Spanish Immersion and Service

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Discover the stunning natural wonders, friendly people, and rich cultures of Latin America while studying Spanish and participating in meaningful community service projects. Learn about indigenous cultures and engage with locals through service projects and homestays in three different regions: Central America, the Andes, and the Caribbean. Whether you’re a first-time Spanish language learner or nearly fluent, practicing Spanish in places with varying accents and dialects will give your skills a major boost.

This gap semester charts a course through the contrasting landscapes and cultures of Costa Rica, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Each country offers a unique experience and opportunities to practice Spanish.

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Program Tuition

$17,645

No departures scheduled

Scott Ingram

Director of Admissions

At Rustic since 2018

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Talk to a personal travel advisor: +1 (440) 975-9691

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View program itinerary

Costa Rica

Experience the stunning beaches, vibrant jungles, and pristine rivers of Costa Rica, Rustic Pathways’ most popular destination country. Costa Rica is consistently listed among the happiest countries in the world because it has invested heavily in protecting its natural resources and its citizens’ quality of life. Participate in community lead service projects and spend time honing your Spanish skills by interacting with locals during an extended homestay and classes. From there, head to the pacific to wrap up your time in seasonal activities including top-notch surfing, whitewater rafting, rappelling, zip lining, and whale watching. Assist park rangers in their conservation efforts while doing night patrols to protect sea turtles as they lay their eggs.

Peru

From the Amazon rainforest and dry desert coast to the peaks of the Andes, Peru’s complex national identity blends indigenous roots with colonial influences. After arriving in Lima, head to Ollantaytambo and nearby Machu Picchu, where ancient stone ruins dominate the landscape. Work on service projects alongside descendants of the Incan empire and bolster your Spanish skills by living with a homestay family in the Sacred Valley. Get to know historic Cusco, then descend 10,000 feet into the Amazonian Basin to discover the vast ecological diversity of the jungle. Wrap up your time in Peru by heading to the Pacific coast for some adventure activities and beach time.

Dominican Republic

The Caribbean portion of your journey will begin in the Dominican Republic’s Cordillera Central. Continue with Spanish classes, hike to a waterfall, live with a homestay family, and enjoy Jarabacoa’s fresh mountain air. Spend afternoons working on local infrastructure projects to address the water access and sanitation needs of rural communities. Spend a day at the beach and then continue your experience in the East. Here you will work on infrastructure service projects in bateyes, communities with a complicated history of Haitian immigration and sugar cane cultivation. Spend your last days on the coast enjoying the beach town of Bayahibe, where you can snorkel, swim, and relax.

The Spanish Immersion semester features homestay experiences for approximately a week in each of the countries the group visits. Though the students stay with another student of the same gender during the homestay weeks and spend time with the group for activities during the day, staying with a local host family requires a slightly higher level of independence and responsibility. Spanish Immersion students enjoy interactive morning immersion courses and split the rest of their time with community service and adventure activities.

Quote by: Kelsey Smith Middlebury, Vermont

What Other Program Types Are Available?

Costa Rica

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