Overview
Our program brings you the best of both worlds: the consistency you rely on and the flexibility your group needs.
This Spanish language tour in Mérida combines immersive cultural excursions, guided tours to historic sites, homestays with local families, and language classes at local universities. Highlights include Uxmal, the Emerald Coast, and the Mayan World Museum of Mérida, making this one of our most popular language programs in Mexico.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Mérida
Please note: Tour must depart North America on Sundays.
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Begin homestay
Our home for the next six evenings will be with our homestay families in Merida, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided daily. Mérida was founded in 1542 by the Conquistador Francisco de Montejo y León and named after the town of Mérida in Extremadura, Spain. It was built on the site of the Maya city of T'hó, which was also called the City of Five Hills in reference to its pyramids. Today Mérida retains an abundance of beautiful colonial buildings and maintains its reputation as a cultural center, featuring multiple museums, art galleries, restaurants, movie theatres, and shops.
Overnight in homestay
Day 2
Spanish language and culture classes
Participate in language classes focused on language skills and cultural understanding.
Traditional dance class
Overnight in homestay
Day 3
Spanish language and culture classes
Participate in language classes focused on language skills and cultural understanding.
Mexican school visit
Visit a Mexican school to meet local students, practice Spanish, and experience how schools there compare to those at home. Please note: school visits may not be available on certain dates when schools are not in session.
Overnight in homestay
Day 4
Spanish language and culture classes
Participate in language classes focused on language skills and cultural understanding.
Mayan World Museum of Mérida visit
Dive into Mayan culture at the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. Explore galleries on the ancient Maya, the impact of the Spanish Conquest, the natural Yucatán environment, and Maya life today.
Overnight in homestay
Day 5
Spanish language and culture classes
Participate in language classes focused on language skills and cultural understanding.
Uxmal guided excursion
What did this region look like before the Spaniards arrived? Journey to Uxmal, one of the largest and most powerful ancient Mayan cities, to find out. A licensed local guide will lead you through wooded valleys and wide, uncrowded plazas, showcasing some of the best-proportioned Mayan architecture. Visit the restored Magician’s Pyramid, a three-tiered structure built between the 6th and 10th centuries, the grand Governor’s Palace, and the Nunnery Quadrangle—four buildings surrounding a central courtyard, reminiscent of a monastery.
Hacienda Sotuta de Peon visit
This restored agricultural estate shows how agave plants were grown and processed into fiber used for rope and textiles. Once a major economic driver in the region, this industry earned the nickname “Green Gold” for its impact on Yucatán in the mid-19th century.
Overnight in homestay
Day 6
Reserva Ecológica El Corchito visit
Explore a protected nature reserve with clear pools, natural cenotes, and winding mangrove swamps. Reserva Ecológica El Corchito offers a close look at the region’s coastal ecosystem.
Beach club day pass
Overnight in homestay
Overnight in hotel
Day 7
Return home
TourFlex: Your Experience, Your Way
Explore Your Way
- Add experiences like theater tickets or unique excursions
- Swap activities for ones that better serve your group
- Extend the learning through go-aheads or stay-behinds
Go Your Way
- Choose the most accessible departure airport for your group
- Opt for 2-, 3-, or 4-star hotels that are centrally located or a convenient ride to major itinerary attractions
Dine Your Way
- Opt for pre-selected meals or encourage exploration by dining on your own
- Enjoy 2-3 course, culturally representative meals or opt for 3-course, authentic dinners at local restaurants
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Language-intensive classes (details in itinerary)
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Scenes from Mexico
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.