Study Abroad Programs in Cuernavaca, Mexico

I went to Mexico to improve my Spanish skills and gain confidence moving and interacting in unfamiliar settings and situations. This program allowed me to greatly improve my Spanish - the month-long urban homestay was super helpful for that - and expand my skillset and knowledge of what I can do. In the course of this program I also complete a social work practicum at a local elder care home, and that allowed me to apply and further develop social work skills of empathy and communication, as well as to more completely immerse myself in the local community.

I did the "Liberal Arts, Migration, & Social Change" track of Augsburg's CGEE program, and it was amazing. It doesn't require you speak to Spanish, but it has a robust Spanish-intensive with different levels so it's accessible regardless of fluency. It's also a great networking opportunity. You'll see a lot of guest lecturers from all kinds of careers (professors, journalists, philosophers, interpreters, community organizers, agricultural/environmental experts, etc.), and you'll get chances to interact with them and sometimes exchange contact info after their visits. For example, I want a career in writing, and I traded contacts with a journalist who spoke to us! The program also offers a few short, free volunteering opportunities that you can add to your resume (I did this and it helped me land my first internship as an ESL teacher's aide). Finally, the regular professors in the program are always willing/prepared to write letters of recommendation: One of whom is helping me publish my first academic paper that I initially wrote for her class. Finally, it was an amazing social experience. Every person I met there was super interesting, passionate and driven (but perhaps most importantly, just a really good hang) As for stuff to do, there's a ton of bars/clubs, museums, gardens/farms, and a nearby waterpark :D. Some of the stuff we did while I was there included kayaking, arts and crafts, gardening, hiking, museum tours, movie excursions, bowling, ice skating, karaoke, concerts, and bar/club crawls! I think you'd have a blast if you're interested in any of the following: Latin American studies, Community Organizing, Multi-media Art, Art History, Geopolitics, Anthropology, Spirituality/Religion, Biology/Ecology, Agriculture, Literature, Philosophy, Writing/Journalism, Social Work, & Dance. (take the dance class if you can!)

As a first-generation, Mexican American college student, I had the opportunity to challenge myself, academically and personally, in a place I never been. I do not regret this decision at all. I took every opportunity that I was presented with; social media ambassador, internship at a human rights commission, and most importantly, building relationships.

I I initially went to study abroad to expand my knowledge and immerse myself in a Spanish-speaking culture to increase my development and support my future desires to work in social work specifically advocating for Latino Americans struggling in the US that go against social systems that continue to oppress the Latino community. My experience during my study abroad program turned out to be way more than that. The people I met both my peers, and the staff completely changed my outlook on life and social work in general, pushing me to strive for myself academically, socially, and culturally. I am forever grateful for the experience I encountered during my study abroad program in Mexico with all of our speakers I had the honor of hearing their stories and their struggles and their achievements throughout their life, dealing with various types of discrimination. The encouragement I received from the study abroad staff helped me tremendously throughout various personal struggles, especially it being my first time living away from home I could not be more grateful for what this program taught me in the person it taught me to become, and I am still becoming in my Host family will forever be close to my heart and it feels like I have a home wherever I go, and if I could, I would do it all over again

It is hard to write a short review for my time in Mexico because of how big of an experience it was-- not only because of how much I learned from professors and community members alike, but also from the sheer amount of fun and changes in perspective I was able to have in the short 4 months. Before I left for this study abroad experience I was terrified; I didn't know the language, or anyone else who was going, I had no frame of reference for what it was going to be like, and I was afraid that I would be so out of my comfort zone that I wouldn't have any fun. However, I felt right at home within the space that the professors and staff of Augsburg have worked so hard to create in order to make every student feel safe and welcome. There is a great emphasis on community and care for one another which can be felt through every aspect of this experience. Of course it was challenging at times, but the challenges were incredibly rewarding and allowed me to learn more about myself, others, and the world than I ever could have hoped (along with the help of my peers, who are now life long friends). I feel so lucky to have been a part of this program and hope that more students will take the leap and allow themselves to be cared for, inspired, and taught by everyone who works hard to make this such a special opportunity.

