Arcos Journeys Abroad

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.

The Arcos program in Costa Rica was a fantastic experience for my daughter. The greatest benefit was the independence she gained. I also appreciated the direct contact with the program director, Catalina, who was great about keeping me up to date with my daughter's activities.

My son did the Spanish Immersion program in Atenas, Costa Rica with his classmates. The greatest benefits were language and cultural immersion mixed with fun exploring. My advice for future participants is to pack light and reapply sunblock often. It was a wonderful experience--thank you Arcos!

Our son's experience with Arcos Journeys Abroad in Costa Rica was invaluable. He gained independence and knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. We are especially grateful for Arcos's assistance in getting him on his return flight, which required extra help after we overlooked paying the unaccompanied minor fee. Thank you, Arcos!

My daughter participated in the Spanish Immersion program in Atenas, Costa Rica. I highly recommend Arcos Journeys Abroad and give them 5 stars for their excellent coordination, staff, and availability. The greatest benefit for my child was the knowledge gained and achieving such fluency in the language. I would certainly recommend this program to future participants.

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!

The Arcos Journeys Abroad program offered my daughter an amazing and safe opportunity to immerse herself in the culture of Granada, Spain. As a parent, I felt completely secure with her traveling abroad. I highly recommend this experience for your high schooler!

The Arcos communication and updates were excellent. The greatest benefits for my son were the cultural immersion and increased confidence in speaking Spanish. The pre-departure documents were excellent. I suggest setting up an international phone plan ahead of time.

This program is ideal for independent students. Our daughter enjoyed her host family and neighborhood in Buenos Aires. The director, Beatriz, was great. The greatest benefit my daughter gained was improving her Spanish skills through the classes, program activities and the homestay.

The communication with Arcos Journeys Abroad was fantastic. My son appreciated the Costa Rican culture and autonomy he was afforded in the small town of Atenas. I encourage you to give your child the experience living with a host family - it’s such an amazing experience.

The highlights were probably the sense of independence and adventure. The Spanish language learning component was very positive. The trip leaders were excellent communicators and everything was highly organized. My recommendation is to do it! This is a good option for Spanish immersion in Spain.

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.

Arcos offers great programs for independent and culturally adventurous teens. We love these trips because they give your child more independence. I also like that it's a true cultural experience and not overly "high end", the teens are not coddled or given tons of special treatment. The activities were appropriate and fun and the Spanish lessons were top notch

Arcos did a great job with explaining everything as well as providing a packing list and confirmation of safe arrival in Spain. It’s a great program for teens to have a true immersion experience. Through this program, my son acquired a desire to travel abroad more, an appreciation for different cultures and customs, and enjoyed the opportunity of living in a new city.

The program offered immense benefits for my child, primarily through the valuable immersion experience with local people, particularly the homestay with native Costa Ricans, and the various activities they participated in. I give the coordination, staff, and staff availability my highest rating.

This Arcos trip was a wonderful experience! Highlights included the intentional free downtime, allowing my daughter to explore a safe, relaxed town and immerse herself in the local culture where English was not prevalent. She loved surfing and her host family was amazing. We would absolutely consider another Arcos journey!

This was an incredible experience for my daughter. She was able to see a different way of living through her time with Arcos in Atenas, Costa Rica.The pre-departure materials including the acceptance package, guidelines, and packing list were excellent. The experience is worth it!

My son loved his experience and his host mom, Ana! We feel really fortunate that he was able to have this experience with Arcos. We have many positive things to say about the program: Spanish immersion, life experience, confidence, and the relationship with the host mom. Take advantage of this opportunity if you can! We felt really confident about my son's safety and the organization of the trip.

Our son came back and could not stop sharing his amazing time and experience with Arcos! The greatest benefits were the homestay with a Costa Rican family and being in a non-tourist environment in the town of Atenas. Excellent coordination, staff, and availability.

Everything went extremely smoothly on my son's program in Peru with his teacher and classmates from York Prep. The greatest benefits were exposure to a new culture, camaraderie with classmates, teachers and host family. The pre-departure documents provided were excellent as well. Thank you Arcos!

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!

My daughter did the Camino de Santiago hiking program with Arcos and gained so much confidence in meeting and talking with other pilgrims along the way. My advice is to make sure your child trains for the walking prior to the program. Another added benefit was the increased confidence in her Spanish speaking skills.

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!

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.

My 16 year old had the best time! He not only improved his Spanish but got lots of community service hours completed doing a variety of things in the local community. There was also lots of fun activities… highly recommend!

My 15 year old son had never traveled abroad before and he had an incredible experience! He made new friends and loved his host mom. I highly recommend Arcos for anyone considering an immersion program.

I highly recommend doing the Granada, Spain and Camino de Santiago with Arcos. A key tip is to pack light, which I struggled with after a month in Granada. The scenery was beautiful and it was fun meeting other pilgrims along the way. I enjoyed the independence and the chance to try many new things.

Our directors were friendly and fun, ensuring we had a great time. A slight challenge was restarting after long breaks during extended walking periods. However, the independence and opportunity to interact with international students were significant benefits.

The homestay experience was good overall, though I am a picky eater. Challenges included adjusting to local food and cold showers. However, the program provided new experiences, great friends, and opportunities to see nature. I highly recommend this program to future students.

I did the program in Granada, Spain with Arcos and would refer other students to it. A helpful tip is to know basic Spanish before starting. I enjoyed the challenge of practicing my Spanish and trying to communicate with people. It was fun and a worthwhile experience.

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 benefit of learning more Spanish was fantastic. The classes were three hours with a mid-morning snack break which was great for a reset. My homestay was perfect. A helpful tip for future students: learn your address by heart, as taxis are an easy and useful way to travel and you may need to direct the driver.

I absolutely recommend the Arcos summer program in Spain program to future students—it combines Spanish classes at your level with homestay, excursions, lots of activities, professional program directors and just enough free time to exlore the city of Granada!

This is a really great summer program for high school students. Arcos takes care of everything. A helpful tip is to bring activities like cards to play with other students during siesta and downtime. The only challenge was the heat, which is normal in Spain in the summer.

Language acquisition and independence in town were great benefits. While more learning levels for classes would be constructive, the outcomes were good. My homestay with Nuria was wonderful! Social interactions may vary since it's a smaller sized program.

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.

On the Argentina program I explored a new city (Buenos Aires) and learned a lot of Spanish from my host family. While homesickness was a little bit of a challenge, the benefits were immense and it was definitely a great experience. Explore the city by walking to a store or cafe and checking out everything along the way.

As a student on the Argentina Spanish Language & Culture program with Arcos, I got to experience so much of Buenos Aires. I drank mate, did city tours, and improved my Spanish both in class and in real life. I absolutely recommend this program to future students; it is definitely worth it!

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!

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.

My Spanish skills improved immensely, and I gained a much better understanding of South America. Make sure to utilize the public transportation. A main challenge for me was estimating travel times between locations. I made so many memries, from savoring delicious local dishes like pollo a la milanesa to exploring the beautiful Estancia La Cina Cina which was my favorite Arcos excursion. I especially loved the pottery activity where I made my own mate cup. Some of my most cherished memories came from simple moments, like sharing dinner with my host mom’s extended family. They made me truly feel welcomed.

The Arcos directors were incredibly nice and helpful, and taught me so much about Argentina. The teachers were great, and I learned a lot in classes. My homestay was wonderful. Exploring the city and learning the language and culture were major benefits. Be sure to have fun and explore during your free time!

This is a great program for all-around immersion in Argentine culture and Spanish language learning. I took Spanish classes, lived with a local host family, did all of the guided excursions, and made new friends. The program offers so much, I suggest you don't miss out on it.

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.

This was a wonderful first experience with a program abroad! The directors were very kind, and the classes were engaging and informative. I learned a lot about verbs and past tense. I also loved our host family—they were so kind and took great care of us. Future students should consider the volunteer option. I enjoyed the challenge of speaking to locals and getting around town.

The program activities were fun and I enjoyed the childcare aspect of the community service. The homestay part of the program was excellent. I benefited a lot from practicing Spanish, seeing beautiful places, and meeting new people. A tip is to always be nice to people. I would absolutely recommend this program!

