What’s Included
You’re getting 60 hours of Spanish classes total, that’s 20 hours a week, 4 hours a day, in a small group of no more than 8 students, held in a cozy school in a town like Pereira or Armenia. Coffee farm tours are a big deal, with guided visits to plantations where you learn the bean-to-cup process. Cultural workshops include cooking classes for dishes like sancocho or arepas, plus hiking trips to Cocora Valley’s jaw-dropping landscapes. Your homestay with a local family in a rural coffee town includes a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish. Airport transfers from Pereira or Armenia are included, both ways, plus a welcome orientation and a group dinner at a local spot. The program team’s got your back with 24/7 support.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week one starts with your arrival at Pereira or Armenia’s airport, where a driver takes you to your homestay, and your host family greets you with maybe some fresh coffee or a warm tamale. At the welcome orientation, you meet your group, about 6-10 folks, grab a map of the coffee region, some safety tips, and a rundown of the program. Your first dinner with the family’s a chance to try your Spanish, probably stumbling a bit, but they’re all smiles and patience.
Day two dives into Spanish classes, 4 hours each morning, Monday to Friday, in a small school with teachers who make learning fun, focusing on convo skills like chatting with coffee farmers. Afternoons kick off with a coffee farm tour, where you walk through plantations, see how beans are grown, and maybe even try picking some, all while practicing Spanish with your guide. Another day, you’re in a cooking workshop, learning to make bandeja paisa or empanadas, eating your creations and picking up foodie vocab. Evenings with your homestay family are cozy, chatting over dinner in their rural home, maybe mispronouncing “café” but getting better fast.
Week two keeps the Spanish classes rolling, 4 hours a day, and you’re starting to feel the flow, maybe tossing out “qué chévere” like a local. One afternoon, you hike in Cocora Valley, surrounded by those crazy-tall wax palms and misty mountains, with a guide who has you describe the scenery in Spanish. Another day’s a cultural workshop, maybe learning about the region’s music or crafting with coffee husks. Homestay dinners are a vibe, with your family sharing stories about life in the Eje Cafetero, and you’re chatting more confidently, maybe over a plate of sudado.
Week three’s Spanish classes have you speaking smoother, maybe even bargaining at a local market without sweating it. Afternoons include another coffee farm visit, this time diving deeper into roasting or tasting, and you’re asking questions in Spanish like a pro. Another day, you’re on a cultural outing to a nearby town like Salento, exploring colorful streets and practicing your new vocab. The group dinner’s at a rustic restaurant, where you dig into local trout or patacones and toast with your group, nailing some Spanish phrases. The final day’s for goodbyes—your host family might slip you a bag of coffee beans as a gift, and your airport transfer’s covered, so you leave buzzing with Spanish skills and coffee-fueled memories.
