High School Experiential Learning Programs in Mexico

I had an amazing experience, met so many new people, and learned so many new things. Visiting Chichén Itzá and swimming in a beautiful cenote with a platform to jump from were unforgettable highlights of the trip.

I studied in Merida, Mexico in June 2025 with CIEE on the language and culture program. From the moment I started my application, CIEE staff was available to help. They went above and beyond by calling me to ask additional questions about my allergies. Their attention to detail assuaged many of my fears about traveling as I knew the staff was prepared. My homestay enriched my experience by giving me opportunities to practice my language skills and immerse myself in Mexican culture. My favorite memory of my host mom is when she taught me how to make empanadas. Spending hours with her in the kitchen gave me unforgettable memories and valuable knowledge. Despite not knowing anyone when I went on the trip, I made friends quickly and spent most afternoons hanging out with them. Merida is very walkable and Ubers are cheap, so it was very easy to get around the city. We had student IDs and were able to get into some museums for free. I attended daily language classes and we had cultural activities every day to deepen our understanding of Mexican culture. In class, we learned practical language skills focused on conversation. By the end of the program, my Spanish speaking had improved significantly because I had so many opportunities to practice. Whether I was taking an Uber, ordering at a restaurant, or talking with my host mom, there were many opportunities to practice my Spanish. My favorite part of the trip was the overnight excursion to Chichen Itza. It was incredible seeing it in person as it had been on my bucket list for a while. We also got to see some cenotes, which were beautiful. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to improve their language skills and immerse themselves in Mexican culture.

This program was excellent! The Arcos directors were very good. I really liked my teachers, and the homestay family was very kind. I highly recommend this experience to future students—it is the best way to spend your summer! Remember to wear sunblock and a hat.

The directors were fun and knowledgeable, and classes offered great content with nice teachers. My homestay host was wonderful, cooking the best food and offering kindness and humor. While adapting to a new language and environment was challenging, the benefits—like feeling inspired by local culture and making lasting connections—were immense. Oaxaca will always feel like a second home.

Antonio was an incredible director—funny and great with everyone. The classes were excellent; I loved my teacher and appreciated the easy option to switch to a harder class. My homestay, Martha and Alvero, truly felt like family. I made lifelong friends and significantly increased my Spanish knowledge. Be open to meeting people and apply yourself to the language.

The greatest benefit was interacting on an almost fulltime basis in Spanish. I really enjoyed the amazing food and learning how to convert money. The best parts were learning the lay of the land in Oaxaca and studying with people from all over the world. Highly recommended!

My host mom was lovely. I did the painting course, and the teacher was super nice. My director was super friendly and always helpful! I am now comfortable navigating this city as well as taking public transportation. This is a great program to stretch your wings with.

Rise to the challenge of getting used to a new culture and a different way of life. Make sure to do every activity with full enthusiasm! I'm grateful because I got more comfortable with the Spanish language and I got to meet amazing people. I definitely encourage future students to apply!

I enjoyed the hell out of the rest of the trip! Our Arcos director was great and always answered every question of ours. Really, the best part was just being in Mexico and speaking Spanish. I genuinely suggest considering this program - it has a lot to offer.

I would absolutely recommend this program to future students - it's worth it!! I really appreciated learning about different cultures and trying new foods. I also had a lot of fun practicing Spanish. Soak up every moment because it goes by sooo fast. Do everything you can!

Arcos answered all of our questions quickly and thoroughly! We also benefitted greatly from our director's relationships with all of the cultural excursions. During each event, it felt like we were welcomed into studios, homes, and restaurants like friends due to the close relationships she has and maintains. As a faculty leader, I highly recommend Arcos for your students.

10 out of 10! I improved in Spanish, had some great food, and had lots of fun! The Arcos programming was good and my homestay mom was amazing. I had so much fun going out with her and talking to her. Remember to bring good walking shoes and electrolytes.

My daughter did the Arcos Oaxaca program. It helped her to grow in the areas of independence, language skills, fearlessness, love of cultures, and respect. DO IT! It was amazing. SHE LOVED IT. So much so that I already signed her up for next summer with Arcos in Spain!

My Arcos directors were so much fun to talk to. I had amazing conversations about life, Oaxacan culture, and just about anything! They are great with communicating and establishing safety while also being kind and friendly! I felt so welcomed and when the program ended I felt so sad to say goodbye. They are so caring and attended to everyone’s needs and really showed they cared for every individual! I absolutely adored my host mom and dad, they were such great conversation-makers and easy to talk to! I learned the most Spanish from them and they felt like a real family! My relationship with my host mom felt like my relationship with my grandma back home and it was so wonderful and comforting. My advice is to be open to try anything - whether it is food, activities, whatever! Don’t be shy when getting to know people, since everyone is so kind and welcoming in Oaxaca!

My homestay in Oaxaca was great! My advice to other students is to be open to speaking Spanish. I didn't really have any challenges to speak of. The greatest benefits of the program were practicing Spanish and gaining new cooking skills. This is a great experience!

I enjoyed gaining exposure to a new culture and meeting new friends! Our Arcos director was efficient, supportive, fun, relatable, and a problem solver. I would 100% recommend the Hike and Surf program to high school students. My advice is to just have fun!

My advice is to make lots of friends and try to speak Spanish as much as you can. The greatest benefits of this program were having fun with new friends, learning about Mexico and seeing how people live. I would recommend this program to future students.

Bring good walking shoes because you walk most places. This was my first time traveling alone, so it was a bit difficult to try and manage everything by myself but it was definitely a growing experience and it taught me a lot about responsibility. I learned so much about the culture and cuisine that I wouldn't have learned about in my regular Spanish classes at home. I have a new found appreciation for Mexico and everything it has to offer.

Don’t go crazy trying to learn as much Spanish as you can before coming. Other students will be around the same level as you and you can help each other as well as using Google translate. I loved learning about a new culture. It was just so amazing, and I’ll always remember this experience and have stories to tell.

The biggest benefits were getting out of his comfort zone, being away in a foreign country and experiencing unique activities. This is a program for kids that are okay being our of their comfort zone. Overall super great and well-organized program. Noah really enjoyed the activities planned and it also helped that he got along with all the other boys (which makes a huge difference).