Choose your Summer 2026 Program!
| Master Spanish in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada while immersing yourself in the historic heart of Andalusia. From the labyrinthine streets of the Albaicín to the majesty of the Alhambra, this program offers a sophisticated balance of academic rigor and cultural discovery for high school students aged 14-18.
Learn Spanish under the Andalusian sky in Granada, Spain. This captivating city, a vibrant cultural capital steeped in history, is home to the iconic Alhambra palace and boasts Europe's best-preserved Moorish quarter, the Albaicin. This Arcos Journeys Abroad program provides superior academic instruction at the Instituto Mediterráneo Sol (iNMSOL), a Cervantes-accredited center renowned for its communicative approach to language mastery since 1992. Leveraging over 20 years of on-site expertise, Arcos Journeys Abroad curates a balanced itinerary of academic rigor and professional discovery. From studying the history of the Catholic Monarchs in the Royal Chapel to exploring the alpine villages of Las Alpujarras and the Mediterranean coast, every excursion is staff-led to ensure safety and deep educational context. We invite you to join our immersive program for a high-impact journey that significantly enhances your Spanish skills while providing a safe and engaging gateway into the soul of Andalusia.
Program Location: Granada, Spain
Eligibility: 14-18 years of age
Group Size: Typical cohort of 8–15 participants (Min: 5 / Max: 20)
Focus: Spanish Immersion & Culture
Level of Spanish: Accommodates all Spanish levels (Beginner to Advanced)
Accommodation: Homestay (2-3 students per home)
Arrival & Departure Airport: GRX (Federico Garcia Lorca Airport)
Room & Board | Tuition | Onsite Directors & 24/7 Support | Excursions | Cultural Activities | Airport Transfers | International Medical Insurance
Our daily schedule is the result of over two decades of experience refining the balance between academic learning and authentic cultural immersion. Every day is intentionally structured by our veteran directors to maximize language acquisition while ensuring the highest standards of student supervision and safety.
7:30 AM: Breakfast with your homestay
8:30 AM: Walk to Spanish class
9:00 AM: Spanish class
1:00 PM: Free time, walk home for lunch
2:00 PM: Enjoy lunch and siesta at your homestay
5:00 PM: Cultural activity (Ex. Flamenco Performance or City Tour)
8:30 PM: Dinner at homestay
11:00 PM: Curfew; relax, and a get a good night's sleep
Learn from expert faculty at the Cervantes Accredited Instituto Mediterráneo Sol (iNMSOL), a leader in Spanish language instruction since 1992 located in the historic Realejo neighborhood.
Classes run Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with a mid-morning break to recharge. Students enjoy small class sizes with a teacher-to-student ratio never exceeding 8 students per class.
2 weeks, 1 class (30 hours)
3 weeks, 1 class (45 hours)
4 weeks, 1 class (60 hours)
The Arcos curriculum comes to life through a diverse range of cultural activities and excursions. Students explore the city’s rich heritage with art, music and dance workshops, guided tours of Granada's historic neighborhoods and must-see historic sites.
Alhambra Palace Tour: Discover this UNESCO World Heritage site with specialized guides, exploring the intricate Nasrid architecture and the botanical legacy of the Moorish kings.
Las Alpujarras: Travel into the Sierra Nevada mountains to explore the ancient Moorish villages, hiking from village to village with your Arcos Program Director to discover the unique alpine culture of the region.
Nerja Mediterranean Beach Trip: Enjoy a full-day journey to the stunning Costa del Sol complete with beach volleyball, kayaking, and paddleboarding and a traditional Andalusian paella lunch on the Mediterranean shore, fully supervised by our veteran on-site directors.
Flamenco Performance & Dance Class: Experience the profound emotional and musical heritage of the Romani people of Granada inside of the historic caves of Sacromonte.
Cathedral & Royal Chapel Tour: Witness the artistry of the Spanish Empire with an expert-led tour of this late Gothic and Renaissance masterpiece. Commissioned by Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, the Cathedral's gilded Royal Chapel serves as the final resting place of the Catholic Monarchs.
