Education Study Abroad Programs in South America

I absolutely loved my time in Chile. Not only were the accommodations and classes perfect, but so was the life outside the classroom. Being located in Santiago, we were right in the capital city with multiple events, and activities you could participate in during your time abroad. It was a beautiful landscape with of a city with mountains, and an ocean in Valparaiso\Viña Del Mar just an hour away. I highly recommend studying in Chile!

I spent two weeks in Guatemala with Maximo Nivel. My Spanish level was minimal when I arrived. I felt like I was able to have a basic conversation and move around the city with the Spanish I learned. My homestay was very nice, and the staff here solved any issues I had; I would definitely do it again.

Living in Costa Rica for 4 weeks has been an incredible experience. It helped me integrate myself into the culture, language, and nature of the country. I was able to learn Spanish for 4 weeks with no Spanish to being able to form sentences and talk Spanish in tandem with not only my teachers but with the locals. The staff have been excellent in taking care of all my needs including changing accommodations, health issues, checking up regularly. This experience is 5 stars overall!

I graduated from high school a semester early, and the only way I wanted to spend my semester was by being abroad. I've known about Semester at Sea for around 6 years and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity. I searched up the requirements to be accepted and luckily fit all the requirements most importantly being 18, so immediately I applied. I then got an email back the next morning saying I got accepted into the program and that email brought me to tears in the middle of one of my classes. I couldn't wait to board the MV World Odyssey and embark on this journey of a lifetime. On the ship, I gained so much knowledge about different cultures and I was able to be fully immersed in them, not just sticking to the touristy things offered. Semester at Sea does an amazing job keeping the students' safety in country as a priority with having mandatory “Pre-Port meetings” the night before arriving in a country, and offering field programs which are ship run excursions with ship faculty leading them. The community on the ship was nothing I have ever experienced before. We were so close knit and it felt like I was truly in a connected, caring, and welcoming environment. I met the people I never imagined I'd connect with, and they ended up becoming the best connections I've ever made with people. Semester at Sea also helped me get out of my comfort zone which led me to have experiences I would have never imagined I'd have, best example being running a half marathon in Vigo, Spain even though I'm not a runner and have never been a runner. Semester at Sea has given me the world and the opportunity to appreciate it to its fullest. I left the ship with my passport full, but my heart is even fuller with people, memories, and connections I will forever cherish. Semester at Sea was truly the best experience I have ever had and would recommend it to anyone as it was life changing.

I am happy to report that I’ve had a magically adventurous time here, my Spanish has noticeably improved, my hosts were kind and accommodating, and the Maximo and Inca Trails staff were wonderful. Special shoutout to Martha and Susan! They are amazing teachers and people. I’m sad to be leaving but happy to be heading home renewed, inspired and closer to fluency. You all run an excellent program!

I learnt Spanish with a native speaker, she was very kind. There is a very nice atmosphere there. The teachers teach very well. They have a professional approach to learning. They come up with games that make it easy to consolidate words.

My experience in Maximo was absolutely perfect. It was my first solo travel ever and I felt absolutely guided through it. My teachers Runnia and especially Francis were perfect. It was super fun in the classes which made the learning feel less boring but super fun and rewarding. The staff around the organisation is great, some of the nicest people I’ve met. The cooking and dancing classes are well organized and super fun. They also do their best to adjust classes to your expectations. Wishes are not seen as criticism but rather as a possibility to make the clients happy. Quepos/Manuel Antonio itself is a nice town, offering great beaches nice accommodations, aswell as bars and most importantly great people! I will remember this trip for a long time and I’m super happy I made my experiences in Costa Rica with Maximo. I hope to return one day.

Máximo Nivel offered a wonderful Spanish immersion experience in San Jose, Costa Rica. The staff are incredibly friendly and the entire institute is very well organized. The methods used in class really encourage conversation and useful practice of your linguistic skills. Within even just the first few days of my program, I felt as though I was already breaking down the barrier in my language learning journey. If you’re interested in immersing yourself in the Spanish language, Máximo Nivel is a must!

I had two different Spanish teachers throughout my 7 weeks - Angie and Dulce. Both were amazing teachers and I learned so much! I learned not only lots of Spanish grammar, Guatemalan slang words, and conjugations, but also about the culture and history of Antigua and the Guatemalan people. The classes were always so much fun! Thank you Maximo Nivel!

I really loved my experience. I was scared of coming here alone but I met some really cool people and made some great memories. So I was never alone. The staff and my teacher were great. I’ll be back!

One of the most underrated aspect of semester at sea is the ship campus itself. Being able to live so close to your friends and just walking a few flight of stairs to your classroom and being able to sit down with your professors for lunch is such an amazing experience. It's eternal sunsets, it's endless travel stories from your friends, it's lifetime of memories. Highly recommend. One of the best decisions I made. And still day dream about this experience, still talk and travel to meet my SAS friends 4 years later.

I have not experienced anything like semester at sea before, therefore giving me a whole lot of different lenses to look at the world with. I completely enjoyed my experience and understand the importance of understanding others concerns, communication, communities, and countries. A overall wonderful experience that has changed my views as well as the way I live and who I am as a person.

Rogelio taught me what it means to be selfless & serve the community without being funded by the missions that do not resonate with what´s being offered. Keep the values, stick with what resonates. Love is an endless act of forgiveness, forgiveness is an endless act of love! Forgive all, love all! We are one, blessings! I love you all!

I studied in Santiago with Middlebury in Chile, where I was fully immersed in urban Chilean culture while fostering lasting relationships within my program and having the freedom to explore interests, academic and professional alike. The curriculum was the best kind of challenging that pushed me to develop my personal agency, and my Spanish skills absolutely skyrocketed over the course of the semester. I absolutely loved the city of Santiago and its culture; the friendships I made with my cultural mentor, my host family, and the other Midd students were so special. Chile is truly such a welcoming and beautiful country, and I will be forever grateful for the way I was able to fully appreciate it and allow it to shape me and my worldview through immersion.

I had the best experience with our Guide Michael for our Political Science Study Abroad. Michael was very easy to speak to in regards to personal matters and not once was there any judgement whatsoever. For my first experience on a study abroad program I’m glad that it was with someone as a guide so caring like him.

I had a wonderful time at Maximo, learning Spanish each day with my teacher and participating in several cultural activities on the weekends (Lago Atitlán, Tikal Mayan Cultural Site). It has been a pleasure to experience Guatemalan culture and I hope to return soon!

My experience studying spanish with Maximo Nivel has been one of the best experiences in my life. The people I met, the city of Cusco, the instructors at Maximo- all of it was amazing. If I could stay longer I would, and I did end up staying 3 weeks longer than planned. I highly recommend to anyone wanting to travel and study spanish abroad.

I have attended two other Spanish Immersion programs. Maximo Nivel is very organized and structured. Great program. I plan to continue studies with Maimo Nivel in Puru or Costa Rica. Both group and private classes were excellent.

This experience has been one of the best of my life. The people of Costa Rica have given so much patience and gratitude for our work and that makes the long days totally worth it. My confidence has grown so much over this trip and it has given me so much clarity. I am forever blessed to have met the Maximo staff and everyone along the road.

this experience was truly amazing. We were paired with the best team, and learned so much right off the bat. After leaving this trip I now feel so much more confident in myself, and the future. I am so thankful for this experience and suggest that if you are fortunate enough to do it, you should!!