Trip Description

Oaxaca is a magical place — the cultural heart of Mexico — that will captivate you with its friendly people, beautiful landscapes, charming architecture and rich history. The region’s unique culture, year-round spring climate and gracious locals make it the ideal location to learn Spanish, whether you are new to the language or have already studied it in school. We offer programs for both levels. Half of the population is indigenous, including the Zapotecs and Mixtecs who once ruled Oaxaca, and their art has made this area world famous. Begin with a trek through magnificent countryside in the Sierra Norte Mountains where you visit Zapotec communities. Then spend nine days living with Oaxacan families, studying Spanish and attending cultural workshops in Oaxaca City. End your journey working and playing at a Oaxacan orphanage, experiencing another way of life that will make you see your own in a new light.

• Itinerary & Country Map

• Day 1–6
  We begin our exploration of Oaxacan culture in its countryside. Hike through remote mountain villages in the cool highland forests of the Sierra Norte Mountains. As we trek through breathtaking landscapes to Latuvi, we stop at a trout farm to sample the local fare and learn about their practices of sustainable agriculture. Take a break for an exhilarating swim in the river and visit a local comedor to share a traditional Oaxacan meal. Learn about efforts to protect this region’s forests and traditions with eco-tourism, capitalizing on the more than 60 miles of hiking trails that wind through the spectacular wilderness. Each village is linked by a scenic path and offers rustic, quaint lodges where we relax in the evenings around the fireplace before resting up for our next adventure.

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  Day 7–11
  Energized by our experiences in the Sierra Norte, we return to Oaxaca City to meet our home stay families and begin our language immersion in earnest. The remote but cosmopolitan metropolis rests in a valley of the Mixteca Mountains. Its charming cobblestone streets, picturesque cathedrals, busy markets and friendly Oaxaqueños are enchanting. We feel at home at once. We begin most days with workshops at our beautiful instituto in the heart of the city. Salsa lessons and cooking classes taught by Oaxaqueños give us a chance to spend time with our profesores outside of the classroom. After dinner with your home stay family, head out to an evening baseball game to support the Oaxaca City Guerreros, a favorite Oaxacan pastime. These hands-on activities give us an opportunity to acquire Spanish easily and take on simple conversations, while interactive language classes in the afternoon help us build our grammar and vocabulary skills.

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  Day 12–14
  Between classes and workshops we take the time to explore. Visit Monte Alban’s Zapotec ruins and the Santa Domingo Church. Lose yourself in the mazes of the Mercado Juarez during our scavenger hunt day — “Amazing Race” style! Women clad in colorful indigenous dress walk through the streets, balancing baskets full of the day’s purchases on their heads. It’s a festive scene and you feel like you are caught in a time long since past. Haggling with the friendly artisans and campesinos offers a fantastic chance to practice your Spanish. Smell the chocolate that comes from every nook of the market and buy a warm cup on the street. Try your hand at spinning wool in the weaving village of Teotitlan. After a lively language class, return to your home stay family in the evening to continue to practice your Spanish.

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  Day 15–21
  Ready for another adventure? Explore another side of Oaxacan culture as we travel to Juchitán to work with the children of the Pimpollo Orphanage. It’s hard to imagine having more fun while making a real difference in the lives of these children. Prepare for piggyback rides, playing in the rain, soccer, patty cake, chalk drawing, swimming, dancing and just being a kid again. These niños have few material possessions and little exposure to the outside world. Eager for our friendship, they embrace our group. Our new young friends are also quick to help with our Spanish skills! These busy few days fly by, but the lessons learned for both our group and the children will last a lifetime. While gaining a perspective on the children’s very different lifestyle, we leave with new insights on our own. We depart Oaxaca reluctantly, but with wonderful memories, a firsthand appreciation of an amazing culture and a much better ability to communicate in Spanish.

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