Live for six weeks in Santa Cruz La Laguna and become part of the Iguana family.
La Iguana Perdida isn't really a place you come to just for a week or two to volunteer - it takes time and depth to get the full Iguana and Santa Cruz experience. Most volunteers arrive expecting a beautiful hostel on Lake Atitlán, and the Iguana definitely fits that description, though what makes the Iguana truly special is the people you meet.
Our volunteers leave after six weeks with a new group of close friends, a better understanding of Guatemalan culture, and a deep love for life in Santa Cruz.
We have been here since 1996. La Iguana started as a tiny backpacker hideaway and, although we have grown over the years, we have tried hard not to lose what made the place special. We are a locally staffed hostel, restaurant, bar, and dive center right on the shores of Lake Atitlán. Our small international volunteer team lives and works alongside our Guatemalan staff, who come largely from Santa Cruz and surrounding communities.
25-30 hours/week (5 shifts)
Our volunteers help create the friendly, sociable atmosphere La Iguana is known for in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment.
In exchange for your shifts
Hospitality, bar, or reception experience is highly preferred.
We are looking for people who would genuinely like to settle somewhere and be part of the place for six weeks. You need to be responsible, proactive, and comfortable interacting with guests from all over the world.
You will become part of the social life of the hostel — family dinners, card games, conversations around the bar. If you are very introverted, this may not be the right fit, as our team is highly social outside of shifts.
Santa Cruz is very different from the busier backpacker towns around Lake Atitlán. The people who live here identify as Mayan Kaqchikel and speak Kaqchikel as their native language. As a volunteer, you will interact with our local staff and have the opportunity to learn more about their strongly preserved culture.
It is the ideal town to base yourself in to rest, recharge, and enjoy taking things slow. Swim from public docks, practice yoga, hike into the mountains, or go scuba diving at 1,560 metres above sea level with ATi Divers.
What previous volunteers remember most isn't actually the lake — it's the people. Our team eats together, works together, and spends far too much free time together. Volunteers keep in touch long after they leave, adding to the large mess (group of Iguanas) around the world.
Based on 25 reviews