I genuinely suggest doing the Community Service & EcoAdventure program in Costa Rica. I particularly enjoyed the classes and working with the kids at the school, in addition to the cultural activities, tours, beach, homestay with my Costa Rican family and great directors.

The classes focus effectively on conversation, which significantly boosted my Spanish skills in a real-world setting like Costa Rica. My homestay was enjoyable. This is a worthwhile program that offers incredible learning and strong connections. Be open to the environment and activities, and speak Spanish with your host family as much as possible!

The program directors were understanding, welcoming, and shared great cultural insights. My homestay experience was fantastic; the host mom was kind and the food was incredible. The community service was impactful and I enjoyed the cultural activities. I learned so much about Costa Rican culture and practiced my Spanish!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

I was able to significantly improve my Spanish and truly immerse myself in the culture. Future students should be prepared to be independent. The only challenge was navigating some interpersonal dynamics with other participants, but overall, I highly recommend this experience.

I definitely recommend the Arcos program for studying abroad. The benefits include everything I learned about Oaxacan culture and the opportunity to sharpen my Spanish skills. I gained a lot of confidence learning to navigate the city. A helpful tip: remember to bring cash!

The Arcos directors were amazing and provided great information and tours. Spanish classes were excellent. The homestay family was wonderful and I appreciated the diverse Mexican cuisine. Be open to the experience, embrace the language, culture, and friends, and you will reap many benefits.

The Arcos directors were friendly, knowledgeable, and very helpful, showing enthusiasm for all cultural activities. The homestay was my favorite part. I confidently recommend this program; it is an enriching and life-changing opportunity for students who want to study abroad.

The Arcos director support was excellent ("Muy Bien" and "Muchas Gracias por todo"). I really enjoyed Victor's classes. The homestay experience was wonderful. Come ready to learn Spanish; while speaking was a challenge, the benefits of learning more Spanish were substantial.

I genuinely suggest considering the Arcos program in Oaxaca, Mexico. It has a lot to offer and includes homestay with delicious meals, activities, Spanish classes at the University of Oaxaca, trips to places around the city and to the archeological site, and great directors.

The academic portion of the program was excellent and highly beneficial. I really enjoyed the Spanish teachers I had. My homestay experience was wonderful; they were incredibly kind and went above and beyond. I strongly recommend this program for its enriching experiences.

The main challenge was keeping up conversations in Spanish, but asking questions—even when unsure—was key. The biggest benefit was practicing and improving my Spanish skills. I highly recommend this program for students seeking academic and personal growth.

The service and support by the Arcos directors in Oaxaca is highly recommended! A suggestion for future travelers: avoid carrying all cash at once, exchange money early, pack a first aid kit from the pharmacy, and be cautious with tap water and street food.

I highly recommend the Arcos Spanish program in Granada, Spain—it includes a lot! A helpful tip for future participants is to speak as much Spanish as possible, regardless of your skill level, and feel comfortable asking for help from your peers in the homestay if you need it.

The classes were the most efficient way to learn Spanish. My advice is to speak as much as possible to improve fluency. The directors were also very good at taking photos. The main challenge was auditory comprehension, as the instructors speak fast and with an accent. Overall, I benefited greatly by learning about Spanish culture and language.

My language skills improved, making the entire trip fantastic. The Arcos directors have amazing photo-taking skills. Adjusting to the homestay was a challenge initially, but it became a highlight of the trip, offering a valuable learning experience. Use your free time to explore the city!

My advice to future participants in the Spanish program in Spain is: don't be nervous about the homestays; the hosts are very nice, patient, and welcoming, even if you don't speak much Spanish. This experience led to increased comprehension. Rise to the challenge.

The Arcos directors in Spain were excellent and attentive, ensuring everyone was well supported. I highly recommend this program; it's a valuable experience. Be sure to maximize your free time by exploring and learning about the culture and history of Andalusia.

Arcos provided a wonderful study abroad experience! The directors were great. The overall benefits, like seeing Machu Picchu and meeting my host mom, were highlights. I wholeheartedly recommend Arcos. Be genuinely interested in the country's history and be adventurous!

I highly recommend this program for the opportunity to experience new cultures. A constructive tip is to spend more time exploring the city of Lima. Just be mindful of your food choices. This program truly has a lot to offer to see sights like Machu Picchu.

This program is a great opportunity! A key benefit was staying in a foreign country and having to speak a different language. While getting sick was a challenge, I would advise future students to be mindful of what they eat and drink. I wholeheartedly recommend this program.

I highly recommend going to Peru with Arcos! My homestay experience was wonderful, and I absolutely loved my host mom. The activities were divese and engaging and gave a lot of insight into Peruvian culture. Overall, it was a truly beneficial experience.

The Arcos Director Amancio was excellent, providing fun and educational activities. Our homestay mother, Ana, was very fun and sociable. Be prepared to only speak Spanish with your homestay parents! A minor challenge was finding meat-free food. Overall, a fantastic experience!

I highly recommend the Arcos high school program in Granada, Spain for Spanish language and culture immersion! The biggest great benefit was learning more Spanish. The main challenge noted was communication, but overall, it's a valuable experience for future students.

Our Spanish classes were fun, and our teacher's knowledgeable approach significantly improved my Spanish fluency. Staying with our kind and welcoming hostess, Ana, was a highlight; her excellent cooking and conversational setting helped us acclimate to Granada life and improve our Spanish. The experience offered a new perspective and greater language confidence. The food was amazing!

Our Arcos director, Amancio, was exceptional—always available, friendly, and energetic, focusing on building strong connections with students and staff. Splitting students by language level was a great decision, leading to positive classroom experiences. Homestay feedback was also very positive, with students feeling cared for and enjoying the welcoming hosts and amazing food.

The Arcos director was an outstanding leader—super nice, organized, and intelligent. I enjoyed the Spanish discussions and the class approach to "ser & estar" and perfect vs. imperfect tenses. I saw significant improvement in my Spanish and gained a greater understanding of Spanish history and culture. Make the most of your free time in the country.

I highly recommend this study abroad program with Arcos in Costa Rica. The classes offer a good range of activities to improve Spanish. A great benefit is the chance to learn Spanish alongside other students. Remember to pack light as you will want space for souvenirs!

I recommend the Arcos Journeys Abroad program to other high school students for its enriching experiences and cultural immersion in Costa Rica. I learned so much in the classes and the immersive experience of having to speak Spanish was a valuable challenge.

The program staff, including María Laura and the teachers at Atesa, were amazing—knowledgeable, professional, and very caring. The homestay with Carlos and Genia was a 5-star experience, enriching our time in Costa Rica. The teachers maintained high teaching standards. The main challenge for students was staying off tech to engage more with their surroundings.

The classes and directors were excellent and fun. It was impressive to see the everyone become more comfortable practicing Spanish by the end of the trip. The homestay was very nice, helpful, and felt safe, with great food. I highly recommend this program for academic and personal growth.

Arcos is my top recommendation for studying abroad! The classes were very fun, and the homestay hosts were so kind. I definitely recommend trying to practice your Spanish as much as possible. While speaking Spanish was challenging, being around native speakers was a great benefit.

The Arcos directors were very great, and the classes were fun and not overly academic. The biggest challenge was the lack of free time, but the benefits, like Spanish language practice and learning about a new place, made it worthwhile. Future students should definitely apply.

My advice to future participants is to pack light. The biggest challenge I faced was being away from family, but the benefits, like learning a lot of new Spanish, make this an excellent experience. I highly recommend this program to future students—it will change your life!

The Trejo family homestay was exceptional—kind and engaging. My advice to future participants is to speak Spanish whenever possible; the family is incredibly helpful. The main challenge was not wanting to leave. A key benefit was conversational Spanish communication.

I highly recommend this program, especially the homestay experience with my Spaish mom and dad Genia and Carlos! The quality of the teachers is impressive; Mercedes was phenomenal. My only regret is the limited time—I suggest at least five days of classes.

Always be open and respectful to the local people. I highly recommend bringing an underwater camera for the beach and pool day to capture fun water shots of your friends. The main challenge was trying to understand some of the locals. A few spoke fast, making it hard to keep up, but for the most part, communication was easy. The best part was experiencing a new country and trying all the amazing food!

