Program Reviews

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!

My second year traveling abroad through Arcos was another rewarding experience. Although adjusting to living with a host family and a new roommate is challenging at first, I quickly became comfortable and began enjoying the trip within the first few days. The early excursion to Monte Albán was especially beneficial because it introduced the trip and helped me with the transition. Our program instructor took us out to lunch on the first day so we were able to enjoy local food right away.

One of my favorite aspects of the trip was how much we packed into every day. From attending a Lucha Libre and seeing well-known fighters to learning Spanish and art at school, the itinerary was perfectly balanced.

The highlight of the trip for me was the few minute zip-line over a mountain town where I was able to see houses and animals from high above. I also enjoyed painting Alebrijes and learning about their cultural origins from a family that makes them for a living. Being able to bring home something that I created and share what I learned with my family made the experience even more meaningful.

Overall, this trip taught me that no matter the circumstances, it is possible to have impactful and enjoyable experiences anywhere with anyone. I would recommend any travel abroad experience to anyone and I will forever be proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort-zone and learning so much about the world and myself.

I had an amazing time over the course of this trip. It was very insightful to different cultures and a fun way to learn more about them. We went to many historical sights with wonderful guides telling us the importance of the history conserved by that sight but we also went to more lax fun places throughout the trip as well. I would recommend this trip for anyone who wants to experience some of the culture in Mexico. I would also recommend this trip to anyone starting out their traveling journey so they have an easier time with the planning. Overall this was an great trip and I hope anyone who chooses this has as much fun as I did.

My daughter did the 3-week Costa Rica program this summer and had an amazing time! Everything was smooth and well-orchestrated from the moment she was picked up from the airport in San Jose to the time she hopped on the return flight home. She stayed with a wonderful and warm host family, took daily Spanish classes, did multiple excursions and came home raving about her time in Costa Rica. She begged to stay on for another 3-week program, but we had other things planned. If I had it to do over, I would have had her do two back-to-back programs. It was an amazing way to start the summer.

I had an amazing time on my Arcos trip to Oaxaca. I loved meeting new people that I plan to stay in touch with for a long time, and I had so many new and fun experiences. Overall, this was an amazing trip that I would highly recommend trying an Arcos trip. Oaxaca was an amazing experience for me and I think anyone would have an amazing time. The excursions we went on helped me to experience Mexican culture and helped me see more of Oaxaca. The homestay was so welcoming and fun to interact with and learn from. I loved my trip and I would definitely do it again.

Our two teenage children (age 15 and 17) participated in the Camino hike in June 2025. They both had a fantastic experience, in a small group with Helder as their guide. It was their first time being in Europe and they enjoyed all the sites, food and culture. The hike was challenging on some days with the hot weather, but they pushed through and felt a real sense of accomplishment and camaraderie as they completed pilgrimage. It was a unique and rich experience they will no doubt treasure for the rest of their lives! Very grateful to Arcos for running such a fantastic program.