"IA Summer" - Learn Spanish through Cultural Immersion in Mexico

I found Iguana Abroad online as I was looking for summer programs to boost my Spanish level while spending the summer outside the US. The program is a really cool mix of Spanish lessons and cultural immersion, with time for relaxing as well as some daily structure to help keep you focused. We visited Aztec ruins, a village in the mountains with Spanish-era architecture, lots of nature and also an Aztec city built on canals (the Mexican Venice!). Seeing Mexican daily life and day to day Mexican culture was really eye-opening – I loved visiting the markets, buying local products, and seeing how local Mexicans live their daily lives. I also loved meeting Spanish speakers on the course during the weekend trips and excursions – many of the Mexican people who we met on the trips and at the Spanish school have become my close friends. Overall, Iguana Abroad was a perfect immersion program, both for learning Spanish and also enjoying the cultural sides of the country. Gracias Iguana Abroad!

After coming to Mexico on Iguana Abroad I can confidently say that Mexico is my favorite country I’ve been to so far. I LOVE the Mexican style of art, all the vibrant colors that you see everywhere, the food, the music, the traditional arts and crafts… Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Mariachi… The country is so full of life, it makes you feel energised and alive being there. The Iguana Abroad course for me was a perfect way to experience the country for the first time because they organize most of the details (Spanish lessons, Accommodation, weekend trips, Airport transport, etcetera), which makes the trip a lot less stressful. Plus the course was really fun. Some of my favorite memories from the trip were from the Iguana Abroad immersion events (dancing Salsa with a tropical rainstorm happening outside was memorable!), as well as the cookery class and the excursions outside of the city. I loved every moment of it.

Iguana Abroad was amazing! The course was a perfect way to see Mexico while also learning Spanish and exploring both with a group and independently. Compared to the US the Spanish lessons were very conversation-focused, which was perfect for me because my aim was to speak Spanish fluently in my time in Mexico. I came on Iguana Abroad with friends but I would definitely recommend doing it on your own as well because everyone on the group was super friendly and welcoming. If you are in two minds, I would say do it – you won’t regret it :)

I thought that Iguana Abroad was a brilliant program with a wide range of people from all around the world in a very cool part of Mexico. The trip set itself apart from other similar programs that I have done due to the high quality of Spanish teaching, the frequent opportunity for authentic Spanish immersion and the interesting locations that were offered on the weekend trips. I stayed in a homestay during the program and I am so glad that I did – my homestay family was lovely and they really helped me to feel at home in Mexico and helped me connect with the culture. I also think my Spanish improved a lot just by being around Spanish speakers 24/7. Overall, Iguana Abroad offered the perfect balance of Spanish lessons, immersion events and free time to allow us to make the most of Mexico without it ever feeling overwhelming. Would recommend!

If I had to summarize my trip to Mexico on Iguana Abroad in just three memories it would be:

1) Visiting the ancient Aztec city of Xochimilco on the first weekend. When we got there it was so busy because it was a Mexican national holiday, but that actually made the experience better! We rented a “trajinera” boat to explore the area and there were hundreds of Mexican families on other boats playing music, having BBQs and enjoying the amazing weather. One of the best parts of the Xochimilco day was when a Mariachi band came onto our boat and started playing Mariachi music to us – an incredible experience!

2) Travelling to Yautepec for the village carnival. This was one of my favorite days on the program just because it was so unexpected. We arrived in the village to explore a traditional Mexican village but when we got there there was a carnival happening which was awesome! I also think they do a Day of the Dead carnival there too in November which we didn’t see, but hopefully next time!

3) In third place I would have to say the two gorgeous dogs that live outside the Spanish school! (Chiquilin and Gordito… the most adorable dogs you will ever see)

Hard to choose just three memories but these are maybe my favorites!

I had never travelled outside the US before signing up to Iguana Abroad but I am very happy that I did! Iguana Abroad was an incredible experience <3 I made so many friends on the program, learnt a lot of Spanish and visiting another country for the first time was nerve-racking but ultimately so satisfying! One thing I’ll never forget is the way that the Iguana Abroad guys make you feel so at home when you are there – taking time to help you buy groceries in the market, making sure everyone is happy on the program, and generally just making the trip an awesome experience. The process of arriving in Mexico is very easy because they come and pick you up from the airport and the routine of Spanish classes, day trips, cooking classes, etc, is something that I will definitely miss! Everyone on the program was amazing and weekend trips were always so memorable thanks to the awesome people in the group <3 Overall, Iguana Abroad make the whole process so easy from start to finish, they really show you the best side to Mexico and make the whole experience so much fun. An all round perfect Spanish course!

Iguana Abroad offers incredible Spanish courses in one of the most beautiful parts of Mexico. The courses are designed to encourage you to speak Spanish as much as possible and the programs really do help you to step outside your comfort zone and start speaking Spanish confidently. Aside from taking the daily Spanish classes I also did a Mexican cookery class, a Salsa dancing class, visited an Aztec pyramid, tried amazing Mexican food, visited a temazcal (Mexican-style sauna), went to a rooftop-terrace party, and so many other incredible experiences that I will never forget. Harry, Harry and Priscila did an amazing job at ensuring that we felt connected to the local community, as well as introducing us to the best sides of Mexico through the excursions and immersion events, and Cesar, Fernanda and the other Spanish teachers at the school really did everything they could to help us learn Spanish as fast as possible.

I absolutely loved my time in Mexico on Iguana Abroad. Learning Spanish has been a long-term goal and this trip really helped me to achieve my aim in the most fun and unforgettable way. My Spanish went from around an A1 level at the start of the program to a strong B1/B2 by the end (including a week of independent travel in Mexico after the program ended). My conversational Spanish improved so much during the four week duration of the program and I can now happily say that I can speak with any Spanish-speaking person in any situation - even if they have a difficult accent or are speaking quickly. I majored in zoology and one of the reasons that I chose Iguana Abroad originally was because I was interested in the diversity of Mexico and the different species and ecosystems that you can find there. If, like me, you are interested in wildlife I would highly recommend this program because we saw so many incredible animals on the trip, including axolotls which are an awesome species only found in central Mexico, as well as monkeys! Aside from the nature I really loved the cultural aspects of the Iguana Abroad program – visiting small Mexican towns and Aztec sites, as well as modern Mexican cities – as well as the social aspect of the trip. Overall I would definitely recommend Iguana Abroad to anyone who wants to step outside their comfort zone and really experience a new culture, as well as learning Spanish and having a great summer!