What’s Included

You get 30 hours of Spanish classes total, spread over two weeks with 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in a small group of no more than 8 students. There’s a full-day trip to the Rosario Islands, included in the price, where you’ll snorkel and chill on pristine beaches. Daily cultural activities, like Caribbean cooking workshops and tours of historic forts, keep things exciting. Your homestay with a vetted Cartagena family includes a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish. Airport transfers both ways are covered, so you don’t have to stress. A group dinner at a seaside restaurant is thrown in too, plus 24/7 support from the program team in case you need anything.

Day-by-Day Breakdown

Day one starts with your arrival at Rafael Núñez International Airport, where a driver picks you up and takes you to your homestay, and your Cartagena family greets you with maybe some fresh coconut water or a big hug. At the welcome orientation, you meet your group, about 6-10 people, get a city map, some local tips, and a rundown of the program, and you’re already feeling the Caribbean vibe. Dinner with your host family is your first shot at speaking Spanish, probably stumbling over a few words, but they’re super patient.

On day two, you jump into your first Spanish class, 3 hours in the morning at a school in Cartagena’s walled city, and it’s lively with teachers who get you practicing real-life stuff like ordering food. After class, you head to a Caribbean cooking workshop, learning to make fish ceviche or patacones, and you eat what you whip up while picking up new vocab. Evening’s with your homestay family, chatting over dinner and maybe mispronouncing “arepa” but getting the hang of it.

Day three means more Spanish class, another 3 hours, and you’re starting to feel a bit more confident, maybe tossing out phrases like “qué bacano.” Afternoon’s a cultural tour, visiting a historic fort like Castillo San Felipe, where your guide spills stories about pirates, and you try asking questions in Spanish. Back at the homestay, dinner’s a chance to practice more, maybe talking about Cartagena’s history with your host family.

Days four and five follow the same rhythm—3-hour Spanish classes each morning, building your skills with fun activities like role-playing market scenes. Afternoons bring more cultural stuff, like a visit to a local market to haggle for tropical fruits or a champeta dance workshop where you’re laughing and trying to keep up with the beat. Evenings with your family are getting easier, and you’re throwing around slang like “chévere” over fresh seafood.

The first weekend, days six and seven, is the Rosario Islands adventure. You hop a boat, about an hour from Cartagena, and spend a full day snorkeling coral reefs, lounging on white-sand beaches, and maybe sipping a coco loco, all included in the price. A local guide points out the best spots, and you’re back in Cartagena by evening, sun-kissed and buzzing. Sunday’s free, so you might chill with your host family or explore the walled city with your group.

Week two, days eight to twelve, keeps the Spanish classes going, 3 hours each morning, and you’re amazed at how much you’re picking up, maybe even cracking a joke in Spanish. Cultural activities stay fresh—one day you’re touring another historic site, another you’re learning more Caribbean recipes or practicing dance moves. Homestay dinners are a highlight, with long chats about life in Cartagena, and you’re feeling like part of the family, maybe watching a telenovela together and catching new phrases.

Day thirteen’s your last full day, with a final 3-hour Spanish class where you’re ordering coffee like a local. The afternoon’s free, so you might wander the colorful streets or grab souvenirs, guided by your host family’s tips. A group dinner at a waterfront restaurant wraps things up, with fresh fish and toasts with your new friends. Day fourteen’s for goodbyes—your host family might slip you a little gift, like a woven bracelet, and your airport transfer’s included, so you leave with a head full of Spanish and a heart full of Cartagena.