What’s Included
You’re getting 120 hours of Spanish classes total, that’s 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday, in a small group of no more than 8 students at a language school in Santa Marta’s historic centro. Excursions include two full-day trips to Tayrona National Park and a weekend adventure to the Sierra Nevada, both guided and included in the price. Cultural activities feature visits to local fishing communities and exchanges with indigenous groups like the Kogui, plus workshops on coastal traditions. Your homestay with a vetted Santa Marta family includes a private room and two meals a day, breakfast and dinner, perfect for practicing Spanish daily. Airport transfers from Simón Bolívar International Airport are covered, both ways, along with a welcome orientation and a group dinner at a beachfront restaurant. The program team’s got your back with 24/7 support for any hiccups.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week one kicks off with your arrival at Santa Marta’s airport, where a driver picks you up and drops you at your homestay, and your host family greets you with maybe a glass of jugo de lulo or a warm smile. At the welcome orientation, you meet your group, about 6-10 folks, grab a map of the city, some safety tips for the coast, and a rundown of the two months ahead. Your first dinner with the family’s your chance to try some Spanish, probably tripping over a word like “playa,” but they’re super patient and welcoming.
Day two starts with Spanish classes, 3 hours each morning at a school in the centro, where native teachers get you practicing real-life convos, like ordering fish at a beach shack. The classes are lively, focusing on grammar, vocab, and coastal slang, so you’re ready to chat like a Samario. Afternoon’s a cultural visit to a fishing community, where you learn about their daily life and try Spanish while chatting with fishermen. Evenings are with your homestay family, chatting over dinner, maybe fumbling “ceviche” but soaking up the beachy vibe.
Week two keeps Spanish classes going, 3 hours a day, and you’re starting to toss out phrases like “qué bacano” with ease. One afternoon, you’re on a cultural exchange with a local community, maybe learning about traditional fishing nets and practicing Spanish as you ask questions. Another day’s a city tour to Santa Marta’s cathedral or the Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where you dive into Simón Bolívar’s history and try describing it in Spanish. Homestay dinners are cozy, with your family serving up fresh seafood or arroz con coco, and you’re chatting more confidently, maybe swapping stories about the coast.
Week three’s Spanish classes have you speaking smoother, maybe even joking in Spanish about the heat. The big highlight is your first Tayrona National Park trip, a full-day adventure included in the price, where you hike jungle trails, swim in turquoise bays, and practice Spanish with your guide as you spot wildlife. Another afternoon’s a cultural workshop, maybe weaving or cooking coastal dishes like cazuela de mariscos. Your homestay family’s dinners are a blast, maybe with sancocho, and you’re feeling like part of the household.
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Weeks four and five see your Spanish classes getting easier, and you’re tossing out slang like “chévere” without thinking. Afternoons include another fishing community visit, where you’re chatting with locals about their boats and using your new vocab. Another day’s a cultural exchange with the Kogui indigenous group in the Sierra Nevada foothills, learning about their traditions and practicing Spanish. The weekend’s free, so you might chill on Santa Marta’s beaches or join your homestay family for a Sunday meal, throwing around new phrases over patacones.
Week six brings the Sierra Nevada weekend trip, included in the price, where you trek through misty mountains, visit Kogui villages, and practice Spanish describing the stunning views. Spanish classes keep you sharp, and another afternoon’s a market visit, haggling for mangoes or souvenirs at Mercado Público. Homestay evenings are warm, with your family maybe teaching you a card game over coffee, and you’re chatting fluently, maybe even debating local soccer teams.
Weeks seven and eight wrap up with your final Spanish classes, and you’re amazed at how you’re chatting like a Samario, maybe even dreaming in Spanish. Afternoons include a second Tayrona trip, exploring different trails and beaches, and a final cultural workshop, maybe learning a coastal dance like cumbia. The group dinner’s at a beachfront restaurant, digging into fresh fish and toasting with your group, nailing Spanish slang like a pro. The last day’s for goodbyes—your host family might slip you a woven bracelet or some Colombian coffee, and your airport transfer’s covered, so you leave buzzing with Spanish skills and coastal memories.
