GoAbroad
$900-1,250Program Costs
VerifiedProvider
4.8 / 5Overall Rating
112Reviews

Program Overview

Travel to the enchanting colonial city of Oaxaca, Mexico for an unforgettable Spanish immersion experience. Delve into the language and learn about Mexican culture in this activity-rich program. Take daily classes at the prestigious University of Oaxaca Language Department, located in the heart of Oaxaca’s colonial center. Choose from all levels of Spanish as well as from elective classes in Literature, History, Culture, and Fine Arts.

The city itself is nestled in a valley surrounded by stunning mountains. Excursions to the Monte Alban archeological site, Hierve el Ague mountain springs, and to the surrounding Indigenous villages – such as Teotitlán del Valle, famous for its weaving traditions – are included. Volunteer to practice your Spanish skills and learn more about life in Oaxaca. Refine your Spanish through afternoon cultural activities such as the traditional Mexican cooking class, printmaking workshop, and city tours.

Oaxaca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is ranked as one of the best travel cities in the world. Come and experience first-hand all that it has to offer!

This program is open to all levels of Spanish.

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Program Highlights

Improve your Spanish skills exponentially through daily Spanish classes at the University of Oaxaca.
Enjoy the incredible Oaxacan and Mexican cuisine through a traditional cooking class and home-cooked meals with your homestay.
Climb the pyramids of majestic Monte Alban, set high above Oaxaca overlooking the expansive central valleys.
Swim in the waters of Hierve el Agua mountain springs and take in the vistas.
Create and paint your own alebrije, the fantastical carved wooden animals Oaxaca is famous for.

What's Included

Tuition & Fees
Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)
Airport Transfer (Drop-Off)
Medical / Accident Insurance
All Program Activity Costs

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Oaxaca, Mexico

Fields & Subjects

  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Art History
  • History
  • Languages & Linguistics
  • Spanish
  • Latin American Studies
  • Literature
  • Culture
  • Visual Arts
  • Film

Available Terms / Availability

  • Years Offered
  • Year Round
  • Terms Available
  • Summer

Eligible Nationalities

  • American
  • Canadian
  • This Program is also open to Solo, Group

Education Levels & Language

  • Language
  • Spanish
  • Education
  • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Accommodation Options

  • Home-stays
  • Other

Application Procedures

  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Letters of Reference
  • Online Application

Age Requirement

14-17

Duration

  • 2-4 Weeks

Starts At

$900-1,250

Refund Policy

Other

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about Arcos Journeys Abroad

4.8
112 reviews

Rating breakdown

5
90
4
22
3
0
2
0
1
0

Top categories

Personal Development
4.9
Program Opportunities
4.9
Health & Safety
4.8
Program Administration
4.8
Cultural Immersion
4.8
Living Situation
4.8

Participated in this program? Share your experience now.

Review this Program

Showing 1-20 of 112 reviews

Annemarie OrthUnited States · April 2026

AMAZING ART VIBE

I just loved the art community and vibe in Oaxaca!!! The students loved it too The family we stayed with was extremely warm and were interested in our lives and how we were enjoying our stay. The cultural trips were fantastic. I especially loved working on the "grabados" and the visit to the Hierve del agua.

Photos

Jhona BursackDecember 2025

Trust the process and enjoy!

The overall experience with Arcos has my top rating 10/10! The benefits from this immersive experience are undeniable. My daughter was able to experience life in the beautiful city of Oaxaca, Mexico with a wonderful host family who provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. This was such a cultural gift! Trust the process and enjoy!

Marcos SierraDecember 2025

Taught my son valuable skills

With Arcos, communication and proper expectations were set from the beginning. I am very pleased with the entire Arcos Journeys Abroad team. All of the pre-departure documentation made preparation extremely easy. I am grateful for my son's increased confidence in his ability to be independent and know how to follow a calendar schedule.

Liana PlumptonDecember 2025

Highly recommended!

My daughter had a great experience and is already making plans for next summer with friends she met in Oaxaca. Our daughter usually prefers joining activities with a friend and was excited to go on this adventure solo. She met new friends she's kept in touch with and plans to visit. Highly recommend!

Heidi HillNovember 2025

Robust program

Arcos provides a robust program with a great diversity of experiences. I think the best aspects for my child were the ability to feel independent as a traveler in another country, the opportunity to connect and bond with the host family, the chance to explore and enhance her language skills (through classes and just being out in the community), and the array of cultural experiences. Definitely read all the materials sent before the trip! The packing list was especially helpful. My daughter's host family was absolutely wonderful. She really felt at home with them, to the point that she felt sad leaving at the end!

Josh BursackOctober 2025

Well done!

My daughter did the Oaxaca, Mexico program with Arcos. Very well done by everyone on the Arcos team. The greatest benefits of this program are gaining cultural exposure and practicing Spanish speaking skills. Let go…let your child experience the program with limited contact so they can be fully connected and present.

