If you have any further questions, please contact us.  We are eager to hear from you.

Why take a gap year?

Get out of the classroom. Challenge your comfort zone.  Explore your passions.  Zip line through the jungle.  Learn a new language.  Meet people from all over the world.  Climb a Mayan temple.  Explore the world, discover yourself. 

With today's pressure to gain acceptance to top colleges, it is difficult to make time to reflect and gain self awareness necessary for critical life decisions.  Taking time out and obtaining a broader perspective can clarify one's life path and facilitate maturation to benefit fully from the college experience.  For more on this topic, please read Our Philosophy.  Back to Top


Who should take a gap year?

Magic Carpet Rides recommends a gap year for all high school graduates.  In today's global economy, it is important to have an international perspective, which can only be gained by experiencing the world classroom.  Just strap on your backpack and go.  It will never be so easy to take a year to explore the world.  Back to Top


Will I get off track?

Many college admissions officers and high school guidance counselors recommend taking a gap year, feeling that students benefit from the additional year of maturation.  Many report that students who took a gap year matriculate with an increased focus and self-awareness due to their real world experience.  Back to Top


I was not accepted to my top choice college.  Can I reapply to colleges during my gap year?

Yes, and Magic Carpet Rides can help you through the process.  You may retake the SATs in Guatemala and we offer college advisory services.  Back to Top


I completed a year of college.  Can I still apply to Magic Carpet Rides?

While Magic Carpet Rides' focus is "gap-year" students, we accept applications from individuals 17-21 years of age.  Back to Top


What qualities define a strong applicant?

Magic Carpet Rides seeks individuals with a sense of adventure and desire to contribute to our global community.  While we request transcripts, test scores and letters of recommendation to gain a broader understanding our students, previous academic success is not a sole determinant of admissions.  Magic Carpet Rides strives to achieve a mature, diverse class eager to explore the world and discover themselves.  Back to Top


Can I enroll for just one semester?

Although we encourage students to participate in the entire academic year, it is possible to enroll in the first semester only.  Our curriculum is designed so that the spring semester builds upon skills gained during the fall semester, therefore successful completion of the fall semester (or demonstration of requisite language and travel skills) is mandatory for participation in the spring semester.  Back to Top


Do you offer a summer program?

No, Magic Carpet Rides currently offers an academic year curriculum from September through May.  Students may wish to remain in Central America on their own for the summer at the conclusion of the program.  Back to Top


Is it possible to travel home?

Yes, there is a three-week winter break in December and January, during which you may either travel home or throughout Central America.  Travel home during the program semesters is discouraged except in case of emergency.  Back to Top


Am I able to receive college credit?

At this point, Magic Carpet Rides does not offer college credit.  However, with the degree of fluency you will achieve, you should be able to meet Spanish language requirements and receive credit through your university.  Back to Top


I am eager to participate, but am unsure whether my family can afford a gap year, since we are already concerned about the expense of college.

Magic Carpet Rides strives to provide a gap year to all eligible participants, regardless of ability to pay.  Please contact us to inquire about the possibility of financial aid. 

With college graduation taking an average of 5.75 years, experiencing a gap year and expanding self awareness first may result in a more focused undergraduate experience that would decrease your total expense.  For more details, please see Our Philosophy.  Back to Top


Why Guatemala?

Guatemala offers a world of difference just a short plane flight away.  With a large indigenous population dressing in traditional costumes and speaking 26 dialects, Guatemala offers an unrivaled opportunity for cultural immersion.  The ancient traces of the Maya heritage can be explored through the important archeology sites in Northern Guatemala.  

Guatemala's stunning natural landscape offers many opportunities for natural exploration including volcano and jungle trekking, white water rafting and lake relaxation.

The endemic poverty in Guatemala provides an opportunity for meaningful service projects, where we can truly make a difference.

In addition, Antigua, Guatemala is world renowned for Spanish instruction, attracting students from all over the world.   The cobblestone streets of Antigua offer a charming base to engage with many cultures and languages through our fall semester Spanish School curriculum.

During second semester, you may pursue a project that will take you to the reef in Honduras or Belize or to Maya ruins in Mexico.  Guatemala's location provides a convenient base to explore the treasures of Central America.  Back to Top


Do you have any other program locations?

No, however, Magic Carpet Rides will provide additional destinations in the future.  Back to Top


I already speak Spanish fluently.  Will I be bored?

Magic Carpet Rides' curriculum is tailored to student's individual abilities and interests.  For bilingual students, we offer an opportunity to explore Latin American literature, to learn a Mayan language or to delve straight into a service project.  By keeping our class small, we work with each student to design an academic year that builds upon his/her strengths.  Back to Top


What is the weather like in Guatemala?

Guatemala is blessed with an ideal climate, with much of the country enjoying warm sunny days in the 70's or 80's, cooling down to the 60's at night.  Guatemala's diverse topography results in differing climates depending on the altitude and terrain. The lowlands in the northern Peten area are hot and humid.  In the high plains around Xela, winter nights can be chilly, although the sun brings day time temperatures up to the mid 70's. 

Guatemala experiences two seasons: the wet (May - September) and the dry (October - April).  In Antigua, expect about an hour of rain per day during the wet season.  In the jungle, the rainy season can extend through December.  Back to Top


Can special diets be accommodated?

Yes.  Many students are vegetarian and homestay families are accustomed to providing vegetarian options.  If you have other dietary restrictions, please contact us.  Back to Top


What should I pack?

We will send you a suggested packing list along with your letter of acceptance.  Recommendations include packing light, bringing a culturally sensitive wardrobe and leaving valuables at home. Back to Top


Will I be safe?

Travel in developing countries has inherent risks that can be minimized through appropriate precautions.  During our orientation and training, we share ways to ensure a safe and successful gap year.  Magic Carpet Rides liaises with the U.S. Embassy and Guatemala Institute of Tourism to ensure the well-being of all participants.  Lastly, our staff is trained in Emergency Medical Services and First Aid/CPR.   Appropriate vaccinations and travel documents are mandatory. Back to Top


Do I need any vaccinations before I leave?

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all travelers to Guatemala consult a health-care provider who specializes in travel medicine at least 4-6 weeks before travel.  All routine vaccines such as for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) should be current.  In addition, the CDC recommends vaccines for Hepatits A and B, Typhoid and Rabies as well as chloroquine pills to prevent malaria.  Please note that malaria is not a risk in Antigua or Lake Atitlan.  Back to Top

What type of insurance do you recommend?

All participants are required to have health insurance and travel insurance.  Students under the age of 21 will most likely be covered under their parents health care insurance.  Travel insurance provides travel, baggage, accident and medical protection.  We will send you further details with acceptance.  Back to Top


What travel documents/ visas do I need?

You will need a US passport that is valid for the entire duration of your time in Central America.  Entry visas will be obtained upon arrival at the airport in Guatemala City.  Back to Top


If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.