Language Programs in Mexico

I heard about Iguana Abroad through a friend a few years ago who couldn't recommend the experience highly enough. Life got in the way for a while, but this year me and my partner finally had the opportunity to join. And it was truly amazing. The team made us feel so so welcome from the very beginning, and there was an honest perfect balance of learning, the cultural experiences, excursions and time spent together as a group, and also time to relax and take it all in. We came away with wonderful memories, new long lasting friendships and an even greater appreciation for Mexican culture. Thank you for such a special experience guys - hopefully we can join you again sometime in the future!

I’ve always been so fascinated with other cultures and especially with Day of the Dead and Mexico, ever since I was young, and it’s always been a bit of a dream of mine to experience it one year… and that year was this year! And I’m so happy and grateful that I did. It honestly exceeded all my craziest expectations - the amazing colors and sounds and smells and flavors - it has to be one of the most unique festivals in the world. There’s something incredibly special about experiencing Day of the Dead in Mexico, where it isn't only a festival or a just some tourist attraction, but actually deeply rooted in the culture, history and everyday lives of the people. Seeing the ofrendas, the decorations, the cemeteries, the flowers and the celebrations everywhere was honestly just wonderful. And, I should also so, it made it even more special experiencing it through Iguana Abroad. Rather than just seeing things as a visitor, we had the opportunity to learn about the traditions, understand their significance and really immerse ourselves in the culture. Every activity, every experience and every little detail added something to the experience. It was one of those experiences that I'll remember for the rest of my life, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone at Iguana Abroad for making a lifelong dream come true. I couldn't have asked for a better way to experience such a beautiful and fascinating part of Mexican culture.

My daughter and I had a wonderful time in Mexico on the Iguana Abroad Spanish immersion course. My daughter loves Coco and she was in paradise! Day of the Dead was the perfect time to visit Mexico. The streets were so colorful, and there were wonderful spooky decorations all over Cuernavaca. The city really came to life for the celebrations - it was spectacular. We felt that the course was perfect for our level, and the organizers really took care to make sure we both felt safe and comfortable at all times. As we don’t eat meat or fish, it was sometimes a little tricky with the food, but Cuernavaca has a lot of great options if you venture a little farther from the main plaza. The vegetarian options for lunch on the course were very much appreciated too! The course was well designed, and we both felt it was a meaningful and magical experience. If you only get one chance to visit Mexico, I would definitely recommend coming for Day of the Dead - and experiencing it with Iguana Abroad made it even more special.

As a third generation Mexican American who has sadly lost touch with my Mexican heritage this course was a dream come true. I always hoped I could one day go back to Mexico and reconnect with my grandmother's culture and the family she left behind and the Iguana Abroad Spanish course was a perfect way to do it. I had such a fantastic experience learning Spanish on the course, as well as trying the incredible food, enjoying the music and experiencing the local traditions of Cuernavaca. Mexico was more vibrant and more of a culture shock than I was imagining, but with the immersion program providing some structure to the days and weeks it became such an incredibly rewarding experience. One thing that I loved about being in Mexico during Day of the Dead was how much of a personal and intimate experience it was. We had the honor of visiting several Mexican families who were celebrating and honoring the lives of their loved ones and it was an indescribably moving and unforgettable experience. Being able to take part in those celebrations with the local people of Cuernavaca and experience the festival alongside them was something that I will hold with me forever.

I loved visiting Mexico during Day of the Dead! The course was a combination of a Spanish course and a cultural tour, with many different options to explore the city and make the most of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Cuernavaca. There were Spanish lessons and cultural activities, a skull painting workshop, a trip to a cemetery and a traditional Day of the Dead parade in the city centre. We also took part in excursions to Ocotepec and Tepoztlan, as well as museum visits and other activities. I loved every moment. Thank you to the organizers of Iguana Abroad for making this experience so special!

I had a great week of private classes and cultural immersion throughout jalisco and nayarit. I splurged for a few extras, but know I got the best price. I did one fishing trip and a couple of massages. I felt like it was really welcomed into the community.

