CIEE College Study Abroad in Yucatán, Mexico

From meeting new life-long friends to seeing one of the seven wonders of the world, studying in Mérida was an amazing experience that I would reccomend to anyone. I went to pool parties, made connections with my now second family, made friends that had connections so tight we are still traveling to see each other after the program, learned all about Mexican culture, and improved my Spanish skills more than I thought to be possible. Mérida is a truly beautiful city and I hope to see others going there.

If I had to describe my experience in one word, it would be unforgettable. Studying abroad with CIEE honestly felt like a dream. Everything about the program exceeded my expectations, from the location to the staff and the people I met. They made my dream of studying abroad come to life in a way I never imagined.

Whenever people ask me how my experience was, I always say the same thing: there are no words or pictures that can truly do it justice. It’s something you have to experience for yourself. The friendships I made, the culture, the food, the music, and the memories are things I’ll carry with me forever.

I learned so much about Mexico, but I also learned a lot about myself. I stepped out of my comfort zone, met incredible people from different places, and made memories that I’ll never forget. The staff genuinely cared about us and made sure we felt safe, supported, and welcomed throughout the entire program.

If you’re thinking about studying abroad, do it. I can honestly say this was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I would choose CIEE all over again without hesitation

I was unsure how the program would be at first but the CIEE staff along with the fellow students in the program were extremely nice and outgoing. The educational program is fun, much of it is immersive cultural and food activities in either Merida or in day trips in other parts of the Yucatan. We learned words in the Mayan language as well as cooked Mayan traditional dishes and discussed/used local ingredients often. Even if you are super interested in history it is still really fun and interesting. Overall it was a great opportunity to meet new people and learn more about Mexican cuisine and culture!

I LOVED Merida! It was so safe, fun, and exciting. There was always something new to do.

These are a few things I did that everyone should experience:
- Both Zoos Centanario and Animaya
- Mercado lucas de Galvez
- Parque de las Americas
- A local dance class
- Outdoor park/ workout area
- All the local museums
- La Negrita Restaurant
- Riding the local bus
- Chichen Itza
- Cenotes
- Progresso Beach
- All the local shopping
- Dancing at Plan De Ayala (Only on Fridays)
- Guyabana icecream
- Gran Museo Maya
- Galerias Mall

I recommend talking to locals whenever you can. Everyone is so kind and they know hidden secrets about the city. I recommend budgeting at least $400 for spending money per month because shopping is a big part of the culture.

My host mom was so sweet, and I loved doing activities with her. She had children, so we played a lot of board games, and we even got to watch their end-of-year dance recital. Make sure if you're busing anywhere that you leave at least 20 minutes cushion time because sometimes the buses can be unpredictable. It does rain, so bring an umbrella or a rain jacket. Also, the streets will flood! This place is perfect for anyone doing a solo or a group trip. 10/10 I recommend :) Also please bring lots of bug spray. You can forget about perfume.

Joining the CIEE Yucatán program has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. From the moment I arrived, I felt supported, welcomed, and inspired to grow both personally and professionally. The program staff were always ready to help, whether it was navigating cultural differences, finding resources for my internship, or simply checking in to see how I was adjusting. They genuinely care about each student, and that made a huge difference in feeling at home so far away from home. Living in Mérida was eye-opening, I loved exploring the vibrant culture regardless my introvertedness, and learning from local communities I’ll miss. The combination of meaningful work, cultural immersion, and travel made every week feel full of purpose. I came away with new skills, lifelong memories, and friendships I truly value. If you are thinking about applying, I wholeheartedly recommend this program. It will challenge you in the best ways and leave you more confident and connected to the world.

The CIEE staff were friendly and supportive and ready to answer any questions I had about Yucatan during my time there. I would highly recommend participating in some sort of study abroad opportunity especially CIEE because they have an incredibly good and well-coordinated program. Studying abroad can be a scary thing to think about at first, but although scary it is also exciting, thrilling, and a great way to make friends, experience new cultures, and explore the world. Words can't explain the unique and life-changing experience it is to study abroad and I am glad I did:)

I went with CIEE for 4 weeks with he language and culture program. I came into the program after 2 years of not studying Spanish in the hope that I could improve before I start up classes again. I have definitely improved my speaking skills while I was here, but I do feel I learned most of it outside of their classes. The classes are periods of learning about topics and then going out and talking to locals about what you just learned. This was useful for me as I need to use new words a couple times before I can remember them. I think that the reason I loved this trip so much was that I met so many amazing people and made amazing friendships throughout the entire trip. I definitely recommend this trip.

I had a great time! The on-site staff was very friendly and available. I did find however, that the off-site staff for CIEE was not very responsive or helpful and often did not supply us (as in students and host families) with reliable information. There needs to be serious improvement of organization. If you like pre-scheduled groups trips, this would be the program for you. We had at least one planned activity a week, so that was nice. Also, though they don't technically include lunch within the program cost, the food in Merida was amazing and very cheap.