I honestly had such a great experience with Iguana Abroad. I went in hoping to improve my Spanish and ended up getting way more out of it than I expected. My Spanish improved a lot in a short amount of time, I guess one reason is mainly because you’re using it every day, not just in class but out in the city too, on the events, and with people always surrounded closeby to help all the time (the two Harrys, Fabi, the teachers, and just all the other members on the team and people involved with making this course truly special) The teachers were really friendly and easy to talk to, which made a huge difference. Classes felt relaxed but still super helpful, and everything we learned was actually useful in real life. I never felt stressed or embarrassed about making mistakes. The activities and trips were one of my favorite parts. They were super fun, really well organized, and gave us tons of chances to practice Spanish while exploring different parts of Mexico. Everything was basically just really well organized from the start. The staff were always around if you needed help, and I felt safe and supported the whole time, especially as someone traveling alone. Things start from way before you actually arrive in Cuernavaca - talking with the staff, the teachers, reading the personal report and all of that stuff. This course honestly is different for all the best reasons. And of course, meeting amazing people through the program and made friends I’ll definitely stay in touch with. Overall, Iguana Abroad was an unforgettable experience, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their Spanish while actually living it!!!

A friend suggested Iguana Abroad to me and I cannot thank them enough. We actually came together for the summer course and I would say coming with a friend or partner you already have is such a great idea because the memories and moments shared are so so special. It is such a great way to make moments with great friends. Many of the other students on the course came by themselves and had incredible times and we’re actually still in touch with basically everybody else from the course … I can’t really think of anybody Iguana Abroad wouldn’t work really well for.

Iguana Abroad is the key to learning Spanish in my opinion. I have tried for many years to really get good but have never reached the levels that I really wanted to … at least until I did Iguana Abroad!! For me, language apps, online courses, even online classes have always left me feeling like I still don’t really know what I am doing in actual, real life experiences, but that’s what this course totally changed for me. The huge amount of genuine interactions and memories together with the really good classroom lessons were totally priceless to me and how I learn… and there is such an individual focus to each student as well I’d say, and how each individual learns - starting way before the course even begins, doing an online “Needs Analysis Session” with one if Iguana Abroad’s teachers, and receiving a report to help you prepare for the course and get the most out of it. No doubt the best language course there is.

This course was an absolute game-changer!!! Literally from day one, the focus on practical, real-life Spanish made every class engaging and immediately useful. I felt like the lessons (on the beautiful school campus!) were really cleverly designed to push you just enough out of your comfort zone, plus the one-on-one attention available all the time ensures you never feel lost. Beyond the classroom, the cultural experiences— just wow... excursions, local interactions, Mexican culture - the food! - and even simple day-to-day adventures— all of this truly turned learning into something immersive and unforgettable. The team is incredible - as you hear in all the other reviews on here: approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely so enthusiastic and passionate about helping you improve, making you fall in love with Mexico. I left feeling not only much more confident in Spanish but truly inspired by the culture, the people, and the friendships I made along the way. A few of us even have some plans to meet again in Mexico. If you’re serious about learning Spanish and having a truly incredible experience, this course is unbeatable!

Absolutely wonderful time on the course. Excellently organised down to every detail, nothing had been forgotten, and there is clearly an awful lot of passion apparent throughout the course, right from the Program Directors (Harry and Harry), to the staff and teachers at the school, to the guides, drivers and locals on the excursions. It was a really magical trip, I am so much more confident with my Spanish, and I have lifelong friends that I share some really special memories with. Highly recommended!

If you are looking for an immersion program that’s worth your time and money Iguana Abroad is it!!! The Iguana Abroad program is a labor of love by two BFF’s; both named Harry. They put their heart and soul into ensuring I had the best opportunity to immerse into the Méxican culture. I lived with a local family which was amazing. Iguana Abroad’s partnership with the renowned Universidad International provided classroom instruction with their Professors , a beautiful campus and supportive administrative staff. Our weekly activities and outings made interaction with the community fun and informative. The city of Cuernavaca is truly amazing and the climate was fantastic. I just can’t say enough about the Harrys and Iguana Abroad. If you are thinking about it don’t, just do it!!

What an incredible program that has changed my life !! Iguana abroad is the perfect immersion course from the mid week and weekend field trips , to classes on campus, to real world interactions!! It has truly taught me so much about Mexican culture and traditions as well as insight on my inner workings !! This program challenges you to put your spanish speaking to a test while having one of the greatest experiences of your life !! I highly recommend this program !!! #ThanksToTheHarry’s

I highly recommend Iguana Abroad’s summer immersion program in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Any and all Spanish levels can benefit from the classes, home stay, immersion activities and cultural experiences. The directors of the program, Harry and Harry, provided thoughtful and unique experiences like shopping in the local Mercado and the cooking class afterwards. The town, Cuernavaca, is safe and every person I interacted with was welcoming and friendly. If you are looking to improve your Spanish and learn more about the Mexican culture then definitely check out this program!