I never imagined I'd feel so at home in a place thousands of miles away! From the relaxed pace of life to the incredible hospitality of the locals, Mexico completely won me over. One of my favorite things was discovering all the little places around Cuernavaca that I would never have found on my own. There was always something interesting happening, whether it was a spontaneous outing, a delicious meal or simply enjoying an afternoon together. Iguana Abroad has created something really special here, and the personal touch makes all the difference. It's a fantastic way to experience a side of Mexico that most tourists never get to see.

Best summer of my life, can't thank the two Harry's and Fabi enough they really made this one so so special. Made some amazing friends I’ll stay in touch with forever, memories I'll keep forever, and my Spanish has improved a lot too... what else could I ask for?? Mexico is such a beautiful country, and Cuernavaca really impressed me as well. Would so much love to come back again! The food, the trips and all the incredible laughs made every day so unforgettable. Just loved experiencing Mexican culture and practising Spanish outside the classroom !

Really excellent course and exceeded my expectations. My host family were genuinely lovely people, the school was beautiful as well, the campus really impressed me. Cuernavaca is a really special place, and it was a pleasure getting to explore the beautiful surrounding area on the trips and events I did. There were a lot of memorable moments, but probably the highlight for me was playing chess in mornings at the school campus with my teacher Sebas. Would definitely recommend and hopefully I'll be able to return as well one day!!

If you're looking for a typical language school, this probably isn't it - and that's a good thing! Iguana Abroad seriously gave me the chance to actually experience Mexico - while learning Spanish... and Semana Santa was unlike anything I've ever seen. Incredible. Before arriving I was nervous about travelling alone, which I've done before but a long time ago, but within a day everyone felt like family. Everybody said the same - it's one of Iguana Abroad's amazing strengths as a course. My host family made me feel so welcome, and my teachers were so patient, encouraging and genuinely cared about helping me improve my Spanish. For me the highlight was visiting Ocotepec during Good Friday to see the Viacrucis parade. I'd never experienced anything like it before - if you are reading this - you need to see it! We also visited Tetela del Volcán on Easter Sunday. The streets were just filled with music, dancing, the incredible Chinelos costumes. It felt like we were experiencing traditions that most tourists never even hear about. I don't think I'd heard about "Semana Santa" until honestly recently. The cooking class, local markets, cultural workshops and excursions all helped us understand Mexico beyond what you could ever learn from a guidebook. An amazing course in an amazing country during an amazing time!

Joining the Iguana Abroad easter course was honestly great luck for me. I'd been travelling around Mexico for almost 2 months and was starting to feel really quite down and frustrated about my level of Spanish. I kept on feeling embarrassed when trying to talk to people, eventually shying away from conversations, and basically thinking, this is probably not going to be the trip I'd been getting ready for and dreaming about for so long. After spending a long time studying Spanish I started thinking I'd never learn. I actually arrived to Tepoztlán (about 30 minutes from Cuernavaca) less than a week before the course started, and knew nothing about it until someone in the hostel I was staying at mentioned it. I honestly wasn't planning on doing a course in Mexico, but after reading the reviews and talking with the guys who run the course, I signed up, and I am so glad I did. My main reason for joining was really about learning some Spanish. My plans were to spend the next few months in Latin America, but I didn't want to if I couldn't properly talk with anybody. Just two weeks with Iguana Abroad changed all of that, and I left speaking a far better level of Spanish. And more than that, I wasn't even aware that easter (Semana Santa) was such a big thing in Mexico, so that really blew my mind as well. Seeing the way it is celebrated in Mexico was fascinating, beautiful, and a lot of fun. Without question, this was the best part of my time in Mexico. Can't recommend it enough - and especially joining over Semana Santa.

I joined Iguana Abroad because I wanted to improve my Spanish before travelling more in Latin America, like a few other people I met during my time as well. I had only studied a little before coming to Mexico, maybe just for a year, so I was quite nervous that I would not understand anything, especially Mexican Spanish. It was also my first time travelling alone outside Europe, or anywhere actually. It took only a few days and I already felt much more confident with every day. The teachers were very patient and so fun, and I never felt embarrassed when I made mistakes which is one of my biggest worries before joining and because I have learnt languages before. The classes were serious and sometimes hard but also really fun, and every day I could use what I learned outside the classroom which is what I hoped for when I applied. One thing I really liked and I hoped for as well, was that it was not only about learning Spanish in a classroom. We visited many interesting places, learned about Mexican culture, tried local food, and spent a lot of time speaking with local people, and with new friends I have now. I met so many amazing people which I am so thankful for. Also before coming to Mexico, I was kind of worried because lots of people told me it was pretty dangerous especially as a woman. After spending my time in Cuernavaca, I realised that, like everywhere, you just need to use common sense. It is no different than just using common sense in any place that you go. I always felt well looked after and safe, and having the Iguana Abroad team there as well if I needed anything gave me a lot of confidence to just not ever worry. I am so grateful for that. I would definitely recommend Iguana Abroad to anyone who wants to learn Spanish and experience the real Mexico, not only the tourist places.