Lorena, our homestay host, was incredibly sweet and made our experience memorable with her amazing food and wonderful sense of humor. This program offers so much, and I genuinely recommend it. A vital tip: reapply sunscreen after swimming! While communication and catcalls were minor challenges, the benefits of learning and making friends far outweighed them.

I highly recommend this study abroad program! The homestay hosts were incredibly friendly, understanding, and flexible with our changing plans. While there was an initial language barrier, everyone was patient, which helped me significantly improve my Spanish listening and comprehension skills. Don't forget to wear and reapply plenty of sunscreen!

While the Spanish classes offered a challenge, they were a great learning experience. The initial communication challenge quickly improved. The benefits were immense: a better understanding of a new culture, closer bonds with classmates, great memories, and improved Spanish speaking skills. Enjoy the trip while it lasts!

Meeting new people and conversing in Spanish significantly helped my understanding. A constructive tip for future students: don't hesitate to go outside and meet people—maybe play some basketball! I found the rapid speaking pace a challenge initially, but the overall benefits were immense.

I did the Costa Rica Spanish Language and Costa Rican culture program in Atenas, which is a small town. We did cultural activities such as dance class and cooking class, and got to live with a local host family, who served us breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.

I highly recommend this program to prospective high school students looking for a summer program abroad. Costa Rica has a lot to offer and Arcos is a great organization to do it with. Friendly directors, kind host family, and fun activities to make new friends.

The Costa Rica program was excellent across the board. Spanish classes, directors and the homestay with my Costa Rican host family were all great. The challenging aspect was communication in Spanish, but the weather was a significant benefit. Enjoy the trip!

This program is located in a town called Atenas in Costa Rica. I got to experience cultural trips, living with a local family, having great directors, going to the beach, doing the zipline tour, and taking Spanish classes in the open air classrooms.

I learned SO much. The Spanish classes were great, very flexible, I had a really good experience with my teacher. I even skipped a level of Spanish at my high school. There was so much opportunity for practicing Spanish in day to day situations, and I really got to experience an entirely different culture and lifestyle from my own. Oaxaca is a beautiful city with so much to explore, and everyone I met was incredibly kind. Made some amazing friends there as well, I 100% recommend!

I'm a much more confident Spanish speaker than ever before. Excellent homestay!! My host mom and dad went out of their way to integrate us into the family and I am exceptionally grateful!! I encourage future students to apply to Arcos if you want to be immersed.

Everyone was so nice. I got to do things I love with people I love, including living with a local family in Atenas and doing cultural activities and excursions as well as taking Spanish class in an open-air setting. Without a doubt, this program is one I would highly recommend.

Be open to new experiences! I learned more Spanish than ever and made new friends and acquaintances. In Spanish classes, I enjoyed the interactive projects that required me to speak Spanish in real scenarios. The Arcos staff was super helpful and always available when I needed assistance and information.

My directors were very helpful. Remember that it is ok to make mistakes in Spanish when interacting with your host family. My Spanish speaking abilities have improved by a lot! If you are on the fence, I really recommend you go for it! You will not regret it!

The Arcos staff was always willing to help and really nice to be around! At my homestay the whole family was super accommodating, and so enthusiastic about ensuring we were comfortable and had fun when it came to spending time with the family. I didn’t expect to go dancing twice this trip, but it was a fun surprise!! I would absolutely recommend this program to future students – it's worth it!

Granada is a great city for your teen to get to know with so many historical elements to gain fluency with Spanish.The practice of having students in pairs or trios with homestays works really well! If you can come and meet your teen at the end of their trip, they are proud and will love to show you around.

If your child is even slightly interested in an experience like this, encourage them to do it. My 17 year old twin daughters were extremely apprehensive about going once we had made the arrangements. They were worried about being homesick, living in a stranger's home, and generally about being overseas by themselves. On the day that they arrived in Granada, one of my daughters was feeling very sad and homesick and told the host mother with whom they were staying that she missed her mom. The host mother gave her a hug and said "I'm your Spanish mom." One week later, the same daughter who had been so homesick said to me "Mom, I don't know HOW I am going to leave my host mom...I just LOVE her!!!" and "Mom, I've made so many friends here, it will be so sad to say goodbye."

This is the best program out there for young travelers! I have already recommended it to our friends, neighbors, and other parents. We were veru with our Arcos experience, all around. This is a fantastic program for young students who want to begin exploring the world.

If you are on the fence about signing your child up, please do not hesitate! It is such an incredible experience and such a huge growth opportunity for your child! Do not let your own fear/anxiety get in the way of a life-changing trip for your child.

Costa Rica is magical and the kids learn a ton about navigating life skills in a safe environment. I'm so thrilled with Arcos and we hope to do another program with them in the future. I highly recommend the homestay. She loved her family. From start to finish, the program is top notch. Thank you Arcos!

Granada is a great city for your teen to get to know with so many historical elements to gain fluency with Spanish.The practice of having students in pairs or trios with homestays works really well! If you can come and meet your teen at the end of their trip, they are proud and will love to show you around.

If your child is even slightly interested in an experience like this, encourage them to do it. My 17 year old twin daughters were extremely apprehensive about going once we had made the arrangements. They were worried about being homesick, living in a stranger's home, and generally about being overseas by themselves. On the day that they arrived in Granada, one of my daughters was feeling very sad and homesick and told the host mother with whom they were staying that she missed her mom. The host mother gave her a hug and said "I'm your Spanish mom." One week later, the same daughter who had been so homesick said to me "Mom, I don't know HOW I am going to leave my host mom...I just LOVE her!!!" and "Mom, I've made so many friends here, it will be so sad to say goodbye."

This is the best program out there for young travelers! I have already recommended it to our friends, neighbors, and other parents. We were veru with our Arcos experience, all around. This is a fantastic program for young students who want to begin exploring the world.

If you are on the fence about signing your child up, please do not hesitate! It is such an incredible experience and such a huge growth opportunity for your child! Do not let your own fear/anxiety get in the way of a life-changing trip for your child.

Costa Rica is magical and the kids learn a ton about navigating life skills in a safe environment. I'm so thrilled with Arcos and we hope to do another program with them in the future. I highly recommend the homestay. She loved her family. From start to finish, the program is top notch. Thank you Arcos!

The Arcos directors are so nice and easy to talk to! I loved the fact that they always gave us little insights about things in Oaxaca from their knowledge and experiences and even shared a lot of interesting facts in the musuem tour. It shows how much they really want us to learn. I enjoyed the Mexican Short Stories elective class in Spanish at the university, as I felt I really learned from the class.

My director was fun to be around, and nice. I liked every single meal I ate. The Spanish teachers were amazing, especially the Advanced 2 teachers. Great people, always kind and patient. I was good at Spanish, now I am much better. I encourage future students to apply to Arcos if you really want to learn Spanish.

The experience was enjoyable and my director was clear with the rules. The safety of the students was always top priority without undercutting the fun and freedom of the trip. He was nice to talk to and had so many nice stories from his past experiences.

I made great friends and improved my accent in Spanish. My program director was very enthusiastic and knew lots of history around the city. They led the cultural activities and excursions, which were a lot of fun. I would absolutely recommend this program to future students - you won't regret it!

Get ready to learn a ton of Spanish and have fun with new friends and homestay family! Granada is an amazing city to visit. My advice is to be sure to bring comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking from place to place for your activities and exploring.

I benefitted from learning more about myself by trying something different and living in another culture. I lived with a Spanish host family, ate the local food, and got to know a lot of cultural and historic places in Granada. I would recommend this program to future students.

Everyone was super friendly! It was a really good curriculum and I learned a lot of Spanish. My host mom was really nice and I loved her dog. The greatest benefit of the program was earning a lot of Spanish. I genuinely recommend Arcos! They helped me have a great time!

My Spanish improved tremendously! I would absolutely recommend it. My Arcos program director was like my mom for the trip and she was incredible and keeping everyone safe and happy all the time. My advice is to explore as much as you can and make the most of every moment!

The classes were small and my teacher was amazing. My host mom was great. I loved my director! I enjoyed getting to know new poeple and getting out of my comfort zone in the city of Buenos Aires. I would absolutely recommend this program if you want to study abroad in Argentina.

