Program Reviews

i thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of the local staff and very kind volunteers here with me. made lots of new friends, and gained a lot of experience. i would definitely come back to Instituto Hemingway to complete this project again, hopefully in the near future!

I loved working with the dogs. My experience was incredibly rewarding and the time I spent there felt impactful. The dogs were very receptive to any love and attention they received, and it was made apparent that a little would go a long way. I was able to work with individuals from all around the world and learn more about the culture in Spain. Everyone was very helpful and eager to share experiences, which made every moment worthwhile. Learning Spanish was challenging and exciting, and it was great to have the opportunity to practice the language on a daily basis.

It was the first time in my life that I stayed away from home! It was a wonderful and very enriching experience. My goal was to teach children in need but they are the ones who taught me a lot. I enjoyed visiting other parts of Spain during weekends. Everything was perfectly organized according to my requests! I strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants to have an impact on humanity. We were left with the impression that the children genuinely appreciated us and benefited from the work we were doing. We were able to make a lot of children happy by giving them the attention they deserve.

Going to Spain I was able to immerse myself in things I had never done before. I love travelling and I would recommend this program to any teen who likes to adventure and wants to spice up their resume. Travelling alone was a smooth and breezy process and Instituto Hemingway helped me through every step of the way. I was so excited to meet people I spent the duration of my program with. Together, we were able to visit an animal shelter refugee. During weekdays, we would go to tourist attractions and we even went to the Plentzia beach. Rodrigo, the person we stayed with, was super nice and gave us access to the Wi-Fi and other small issues when we needed. I made friends in my accommodation that I will keep for the rest of my life and I am so happy that I spent my summer there!

P. S Food was excellent anywhere

The best decision I could make! My three months in Spain have been really great.My flatmates in the apartment were very nice and always willing to help if there was a problem. I also really liked my project and enjoyed the work and time with the pets in the animal sanctuary.The trips that I took part with the School were always very organized and full of new experiences. Since Spain has a lot to offer regarding it’s nature, cities and scenery I was always able to discover new and different parts of the country. I have met a lot of amazing people there and enjoyed my stay very much. Now I want to get a degree as a vet.

I carefully researched volunteers programs abroad and I am so glad I chose Instituto Hemingway! They leave no stone unturned in preparing you for success. My program was absolutely perfect!

I had an enriching experience in Bilbao. I'd say plan for a minimum of two weeks to have some sort of impact on the dogs lives. The program could have benefited from some more structure and concrete objectives, but it was flexible to accommodate each volunteer's interest.

The accommodations were brand new and very nice. This program far exceeded my expectations. Bilbao is easy to settle into. I felt very safe in this incredible international city.

I would highly recommend Instituto Hemingway without any hesitation. I experienced numerous once in a lifetime moments and will forever have wonderful memories of Hemingway

6 weeks in Spain as a high school student was a catalyst for much needed and life changing introspection and inspiration. Traveling in a country/culture so vastly different than my own pushed me into patience, acceptance, wonder, and gratitude. My heart grew, my determination blossomed, and I began to see that there is a place in the world for me with all my specific passions.
I look back so grateful for our instructors, who pushed us while supporting us. Who lead us both through meditation, and silly games to play with my roommates. I laugh when remembering trying to communicate with my teacher the time I showed off a whistling trick, and was eventually told it was disastrously bad luck.

I loved beach cleaning and doing something rewarding for nature and humankind. We were people from all over the world doing that experience, contributing to pick up thrash from oceans and friendships I made on that placement are definitely true and strong.

I cherish all these memories, the beautiful and the challenging; and embrace the confidence it's given me to keep searching for both beauty and challenge.

The programme is a great - the placement, the accommodation, the cultural activities and the staff. Bilbao is a great town for those new to Spain. It's really safe, interesting, a great place for culture and people - full of great restaurants and shops. Instituto Hemingway organizes all professionally and with a touch of sense of humour that makes you feel welcome. The art therapy was super in just one word. I learned so much about people with disabilities and about ways to express themselves through art!

My trip to Spain with these guys was one I will never forget, I am a teacher in the States and I really wanted to go out of the country and give back. I never could have imagined what I was walking in to.

If I were to describe this experience in only one word I would say it was mind-opening. It has helped me evolve from so many points of view. Not only did I learn to be more independent and choose for myself, but I also I got to know amazing hard-working people. I managed to do my project and build friendships with the other volunteers. I felt that I truly belonged to that world and I was devastated when I had to leave. The program was simply marvellous

The months that I spent in Bilbao were amazing. The place and the entire staff are incredible, thank you to Rodrigo and Jose for always being willing to teach us so much about about conservation. Being able to help out at such an amazing place with such great people is just a super nice experience. I recommend Instituto Hemingway to anyone who is interested in animal welfare without a doubt.

Taking Spanish courses there as part of the program also helped me to build my Spanish skills as well. I liked that this program allowed me to see all parts of the country, the good and bad, allowing me to appreciate it much more. I was able to connect with locals and see aspects of the culture more than I would if I were just a tourist in the country.

This is one of the most unique and incredible immersion/vacation that I have done. You will be totally immersed in the Spanish language, culture, food, and atmosphere. Everyone was incredibly nice, hospitable, and friendly. The classes were organized, fun and flexible. There were structured lessons in the morning tailored to your level. All the meals were fresh, home-cooked and delicious. In the afternoons, there are various activities which are again tailored to your interests. They are also very flexible with scheduling and can assist with any special requests like renting a car. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to fully immerse in Spanish life while having a good balance of learning Spanish, relaxing and sightseeing the beautiful Basque region of Spain.