I came to Mexico at 62 years old with absolutely no Spanish and really no idea what to expect either. It was my first time ever visiting Mexico and spending 15 weeks with Iguana Abroad turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Starting from total zero was definitely pretty intimidating at first, especially as I have never even practiced Spanish before but the combination of the daily group and private Spanish lessons, really amazing activities, and complete everyday immersion made so much of a difference. Even just week by week I was noticing that my level was getting better and by the end of the program I was having conversations in Spanish that I seriously never thought would be possible. One thing I would definitely want to say to anybody reading this is that one of the highlights of my whole time with Iguana Abroad and the guys here was staying with my local host family. I also spent some time in private accommodation, but if you're deciding between the two, I'd strongly recommend the homestay. I was welcomed into the family from day one and totally overwhelmed by their kindness to me. The relationships I built there have lasted well beyond the course, and I'll be returning to Cuernavaca next year for the wedding of one of my host family's relatives, and it's amazing to think that I'll be able to chat with everyone in Spanish when I get back. Harry and the entire Iguana Abroad team were excellent, and worked so hard to make this trip not just possible, but to become an important time for me. I can't recommend these guys highly enough.

I had such an amazing experience in this program. I was the only student learning spanish at the time because it was slow season, but everyone at the school made me feel at home. I got to volunteer in the classroom of kids learning english and help with their english as they helped me with my spanish. I was able to sharpen my spanish in 4 weeks, but also learn a lot about the culture of the area.

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect about my time with IA and on the program before I came. I mainly booked because I wanted to improve my Spanish, but I ended up enjoying the whole experience way more than I thought I would. The classes were really good and the teachers were great, but I think what helped me the most was everything outside the classroom. Living with a Mexican family meant I was hearing Spanish all day, every day, and after a while you kind of stop overthinking everything you want to say. We'd go out into the city, visit markets, grab food, do the cooking class, weekend trips, all that sort of thing, and you're just constantly using Spanish without really thinking about it. One thing I really appreciated was how much effort everyone put into making sure we were having a good time. Harry and Harry were always around if anyone needed anything, whether it was recommendations, helping someone who wasn't feeling well, or just making sure everybody was included. It never felt like they were just running a business. You could tell they actually cared about everyone having a good experience. Cuernavaca was also a really nice surprise. I'd never even heard of it before finding Iguana Abroad, but it's such a relaxed place and feels really authentic. There aren't loads of tourists everywhere, so you end up speaking Spanish much more than you probably would in somewhere like Cancun or even Mexico City. I also made some really good friends on the course which I wasn't expecting. Even now we're still talking about meeting up again somewhere. If you're looking for luxury accommodation and cocktails by the pool every day, this probably isn't that kind of trip you are going to be looking for to be honest. But if you actually want to improve your Spanish, experience Mexico properly, and come home with some brilliant memories, I'd definitely recommend it.

I had a great time in my week long stay at Na'atik. I did a solo trip and was able to practice my Spanish for the whole week. My teacher Licey was incredible. So patient and persistent as I was learning. She kept the content interesting and conversational while also ensuring I learned the fundamentals for communication. The program coordinator Elizabeth was always on top of things and helped make sure communication was consistent and that all the plans were well coordinated. She was also really helpful with recommendations for the town and navigating being a foreigner in a small town. The school itself is beautiful and everyone there was really kind and welcoming. The activities offered were also really fun. It was great to get to learn more about the Mayan culture and I high recommend any of the excursions that include learning about the land, practices, and people. I went during a less busy time of year, so I was the only student around. If you like the one on one time, then I recommend going in mid-end of August. If you want to be around people, don't go then. Overall, I recommend this program!