I made many new friends and experienced the Oaxcan culture which I absolutely loved. I am confident in recommending this program to students who want to learn Spanish abroad. Go in with an open mind and put in work to improve your Spanish! It's beneficial and feels great once you realize you know more than at the beginning of the trip.

My Arcos director was very easy to talk to and very patient. I loved my host family! They were so welcomoing and kind. I appreciated experiencing a different pace of life and learning Spanish, while getting to know the food and culture of Oaxaca. Recommend!

My on-site director was not only extremely transparent, but also explained things in a manner which was easy to understand. She exerted herself in a fun and engaging way. My advice is to stretch yourself and explore the city. I was able to reconnect with my own culture, boost my Spanish speaking level, and meet new people who I never would have gotten to meet.

I made loads of new friends and memories in Oaxaca. Through the immersion, classes and host family I saw a great improvement in my Spanish compared to before. I would absolutely recommend Arcos if you want to learn Spanish and be a part of the culture, too.

I got along with my program director very well and certainly hope to cross paths with him again sometime soon. All of my Spanish teachers were great and I genuinely feel like I learned a lot from the classes. It was a great experience that I recommend to other students.

Both of my program directors were great leading all of our activities and helping us get accustomed to the culture and climate in Granada! I really enjoyed meeting other people on the program - other students, my host family, and people in town! Highly recommend you do this!

I loved getting to experience the Tico (Costa Rican) culture firsthand and getting to eat all sorts of local foods. It was a wonderful experience to go around the town of Atenas and do community service, as well as benefiting the community. The directors were great;

I practiced Spanish a lot and I made so many friends. My homestay was awesome. I rose to the challenge of getting accustomed to being in a new place. My program director was great and she even threw a surprise birthday party for my roommate which was really sweet!

I liked that there was a good variety of different community service activities throughout the week. I had a very good director! Be prepared for no air conditioning. This program was a great way to try new things, experience new cultures, explore Costa Rica and meet new friends!

My biggest challenges were trying new things such as surfing and zip lining. The greatest benefit was overcoming fears of trying new activities, getting to know a new culture, and living with a local Costa Rican family. I'm really glad I decided to stretch outside of my comfort zone!

My two Arcos directors were both super sweet and helped us with any concerns or issues we had! Everything was super organized. The food and the amount of fruit was so good. I loved getting to openly explore everything with my new friends. Definitely recommend this for a summer abroad!

My Arcos Director always responded promptly and with good information about the questions I had. My son's host family was amazing! He felt right at home with the family. They were over the top nice to him. He really enjoyed staying there. The biggest benefits to the program are starting to learn the language and learning another culture. Arcos has my wholehearted recommendation.

My director was really nice. Spanish classes were interesting. My homestay was awesome, and they fed me breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. The best thing was learning more Spanish! I highly recommend Arcos if you are considering a summer program abroad.

The best parts of this program were meeting great friends, conversing in Spanish, and practicing independence! My Arcos director was a wonderful person to be around and made my experience that much better! I would advise you to take every opportunity, especially those involving Spanish speaking. I 100% recommend it!

I was glad I paid extra to have cell phone service for my child while in Costa Rica. She liked being able to use the maps when exploring town and being able to be in contact with everyone. It made me feel better to see where she was if I hadn't heard from here in a day or so. We found that bringing a collapsible backpack or duffel inside luggage was very useful overnight excursions. Highly recommend this program!

Go for it!! : ) Overall, everything was great! My daughter had a super good time, loved creating her own life within the program in Granada. She met some great kids through the program and enjoyed the fact that sometimes she was with just the kids in the immersion program and at other times she overlapped with kids who were registered for other Arcos programs (art, outdoor adventure, etc).

Arcos helps us connect with another New England family prior to departure and we were able to coordinate travel to Granada together. That was extremely helpful for our son who had never traveled on his own nor outside of the US. The on-site directors worked hard to make his time enjoyable. We are grateful for their support.

Go for it!! : ) Overall, everything was great! My daughter had a super good time, loved creating her own life within the program in Granada. She met some great kids through the program and enjoyed the fact that sometimes she was with just the kids in the immersion program and at other times she overlapped with kids who were registered for other Arcos programs (art, outdoor adventure, etc).

Arcos helps us connect with another New England family prior to departure and we were able to coordinate travel to Granada together. That was extremely helpful for our son who had never traveled on his own nor outside of the US. The on-site directors worked hard to make his time enjoyable. We are grateful for their support.

Arcos Journey abroad program was unforgettable experience for me .I had fun leaning to dance flamenco and the multiple activities that gave me the opportunity to practice to speak Spanish language.I enjoyed the Granada history & culture during the tours to historic places. Encarnacion, the home stay lady was nice and very good cook.The accommodation was great.I had my own room with a view to the Alhambra from the distance. My Teachers Marcell and Rocio were amazing sharing with the group their experiences & knowledge .Specially director Marcell Doerrier was very supportive . My mother is very great full to him for his generosity, concern and for his exceptional effort helping me. Thank you for the incredible memories I had during my trip with Arco Journey program Enrique Valdez

My time in Oaxaca was great! I went into the trip knowing no one and I now have a ton of new friends coming home!! The cultural experience was something I will never forget and I will always be grateful for my homestay! I loved learning abroad!

Go for the 4 week program! My child had a great experience overall. He felt safe and well fed in the home stay. He chose 3 weeks over 2 because he wanted more language exposure. His confidence and ease with speaking certainly improved which is invaluable.

My daughter gained so much from the Spanish teacher who adjusted the curriculum to match the strengths and needs of the students. The program incorporated natural language use and lots of opportunities to converse on topics of interest to the participants.

My daughter gained so much from the Spanish teacher who adjusted the curriculum to match the strengths and needs of the students. The program incorporated natural language use and lots of opportunities to converse on topics of interest to the participants.

Go in with an open mind! The overnight excursion to summit El Mulhacén has 10+ mile hikes with a backpack on back-to-back days so it is important to prepare for that. It is a good idea for participants to increase hiking/walking before the trip to be more comfortable. I recommend the program.

This was the first time we had sent our 15-year-old out of the country by herself, and it was a wonderful experience. The team in Austin was helpful and easy to get in touch with. They walked us through the whole process and provided plenty of support. She enjoyed meeting students from different places, still keeps in touch with her homestay family, and found her new favorite foods in Oaxaca! Thank you Arcos!

My program director was super sweet and helpful! She made sure the activities very fun, interactive, and memorable. The Spanish teachers were really good and made class fun. I suggest that if you are curious and want to get to know the world, definitely sign up!

This is my second program with Arcos, two summers in a row, which speaks to what a great program it is for high school students. I definitely recommend it. I have done both the Granada, Spain and the Oaxaca, Mexico summer programs and loved them both. Worth it!

Loved everything!! It was all truly amazing and I will never forget my experience! I love my host mom! I'm grateful for food, nature, sights to see and people to meet, building relationships and making memories! The best thing was learning about a different culture by fully living in it.

I learned a lot of Spanish with my Argentine homestay. My Arcos program director was very nice and helpful. My host mom was very nice and funny. The biggest take-away was learning how to speak Spanish more fluently. This is something you will remember for the rest of your life.

With Arcos you learn so much about other cultures and gain knowledge about the world. The language school was very cool and the staff were all very kind and helpful. My host mom was very nice. My program director was supper kind and helpful. I loved my homestay!

Arcos staff was overall very responsible and fun. I loved my host mom! I got to have the most helpful Spanish class I’ve ever taken in my life. My advice is to make an effort! Speak Spanish as much as you can to get the most out of the program. It will work!

Everything about the home stay was great including the conversations, the meals, and the room itself. The best thing and greatest benefit was learning Spanish. Everything was so great that that I would give a 11 out of 10 if I could. Excellent choice for summer in Argentina!

Throughout my entire study abroad program from before departure and after I had a amazing time.The culture in Oaxaca and the food was all amazing and having a host family made it so we were more enriched into there lives which I really liked. Overall I had an amazing time during my study abroad in Oaxaca Mexico.

My 16 year old daughter went on this program. It was excellently run and managed. This was her first solo international travel experience, and we all felt some initial trepidation. However, all the staff and individuals involved in the program were extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and welcoming. This created an excellent experience and learning opportunity for my daughter; who came back with a renewed confidence and increased appreciation of the greater world around her.

