Week: 28 December – 01 January

Christmas week and New Year’s week are very special times of the year in the city of Cusco, Peru. The streets are filled with traditional vendors and the city overflows with both religious and modern customs. As an international volunteer, you help bring this energy to underprivileged people and communities while learning a great deal about the local culture.

The week usually starts with a big Christmas party for the kids and their families in a nearby village, where you wrap and give away gifts, dish-up food, fruit bread, and traditional hot chocolate at a real Peruvian ‘chocolatada!’ For some of the guests, this is the only Christmas celebration and holiday gifts they receive. As the week continues, volunteer work moves to a construction project where you help build or renovate a classroom, clinic, or community center. Depending on field conditions and the needs our Field Managers identify in the communities, you may also get involved at an animal care project, a medical campaign, or even visit an indigenous community. Be ready to chip-in and above all, bring your holiday spirit!

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WHY VOLUNTEER WITH
MAXIMO NIVEL?

Maximo Nivel has been offering volunteer abroad programs since 2003. We are a locally-based organization in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru. Our volunteer program fees are affordable and transparent.

  • New volunteer programs start every Monday year-round
  • Professional Field Managers
  • Volunteer programs available from 1-52 weeks
  • All-inclusive—accommodations, meals, and many extras
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • Academic credit available
  • No Registration or processing fees
  • All-inclusive program fees from $735
  • 10-Year Payment Guarantee
Volunteer Abroad Video

We bring structure and organization to your volunteer program, and we match you with the best project according to your personal goals and the positive impact you want to have. Schedule a call with a program advisor today!

Academic Credit for Volunteering Abroad

EARN ACADEMIC CREDIT

FOR VOLUNTEER ABROAD & SERVICE LEARNING

Maximo Nivel is one of the few organizations in the world to offer academic credit for volunteer abroad and service learning programs. Our School of Record issues official transcripts and academic credit for your program. Get the credit you earn!

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