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.

I really enjoyed my time in Mexico with CIEE. The program provided a lot of support and allowed me to improve my Spanish while also providing opportunities to explore the city and go to cultural events. The city is in a great location and allowed me to travel some as well. CIEE’s class allowed me to learn more about local, colloquial Spanish sayings. I would highly recommend this program for anyone who was looking to improve their Spanish and learn more about the culture that they were studying in.

Ciee Yucatan is based in Merida which is an incredible city. There are cultural events in the centro every weekend and during the week there are so many museums and things to see in the city. I constantly felt like I had something to do. I also felt completely safe in the city and would love to go back. It is in close proximity to many Mayan Ruins and there is an awesome beach named Progreso forty minutes from the city. I loved my experience and am so thankful to ciee for such a great experience. The staff was incredible at Yucatan and my host family was amazing. I can’t wait to go back!