To study abroad for my kids was a great experience. They learn a new culture, try new food and practiced a new language. With Arcos Journey my kids have been in Costa Rica, Argentina and Spain. Both kids loved the whole program.

While the experience was overall amazing and I loved the cultural experience of the homestay and learned a lot from the classes, I found that the level of cultural activities was not exactly as I had hoped. The great majority of my time did not have planned activities and due to the fact that I was not allowed to use public transportation, the lack of activities to do was limiting. When we did have planned activities, they were different than I had hoped, much less elaborate and exciting than the program had advertised. Additionally, due to us having a very early curfew of 12 on weekends and 11 on weekdays (when our dinners typically started at 9 or 10 as a part of traditional Spanish culture), we did not have a significant amount of time to explore Granada at night, which was not desirable. Our program director was short with us when we explained that our program materials said our curfew was 12 on weekends, and she claimed that that was not true and that though we agreed to a 12 pm curfew, we had to accept that it was 11 every day, leaving us frustrated. Fortunately, she did eventually clarify the curfew, ensuring that it was 12. As far as the classes, I had not expected to be separated from the rest of the students in my program when at school (we were all placed in different classes), or to have to catch up on the material already learned by the other students in the preceding two weeks. However, the classes were very educational and the professors were great! Our experience with transportation and assistance was excellent when my flight arrived in Madrid and the program ensured that I was safe and made the succeeding flight. When my suitcase was lost in between connecting flights, I received the assistance I needed and the suitcase was returned in a timely manner. The director eased my fears and was patient, which was very appreciated. Throughout the program, our director assisted us in any difficulties or concerns. Going into the program with a lot of anxiety about the homestay, it ended up being the best part!! Our homestay was WONDERFUL, with traditional food, a caring “Spanish mom”, and a safe and welcoming place to relax and sleep. I seriously do not think that I could have had a better host in any way. She was funny, welcoming, understanding, and made it feel like home. By the end of the two weeks my roommates and I adored our host and hope to stay in contact. She treated us like her children and was very caring. There was no point in the program where I was worried for my safety. The teachers and students at the university were very welcoming and helpful, and I specifically enjoyed the Flamenco dance class and the trip to the Nerja beach. The city of Granada was very safe, clean, and abundant in young individuals, making it a great place to study abroad. I had an overall positive experience, with the only recommendation being to have more activities that are not just walking around, and to have the activities take up more time so that the students do not need to mostly plan their own. I think that two weeks was a perfect amount of time and that even if a child is typically anxious about travel, this is a great program and place to study due to the safety, welcoming environment, and top notch assistance.

My 17 year old spent 3 weeks in Oaxaca with Arcos Journeys. Overall, he enjoyed the experience and would do it again, but it was different than advertised. He stayed in a house with an older woman and 7 other American students. This was less of a homestay and more of a nice hostel. The 4 boys ate together and the 4 girls ate together (they did not interact, as they were in 2 different programs), with no other Spanish speakers at the table. The boys spent a lot of time together and became good friends. The morning Spanish class was good, but there was no afternoon class (the session was supposed to have an afternoon class as well as a morning one). The kids repeated several cultural activities once the next group arrived, meaning they did printmaking twice, hot cocoa tasting twice, etc. my son was well cared for and safe. I had thought he would have more of an authentic time with a Mexican family, but he enjoyed spending time with the other Ameticans.

I LOVED OUR HOMESTAY MOM. HER FOOD WAS AMAZING! My Arcos director was very sweet and knew what she was talking about. She was helpful and fun during the whole trip. Planting trees was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the experience! The hardest part was saying goodbye to the wonderful people I met.

My homestay was so amazing, the family was so sweet. Apart from my worries that I didn't speak enough Spanish (which wasn’t really much of a problem) everything went smoothly while I was there. This trip is something I will never forget. I had so much fun completing all of the community service and I felt good doing all of it!

I LOVE MY HOST MOM! SHE'S AMAZING! I highly recommend the homestay because you get to live with a family, absorb the culture, and learn Spanish in a natural setting. The trip overall was really good and I feel like it was a good restart that I needed in my life.

The Arcos directors were both super responsive, supportive and helpful throughout the program! The program was an altogether wonderful experience throughout! I loved my Spanish teacher, the final skit project, and learning in an outdoor space. I'm really glad I signed up for this program!

I really liked our Spanish classes, and that our teachers spoke very slow. Because my teacher didn’t speak much English it really challenged me. I liked when we interacted with people at the market too. I loved my most mom and dad. They were so cute and absolutely hilarious. They always made an effort to talk to us and make conversation which really stretched my Spanish skills. The house was clean and the meals were delicious. I learned that people will appreciate you even if you just try your best to speak the language.

My program director was super friendly and I felt like I could talk to her about anything. She understood everything we were feeling and shared some of her own personal stories which was very insightful! The greatest benefit was getting to learn a different perspective of life. It is super important to be culturally aware, and to understand that people can live different lives than you do and will endure different struggles. You can never truly understand the experience until you have it for yourself.

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.

I learned unbelievably much through this experience. My host mother was lovely as a host and as a person. My skill and confidence in Spanish has improved immensely, and I am definitely on the path to fluency now. I definitely recommend this program! Thank you Arcos!

While there, ask questions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes in Spanish! The greatest benefits were that I gained personal confidence, met new people, and experienced exposure to a beautiful new city. My Arcos director was always very responsive and helpful.

I strongly recommend Arcos if you want to have an immersive study abroad experience. My advice is to put your phone down so you can actually have your experience. I got better at speaking Spanish and I got to meet some really cool people. Be prepared to feel a little out of your zone. Enjoy every second!

I learned a ton in my Spanish class. My host family was amazing. Experience everything you can! Don't be shy to talk to someone about how you feel about things! I was honestly homesick the first few days until I learned to adjust to my surroundings. The experience taught me a lot about Spanish and about myself.

My Arcos director was lovely and kind! I loved having the opportunity to meet her and see Oaxaca from her perspective! My host mom was so sweet and I loved getting to know her. Absolutely wonderful. My advice is this: don't be afraid to make mistakes in Spanish cause it's going to happen anyway and it will be sooooo much easier if you can laugh it off, learn from it, and keep moving.

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!

¡Muy bueno! Be open to meeting you people and having new experiences. The program was fun. Classes were productive. The Spanish teachers were really good. The greatest benefits were meeting new people, forming new connections, and improving at Spanish.

My Arcos director was very kind and helpful. The greatest benefits were learning a lot more Spanish and meeting new friends. This is a great program to go with! The conversational Spanish class was very helpful. I really enjoyed my time with my host parents.

My director was really nice and all of the Spanish teachers were amazing. I lived with a local host family. My advice is to be outgoing, make friends and explore the town. The greatest benefit was meeting new people. I genuinely recommend this program.

Take all opportunities to do everything! It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The rewards were getting better at Spanish and meeting new fun people. My director was really nice and always helpful and available when needed. I would absolutely recommend Arcos!

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!

The Professors at UABJO (University of Oaxaca) were great and the classes were engaging and challenging enough for our students. We were super excited about the homestays. Host parents and kids did a great job. As a chaperone I am very happy with the program.

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!

My Arcos director was kind, organized, and a great trip leader. She was helpful, informative, and knew the area well. She was always willing to help out if there was an issue. I learned a lot of regional and colloquial expressions. I strongly recommend Arcos if you want to have an immersive study abroad experience.

My director was the best director imaginable! She made everything so fun. I felt that Spanish classes were a good balance to the rest of the program activities. The greatest benefit was that I got to practice my Spanish. For those thinking about study abroad, I highly recommend it.

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.

My Arcos program director was a great guide and super nice. She also has a very cute dog! The greatest benefits were learning about Oaxacan and Mexican culture and the immersion in general. Arcos is a great choice if you are interested in studying abroad in Mexico!

My director was so kind and responded to my direct messages quickly I loved my Spanish teacher and I learned so much from total immersion in classs. The greatest benefit was the complete immersion. I vouch for this program and recommend it to prospective students for its enriching experiences.

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.

