About Academia Colonial Spanish School
Academia Colonial is a first class Spanish school in Antigua Guatemala. Our school is located only four blocks from Antigua’s central park in a safe neighborhood. Our study environment is very fun, comfortable, and conducive for learning Spanish. We have comfortable tables and chairs, plenty of fresh air, a view of the mountains and Volcán de agua, delicious snacks, and free coffee, water and tea. You will find our Spanish teachers extremely knowledgeable. Many of them have more than 10 years of experience and all of them are certified Spanish instructors. A custom learning plan is tailored to fit each student’s educational learning goals and expectations.
Before I opened Academia Colonial, I came to Antigua Guatemala to learn Spanish and was disappointed. When I studied here the schools suffered from a gross lack of organization and process and no clear study plan. The amenities were non-existent, and the services they did provide were inadequate and poorly executed. Eventually the powdered coffee with no milk or creamer, the sugar filled with ants, the dirty drinking glasses, the absence of soap or towels in the bathroom, the stale bread as snacks, and the fact that there were more mosquitoes than I could kill drove me crazy. I was amazed that the schools were in business. Surely Antigua Guatemala, the famous Spanish learning destination, deserved a better Spanish school.
After my experiences as a student, I decided to stay in Guatemala and open Academia Colonial to provide Spanish students with a school that not only met but exceeded western standards and expectations. We understand that you have or will pay for a plane ticket, living arrangements, Spanish classes, and recreational activities. In addition, you will spend many hours with an instructor at the Spanish school of your choice. Since you are putting forth the time and bearing the expense, we try to provide a learning experience that is not only effective, fun, and comfortable, but also a great value for students of all ages.
Our New Home
Academia Colonial has moved to Casa Convento Concepción. The original structure was Antigua’s first convent dating back to 1578 and has been rebuilt several times, most recently in 2004. The new school is located in one of the safest parts of Antigua close to Hotel Casa Santa Domingo.
Spanish Lessons Include
- One-to-one instruction with one of our certified Spanish language instructors
- Our Spanish teachers have an average of over 20 years of teaching experience
- The most comfortable and conducive study environment, four blocks from central park
- Free wifi
- Complimentary coffee, freshly baked bread, water and tea – during school hours
- Discount in laundry
Our Commitment to you
Our mission is not only to meet but exceed your expectations. We live true to our motto of reinventing the Spanish school by giving you the best services we possibly can and by making sure that you leave 100% satisfied. We have become well known for our attention to detail and that is why, in a matter of just a few short years, we have grown to become one of Antigua’s premiere and most respected Spanish schools.
Spanish Language Immersion School Prices
The prices below are by the week, consisting of five days of classes normally Monday – Friday. You can however start any day of the week you wish, or even take six days including Saturday.
| Hours Per Day | Hours Per week | Price |
| 3 * | 15 | $155 |
| 4 | 20 | $185 |
| 5 | 25 | $200 |
| 6 | 30 | $215 |
| 7 | 35 | $245 |
| 8 | 40 | $275 |
The 3 hour program is during afternoons only.
One day Courses:
One day courses are also available in the afternoons at a price of $9/hour.
Family Stay Packages:
The benefits of our Family Stay Program:
- You will stay in a clean, comfortable, centrally located house, in a safe neighborhood.
- You will be provided a private room with three meals a day except for Sundays.
- You will get to practice your Spanish with an engaging family.
Family Stay / Host Family Prices:
| Type | Price |
| 1 Person 1 Room with Shared Bathroom | $115 |
| 2 Person 1 Room with Shared Bathroom | $210 |
| 1 Person 1 Room with Private Bathroom | $130 |
| 2 Person 1 Room with Private Bathroom | $240 |
Airport Pickup:
For a list of transportation options from Guatemala city Aurora International Airport to Antigua, please see our page describing our airport pickup service.
Private Transportation from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua $35
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1 Reviews on “Academia Colonial”
I spent 3 weeks studying at Academia Colonial in July 2009. I loved my time at the school so much!! I’d highly recommend studying there. The school is much smaller than others in town, and as a result, the staff were able to provide a high level of personalized attention. I felt like my business was appreciated and there was a comfortable environment for students to discuss concerns if any were to arise. Several of my roommates were studying at larger schools and had poor experiences – among other things, they felt like they were sometimes treated like a number and not a person.
I paid for transportation to Antigua from the Guatemala City airport through the school. The $35 was well worth it! JP, the owner of the school, picked me up. He was easy to find and had a sign with my name on it. I had been nervous about arriving at the airport and having something go wrong (no driver, no way to contact anyone, not being able to communicate well in Spanish if a problem were to arise, etc.) so I was extremely pleased that the pick-up went so well. JP was very personable, gave me recommendations about things to do and places to go during my stay, and he dropped me off right with my host family.
On the school’s website, there is a description and several pictures of their “luxury accomodation” options. This description was extremely misleading; I booked a “luxury accomodation with private bath”, only to be placed in a tiny room in a not-so-clean house, and the bathroom (which was shared between 3 people) was outside. I am a budget traveler and have done a lot of backpacking, and I understand that living conditions in different countries can be very different than the way things are in the US. I also understand that I was in Guatemala during high season and there are many more rooms in town without a private bath. Had I been informed ahead of time that I might not have a private bathroom and that the “luxury” accomodations were few and far between, I would have been fine with that. So, if you choose to book a homestay through any other language school in Antigua, I’d recommend asking questions ahead of time to better understand the living arrangements ahead of time.
That being said, my host family was wonderful! I felt like I had my own Guatemalan mom while I was there. She loved spending time chatting with me and the 4 other students staying in the house at the time, and she took care of me when I got sick. She had a great sense of humor and was extremely patient and helpful when it came to helping me with my Spanish. Outside of the condition of the house and the bathroom situation, I really couldn’t have asked for a better homestay experience.
At the school, I studied with Paolo for 3 weeks, 4 hours each day. He was an incredible teacher and helped me focus on exactly the areas I needed to work on. He used many different teaching methods in our classes, which kept things interesting and enjoyable. Several other students I spoke with in town (who were attending different schools) complained that their teacher just sat and talked to them, monopolizing the conversation, for the entire time. Paolo allowed me to focus on conversation, grammar, and helped me practice until I really understood each new concept. He was incredibly patient and positive. I didn’t want our classes to end!
On most weekdays, the school had activities planned for the students for a small fee ($8 max). I went on a walking tour around town, visited a coffee plantation, went to a small village to learn about Guatemalan traditions (my favorite trip by far!), and I took several cooking classes from Gaby, the cook. She was incredible! The activities were particularly enjoyable because we went with a small group of students as opposed to a large busload like other schools do.
Academia Colonial is a restaurant/bar at night (“Rumbar”), and JP makes some of the best mojitos I’ve ever had! The atmosphere is relaxing, friendly, and the food and drink prices are really good. I ended up at Rumbar most nights because I liked it so much.
In summary, I loved everything about my experience at Academia Colonial, and I wouldn’t even consider studying somewhere else if I were to return to Antigua.