Spanish Study Abroad Programs in South America

Arcos helped us with our recent study abroad trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Everyone on the team was so kind, thorough, and great with communication. They planned learning activities that aligned incredibly well with the interests of our students, and were with us every step of the way to make sure things went smoothly. The co-directors for Buenos Aires were incredible. They showed so much care for our students and brought incredible positivity and energy every day. I highly recommend them!

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!

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

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

I arrived expecting to learn about public health, but I left with a new understanding of myself, my future, and the world around me. Through SIT’s Public Health in Urban Environments program, I studied Argentina’s health system, epidemiology, and social determinants of health while experiencing firsthand how culture, community, and inequality shape health. My independent research on access to dental care in underserved communities was especially meaningful. As someone pursuing pediatric dentistry, speaking with dentists and families strengthened my desire to make oral healthcare more accessible and culturally responsive. But some of my most important lessons happened outside the classroom. Living with a host family, traveling throughout Argentina, building friendships, and navigating a new environment pushed me beyond what was comfortable and made me more independent and open-minded. Study abroad didn’t just give me memories or academic credits it changed how I see my education, my future career, and myself. As a mentor, I hope to help other students take that same leap and make their experience their own.

I recently studied abroad for 5 weeks in Lima, Peru with WorldStrides. This experience genuinely changed my life, and the staff and accommodations provided to us by WorldStrides were a huge part of this. The on-site team was extremely supportive, and the additional trips planned by staff made my experience 10x better. I highly recommend using WorldStrides if you are considering studying abroad anywhere!

Going abroad was such an amazing experience that I definitely reccomend to everyone! This program in Chile was so immersive and very supportive throughout my time. Worldstrides planned great excursions for us that made it very fun with always something to look forward to!

Overall I truly loved the program. I felt super comfortable and I give all of the credit to Expanish. From the moment I arrived at school until I left I really felt that they only had the best intentions for me.

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Abigail! Thank you so much for these kind words! :) We're so happy to hear you felt comfortable and supported from day one — that's exactly the experience we aim to create. Making sure our students feel cared for every step of the way is what Expanish is all about, and it means the world to know we got that right for you. We wish you all the best on your Spanish journey ahead. ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

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!

This program was truly unforgettable. I learned more than I could ever imagine both inside and outside of the classroom. I made invaluable connections and lifelong friendships and I was supported by incredible administrative staff. I highly recommend this program for anyone who is adventurous, serious about academics, and wanting to learn more about themselves and the world.

Studying abroad in Buenos Aires was one of the best decisions I've made. I learned so much through my classes, internship, and day to day life in the city. Being able to see public health from a different perspective helped me grow both academically and personally. The program staff were incredibly supportive, my host family made me feel at home, and I made great friends along the way. Of course there were adjustments, like getting used to the late dinners and navigating a new city, but those experiences became part of what made the semester so memorable. I came home more confident, more independent, and even more excited about pursuing a career in public health. I would definitely choose this program again and recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful study abroad experience.

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.

This program provided me with an experience that was truly life-changing in every way I am incredibly thankful for. As cliché as it may sound, I can genuinely say that I view the world differently now. The program changed the way I interact with people, animals, nature, and the world around me. I learned so much academically, but what made the experience especially meaningful was how reciprocal and personal the teaching felt. The curriculum and teaching styles were adapted to what worked best for each individual student. You could tell that the people who managed the program put their hearts, souls, and so much of their lives into making it a meaningful experience for us. The Independent Study Project was also extremely fulfilling. We were given the tools to conduct field-based research and learned through both guidance and trial and error. That is a skill that will be useful for anything we decide to pursue in academia, whether that is future research, a senior thesis, or graduate school. Every community we visited was memorable, and every person we met left a piece of themselves with me. I still think about the conversations we had, the stories people shared, and the generosity with which they welcomed us into their communities. The homestay and cultural immersion aspects of the program were equally important for me as I learned so much about Argentine culture through the shared meals with my wonderful host family. By the end of the program, and even now as i write this, I truly feel like I found a third home in Argentina.

I studied abroad in Cusco, Peru, in Fall 2025 through SIT Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization. I absolutely loved this program! The immersive learning was the best aspect. We visited Indigenous communities, including Huilloc, Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon, and Taquile Island. There is no substitute for actually visiting these places. These experiences helped me understand the course material and develop empathy in a way that classroom learning alone could not. The independent research process was conducted in Spanish, including interviews, the final paper, and presentation. I became close with the family I stayed with during research, and I still have the contact information of Indigenous women textile weavers I met, and have spoken with some of them since returning home. I had an amazing experience with my host family in Cusco. I am still very close with them, and they are like a second family to me! They introduced me to their extended family, took me on day trips, to different restaurants, and really helped me get to know Cusco. I still carry a pendant with their family crest on my keychain. Cusco itself was also a major part of why I loved the program. The city has many museums, Inca archaeological sites, restaurants, and opportunities for hiking and day trips, including Humantay Lake. Living there gave me time to explore both the historic center and everyday life outside the main tourist areas. My neighborhood felt very safe, and the program classes were a ten-minute walk away. Our Spanish classes were held at a local school. Our small class became close with our professor, and my Spanish improved. For the program classes, different lecturers came in, and the material is very interesting, focusing on Peruvian and Indigenous history. Prospective students should know that this is different from a typical university exchange. You are not enrolled at a local university, and classes are only with your SIT cohort. Cultural immersion comes through your host family, excursions, research, and your effort to explore Cusco and meet people. There is less unstructured time for hobbies or travel. However, this structure allows for community visits and direct learning about Indigenous cultures that would be difficult through a standard exchange. Students should prepare for basic living conditions during some community stays. On Taquile Island, accommodations had limited running water, no hot water, and early mornings. These stays were difficult, but also among the program’s greatest benefits. We worked on chacras, participated in local activities, and even attended a wedding! I strongly recommend the program, but students should be ready for unfamiliar environments and moments of loneliness or doubt. Those feelings are normal and should not be taken as a sign not to do the program. For me, it was life-changing. I met incredible people, broadened my understanding of Peru and Indigenous communities, and formed relationships I expect to maintain for the rest of my life. I would without hesitation make the same decision again.

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!