I had so much fun learning in Spanish class at the University of Oaxaca. The biggest benefit was learning to speak with more confidence. My directors were great and super cool. My recommendation is to go and explore as much as you can. Highly recommended!

My Spanish comprehension skyrocketed! I lived with a local host family with all meals included and had classes at the University of Oaxaca. I encourage future students to apply to Arcos if you want to learn Spanish while being immersed in Mexican culture.

In Spanish classes I actually had fun doing the academic things which is new for me! Remember to use your Spanish and don't feel embarrassed about your level of fluency. My director did great. I enjoyed talking with her and all of her dealings with the students.

My host mom was amazing and so sweet! I feel a new found understanding of the day to day lives and experiences of those who live in Oaxaca. My Arcos director was amazing! Classes went well and were quite informative. I genuinely suggest this program.

My Arcos director was absolutely wonderful and did such a great job with the students. She was extremely knowledgeable. The language school was flexible and accommodating. As a faculty leader, I was pleased with the experience and encourage my students to take the opportunity to study abroad.

The Arcos staff was very kind and considerate to make us happy. I learned a lot about different cultures. It was helpful to learn in a new environment. My host mother is a very kind person and I enjoyed living with the family. My advice is to enjoy everything as much as you can!

My director was super nice! I loved all the excursions we took. I increased my understanding of Argentine culture and I was surprised by my improvements at speaking Spanish. My biggest challenge was the language barrier, but with enough practice you can overcome it.

My director was really nice and knowledgeable about Buenos Aires! I learned so much at the school and my instructor was really kind. I love dmy host mother and hope to visit her again! Don’t be scared to venture into another country - the experience and lessons you learn are worth it.

Our house mother in Buenos Aires was very nice and fed us typical foods. Future students should go on this trip! The biggest challenge for me was learning the language. It was a great experience. I made new friends, learned about a new culture, and explored a country I hadn't been to before.

The Spanish teachers were fun, personable and knowledgeable. Our Costa Rican family members were the most incredible hosts. We felt so lucky. The highlight of the trip was the rich conversations and meals with them in their back patio. The house was clean and our rooms spacious.

You have to really have the right attitude to do this kind of trip...doesn't really matter your level in the Spanish language - it is about attitude not aptitude! The greatest benefit was the homestay! My homestay was THE BEST! Amazing hosts and I'd go back tomorrow if I could. Highly recommended!

The greatest benefits for me were improved speaking and listening in Spanish, trying new foods, and learning about another culture. I really enjoyed the Spanish class and the assignments, particularly the trip to the store and the taxi ride home! Be brave and engage with your host family.

A great experience in another country with an amazing family. Remember to practice having conversations in Spanish ahead of time. It can be hard to remember certain basic words. Without a doubt, this program is one I would strongly recommend to study abroad with.

My homestay was amazing! I improved my Spanish skills and met great people. Go and do everything you can. Talk, explore, immerse yourself in it all. The greatest benefits were the people I met, improving my Spanish skills, and the amazing activities.

My Spanish greatly improved. I got to meet new people, experience a new culture, and taste, smell, see, and feel many beautiful things. In Spanish class I felt appropriately challenged. I could grow and learn a lot while still having fun. My host family was amazing. They truly made an effort to improve our experience any way they could.

I loved all the Spanish teachers! They were very caring, understanding and supportive of those who are trying to learn a different language. I loved my Arcos director! She was an understanding and down to earth person. She was very kind to everyone and made sure everyone knew they could come to her for help. I would absolutely recommend this program to future students.

Really fun trip! Overall enjoyable and well worth itF!un trip! Overall enjoyable and well worth it!Fun trip! Overall enjoyable and well worth it!un trip! Overall enjoyable and well worth it! Fun trip! Overall enjoyable and well worth it!

The Spanish classes were thorough, hands on, and very entertaining! We greatly improved our Spanish over the course of only four days. I built a great relationship with my host family and felt super comfortable right off the bat. We saw amazing views, plants, animals, and places and could not get enough of the amazing food!

I had a great time spending time with friends and expieriencing the culture we watched the super bowl together and that was very fun I enjoyed being part of the culture that I got put into and expirecing the most that i could.

I really enjoyed my time with my family and will miss them very much. I recommend this program without hesitation if you want to fully embrace the culture and language.Immerse yourself in the experience and enjoy your time in Costa Rica. I chose to listen to music in Spanish and interact with Spanish media which really helped.

For those thinking about study abroad, I highly recommend this program for its academic and cultural benefits. The program and my host family were very accommodating of my dietary restrictions and me struggling to communicate with them. I now have a better grasp on Spanish and I also have a new international friend.

Our directors were warm, responsive, and fun. Our first aid instructor was incredible and every moment with him was intentional and valuable. The elderly care visit was a highlight. My host mom was an impeccable host and we loved every interaction and meal. I encourage future students to apply to Arcos!

The classes and medical simulations were fun. Everyone was amazing, including my host family, director, and medical instructors. My advice is to step out of your comfort zone. Everyone was amazing! I'm really glad I did this program and I learned a lot.

I learned a lot from local Ticos (Costa Ricans) and from seeing the country but also bonded with fellow students. I genuinely suggest considering this program - it has a lot to offer. Just let loose and enjoy! I highly recommend this program for study abroad.

My director was very informative and attentive. During our trip one of my classmates got sick and I was impressed how well the director handled the situation. I strongly recommend Arcos if you want to have an immersive and cultural study abroad experience.

The homestay was amazing! Be prepared to do things that you weren’t expecting at the outings or with your host family. My Spanish got better, and I got to experience a really different life than my own. I wholeheartedly recommend Arcos for your study abroad!

My director was always ready to help when I needed something. She has a great personality and made excursions better. I highly recommend this experience for your study abroad program as a student. Bring an open mindset and to come ready to learn and have fun!

Use Arcos for your children if you are able. It was a great experience in which my child gained independence and learned about the culture of a different country. We were super impressed as a family with the communication, information and instructions provided by Arcos and the team. The activities available were also engaging for my child.

While on his Arcos summer program in Granada, Spain our son improved his Spanish, had a meaningful cross-cultural experience, and had a good experience with his host family. I suggest that you have your child go for one month versus two weeks, if possible.

I'm so pleased with how my son's program turned out that I really can't think of anything that needs improvement. In addition to gaining greater Spanish proficiency, I was happy that he felt comfortable enough to begin exploring Buenos Aires with his new friends from Arcos. I will happily make myself available to parents of prospective students. Prior to my son's program, Arcos helped connect me with the parents of two former students and that really helped seal the deal for our family. I'm happy to pay it forward!

This experience really opened my daughter's eyes to different ways of life. She truly got exposure to the history and current culture of Oaxaca. The immersive inclusion in the day to day and historical culture of Oaxaca made the trip such a unique experience. The program had just the right amount of structure and an amazing on-location program director. She went out of her way to really show the group the area and the culture. It is a wonderful program for your teen!

Arcos gives your child just the right amount of challenge and support for a first experience traveling abroad. They set the stage for our son to be excited to do more traveling and learning abroad in the future! Be sure to encourage your child to train for all the walking using the shoes they plan to wear. Encourage them to meet people beyond their group-mates, as there are pilgrims on the Camino from all over the world.

My child grew tremendously from being independent and having the freedom to explore on her own. Your child will return home with a deeper understanding and appreciation for what we have here in the US. On top of that, they learn to appreciate other cultures and expand their worldview.

After completing his program with Arcos, my son came back with greatly improved Spanish skills, independence and confidence, and an expanded appreciation for other cultures and customs. We were very happy with the program. Communication from Arcos was excellent, so much so that I never even felt the need to call anyone to ask questions because it was all well-covered in the emails they sent us. I highly recommend that you read all of the materials and then trust that Arcos has it covered! I appreciated the Google calendar that Arcos shared with us ahead of time, so I always knew what my teen was up to. I also appreciated Arcos sending us a shared Google folder with photos of the activities and excursions since my teen would never think to send me any. All in all it was a great experience! My son had nothing but good things to say about his time in Argentina. We will definitely use Arcos again with our younger child.

