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Mayan Highland Dental Project + Weekend in Antigua (Original Clinic)

Working in partnership with the local community, GDR hosts volunteers in the Guatemalan Highlands of San Martín Jilotepeque to serve the indigenous Maya community. Volunteers experience a true immersion experience while in San Martín — days are spent eating local foods, exploring the market while walking to the clinic each morning, and seeing firsthand true Maya culture. Volunteers work for one week and then have two days of sightseeing in the beautiful ancient capital of Antigua.
Project Cost: $1,880 (based on double occupancy)
Clinic-Only: $1,550 (based on double occupancy)

Call our office for single-occupancy rates.
*Note that we cannot usually accommodate single rooms in the San Martin guesthouse during the week of the clinic.

The project duration is 10 days, which includes: travel time to Guatemala, orientation, walking tour of Antigua, five days working in the dental clinic and a weekend in Antigua for sightseeing.

Volunteers may opt out of the sightseeing portion of the project and head home after the clinic.

 

Project Dates
  • May 30 – June 8, 2025
  • June 6 – 15, 2025
  • July 18 – 27, 2025
  • July 25 – August 3, 2025
  • August 1 – 10, 2025
  • May 22 – 31, 2026
  • May 29 – June 7, 2026
  • July 17 – 26, 2026
  • July 24 – August 2, 2026
  • July 31 – August 9, 2026
What’s Included?
  • 3-4 star hotel accommodations while in Antigua
  • Basic guesthouse accommodation while working the clinic in San Martín
  • Three meals a day while working in the clinic
  • Breakfast while in Antigua
  • All internal overland transportation within Guatemala
  • Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle
  • Sightseeing as listed in the project itinerary
  • Celebratory farewell dinner

Plus, you will get all this too:

  • A small group of 14 to 18 international volunteers
  • The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world
  • GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
  • Two GDR designated trip leaders
  • A GDR volunteer coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip
  • All tips for guides and drivers (except for arrival and departure transfers)
Sightseeing Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from the U.S. to Guatemala City — Antigua. On arrival in Guatemala City, transfer from the airport to Antigua. Afternoon at leisure in Antigua. Overnight in Antigua. (-/‐/-)

Day 2: Antigua. Morning walking tour of Antigua. Afternoon project briefing. Overnight in Antigua. (B)

Day 3: Antigua — San Martín Jilotepeque. Early morning drive from Antigua to San Martín, where we will work for the next week. After a project briefing, we will begin working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 4: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 5: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 6: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 7: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 8: San Martín Jilotepeque — Antigua. Working in the clinic. Return to Antigua in late afternoon. Overnight in Antigua. (B/L)

Day 9: Antigua. Enjoy an optional morning tour. Return to Antigua in the early afternoon. The balance of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Antigua. (B/‐/‐)

Day 10: Antigua — Guatemala City. Early morning departure from Antigua to the airport in Guatemala City in time to catch your flight back home.

Clinic-Only Itinerary

Day 1: Fly from the U.S. to Guatemala City — Antigua. On arrival in Guatemala City, transfer from the airport to Antigua. Afternoon project briefing. Overnight in Antigua. (-/‐/-)

Day 2: Antigua — San Martín Jilotepeque. Early morning drive from Antigua to San Martín where we will work for the next week. After a project briefing, we will begin working in the clinic. Overnight in guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 3: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 4: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 5: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 6: San Martín Jilotepeque. Working in the clinic. Overnight at guesthouse in San Martín. (B/L/D)

Day 7: San Martín Jilotepeque — Antigua. Working in the clinic. Return to Antigua in the late afternoon. Overnight in Antigua. (B/L)

Day 8: Antigua — Guatemala City. Early morning departure from Antigua to the airport in Guatemala City in time to catch your flight back home. (B/-/-)

Physical Demands

Volunteer dental clinics are fast paced and require a fair amount of physical activity each day. Volunteers attending our service trip clinics in San Martín should be able to:

  • Walk at a steady pace during cultural tour, approximately 4 hours (including climbing stairs).
  • Sleep with street noise (stray dogs, car horns, etc.).
  • Walk to and from the clinic site, approximately 15 minutes, daily.
  • Limited access to Wi-Fi/phone use while in San Martín.
  • Eat a diet of primarily local Maya food while in San Martín.
  • After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location.

Wolfgang Pfannenstiel

What Volunteers Say

After my first dental volunteer trip I was sure to do this continuously no matter what! This is helping kids in need effectively. This is having enjoyable conversations with new friends. This is creating unforgettable memories. So in my specific case the letters GDR stand for the German Dentist Returns :)”

- Wolfgang Pfannenstiel, Dentist, Germany

Darshani Khosla

What Partners Say

Global Dental Relief makes sure children are receiving continuous care and that clinics are run efficiently and with the highest ethical standards. They take care of every detail on your service trip — I plan to volunteer with them for years to come!

- Darshani Khosla, Dentist, Texas

Carol Lim

What Volunteers Say

Thank you Global Dental Relief! Nothing compares to the efforts and impact of your volunteer overseas programs, working hard to bring healthy smiles to children.

- Carol Lim, Vice President of Business Development, Cranberry U.S.A

TJ Gabriels

What Volunteers Say

I plan my whole year around these opportunities to volunteer abroad. I love travel with a purpose, being more than a tourist and making a small, positive mark in the world. This organization has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has really helped broaden my world view.

- TJ Gabriels, Lawyer and General Volunteer, New York

Michael Pasoff

What Volunteers Say

As a dentist, I have treated and cared for many patients, however, nothing can compare to the sense of fulfilment when volunteering your time and skill to ease the pain and suffering of others. It never ceases to amaze me what can be accomplished when surrounded by dedicated, caring and talented volunteers, such as those I met in past international dental clinics with GDR.

- Michael Pasoff, Dentist, Montreal, Canada

Nour Shehadeh

What Volunteers Say

I am honored and grateful to help these amazing children, meet incredible people, explore their culture and change children's lives for the better. I look forward to many service trips with GDR in the future.

- Nour Shehadeh, Dental Hygienist, Illinois

Peggy Lamm

What Volunteers Say

If you want to literally change lives, this is a great way to do that. Our work with Global Dental Relief produced more real good than all the other cumulative good works I've helped with through the rest of my life.

- Peggy Lamm, CEO Colorado Mesa University Foundation and General Volunteer, Colorado