Choose your Summer 2026 Program!
| Experience the electric energy of Argentina’s capital, where historic charm meets a world-class creative scene. Designed for high school students ages 14–18, this 14-day residency blends intensive Spanish immersion with hands-on studio workshops in drawing and printmaking. It’s an invitation to explore the city’s iconic avenues and the colorful streets of La Boca through the lens of a local artist.
Buenos Aires serves as a premier artistic hub, where world-class museums and historic ateliers provide a dynamic backdrop for students to refine their craft. This 14-day residency is structured for those who wish to explore the visual arts while achieving measurable progress in Spanish fluency. The curriculum centers on a daily integration of morning language classes at an accredited institute and afternoon studio workshops led by local professional artists. By residing in vetted homestays and exploring the city’s creative districts—from the murals of La Boca to the galleries of Recoleta—students gain a deep, tactile connection to the heritage of the Río de la Plata.
Program Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Eligibility: 14-18 years of age
Group Size: Typical cohort of 6–8 participants (Min: 4 / Max: 10)
Focus: Fine Arts (Drawing & Printmaking)
Level of Spanish: Open to all levels (No previous Spanish required)
Accommodation: Homestay (2-3 students per home)
Arrival & Departure Airport: EZE (Ezeiza International Airport)
Room & Board | Onsite Directors & 24/7 Support | Art Workshops | Excursions | Cultural Activities | Airport Transfers | International Medical Insurance
A legacy of art for the people. Buenos Aires has always been a hub for bold expression. This residency dives into the history of the artistas del pueblo—a group of 1920s artists who used printmaking to share stories of the city’s working-class life. Based in the legendary district of La Boca, these workshops connect students directly to this heritage of artistic activism.
Under the guidance of professional artists and university professors, students move from the streets to the studio:
Week 1: Foundations & Woodcuts: Participants begin by sketching the iconic architecture and colorful ship-lapped houses of La Boca. Back in the atelier, these drawings are transferred to wood blocks and carved to produce traditional black-and-white prints.
Week 2: Advanced Color & Design: Students build on their foundations by adding color matrices to their work. This phase involves experimenting with layered inks and textures to develop a professional-grade portfolio that reflects their personal style and their time in Argentina.
The Atelier: Work takes place in a fully equipped professional studio specializing in large-scale wood prints. No previous artistic experience is required—the curriculum provides 24 hours of technical immersion (12 hours per week) designed for students to engage deeply with one of the world's most artistic neighborhoods.
A sophisticated daily blend of academic and creative immersion. The Buenos Aires residency is designed for students to master Spanish in the morning and refine their artistic craft in the afternoon, ensuring that every day is a balanced exploration of language and studio practice.
8:30 AM: Breakfast at the Homestay. Students begin the day with a traditional Argentine breakfast at their vetted host residence.
9:30 AM: Spanish Language Immersion. Intensive morning sessions (9:30 AM – 1:30 PM) at our partner language school focus on communicative fluency and Argentine cultural nuances.
1:30 PM: Lunch & Cohort Bond. The group gathers for lunch at a local café near the institute, experiencing the city's famous cosmopolitan culinary scene.
3:00 PM: Professional Art Workshops. Afternoons are dedicated to studio work (12 hours per week) at the atelier in La Boca. Under the guidance of professional instructors, students progress from field sketching to advanced printmaking.
6:00 PM: Cultural Discovery. Days conclude with guided explorations, such as visiting the MALBA museum, exploring the San Telmo markets, or touring the city's iconic street art.
8:00 PM: Dinner & Reflections. Students return home for a meal and conversation with their host family—the ideal environment for practicing Spanish in a natural, residential setting.
10:00 PM: Evening Curfew.
Where classical elegance meets modern creative energy. Buenos Aires is a city that lives through its art, from grand colonial architecture to contemporary studio practices.
The San Telmo Immersion: Students explore the Feria de antigüedades, one of the world's most famous street festivals, to discover the historical curiosities and antiques that define the city's identity.
Printmaking & Visual Mastery: Under the guidance of professional instructors, participants engage in the full lifecycle of printmaking—from initial sketching and wood carving to the final application of color and paper transfer.
Linguistic Growth: Through daily 4-hour Spanish sessions, students build the confidence to navigate the city and engage meaningfully with their hosts and local artistic communities.
Expeditions that pull back the curtain on the Río de la Plata. These curated journeys take students beyond the city limits to explore the unique river deltas and international borders that shape the region's complex history.
El Tigre River Delta: A scenic boat ride through the islands of the Tigre River, followed by a traditional Argentine asado and a visit to the historic old market.