Arabic Marquetry Workshop: Learn the ancient craft of decorative woodworking with master artists in a hands-on workshop where you will create your own geometric designs while learning about the city's enduring Islamic artistic influence.
Renowned as one of Europe’s safest and most walkable university cities, Granada provides a secure, welcoming environment supported by our 20+ years of on-site expertise. Our veteran directors provide a 24/7 staff-led safety net—from vetted historic homestays to professional arrival protocols—ensuring students enjoy a high-support journey into the heart of Andalusia.
Our on-site directors are bilingual (English/Spanish) with extensive cross-cultural experience and a deep, personal passion for sharing their local heritage. Many of our leaders are certified professional tour guides and university-educated experts who have spent decades managing international student groups.
Experience Spanish culture and language immersion with our carefully selected and vetted homestays. Students are placed with families and roommates by our experienced Arcos Housing Director based on preferences and dietary needs. Each home is an easy 15-25 minute walk from the language institute and offers a safe, supportive environment for Spanish immersion. Students enjoy three homemade meals daily, weekly laundry, and WiFi. Host families typically host 2-3 students, with a nightly curfew of 11:00 PM. We monitor the quality of care provided by each host family through participant feedback and evaluations upon the completion of every program.
With over 20 years of experience managing international student travel, our headquarters team in Austin, Texas maintains a rigorous 24/7 safety net for every participant. Experienced on-site directors are available around the clock in case of emergency. Trained in comprehensive health and safety protocols, our headquarters and on-site leadership provide a direct line of communication for parents, ensuring expert guidance and support is always a phone call away.
Every student is covered by a premium international medical insurance policy with Cigna Global. We have established relationships with local hospitals such as Hospital Vithas Granada to ensure immediate care if needed.
Our headquarters team and on-site Program Directors provide a seamless, high-support arrival and departure experience in Granada. From real-time flight monitoring and professional airport transfers to direct WhatsApp communication with parents and students, every aspect of your transit is supervised by our veteran staff to ensure a safe, coordinated journey from the moment you land until your final departure home.
Marcell Doerrier was born in London and raised in Granada. He brings over a decade of expertise in international education to the Arcos Journeys Abroad team. A former Erasmus Program Coordinator and American student homestay manager, Marcell combines logistical mastery with deep local roots to ensure a safe, engaging, and immersive Spanish experience for high school students.
"The best summer of my life. My Spanish improved more in 3 weeks than in 2 years of school." — Sofia, 11th Grade, St. Stephen's Episcopal School, Austin, TX
"This is a really great summer program for high school students. Arcos takes care of everything." — Addy, 10th Grade, Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA
"I made great friends and improved my accent in Spanish. My program director was very enthusiastic and knew lots of history around the city." — Alex, 10th Grade, St. Margaret's Episcopal School, Newport Beach, CA
Granada is widely considered one of the safest cities in Spain for high school study abroad students. Its walkable city center and student-friendly atmosphere make it an ideal setting for teenagers. At Arcos Journeys Abroad, we enhance this natural safety with 24/7 on-site supervision by our local Directors, carefully vetted homestays in secure neighborhoods, and a comprehensive emergency protocol. We provide every student with a 24-hour emergency contact number to ensure they are never more than a phone call away from assistance.
No, we welcome high school study abroad students of all Spanish levels - from absolute beginners to heritage speakers. On the first day at Instituto Mediterraneo Sol (iNMSOL), students take a placement exam to ensure they are grouped with peers at their exact proficiency level. Because our program focuses on immersion, students often find that their Spanish improves more during a few weeks of daily life in Granada than it does during a full year in a traditional classroom.
Arcos Journeys Abroad is proud to partner with Instituto Mediterraneo Sol (iNMSOL). Upon successful completion of the program, students receive an official certificate from iNMSOL. These credits are widely accepted by U.S. high schools for world language requirements and can often be transferred to universities later. We recommend that students speak with their high school guidance counselor prior to the program to discuss the credit transfer process.
Arcos Journeys Abroad is the premier high school division of Arcos Learning Abroad. Since 2020, we have provided transformative, expert-led international education experiences for students throughout the US and abroad.
