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

I found Iguana Abroad online and I was attracted by the range of activities offered, as well as the emphasis on immersive learning. Communication with the Iguana Abroad staff was always good before the program started, and the support given by the program directors and teachers was excellent during the course. Learning Spanish in Mexico is so different to learning in the US – you learn so much faster when you are immersed in a Spanish-speaking country, surrounded by the language all day with so many opportunities to practice and speak to people. I was really happy with all the events offered on the program – I especially loved the cookery class and the salsa event. Learning to cook Mexican food and try salsa and cumbia dance styles was an awesome experience! The free airport collection offered by the program was also really useful because I arrived in Mexico City in the evening, so it was definitely reassuring to know that someone would be waiting for me at the airport. The price for the program was good considering everything that’s included and there were no disappointing aspects of the course that I can think of. A perfect immersion course.

I came to Iguana Abroad with no expectations, just hoping to see where this crazy journey would take me, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! Everyone on the program was so fun, kind and welcoming they really make you feel at home from the moment you arrive. I stayed in the private accommodation with Vito and Maru which was awesome and definitely something I would do again. There were always loads of fun events going on during the week and on weekends and there was always someone to hang out with and explore! I want to say a big THANK YOU to the Iguana Abroad teachers and organizers who made this awesome trip possible and I hope to see you all again in 2026!!

I would recommend Iguana Abroad to any traveller (or soon-to-be traveller!) planning a trip outside their comfort zone! The Spanish lessons are fun, creative and interesting, and really inspire you to learn much more effectively than if you were in the US. The Iguana Abroad program also has accommodation included in the course price which was really important for me when I was looking for which immersion program to choose. I chose the private accommodation option which I really recommend because the rooms were spacious and clean, and there was even a pool, garden and gym inside the accommodation. The accommodation was also just one minute walk from the Spanish school (literally across the road) which was perfect. I would highly recommend the Iguana Abroad program and would encourage anyone who has not yet done so to apply!

Iguana Abroad was a special experience for me. My sister came on the program in 2023 so I knew what it was going to be like before I signed up, but it was actually better than I expected! So many amazing people and memories it’s really hard to choose which ones to include here – I think maybe my most memorable experience was going to Las Estacas nature park and swimming through the jungle round the lazy river – it is such a beautiful location and still quite unknown outside of Mexico. I also loved the trip to Tepoztlan because of the traditional crafts and souvenirs as well as the Pyramid hike. The Spanish classes on Iguana Abroad are really useful and push you to the limit of your abilities, so that you improve quickly and learn to speak the language better even after the first week. I also loved the social aspect of the program because you really do make friends for life and share memories with unforgettable people!

One of the best things about Iguana Abroad was that there was always something going on. Apart from the culture immersion midweek events (like the rooftop skull painting workshop, Mexican cookery class, etc) and stuff happening on the weekend (the travelling events) I was thinking that probably not much else would happen the rest of the time outside of the classroom. But, this was really, realllyyy not the case! For a start, the program directors always had suggestions of things to do (for example they started the course by giving everybody the details of local group chats on WhatsApp etc where events and stuff happening from around the city was being shared all the time), and would organise little events basically every day for everybody to come along to during the week if they wanted to get involved (going to a secret waterfall; exploring the local markets; going to the museums, parks, events in the area etc). Plus there was always the option of doing language exchanges with the locals that the directors organised for everybody who was interested.

There was loads of stuff on the course that were highlights of the trip for me that weren’t actually ‘officially’ part of the course, if that makes sense - and that was one of the best things about it! I was really impressed by just how much was happening and how exciting it all was... There was also an amazing group of other students with me as well which made things even better - and it goes without saying that all the scheduled stuff (the weekend trips, culture events) were just incredible as well.

Iguana Abroad’s summer group course is such a unique program and has so much going for it. I’m sure it will go from strength to strength!

Before coming to Mexico, I’d tried learning Spanish on and off for years, but it never really clicked. Iguana Abroad completely changed that. This program isn’t just about sitting in a classroom—it’s about actually using the language in real life, and that’s what made all the difference for me.

From the start, everything was organized perfectly. The airport pickup, settling into Cuernavaca, and getting to know everyone on the program felt so seamless. Cuernavaca itself is such a cool place – it’s vibrant and full of culture, but also super relaxing, so you can really soak it all in. I hadn’t been to Mexico before, but it instantly felt like home.

The Spanish classes were next-level. The teachers didn’t just teach; they made sure we were constantly speaking, even if we messed up. They encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones, which made a huge difference. By the end of the course, I was having actual conversations in Spanish—something I never thought I’d be able to do.

What really stood out, though, were the cultural experiences. We weren’t just learning the language; we were living it. We cooked Mexican dishes, explored hidden gems like Las Estacas and Tepoztlán - a secret waterfall, plus even danced salsa with some local pros. One of my favorite moments was visiting a local festival—it was wild, colorful, and completely unforgettable. Every event felt like a chance to dive deeper into Mexican culture while practicing Spanish in a natural way.

The people I met on the program were amazing, too. We came from all over the world, but we all bonded over shared experiences and a love for learning. I left with new friends, incredible memories, and, finally, real progress in my Spanish.

If you’re looking for a program that mixes learning, adventure, and culture, Iguana Abroad is it. It’s not just a language course—it’s an experience that changes the way you see the world.

If I had to highlight one thing about Iguana Abroad, it would be how immersive the program is. The Spanish classes are fantastic—they focus on conversation and real-world use, which helped me finally gain confidence in speaking Spanish. But what made the experience truly unique were the cultural events and excursions. From cooking authentic Mexican dishes and salsa dancing to exploring stunning places like Tepoztlán and Las Estacas, every activity was designed to make us use the language naturally while diving deep into Mexican culture. This wasn’t just a course; it was a full-on adventure that made learning Spanish feel effortless and exciting.

My time on Iguana Abroad has been the first time I got some time off work for a couple of years - and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. It has always been a desire of mine to learn Spanish fluently, and this course seriously helped me improve to a level close to that - quickly. I have long used Duolingo and occasionally attend a language exchange event, although I have never truly gotten to a level that I’m really proud of. Part of the problem is when I am getting closer and closer to that level, my focuses might turn elsewhere for one reason or another, and some of my newest skills are feeling rusty a while after, and when I’m getting into practicing Spanish again. This is something that signing up to Iguana Abroad has really changed and helped me with. Ever since I have arrived back home I’ve been practicing Spanish pretty much everyday - I still talk with the Mexican friends I made whilst on the course over the phone, which is great.

It’s also worthing saying that after not leaving the country for a few years I was feeling a little concerned about the safety situation before arriving. I was worried that once arriving in Mexico I would feel quite nervous, but this wasn’t the case at all. Iguana Abroad did such a fantastic job of settling everybody into their new city and accommodation right from the start. Everybody felt really confident and safe which definitely did so much to creating that incredibly atmosphere we had during the course! I felt that by knowing so much about the city so quickly really helped me relax and explore a lot further than I was even expecting, and for everybody on the course to really connect with each other so quickly.

I couldn’t recommend this course more, after ages of searching for how best to use my time off - I’m so glad I chose Iguana Abroad!