Arcos Journeys Abroad

I had a very excellent time on my Arcos Journeys Abroad program, in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and on the Camino de Santiago. The host families were incredible, as were all the chaperones and teachers. The activities were always very fun, and there was a nice balance of structured time and free time. The Camino was also amazing, and I was unexpectedly delighted by that aspect of the trip. Thank you!!

The Arcos Journey abroad was very fun, the cultural immersion aspect of it made my experience in Buenos Aires so fun. I especially enjoyed that we went on several excursions not just in Buenos Aires and within Argentina, but also the trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, was also a very enjoyable experience so I want to thank Arcos for this experience.

The Arcos Journey abroad was very fun, the cultural immersion aspect of it made my experience in Buenos Aires so fun. I especially enjoyed that we went on several excursions not just in Buenos Aires and within Argentina, but also the trip to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, was also a very enjoyable experience so I want to thank Arcos for this experience.

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.

We were thrilled with the Arcos Costa Rica trip for our son! It was his first trip abroad without us and he had a wonderful experience! The itinerary was full of exciting excursions and cultural activities and he really enjoyed his homestay. We'd highly recommend the program and can't wait for him to go on new adventures with Arcos for his last two years of high school!

I've traveled with school groups to Oaxaca, Mexico and to Granada, Spain. In both cases, the programs delivered what we expected and more. These are unique programs because of their small scale and personal touch. They balance Spanish language instruction (which is notably very good), cultural experiences and home stay time. Any small glitch or need is addressed quickly and effectively. Special attention is paid to details such as celebrating student birthdays. The staff are accommodating, flexible, kind and professional. Our school chose to travel with Arcos again this year -- this time to Costa Rica.

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!

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.

The Arcos team provided excellent support, even though we registered late. The biggest benefits for my child were the safe environment while learning a new language and a new culture. This is a program you can trust! They truly looked after our child.

My daughter gained a better understanding of Costa Rican culture and experienced an overall wonderful adventure. The Arcos staff is very caring, thorough, and personal. I rate their availability and coordination 5 out of 5. I would recommend this program to future participants.

Arco's pre-program communication was impeccable. There were regular updates at just the right time with plenty of information. I was always informed. Arcos should be a model for every study abroad program. My high schooler's Spanish increased. We appreciated the eye-opening excursions and cultural activities that exposed Aden to Coast Rican life and its people. Definitely a life changing program. Come ready to try delicious food and make new friends.

My high school child went on the program in Granada, Spain with Arcos. The highlights were gaining a greater knowledge of the Spanish language and culture, getting to meet new people, and spending time with the homestay. It's worth participating. They will have fun!

The greatest benefits of the program were the cultural exchange with Costa Rican people (especially the homestay family, kids at the school and residents of Atenas), sense of independence and confidence, resilience from navigating challenging situations, improved Spanish, exploration of a new place, food, and lots of fun activities.

This was an excellent opportunity, and we are so appreciative that this experience is offered. My daughter had an amazing experience, and the host family was perfectly matched! She learned a tremendous amount, from becoming more fluent in Spanish to navigating travel independently. Most importantly, she gained a deeper understanding of how people live outside the US and how much this world has to offer if you simply "jump in." Have faith in your children and let them go!

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!

Arcos provides extensive communication and support with the service details. It was a great experience! My son loved the journey! The program was very accommodating. He enjoyed joining the gym in Atenas and especially loved painting the school and interacting with the students for his community service project.

The Arcos director Helder was wonderful! We met him at the airport. The kids pushed themselves on the Camino de Santiago hike and felt a great sense of accomplishment and camaraderie when it was complete. It was their first time in Europe so that added a lot of learning. They felt a sense of community with the other walkers, and bonded with the small group. Trust your kids, let them have an experience.

The greatest benefits of my daughter's program in Peru were learning about another culture and gaining independence traveling abroad. Pay attention to documents sent to you from Arcos prior to the program as you will find them helpful for preparing. Amazing trip!

Arcos staff were promptly responsive to the few questions I had. My son adored his host family, praising their kindness and generosity. He loved the excellent food and appreciated his host mother doing all his laundry and changing his sheets daily. He felt so well-cared for he didn't want to leave! He enjoyed the city, visiting the market and playing basketball with local kids. It was a wonderful and memorable week, thanks to Arcos and the host family.

My son loved gaining independence, the opportunity to interact with others and the combination of walking, sightseeing, and education. Because of this great experience I am looking into finding similar programs in other European countries for my son next summer.