The most valuable aspects of the program were developing personal relationships with the homestay family and gaining independence and self-confidence through international travel without parents. This is a very active trip. The less I heard from my child the more I knew she was getting the full benefit of the experience. I heard wonderful feedback about the host family and the chocolate tour, horseback riding and surfing excursion. My daughter will continue to communicate with her Costa Rican family members. Creating these new relationships was her favorite part of the trip. This program was an amazing experience that met our expectations and was an excellent introduction to international travel.

Our child had an absolutely amazing experience and came back ready to sign on for another program with Arcos. The summer program in Argentina was a respite from summer heat in the United States. The staff were incredible and always responded quickly to anything we needed. My recommendation is to make the most of the opportunities!

It was great for my child to have the opportunity to live with a family who spoke only Spanish and getting to experience what it’s like to live in a smaller, rural town. Make sure you have WhatsApp downloaded before your child leaves and consider setting up a specific group chat for the immediate family. I appreciated being able to talk to the owner of Arcos and then with one of the staff. They answered our questions and were easily accessible.

My daughter gained more independence and confidence. She regained some of her fluency in Spanish and earned community service hours through valuable experiences helping others. Teens enjoy the combination of service and fun and it’s a win-win to do both on a trip to another country. She had a great experience in Costa Rica with Arcos!

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!

FANTASTIC experience for any high schooler! My son had the most amazing time living with a lovely family and having so many dynamic and educational experiences with his fellow program participants! I think in addition to the pure fun he had learning how to salsa dance, make tortillas, surf and explore the rainforest, he appreciated the community service they did at local schools and also loved getting to interact with the locals in the plaza most evenings, speaking Spanish and immersing himself in the culture of Atenas and Costa Rica. Definitely do not miss the opportunity to engage with the local community - lovely people and amazing cultural exchange.

My daughter came out of the Camino de Santiago with a sense of accomplishment and a boost in confidence! Encourage your child to train ahead of time, which will make their hike that much more enjoyable. That was a key part of my daughter having a positive experience. We are very happy with Arcos and will definitely look into future programs with them. Far more affordable than many other travel programs for teens out there!

My son came back from his summer program in Argentina speaking much better Spanish. He also gained important interpersonal and cross-cultural skills. Make sure your child is prepared for the climate and understands the importance of having the right clothing for cooler temperatures.

My daughter was blessed to be able to experience the rich culture of Oaxaca. She got to further her language skills, gain independence, and she really rose to the occasion in terms of getting the most out of her host family experience, which she absolutely loved. My daughter was really happy with her homestay family. We were nervous at first but Arcos was so helpful along the way with questions. Their program is very professional and I felt that my daughter was very well taken care of. The cultural daily activities were great, a nice variety in town and out of town.

My child gained independence, confidence, new skills, new friendships, and wonderful memories. Encourage your child to go in with an open mind and be ready for an unforgettable experience. There may be some culture shock or emotions, but remember that every day is a new day, and the uncomfortable and new builds character and makes us stronger people. We highly recommend Arcos and always felt our daughter was in the right hands. From first communications, to last, and all of our daughters' positive experiences and happy phone calls, we are so happy she traveled with Arcos! Our daughter had such a positive experience. There is nothing she would change with the activities as she loved them all.

My daughter was completely ecstatic about the whole trip! She had so many amazing experiences including dancing, cooking, and touring archeological sites. It is a fabulous experience. She got a wonderful sense of how a real Mexican family lives thanks to her host family. So many beautiful experiences with food, seeing how chocolate is made, seeing how natural textile dyes are made, going to a university to learn Spanish, and seeing all the incredible indigenous history.

The best part of the program is the connection that is forged with the host family as well as other program participants. I recommend that you sign up earlier to get better timed flights. We didn't have any choice by the time we signed up late in the game and thankfully everyone at Arcos was understanding of my son's late night/early morning flights.

My daughter gained Independence and confidence by having the opportunity to live in another culture and with people from different backgrounds. I suggest that you encourage your child to spend as much time with the host family as they can and embrace their home and ways of living. Glad my daughter did two programs!

My daughter gained self-confidence by living abroad, made new friendships, grew resilience, and learned ancient cultural knowledge. My advice is to work on gaining an understanding about the cultural differences between the United States and Mexico (daily life, schedules, etc).

My son said he would have liked to stay another week! That just shows how much he enjoyed it, even though he had to study Spanish every morning. The homestay family was perfect! My son was treated as if he was part of the family. I recommend that you book now or as soon as possible because the summer programs often fill early.

My daughter's homestay family was amazing!!! The Arcos activities were great. It sounded like the kids had a lot of different experiences. It was a wonderful opportunity. I highly recommend Arcos. It is great for high schoolers who really want to embrace another culture and language. The program ran smoothly and was well thought out.

The biggest benefits for my child were that he gained travel experience, explored new worlds, and improved his Spanish language skills by doing the art program, living with a host family, and traveling in the big city of Buenos Aires. Overall, the arts program was exceptional.

The overall exposure to people and the cultural, historical and political environment was priceless. My daughter really found her on-site director to be amazing. She was knowledgeable, flexible, helpful and kind. She gave my daughter individual attention and was very supportive. Not to worry - students are in very good hands with Arcos!

This program is so fun and 100% worth it. Everything is taken care of by the program and, as a 17 year old traveling transatlantically alone, they made the entire experience of getting there and leaving really easy and not stressful. Everyone (ESPECIALLY Rocio and Marcell) is super nice and eager to help or answer any questions someone has. It’s really nice to have two great, educated, unique people to show you around a city filled to the brim with history.

Come with an open mind to a new country, remember to enjoy where you are and soak it in. It is not a race! My Arcos director was amazing! I loved her expertise in Spanish culture and specifically the area in Galicia. She was available 24/7 for whatever the group needed and made sure everyone was included and felt up to the challenges each day. She made sure everyone was fit and well to keep going on our trek. I would follow her again in a heartbeat! My advice is to pack light and practice trekking over long distances. I highly recommend to put your phones down at the table during meals so you can get to know your fellow travelers. We did this with our group and I am so glad we did because we laughed with the company we had and really got to know each other.

I participated in the Camino de Santiago: Hiking the Way program with Arcos over the summer in which we walked alongside pilgrims from all over the world to Santiago de Compostela. I strongly recommend this program for anyone who would like to experience northern Spain on foot.

I loved all of it and thought it was just the right level for me. I love how Arcos places students in the right Spanish level with the short verbal assessment they do. I also loved my Spanish professor. She was my favorite Spanish teacher I’ve ever had and is such a genuinely good teacher. She is truly invested in what she does and interested in the students she teaches. My host family was so nice and accommodating. I enjoyed the experience of going to Europe, learning more Spanish, meeting new people - everything!

I did the Spanish Language and Culture Program with Arcos in Granada, Spain over the summer. I would recommend this program to other high school students who want to learn Spanish in Spain through Spanish classes at the University of Granada, excursions, and cultural activities.

I loved my host mom in the Arcos program I did in Granada, Spain over the summer. I feel like I got placed with the greatest host mom ever! I would for sure recommend this program to future students who want to travel abroad and live with a local family.

Our Arcos directors always communicated clearly and effectively and responded quickly whenever we had any concerns or questions. I felt very comfortable in my homestay. My host mom always cleaned whenever my roommate and I had activities outside, allowing us to come back to a clean stack of laundry and freshly swept floor. Her cooking was incredible and she always asked if we needed any adjustments. Whenever my roommate and I had plans, she was always very flexible and there to help. My advice is this: rather than packing many sets of clothing, just pack a few that you can wash and re-wear. This allows for packing much lighter. Make sure the clothes are quick dry. Have fun!

The community service was very rewarding and fun, especially because there were multiple different projects we worked on. My Arcos director was so much fun to be with! She was available for help whenever you needed her and always made sure you were having the best trip possible. I felt comfortable in my Costa Rican homestay throughout the whole trip. My host family was very helpful and friendly. I wholeheartedly recommend this program!

My Arcos directors were very organized and kind, sweet and personable. I appreciated all their help on this trip. The community service was rewarding. The family I had the pleasure of staying with was super sweet. Despite our language barrier, they never made me feel uncomfortable. I would enthusiastically recommend this program to high school students!