Tiffany GrayOctober 2025

Earned college credit

This was a great opportunity for my daughter in which she was able to have a unique cultural experience. I can say that her Spanish skills have definitely increased. I also appreciated the college credit which she received from the University of Oaxaca, which is rare for a high school program. We are very appreciative. Thank you Arcos!

Naomi AnafiOctober 2025

Excellent program support

The program support from Arcos Journeys Abroad in Oaxaca, Mexico was all great. The pre-departure materials we received were exactly what we needed to prepare. My high schooler learned a lot of Spanish and explored a really interesting area of the world. Do it!

Suzanne WalterOctober 2025

Great immersion opportunity

Arcos provides a great opportunity to be immersed in the culture and for your child to improve their Spanish and see how others in the world live. Arcos as an organization has my top rating for their coordination, staff, and availability. The pre-departure guidelines and packing list were excellent.

Lydia FleisherJune 2025

Try to speak Spanish the entire time

The directors were communicative, amiable, and always available. My homestay with Marycarmen and Jorge was wonderful; they were incredibly loving and supportive, even assisting me at a doctor's appointment. Future students should definitely try to speak Spanish the entire time. The benefits of experiencing the city and time with my host family made this program truly worthwhile.

Amelia DriverJune 2025

Improved my Spanish

Antonio was a great director and very nice! All the teachers were amazing and it was good having a break in between classes. My homestay with Irma was wonderful; she was considerate and her food was amazing. This program dramatically improved my Spanish and independence. It's 100% worth it and a great growth experience!

Russell HardinUnited States · June 2025

Great time in Oaxaca!

We had a great trip and time in Oaxaca! Our program was super fun with great activities and our directors, Paulina and Marina, were awesome! Highly recommend, and the Spanish classes were amazing as well.

Alberto MéndezUnited States · June 2025

Amazing team

An impressive team creates well-structured experiences for high school students, helping them explore language and culture through the Oaxaca Arcos program. Students enjoyed valuable experiences throughout workshops and Spanish classes at the local university.

Jennifer Chavez VenturaJune 2025

Chance to thrive in a whole new country

This is an excellent program! Prepare for sore legs from walking, but embrace every moment. The challenges of walking everywhere lead to the benefits of living a different life and gaining comfort in speaking Spanish. It's awesome to experience new things and thrive in a whole new country and lifestyle.

Ahlannie GrayJune 2025

Highly recommend

I highly recommend the summer Arcos program in Oaxaca, Mexico that I did! I advise practicing your Spanish speaking skills for the homestay. While talking with the host family was a challenge, the experience was overall beneficial and I'm glad I did it.

Rhea MyersJune 2025

Gained a new perspective

My Arcos directors were friendly and helpful; they taught me a lot about Oaxacan culture and life skills. My teacher was patient, focusing on repetition to expand my vocabulary. I adored my host mom—she was fun and welcoming. My biggest challenge was speaking Spanish, but the overall experience of gaining a new perspective and learning about history and culture was well worth it.

Addison BursackJune 2025

Benefits were invaluable

Thank you to Arcos and the directors for making this possible and setting up all the events, and for being such kindhearted people. My homestay family was amazing and I definitely recommend them for future programs. Be sure to get plenty of sleep to be ready for the busy days. The benefits, such as getting more comfortable speaking Spanish, were invaluable.

Xavier RodriguezJune 2025

Made incredible memories

The Arcos directors were fantastic, eager to show us the city and happy to help with anything. The classes had a great curriculum, and hearing the language from a native speaker was a plus. My homestay with Christina was amazing. While navigating the city was a challenge, exploring, meeting new people, and learning the culture made for incredible memories.

Selah RobinsonJune 2025

Step out of your comfort zone

The directors were very kind and welcoming, and my homestay was extremely safe and pleasant. This program offers great benefits, like learning Spanish and encouraging personal growth by stepping out of your comfort zone. I made many friends and highly recommend this valuable experience!

Sawyer Karamesic-kelleyMay 2025

Relax and don't stress

The program classes were really enjoyable, and our teacher made the learning experience fun and engaging. My homestay was fantastic; our host mother was so kind and understanding. A great tip for future students is to relax and not stress—everything will be fine! The biggest benefit I gained was a wonderful feeling of worldliness. I wholeheartedly encourage any future students to apply to Arcos.

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Recognitions & Awards

Awards and accreditations earned by this provider

Top Rated Program Language Schools in Mexico 2026
Top Rated Program High School Abroad in Mexico 2025
GoAbroad Top Rated Provider 2025 - High School Abroad
GoAbroad Top Rated Provider 2024 - High School Abroad
Top Rated Provider 2023 - High School Abroad
Top Rated High School Abroad Organization 2022
Top Rated Organization 2021 - High School Abroad

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