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay: A full-day international excursion across the river to explore the UNESCO World Heritage streets of Colonia, offering a profound lesson in colonial architecture and regional history.
The Urban Canvas: Guided walking tours through the most artistic neighborhoods, where students use the city itself as a sketchbook for their afternoon workshops.
A sophisticated 14-day residency. At Arcos Journeys Abroad, we manage the complex logistics of a metropolitan art program so students can focus on their creative and linguistic development. From the historic ateliers of La Boca to the UNESCO sites across the Río de la Plata, every detail is curated for safety, inspiration, and growth.
Intensive Language Study: 40 hours of professional Spanish instruction at an accredited institute in the historic city center, focusing on Argentine culture and communicative fluency.
Professional Art Workshops: 24 total hours (12 hours per week) of hands-on studio time led by local artists and university professors, covering drawing, woodblock carving, and printmaking.
Vetted Urban Homestays: 13 nights of accommodations in secure, residential apartments. Includes daily breakfast, dinner, and a daily lunch at a local café.
International Expedition: Round-trip ferry transportation, guided tours, and entrance fees for the full-day excursion to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
Regional Discovery: All transportation and activities for the El Tigre River Delta boat excursion and the San Antonio de Areco gaucho ranch visit.
Cultural Access: Guided entries to the MALBA (Museum of Latin American Art), tango performances, and mural tours of the city’s creative districts.
Global Protection: Comprehensive international medical insurance and all local ground transportation, including professional airport transfers (EZE).
Not Included: Round-trip airfare to Buenos Aires (EZE) and personal spending money for souvenirs or additional snacks.
Student well-being is the primary metric of success. Arcos combines the cosmopolitan energy of Argentina with a rigorous supervision model built for high school travelers. This framework provides the professional structure and local expertise necessary for a secure and confident experience in the "Paris of South America."
Our Argentina Resident Directors bring decades of experience in urban group management. They are available around the clock to provide immediate support, local expertise, and a direct line of communication for families.
Homestays are located in safe, residential districts with convenient access to the school via the Subte (subway). These secure apartment residences offer a "home base" within the city’s most established neighborhoods.
Metropolitan discovery is balanced with a strict 10:00 PM curfew and a mandatory buddy system, ensuring a structured and predictable environment for every student.
From real-time flight monitoring to supervised airport transfers at EZE, every aspect of student transit is managed by our veteran staff to ensure a coordinated journey.
A native porteña with a lifelong passion for cultural exchange. Beatriz Barragán brings decades of expertise to the Buenos Aires residency. A graduate in Tourism from the Universidad del Salvador, she is a polyglot fluent in English, French, and Portuguese, and is currently completing her certification as a DELE Spanish instructor. As a mother and seasoned traveler, Beatriz balances professional mentorship with a deep commitment to student well-being. Her immense knowledge of Argentine history, art, and philosophy ensures that every participant gains a sophisticated and secure connection to the heart of the "City of Books."
"The printmaking workshops in La Boca were unlike anything I’ve done in school. Working in a professional atelier with a university professor gave me a whole new perspective on my art. I came home with a portfolio I’m actually proud of and a much deeper understanding of Argentine history." — Ainsley, 11th Grade, St. Agnes Academy, Houston, TX
"I was nervous about staying in a big city like Buenos Aires, but my host family made it feel like home immediately. We spent every dinner practicing Spanish and talking about the day's excursions. Crossing the river to Uruguay for the day was definitely the highlight of the trip!" — Idalia, 10th Grade, LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts), Alhambra, CA
"This program strikes the perfect balance between serious art study and exploring the city. One afternoon we were carving woodblocks, and the next we were at a world-class museum or touring the San Telmo markets. It’s an incredibly sophisticated way to spend a summer." — Malin, 11th Grade, Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, CA
Not at all. While the workshops are held in a professional atelier and led by university-level instructors, the curriculum is designed to accommodate all skill levels. Whether you are building a portfolio for college applications or picking up a carving tool for the first time, our instructors provide individualized guidance to ensure every student produces a high-quality collection of prints.
Safety is our primary metric of success. Students travel within the Arcos "Group Bubble," meaning all commutes to the language school, the atelier in La Boca, and group excursions are supervised by our Resident Directors. We utilize the city's established Subte (subway) and private transport, ensuring students are never navigating the metropolitan environment alone.
Our homestays are located in the secure, residential neighborhoods of the city. Argentine host families are famously warm and social; you will have your own bed and a quiet place to study, but you'll also be part of the daily rhythm of the home. Sharing breakfast and dinner with your hosts is often the highlight of the program and the fastest way to improve your Spanish fluency.
