Oaxaca, Mexico immersion

Upcoming trips:

March 15-23, 2025: (full) intermediate - Advanced level students

May 24 - May 31, 2025 (5 spots left): Intermediate -Advanced Level students

May 31 - June 8: Beginning 2 (4 spots left)- Intermediate 1 Level Students

Our 8-day, 8-night immersion programs provide you with a unique opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Spanish language and Mexican culture in the breathtaking city of Oaxaca, Mexico! Discover the vibrant charm of Oaxaca, where colorful streets meet rich traditions. We’ll visit gorgeous neighborhoods, eat world-class cuisine, and explore bustling markets filled with artisanal treasures. From its historic center to its lush valleys, Oaxaca offers an unforgettable blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. You’ll take three hours of Spanish class every morning (M-F) with local teachers, while enjoying cultural visits to markets, museums, and city landmarks in the afternoons. A local expert will take us on two full-day guided trips to explore the neighboring towns, visit several markets, see artisan’s workshops up close, and eat in unique restaurants. Each trip is capped at 10 students so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice your Spanish with the other students and the two Language House teachers leading the trip. You can enjoy breakfast each morning at our beautiful hotel before walking to the nearby language school. We’ll have lunch together every day and most dinners are included, as well as a cooking class and a mezcal tasting. We hope you’ll join us for this unforgettable experience in Oaxaca!

Oaxaca’s gorgeous Templo de Santo Domingo.

One of many colorful streets we’ll explore.

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Oaxaca & Welcome Meeting, Dinner Together

Upon arrival in Oaxaca on Saturday, everyone will take local transportation and meet at our hotel. You'll have some time to get settled in and refreshed before we have our orientation meeting over drinks and dinner together in the evening.

Day 2: Full-Day Guided Visit to Tlacolula de Matamoros, Santa María el Tule & Teotitlán del Valle

On this full-day excursion, we’ll begin with Tlacolula de Matamoros, a small village about 20 minutes outside of Oaxaca. We’ll start the visit with the chapel of the “Lord of Tlacolula” and the bustling Sunday market. Next we’ll head to Teotitlán del Valle, where we’ll visit weaver Jacobo Mendoza Ruiz’s workshop, see a full demonstration of natural dying and weaving and have the opportunity to buy masterpieces, made with fine wool and natural dyes. We’ll have lunch in a Zapotec restaurant famous for its Prehispanic food. Finally, we will visit the biggest tree in the world, the giant tree of Santa María el “Tule”, before returning to Oaxaca, where you’ll be free to rest and have dinner on your own.

Day 3: Classes Begin! Lunch, Walking Tour, Dinner

Today you’ll start your Spanish classes! We’ll walk from the hotel to the school and then let the learning begin! After class, we’ll have lunch together and then a walking tour of the top spots to see in the city, including the main pedestrian street, Macedonio Alcalá, Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the Zócalo, Cathedral of Oaxaca, and Mercado Benito Juárez. You can walk back to the hotel with us or explore the market on your own. We end the day with dinner together.

Day 4: Visit the Museo de Culturas & Botanical Garden

After your morning class, we’ll gather to have lunch together. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Museo de culturas, a former convent in the Baroque style, constructed between the 16th and 17th centuries by the Dominican order. The museum offers visitors an immersive journey through the region's history, including significant archaeological finds, exhibits focusing on Oaxaca's colonial era and the diverse indigenous cultures that have shaped the region. We’ll also visit the ethnobotanical garden with a guided tour. You can either walk back to the hotel as a group or spend some time perusing the many shops along the way back before meeting up for dinner as a group.

Day 5: Cooking Class with Casa de los Sabores, Free time

Following your morning classes, we’ll head to the restaurant Casa de los Sabores, for a hands-on cooking class together. The cooking class includes includes a market tour where we’ll learn more about local ingredients, cooking instruction of a full menu, and a mezcal tasting. You’ll also receive the recipes for everything we make. After lunch, you’ll have free time for the rest of the afternoon. We’ll offer an optional Spanish conversation and happy hour in the late afternoon. Dinner on your own.

Day 6: Mercado Benito Juarez, Art Museum, Art Coop

After your morning classes, we’ll walk to the Mercado Benito Juarez for lunch together at one of the market stalls. After lunch, we’ll visit the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (MACO), housed in a 17th-century colonial mansion and focusing on global contemporary art & traditional local art. Finally we’ll visit La Casa de las Artesanías de Oaxaca, a cooperative space where master artisans from Oaxaca's eight regions converge to showcase and sell their handcrafted products. After some downtime in the hotel in the evening, we’ll head out for dinner together as a group.

Day 7: Free time to shop & explore, Mezcal class

After your morning class, we’ll have lunch together as a group. You’ll have the afternoon to explore the city and do any last-minute shopping or sight seeing in the city. We’ll meet up as a group for a mezcal tasting and then you are free to have dinner on your own.

Day 8: Full-Day Guided Handicrafts Tour

Today we’ll enjoy a full-day guided tour! First, we’ll visit the open-air market in Ocotlán de Morelos. Next we’ll head to Santo Tomás Jalietza to see the home of Crispina Navarro Gómez, one of the finest weavers from México. We’ll enjoy lunch in San Martín Tilcajete to taste the traditional food of that region. Next, we’ll see a demo about the “alebrijes” (wooden carvings) in the workshop of Jacobo & María Ángeles. Finally, we’ll visit San Bartolo Coyotepec where we will visit the workshop of Doña Rosa Real de Nieto to see how they make the black pottery by hand. You’ll have some downtime back at the hotel in the early evening to pack your bags and then we’ll enjoy our farewell dinner together that evening.

Day 9: Flights back to the U.S.

It’s time to say goodbye amigos! The program ends today and you’ll head to the airport to take your trip back home! Hasta la próxima, Oaxaca!

PRICING:

8-day, 8- night trip starts at $3700, single occupancy; Double occupancy (limited availability) for discounted price; Final prices determined by number in group.

TRIP INCLUDES:

  • Transportation for all included program activities.  

  • Spanish classes M-F, 3 hours per day.

  • Full program of cultural activities organized by The Language House.

  • Cooking class & mezcal class.

  • Bilingual trip leaders and local guides.

  • Breakfast each morning, 6 lunches, 5 dinners.

  • Entrance fees to museums and activities in itinerary.

  • Meals include non-alcoholic beverages and limited alcohol.

  • All gratuities for activities in itinerary.

TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE:

  • Round-trip airfare from the U.S. to Mexico.

  • Transportation from airport to hotel on day of arrival & departure.

  • Personal items such as laundry, fax or telephone calls, room service, excess baggage charges, medical expenses and private transfers.

  • Activities not included in itinerary.

  • Trip cancellation fees.

  • Travel insurance.

  • Unlimited alcohol at meals.

  • Any increases in the in-tour airfare (included as part of the program cost), airport taxes, security, or fuel surcharges imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included.