Arcos Journeys Abroad

From our first phone call with Brent when we were asking about the origins of the program, to my email with Cata when we needed to change travel plans home owing to a family emergency, the caretaking and communication in the program let us know we were in the hands of something special. Arcos' reputation is what led us to investigate, learning about the program for ourselves is what had us enroll, and my daughter's personal experience is why she hasn't stopped talking about it since she came home after the program over the summer. In a world where learning and "interacting" has become more and more digitized and virtual, this experience was essentially human and present. Learning the language, yes; but also the culture, the geology, the history, the community. The program leaders, homestay hosts and teachers spearheading the whole adventure were top-notch. We give this whole experience a strong, full-throated: "RECOMMEND!"

I absolutely loved my experience with Arcos. The staff were all incredibly kind and welcoming, and always just a phone call away. The communication around the program was exceptional, and neither my parents nor I ever felt confused or out of the loop before and during the program. The peers I met and friends I made were similarly some of the kindest people I've had the pleasure of spending time with and getting to know better.

Not only being in a Spanish-speaking country, but also being in a Spanish-speaking household helped to cement my learning, and I strongly believe immersion and a homestay are the best ways to effectively and efficiently learn a new language. Even though I went to Costa Rica to develop my language skills, I got to participate in tons of cultural activities (dancing, cooking, going to an animal sanctuary, art classes, etc.) and excursions (La Fortuna waterfall and Jaco Beach for surfing), and expand my knowledge and appreciation of the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture.

The level of organization and thoughtful activities were outstanding. Everyone from staff in the US to staff in Oaxaca and host families were beyond wonderful. A student had a health incident during the program and the response could not have been better—I would feel very safe sending even a young teen on this program. My child had a life changing experience and her language skills improved a great deal too, Loved it would recommend to anyone. Highly recommend. Can’t say enough about the teachers and home stay.

So far I’ve been on two Arcos excursions, Costa Rica and Argentina, and I’m happy to say that I loved both of them. Arcos, being smaller, tends to be very community oriented, and everyone in the company is very involved with people in the community that you stay in. My favorite part about Arcos is their flexibility, they cater to people with various needs and are more than happy to go the extra mile if you ask. My homestay was wonderful both years, and the activities we did really left me feeling like I took a piece of the place home with me. I love the variety that they offer by letting high school students explore in their free time while still offering support to those that are less travel savvy. They explained the subway system in Buenos Aires wonderfully, and I never had any trouble with feeling unsafe because we were educated on the first day of the program on how to navigate and what to do. Overall, I recommend Arcos to anyone that loves traveling and true immersion in a culture.

This summer camp was a life time experience. Walking through the Camino de Santiago we discovered new places, met new people and learned many interesting things. The people that took care of us were absolutely incredible and they made sure that we were fine throughout the experience. The landscapes we saw and the small villages we went were abnormal as well as the hole team that made everyone feel welcome and confident. It was one of the best camps I’ve ever been to and I strongly recommend it to everyone who loves discovering new things!