What’s Included
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You’re getting 60 hours of Spanish classes over four weeks, that’s 15 hours a week, taught at a top Bogotá university alongside local students, with transferable credits if you need them. Cultural outings include guided tours to the Gold Museum, La Candelaria, and other historic sites, plus a weekend trip to Zipaquirá’s Salt Cathedral. Your homestay with a vetted Bogotá family comes with a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish daily. Airport transfers are included, both ways, so no stress there. A welcome orientation and a group dinner at a local restaurant are part of the deal, along with 24/7 support from the program team.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week one kicks off with your arrival at El Dorado International Airport, where a driver whisks you to your homestay, and your Bogotá family greets you with maybe some hot chocolate and cheese, a classic combo. At the welcome orientation, you meet your small group, about 8-12 people, get a city map, some safety tips, and a rundown of the month ahead. Dinner with your host family is your first stab at Spanish, probably tripping over a few words, but they’re super welcoming.
In week one’s first full day, you start Spanish classes, 3 hours each morning, Monday to Friday, at a university like Los Andes or Javeriana, in a class with local students, max 10 per group. The lessons focus on conversational skills, grammar, and Colombian culture, so you’re learning how to chat like a Bogotano. Afternoons bring a cultural tour, like a visit to the Gold Museum, where you’re marveling at pre-Columbian gold artifacts and practicing Spanish with your guide. Another day, you’re wandering La Candelaria’s cobblestone streets, checking out colonial churches and street art. Evenings are spent with your homestay family, chatting over ajiaco soup and picking up local phrases like “chévere.”
Week two keeps the Spanish classes going, 3 hours a day, and you’re already noticing you can order coffee without hesitating. One afternoon, you visit the Botero Museum, gawking at those famously plump paintings, and your guide encourages you to describe them in Spanish. Another day’s a cultural workshop, maybe learning about Colombian music like cumbia, with a chance to try some dance moves. Your homestay family’s dinners are a highlight, maybe with bandeja paisa one night, and you’re getting comfy throwing around slang over the table.
Week three’s Spanish classes feel smoother, and you’re tossing out questions in class like a pro, maybe even joking in Spanish. The cultural outings keep rolling—one day you’re at the Plaza de Bolívar, soaking up history with a guide who shares stories about Colombia’s independence. Another afternoon, you might join a coffee-tasting session, learning to describe flavors in Spanish. The weekend’s big adventure is a group trip to Zipaquirá, included in the price, where you explore the underground Salt Cathedral, a mind-blowing church carved in a salt mine. Back at the homestay, you’re chatting more fluently, maybe debating soccer with your host family.
Week four wraps up with your final Spanish classes, and you’re amazed at how far you’ve come, maybe even dreaming in Spanish. Afternoons include a visit to Monserrate Hill, with killer views of Bogotá and a chance to practice describing the city in Spanish. Another day’s a cultural workshop, like making traditional arepas with a local chef. The group dinner’s at a cozy restaurant, where you dig into local dishes and toast with your group, probably nailing some Spanish toasts. The last day’s for goodbyes—your host family might give you a little gift, like Colombian coffee, and your airport transfer’s covered, so you leave buzzing with new skills and memories.
