What’s Included
You’re getting 40 hours of Spanish classes total, that’s 20 hours a week, 4 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in a small group of no more than 8 students at a language school in Cali’s lively San Antonio neighborhood. Salsa dance lessons happen daily, 5 sessions of 1-1.5 hours each, taught by professional dancers who know Cali’s salsa scene inside out. Cultural outings include visits to local markets and city landmarks, giving you a taste of Caleño life. Your homestay with a vetted local family includes a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish in a warm, authentic setting. Airport transfers from Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport are included, both ways, so you’re covered. A welcome orientation and a group dinner at a local restaurant are part of the package, plus 24/7 support from the program team if you need help.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Week one starts with your arrival at Cali’s airport, where a driver picks you up and drops you at your homestay, and your Caleño family greets you with maybe a glass of lulada, that tangy local drink, or a big smile. At the welcome orientation, you meet your group, about 6-10 people, grab a map of Cali, some safety tips, and a rundown of the two weeks ahead. Your first dinner with the family’s your chance to try some Spanish, probably tripping over a word or two, but they’re super patient and encouraging.
Day two kicks off with Spanish classes, 4 hours in the morning at a school in San Antonio, where teachers, all native speakers, get you practicing real-life convos like ordering sancocho at a local spot. The classes are small and lively, focusing on grammar, vocab, and Colombian slang, so you’re ready to chat like a Caleño. Afternoon brings your first salsa lesson at a nearby studio, where a pro dancer teaches you the basic steps, and you’re laughing as you stumble but starting to feel the rhythm. Evening’s with your homestay family, chatting over dinner, maybe mispronouncing “salsa” but getting the hang of it fast.
On day three, you’re back in Spanish class for another 4 hours, and you’re already picking up phrases like “qué bacano” with ease. After class, you head to a cultural outing, like a visit to a bustling market such as La Galería, where you practice Spanish while haggling for mangoes or checking out street food. Your afternoon salsa lesson builds on yesterday, maybe adding a turn or two, and your instructor’s got stories about Cali’s salsa culture that make you want to dance all night. Dinner with your family’s a chance to practice more, maybe over bandeja paisa, and you’re starting to feel at home.
Days four and five keep the rhythm going with 4-hour Spanish classes each morning, where you’re role-playing scenarios like chatting with a taxi driver, and you’re amazed at how much you’re picking up. Afternoons are for salsa lessons, getting smoother with each session, and one day’s cultural outing might take you to a Cali landmark like the Gato de Tejada statue, where you’re snapping pics and practicing Spanish with your guide. Evenings with your homestay family are cozy, with chats about Cali life, maybe watching a local soccer game on TV and throwing around new vocab.
The weekend, days six and seven, is free time to explore or relax. You might join your group for an optional night out at a salsa club (not included, but your instructors can recommend spots), or hang with your homestay family, practicing Spanish over coffee. Sunday’s chill, maybe strolling San Antonio’s colorful streets or joining your family for a traditional meal, feeling more like a local every day.
Week two, days eight to twelve, keeps the Spanish classes intense, 4 hours a day, and you’re tossing out sentences with confidence, maybe even joking in Spanish. Salsa lessons level up, with your instructor teaching fancier moves or partner work, and you’re starting to sway like you belong in Cali. Cultural outings include another market visit, where you’re bargaining like a pro, or a tour of a historic site like the Iglesia de la Ermita, with your guide encouraging Spanish questions. Homestay dinners are a highlight, with your family sharing stories about Cali’s salsa scene, and you’re chatting more fluently, maybe over a plate of arroz atollado.
Day thirteen’s your last full day, with a final 4-hour Spanish class where you’re ordering drinks or chatting like a Caleño without thinking twice. The afternoon salsa lesson’s a chance to show off, maybe with a mini-dance party where you nail those moves. The group dinner’s at a lively restaurant, digging into local dishes like empanadas and toasting with your group, probably nailing some Spanish slang. Day fourteen’s for goodbyes—your host family might slip you a little gift, like a salsa CD or coffee, and your airport transfer’s covered, so you leave buzzing with Spanish skills and salsa swagger.