Our Arcos director made things fun and was easy going. I had a good time in my Spanish classes! My homestay mom was a great host. The food was always amazing, and she was kind and caring. I really appreciate the friendships I made along the way. As I'm sure you can tell, I loved the trip. I definitely recommend this program to high school students.

My daughter always felt safe and cared for with Arcos. She said that the activities were challenging, but fun and very rewarding. The homestay was the highlight of the trip. She absolutely adored her Costa Rican host mom, who was caring, kind, helpful, loving, and accommodating. She made her feel safe and so at home. Thank you!

It felt good to know that I was helping the local community in an impactful way. My Arcos director was amazing! So kind and helpful. The Spanish classes were very fun, and the perfect length. My host mom is the most amazing person! She was incredibly kind. She had a beautiful, clean home and always made sure that I was happy.

I strongly suggest Arcos if you are looking for a high school summer community service program in Costa Rica that also includes eco adventure activities. My Arcos director was very nice and helpful! I recommend that you get to know your roommates and people you are traveling with.

I would definitely recommend this program to high school students who want to do a combination of Community Service in Costa Rica plus cultural activities and eco adventure activities (like canopy tour, white water rafting, and surfing) at the beach and in the rainforest.

I participated in the Arcos Costa Rica Community Service & Eco Adventure program in Atenas, Costa Rica over the summer. I would highly recommend this program to high school students who want to volunteer in Costa Rica and do activities like rafting, surfing, and zipline.

I walked the Camino de Santiago (also known as the Way of St. James) in northern Spain with Arcos over the summer. We walked from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela on the French Route in Galicia. I highly recommend this program for anyone who is up for the challenge!

I recommend this program to future students! My Arcos director always responded quickly and was good about letting us know what was going on the next day the night before. The biggest benefit was getting to learn more about the culture. There are always interesting things to do in your free time, so try to explore the town when you can.

I gained a lot of benefits from participating in the Outdoor Adventure & Cultural Exploration summer program in Granada, Spain. The most important was cultural immersion and learning more about Spain. I now understand much more of its language and history.

I did the high school Oaxaca, Mexico Spanish Language and Culture program in the summer. The classes were really good! Try to speak Spanish as much as you can and have conversations with your homestay family. I would recommend this program to future students.

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!

By the end of the first day of the program I had made lots of friends who I still talk to. My directors were amazing! They were lovely, very kind people who helped lead the program in a great direction. They were always available when you needed something. The teachers at our Spanish language school were great. My host family was amazing! They were very kind and helpful with all of my needs. They included me in all of their family conversations and I learned so much about Spanish and Costa Rican culture from them.

My Arcos director was very nice! The biggest challenge I experienced was leaving Costa Rica. I didn’t want to leave because it was too fun. I loved everything! I got to learn some Spanish a very fun way, I got to visit Atenas, and make amazing memories! I highly recommend this program!

Everything was amazing! This experience opened my mind to wondrous new possibilities. I made wonderful friends and learned many things through my time in Costa Rica. I would totally recommend this program to other high school students looking for summer programs abroad!

I did the Spanish Language Immersion and Costa Rican culture program in the town of Atenas, Costa Rica over the summer months of June and July of 2023. I would for sure recommend this Arcos program to other high school students like me.

My homestay family members were very nice people. I give them an 11/10. My advice is this: don't be afraid to talk with strangers or to mess up when speaking Spanish. I highly endorse this program for other high school students.

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.

I highly recommend this program to future students. I am so grateful that I got to have such a great group and am now friends with a lot of people. Our Arcos director was amazing and really funny. My Arcos roommate and host mom were awesome. I suggest you buy souvenirs early on in the trip and to not be scared to talk to people in Spanish.

Everything was excellent! Arcos makes sure there is always good communication. The Arcos director was likable, friendly and easy to talk to. The activities are fantastic. I especially enjoyed the trail maintenance, the hikes, and most of all volunteering with the Costa Rican kids. My host mom was an amazing homestay mother. The food was off the charts delicious, the fresh juice was a bonus. She was incredibly clean and did our laundry. She was very social and open to talking even though my Spanish was not excellent. I loved her little dog Linda as well. Come with an open mind and socialize. I liked playing pickup basketball and teaching the local kids lacrosse. The people are so nice! I grew from being able to travel alone and enjoying independence.

My host family made me feel right at home from the first moment I walked through the door. The meals were great as well as the people I spent the two weeks with. Incredible Arcos directors all around! They were fun to talk to and enjoy meals with during excursions. As well as leading our group throughout the multiple trips, they kept us interested and curious. The community service, although challenging at times, was very fun. Looking back on the trip, those hours of service held some of the best memories! I would encourage you to do anything that stretches you outside your comfort zone such as speaking Spanish or talking to people around the town. 100% recomended!

My homestay was awesome! I enjoyed having a host brother that was able to converse in English as well as comfortable beds to house me and my roommates. I really grew from learning about other cultures than mine. I would absolutely recommend this program to other high school students.

The program was super awesome! It helped me greatly improve my Spanish and altered my worldview. I would definitely recommend this program to future high school students who want to do community service and have an eco adventure in Costa Rica. Embrace the experience!

I stayed with an amazing host family and I miss them! The Arcos staff was amazing, flexible and helpful. I highly suggest this program for high school students to experience Costa Rica while doing community service and eco adventure outdoor activities.

Do all the things you can do and eat all the food you can! Try new things while you’re there! I would recommend this program to students who want to learn Spanish and stretch out of their comfort zone. My Arcos director always wanted to help and was super available!

My Arcos director was amazing. She was kind, enthusiastic, and a lot of fun to be around. I am thankful for the opportunity of meeting her and having her as one of the directors and leaders while I was part of the program. The university classes were amazing! I really improved my Spanish! My host mom’s house was super pretty and clean. My breath was taken away by the beauty of her home and culture! Her meals were amazingly delicious and I had a lot of seconds! I really got to know about her personal life and she learned about mine. She was very kind and took us on walks around the town. I am so grateful to have had her as my host family, thank you so much Arcos!

I would 100% recommend this program to future students. Our Arcos directors were amazing. They are so nice and made us feel sure of ourselves, always a very strong and calming presence on the trip. The school was so fun! I loved my teacher and the hands-on learning style. I love my host mother so much, as did my roommates. They were so welcoming and taught us so much. We cannot stop talking about how much we miss them! My advice is to do everything you can while you’re there.

I loved my homestay mom! I will hopefully come back to visit her one day! Her food was so amazing! And I miss her so much! She was like a mother to me in the short two weeks I stayed with her. She would take me and my roommate sight-seeing and I am so grateful she was my homestay mom, I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. She was amazing! Keep in contact with your homestay parents, communicate with them as much as possible! I 10/10 recommend this program!

My Arcos director was amazing and a great guide for our entire trip! She was very knowledgeable about Oaxaca and extremely helpful to everyone in our group! Spanish class was challenging and I learned quite a bit. My host mom was amazing and sweet. She always made sure we were well-fed, happy and healthy! She went above and beyond to make our beds each day and did laundry for me and my roommate during our stay! Highly recommended program.

Our Arcos director was very sweet and helped guide us through Oaxaca city. She always made sure that we were comfortable and that we felt very welcomed. My Spanish professor was the best! I loved that the whole class was taught in Spanish because that made us use our listening skills. She would always make sure to help us if we didn't know how to say a certain thing in Spanish. I definitely recommend this program!

I had so much fun in the program. Very good director! So amazing and kind! Loved her so much. Great Spanish classes. My advice for future participants is this: know it is OK to be nervous about a new environment. The biggest benefits were making new friends and participating in immersive learning experiences. I highly recommend this program!

My host family was very accommodating and helped me to enjoy the culinary aspect of Oaxaca. One of the greatest benefits for me was learning how to be responsible for myself and my spending. This skill is very important to me and will carry over into my life at home. I would recommend this program to future students.

Go on this trip and do as much as you can! My biggest challenge was eating all the amazing, local Oaxacan food provided by my host family. The portions are big and I wanted to have it all! I would definitely recommend this program to future students who want to be immersed in the language and culture.

I did the Summer Spanish Language and Mexican Culture Program with Arcos in Oaxaca, Mexico. I highly recommend this program to high school students who want to learn Spanish while being immersed in Oaxacan culture through Spanish classes at the university, cultural activities, and excursions.