Iguana Abroad

Program Reviews

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Mark
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

So much better than just Spanish classes

This course was honestly exactly what I was looking for and more. I always feel as though just learning any language only in a classroom is never really going to get you to a fluent level, which Iguana Abroad sort of proved to me. I love the way that everything that happened in the course was also a way of learning Spanish, and I always learn most of any language being in a real situation and talking it, listening to it, making friends in it. I improved my Spanish to more than even what I was expecting with Iguana Abroad especially just over a few weeks. This is a brilliant course, great team and I totally recommend to everyone! 10/10!

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Madeline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Iguanas for life!

Iguana abroad has been one of the best experiences of my life and I'm sure it will be for lots of other people. Not only did I learn a lot of Spanish (and a lot more than even from 6 years at school) but I also learned so much about Mexico and travelling as well. I made so many amazing friends who I will know forever and have so many special memories from this course. I would highly recommend iguana abroad to anybody who needs to learn Spanish or just to have the best time travelling.

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Natalie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Trip of a Lifetime

The three weeks I spent in Mexico with Iguana Abroad were absolutely life changing. Not only did I learn more Spanish than I ever thought I would, I also grew and changed as a person. One thing I loved about the course was the amazing group vibe that there was – everyone on the course was so sociable, kind, welcoming and fun that by the end I felt totally at home in Mexico and I felt like I had known everyone on IA for a lot longer than three weeks. Most importantly, the sociable group vibes on the trip were not just between the other US/European participants on Iguana Abroad, but also with all our Mexican friends, language teachers, IA staff members, and all the other amazing people that we met during the program - I won't forget any of you. ¡Saludos amigos!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Chapulines!
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Mia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My first time abroad!

I absolutely loved the Iguana Abroad course. I made some lifelong friends that I will know forever, and improved my Spanish a long way beyond what I was expecting to in just a month long course. I read some of the other reviews and it looks like a few others are thinking it also, I’d love to come back for another course with Iguana Abroad - or maybe to move to Mexico for around 6 months or longer sometime in the next year or two. This was also my first travel abroad, and now I want to do it over and over and over!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Probably just signing up right at the start and making that decision to sign up and come to Iguana Abroad - I was really scared about travelling alone, and also to Mexico. It was great talking to Harry over Zoom right at the start, he did so much to help answer my questions and I actually applied that same day.
Pros
  • Everything was so smooth and well organised and easy to do. The start to the end support.
  • Airport pickup
  • Diving (belly flopping) into the river at Las Estacas with the whole group!
Cons
  • Making some of your best friends and memories - and then having to go home at the end was sad.
  • I can't think of another one - maybe that it was pretty hot some days
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Vince
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Iguana Abroad is the World's Best Language Course 2023

Iguana Abroad is like no other language course out there, and I have been to four others and spent a long time online looking at pretty much all the options (I’m a bit of an overseas language course connoisseur/addict). A good way to describe Iguana Abroad, and when my friends/parents asked, Iguana Abroad is what I called the “whole package” sort of deal. To explain, most other courses out there (for any language) only give you events, or the classes, if you’re lucky then both, but not the travel or exploring part - or maybe the other way round, as in with some travelling/events, but no language classes - but basically always one or the other. After coming to this course and some others in the past as well, in my opinion Iguana Abroad is really leading the way in the language immersion scene in basically any country - and definitely for Spanish. If you want everything – events, classes, travel, exploring, friends, memories, culture and genuine experiences – this is the course for you.

What would you improve about this program?
That it was too difficult to find online - I had to look for quite a while to come across Iguana Abroad amongst many other immersion courses first. My advice would be to make Iguana Abroad's immersion courses appear more easily, its too much of a "hidden gem".
Pros
  • Quality of the Program Directors Harry and Harry
  • The fact that this course doesn't cut ANY corners
  • Nothing and nobody is left disregarded - IA is complete immersion in the language and the course itself
Cons
  • None
  • None
  • None
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Tom
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Iguana Abroad!