I participated in the summer program in Cuernavaca, Morelos with Iguana Abroad for two weeks. The whole experience was amazing! In the time I was there, we had so many great adventures and opportunities to explore the Mexican culture, speak Spanish with natives, cook and eat authentic Mexican food, and more! Every excursion with our group was well-organized and very safe. The Spanish language classes and the school were top-notch, and I felt empowered by the end of the trip; it was hard to leave, and I will definitely be back! I would recommend Iguana Abroad's program to anyone looking for an opportunity to immerse themselves in Mexican culture with an authentic study abroad experience and meet new friends along the way!

With only one week to travel, I chose Iguana Abroad for an immersive jump start to my Spanish conversation skills as well as a first experience of Mexican culture. The program met and exceeded all of my expectations. The program directors and teachers at the language school worked to understand my goals and interests and offered a week filled with amazing hands-on experiences (salsa and cooking classes highly recommended!) and opportunities to meet and converse with fascinating people. I have returned home with a deeper understanding of a beautiful country that has so much to offer a curious traveler. As a woman traveling alone, I felt comfortable and safe at all times, with just the right combination of organized events and time to explore the city on my own. I would highly recommend this very personalized experience!

Exploring Mexico has always been a great interest of mine, and something that I have always wanted to do. Mexico’s culture, it’s history, amazing food and beautiful nature is something I knew I had to enjoy firsthand, rather than through the many YouTube videos I’ve watched, and I’ve got to say, Iguana Abroad did the most perfect job of showing me and immersing me in all those things. I should say that I was already a fairly efficient Spanish speaker before signing up to Iguana Abroad, and decided to sign up more for the travelling, the culture events, meeting some new people and that sort of thing… and it was honestly amazing. There were actually some parts of the course I wasn’t even aware of until getting here like the daily Mexican breakfasts and how stunning the school campus is. There are about 5 swimming pools there, tropical trees, gardens with fountains, the building are really beautiful as well, a few cafes, loads of places to work outside… it is a really special place. And talking a little bit more about the school, the lessons were also brilliant. I’ve taken Spanish classes in many different places over many years and the ones on the Iguana Abroad course were top notch. Signing up to the full four week course is something I would say is an absolute must and strongly recommend to anybody who is in two minds. There isn’t a single weekend trip or immersion event that I would have wanted to miss, every single one of them was incredible, so if you’re able to - get the full Mexican immersion experience and do the full course. For me this course had everything and more. I loved the days exploring Mexico’s nature, the chance to truly visit some “pueblo magicos” (magic towns), eat some of the best food of my life (plus learn how to cook it as well), discover more about Mexico’s history, which I’ve always been interested in. Iguana Abroad was the true immersion course and I've fallen in love with Mexico all over again. The Iguana Abroad course offers a lot of different things to a lot of different people which is one of the best things about it. You can really make this perfect for your personal reasons for joining.

Iguana Abroad was the only Spanish program I could find that had absolutely everything, and it was even better than I was expecting (and I was expecting it to be good!!). It wasn’t just about the Spanish classes like on most courses, but the accommodation (homestay or private), the travelling, the cultural events, even getting collected at the airport - and all the other stuff. It was all part of this program and feeling immersed. Also lots of great people on the course, the guys that run the course are amazing, the location where everything is based was beautiful. One of the best summers of my life!

I thought Iguana Abroad was an amazing opportunity to learn Spanish and live in Mexico while also meeting some awesome people! The trip from start to finish was well organized and the communication was always clear. The accommodation was comfortable and in a good area, with good wifi and amenities, close to restaurants – it was also close to an amazing Mexican market that sells all sorts of tropical fruits, vegetables and other ingredients for cooking homecooked meals. The Spanish teaching was in a nice building with lovely teachers and quite close to the accommodation. The other people on the trip were amazing and really friendly – I have made friends on this course that I will have for life. A perfect course – with amazing people.

I absolutely loved my time in Mexico on Iguana Abroad. The group dynamics on the trip were really special and I made friends with travellers from all around the world. I also met Mexicans from all over the country, from all walks of life, who shared their life stories and taught me about their country and their culture. Learning Spanish definitely opens up so many doors to new people and places and helps you to experience so much that you would never be able to do if you never learnt the language. If you haven’t signed up yet don’t hesitate – you won’t regret it.

Iguana Abroad was an all-round amazing experience! It is the perfect place to meet other people from all around the world who are interested in learning Spanish and exploring a new place with incredible people. On the Spanish program we were taught by some amazing teachers and my Spanish improved so much, as well as learning some authentic Latin American Spanish which I would not have known had I decided to learn Spanish in the US. Iguana Abroad staff were so helpful – they helped me buy medicine when I was ill in the first week and they also helped me find vegetarian food near the accommodation, which I appreciated, as well as many other little details that made the whole experience special.