Learning Spanish in Mexico with Iguana Abroad was an incredible and unforgettable experience that truly deepened my knowledge of Spanish and my love for travel. I learnt so much during my time there – both with our teachers in our classes but also around the city during the “immersion” part of the program. I would say I learnt the most Spanish on my trip while I was talking to people around the city on the guided walks and tours with Iguana Abroad, as well as during the salsa dance class and the Mexican cooking class. The organizers of the program really encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in Mexican culture as much as possible which I found so helpful for gaining confidence with my Spanish. The Iguana Abroad team is all really supportive and welcoming and the program directors and staff really went above and beyond to make sure our group of girls felt comfortable the whole time we were on the course. I highly recommend this program for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in Mexican culture and learn Spanish in an exciting environment through cultural immersion.

The program was better than I expected and I'm really thankful to the two Harrys for everything. They are so passionate about what they do and it was such a big part of what made my time in Mexico so special. I especially loved Las Estacas and the beautiful nature there, I have never been anywhere like that before in my life but have always wanted to. I have already started making a plan on how to hopefully come back again one day. I can't recommend Iguana Abroad highly enough, you won’t regret it!!

Taking a Spanish immersion course abroad was a new experience for me but I absolutely loved it. And I loved Iguana Abroad – thank you to the Iguana Abroad organizers for making what initially felt like quite a stressful experience so smooth and enjoyable. My experience started with an email or two to Iguana Abroad, followed by a video call with Harry, one of the British organizers. From then on the whole process was very smooth and straightforward. Iguana Abroad picked me up at the airport when I arrived and they accompanied me to my accommodation and introduced me to Mayra and Emilio – the lovely Mexican couple who would be hosting me during my time in Mexico. It was such a perfect way to ease myself into a new environment and get settled in. Cuernavaca is a beautiful city. I just loved how green and fresh it was. There are so many gardens and parks in the city that it really feels like you are surrounded by nature even though you are in a city. I also loved the beautiful little cafes and restaurants in the city center that serve delicious traditional food. On the immersion program we also did a cooking class, which was wonderful. I will never forget my evening with Chef Natividad cooking, eating and chatting in her kitchen – it is a memory I will cherish for a very long time. There were so many other wonderful moments on the course that I couldn't possibly list them all here. I just want to say a huge thank you to Harry, Harry and Fabiola for making this trip so fulfilling and worthwhile. Gracias.

Before coming to Cuernavaca my Spanish was around an A2 (fairly basic). I could order food, ask basic questions and understand simple conversations, but like everybody else around that level - as soon as someone spoke naturally, I was completely lost and would want to switch back to English straightaway, and that was always kind of embarassing. After just a few weeks, I left feeling comfortably around B1 (intermediate), and, more importantly, I actually had the confidence to use Spanish every day. By the end of the program I was having conversations with my host family (who were amazing!), ordering in restaurants without thinking, chatting to locals around the neighbourhood and markets, and even making friends entirely in Spanish. It was the first time I'd ever felt like I was genuinely living the language rather than just studying it. Maybe one thing that sort of surprised me most was how much learning actually really does happen outside the classroom, and the lessons were excellent, really nice small groups, smart engaging teachers and lots of speaking—but probably the real magic was the immersion. Living with a Mexican host family, exploring Cuernavaca, visiting local markets, taking part in cultural activities and weekend trips meant I was constantly using Spanish in real situations. It never felt like a holiday with a few language classes; it felt like moving to Mexico for a few weeks. I also think Cuernavaca is the perfect place to learn Spanish. It's beautiful, safe, authentic and far less touristy than Mexico City, so you're surrounded by Spanish from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. That made a huge difference to my progress, and everybody else on the course said that as well. Harry, Harry (the two Harrys!) and the entire Iguana Abroad team (especially Fabi!) genuinely care about every student so much. From the airport pickup to the accommodation, activities and day-to-day support, everything was incredibly well organized, and I always felt looked after. That was really important to me. If you're serious about improving your Spanish, not just memorising grammar but actually becoming confident speaking with native speakers, I honestly can't recommend Iguana Abroad highly enough. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had, and I'd return in a heartbeat!