I can’t recommend Iguana Abroad enough for anyone who is interested in learning real Spanish and experiencing “la vida mexicana”! The best trip I’ve ever done abroad period, and by far the most Spanish I’ve ever learnt in 4 weeks. The classes were exceptional and all the trips around Mexico were incredible. Hard to choose a highlight but I think the best moment for me (among many) was the Mexican cookery class in the first week when we learned to cook authentic “mole” sauce with Fernanda and Nohemí – delicioso! Gracias Iguana Abroad for the experience of a lifetime… I promise I will be back!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Take every opportunity to speak Spanish, whenever you can! Don't be shy. You won't regret it
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Perfect for learning Spanish
  • Beautiful country
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Stephanie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spanish Immersion, Amigos and Sunshine

I arrived on Iguana Abroad with a basic level of Spanish after doing a language program in Chile last year. Even though I spent a month on my previous immersion program I never felt very confident speaking to native speakers when I was there, especially because the accent in Chile is quite hard and people tend to speak quite quickly. When I was looking for programs in Latin America this was really my main aim - to start speaking confidently with native speakers and feel comfortable speaking the language in different situations. For this reason I am so glad I chose Iguana Abroad! The Iguana Abroad program really helps you improve your Spanish quickly and feel comfortable speaking the language because you are speaking it every day with different people and once you arrive you really start to feel immersed in Mexican life. The lessons were all with native speakers and there were also a lot of immersion activities and weekend trips which made the program really varied and interesting. I found the weekend trips to be particularly useful because as well as being sociable they were also a great way to meet new people from around Mexico which helps you get used to understanding different Spanish accents. Overall a perfect program and a great experience!

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Poppy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Well organized and interesting program

A well-organized and interesting program. The Spanish teaching was really good and there were a lot of opportunities for Spanish immersion over the course of the trip. After the Spanish classes there were often cultural events organized which I found really helped solidify the Spanish that you learn during the day, as well as helping you to feel a part of the local community and make friends with Mexicans (which really helps with your Spanish progress). The weekend trips were also really interesting - I especially liked the trips to Tepoztlán and Xochimilco. For me the whole experience of being in Mexico was so stimulating and vibrant, I really didn't want to leave at the end of the program. If you come from a cold part of the US like I do the Mexican sunshine is also a plus!

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Ellie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Gracias Iguana Abroad!

I don’t know where to start.. Do I start with the wonderful sense of community on the trip? Or maybe the Spanish lessons (our awesome teacher Cesar!), the weekend trips, the pre-arrival care to make sure we were ready to fly to Mexico and begin our immersion experience? Or maybe the small details – the Mexican hospitality, the IA team making sure we felt happy comfortable and safe at all times … Or the food (no description of this trip could be complete without the delicious Mexican food!).. All I can say is that I had the time of my life… Thank you Harry, Harry and Priscila for making the trip so special… I really hope I can come be back one day and do it all over again... ¡Gracias!

Pros
  • Being a part of the local Mexican community
  • Learning a lot of Spanish
  • So much good food
Cons
  • None
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David
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great people, great Spanish learning and beautiful Mexico

I went into this experience not knowing what to expect but in the end I had the best summer of my life. We went to Aztec ruins, this incredible natural park in the jungle and even visited the third highest natural monolith in the world! During the week (Monday to Friday) you will be doing Spanish classes which are really helpful, and on the weekends you travel as a group to beautiful and interesting places around Mexico. They also organize a Mexican cookery class which was one of the highlights of the trip for me personally as Mexican food is such a huge part of the culture, and there are various other "immersion events" as well. The trip was really well organized and it really pushes you to advance your Spanish and gain the confidence to speak naturally to native Spanish speakers. 10/10 experience.

Pros
  • Some of the travel destinations were just incredible
  • I really got on with the others in the group
  • Great for boosting your Spanish quickly