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Spanish Immersion in Oaxaca, Mexico

by: Arcos Journeys Abroad

4.8 (112)Verified

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.

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.

Quick Details

Locations:
  • Oaxaca, Mexico
Starts At: $900-1250
Availability
Year(s) Offered: Year RoundTerms Available:
  • Summer
Age Requirement: 14-17
Types & Subjects
Subjects & Courses:
  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Art History
  • Culture
  • Film
  • History
  • Languages & Linguistics
  • Latin American Studies
  • Literature
  • Spanish
  • Visual Arts
Focus Areas:
  • Homestays
  • Language Immersion
  • Student Exchange
Languages:
  • Spanish
Guidelines
Nationalities:
  • American
  • Canadian
See all program details
Last Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Awards

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

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

4.8

Total Reviews

112

AMAZING ART VIBE

April 23, 2026by: Annemarie Orth - United States
4

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.

QUE CHIIIIIIIIIDO

Trust the process and enjoy!

December 29, 2025by: Jhona Bursack
5

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!

Taught my son valuable skills

December 27, 2025by: Marcos Sierra
5

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.

Highly recommended!

December 08, 2025by: Liana Plumpton
5

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!

Robust program

November 13, 2025by: Heidi Hill
5

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!

Well done!

October 27, 2025by: Josh Bursack
5

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.

Earned college credit

October 18, 2025by: Tiffany Gray
5

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!

Excellent program support

October 08, 2025by: Naomi Anafi
5

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!

Great immersion opportunity

October 02, 2025by: Suzanne Walter
5

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.

Try to speak Spanish the entire time

June 28, 2025by: Lydia Fleisher
4

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.

Improved my Spanish

June 28, 2025by: Amelia Driver
5

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!

Great time in Oaxaca!

June 23, 2025by: Russell Hardin - United States
5

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.

Amazing team

June 18, 2025by: Alberto Méndez - United States
5

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.

Chance to thrive in a whole new country

June 14, 2025by: Jennifer Chavez Ventura
4

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.

Highly recommend

June 14, 2025by: Ahlannie Gray
4

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.

Gained a new perspective

June 14, 2025by: Rhea Myers
5

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.

Benefits were invaluable

June 14, 2025by: Addison Bursack
5

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.

Made incredible memories

June 14, 2025by: Xavier Rodriguez
5

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.

Step out of your comfort zone

June 14, 2025by: Selah Robinson
5

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!

Relax and don't stress

May 17, 2025by: Sawyer Karamesic-kelley
4

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.

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Oaxaca, Mexico

Types and Subjects

  • Subjects & Courses
  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Art History
  • Culture
  • Film
  • History
  • Languages & Linguistics
  • Latin American Studies
  • Literature
  • Spanish
  • Visual Arts
  • Focus Areas
  • Homestays
  • Language Immersion
  • Student Exchange
  • Languages
  • Spanish

Availability

Years Offered: Year Round

Terms Available:
  • Summer
Duration:
  • 2-4 Weeks

Age Requirement

14-17

Guidelines

Nationalities:
  • American
  • Canadian

This Program is also open to Solo, Group

Starts At

$900-1250

Program Cost Includes

  • 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

Refund Policy

Other

Accommodation Options

  • Home-stays
  • Other

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • Spanish

    Accepted Education Levels

  • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Application Procedures

  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Letters of Reference
  • Online Application
Arcos Journeys Abroad

Arcos Journeys Abroad

4.8Verified

Ready to Learn More?

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....

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