Medical Mission Trip to Guatemala: Volunteer Abroad with Project C.U.R.E. in 2026

Join our 2026 medical mission trip to San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, from September 19-26, 2026. This Project C.U.R.E volunteer clinic provides essential primary care alongside local healthcare professionals at Hospital Obras Sociales de Gregorio Schaffer in partnership with Friends of San Lucas. Located on the shores of Lake Atitlán, this community offers a meaningful opportunity to volunteer abroad in a medical capacity, providing care while learning from Guatemalan colleagues and the patients we serve.

Whether you want to volunteer as a nurse or doctor abroad, or contribute as a pharmacist, EMT, mid-level provider, or therapist, this trip welcomes all healthcare professionals. This medical mission trip is also open to non-medical volunteers who want to contribute through humanitarian work in Guatemala.

PARTICIPANT APPLICATION

Why Guatemala: Humanitarian Work in Lake Atitlán

Rural and Indigenous communities surrounding Lake Atitlán face significant barriers to healthcare: limited transportation, economic hardship, and a shortage of local providers. San Lucas Tolimán, home to a largely Indigenous Kaqchikel Maya population nestled between the Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes, is where this Guatemala service trip is based.

Project C.U.R.E. partners with Hospital Obras Sociales de Gregorio Schaffer and Friends of San Lucas to deliver care within the existing local healthcare system. Every medical volunteer in Guatemala works alongside Guatemalan professionals, contributing to real patient outcomes while gaining a deeper understanding of the community’s needs.

What to Expect on Your Eight-Day Medical Mission Trip

This eight-day medical mission trip has four full clinic days of direct patient care. You’ll work alongside local providers at Hospital Obras Sociales de Gregorio Schaffer, seeing patients for needs ranging from chronic disease management to acute care.

Beyond the clinic, you’ll explore the Lake Atitlán region, including a visit to a Mayan textile co-op and cacao operation, experiences that connect you to the cultural heritage of the communities you serve.

Medical Mission Trip Cost: What’s Included

The medical mission trip cost is $2,300 per participant, structured as a tax-deductible donation. This covers virtually everything you’ll need as a medical volunteer in Guatemala:

All clinic costs: medications, supplies, point-of-care tests, glasses, and interpreters
Accommodation, meals, and clean water
Ground transportation, including drivers, fuel, and tips
Medical travel and evacuation insurance
License transfer procedures
Project C.U.R.E. scrub set and T-shirt
Tour guides and cultural excursions to Lake Atitlán

International airfare and vaccinations are NOT included. Alcohol, internet access, laundry, and personal souvenirs are also not covered.

Who Can Join: Medical and Non-Medical Volunteers Welcome

Space is limited to 14. For this Guatemala medical mission trip, we’re seeking a mix of medical and non-medical health volunteers.

Medical professionals may include:

Family or internal medicine physicians
OB/GYNs
Pediatricians
Optometrists and Ophthalmologists
Mid-level providers
Pharmacists & Pharmacy Technicians
Nurses
EMTs/paramedics
Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Chiropractors

Non-medical participants are also welcome to support the clinic through logistics, data entry, patient intake, and other essential roles. You don’t need a medical degree to make a difference on a non-medical volunteer mission trip; every role helps the team serve more patients.

Apply Today

Ready to volunteer abroad and bring your skills, compassion, and curiosity to Guatemala? Spots on this medical mission trip fill quickly, and early application is encouraged. Apply Today.

Apply Now!

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Mission Trips

U.S. Volunteer Opportunities

At the heart of Project C.U.R.E. are mission-driven people like you who want to give back. Our volunteers, ranging from doctors and nurses to young professionals and retirees, come from all walks of life. Volunteering is simple: find a nearby location, schedule a date, and sign up to use your unique skillsets.

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Group Volunteering

Project C.U.R.E. offers a fun, engaging corporate volunteer program where your employees will have the opportunity to participate in meaningful volunteer work with their colleagues and make a difference in your local community.

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Individual Volunteering

Volunteering is simple. Find a location near you, schedule an available date and select “sign up.” There are many volunteer opportunities to use your unique skillsets; just roll up your sleeves and take action.

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Internship Opportunities

Project C.U.R.E.’s Internship Program provides upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level college students the opportunity to learn about global healthcare and the non-profit sector while gaining hands-on experience at any of our Project C.U.R.E. locations.

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