Studying Spanish in Mexico

For many of you, Mexico is a short plane ride – or even car trip – away, and represents the easiest option for studying Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country.

Mexico in a nutshell

The U.S’s southern neighbour is a country of contrasts. There’s the, sadly typical, chasm between rich and poor which is found in so many Latin American countries, but there are also plenty of positive contrasts too.  The arid sun-scorched landscapes of Baja California versus the rich, green agricultural land of Chiapas. The majestic pre-Aztec pyramids of Teotihuacan versus the busy metropolis of Mexico City,  one of the biggest cities in the world. The daredevil cliff divers of Acapulco versus the traditional farmers of indigenous, rural areas.  Even within the same state you’ll find contrasts.  Quintana Roo in the Yucatan, for example, offers the visitor history in Chichen Itza, unspoilt hippy beaches in Tulum and a decent party scene in Cancun.

Spanish courses

Of course, it’s not actually possible to take a Spanish course in all these places we’ve listed. So let’s take a look at the best Mexican destinations if you’re serious about learning Spanish.

Mexico and Security

Now, if you pay attention to the news, you’ll know that Mexico doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to security.  Drug-related violence and corruption are real problems which successive governments have failed to properly deal with. While there’s no point denying that Mexico has a problem, it is worth noting that the worst of the violence is restricted to areas where foreign visitors are unlikely to venture.  That said, before you plan your trip, we recommend checking out the U.S. State department’s travel advice for Mexico (The latest Travel Advisory was issued 15 Nov 18).

Yucatan

The Yucatan peninsula is a great travel destination.  It has magnificent historical sites, such as Chichen Itza, the jewel of the Mayan civilisation. It also has spectacular white-sand beaches, like those at Playa del Carmen. And then it has Tulum, which combines both history and beach life.  When it comes to Spanish courses, you’re currently limited to just Playa del Carmen, but that’s a great base from which to explore the rest of the area.  You’ll find information on language schools in Playa del Carmen at the end of this article.

Oaxaca & Chiapas

San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas

The Oaxaca coast was a favourite hippy hangout during the sixties and seventies, and still retains pockets of that draft-dodging, spliff-smoking counter-culture now.  Zipolite is a classic backpacker hangout (watch the dangerous undercurrents if you go in the water), but there are less-visited gems up and down the coast too. If you are after somewhere a bit more urban – or with lower temperatures – then head for Oaxaca City itself.  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Oaxaca is flanked by mountains and is a delight for history buffs.   In neighbouring Chiapas, the big draw for foreign visitors is the beautiful colonial town of San Cristobal de las casas (St Christopher of the houses!), famous nowadays for its links with the EZLN guerrilla movement, and the popular uprising led by ‘el comandante Marcos’.

Guanajuato

Guanajuato is one colourful city.  If you like your buildings to be a nice uniform brick colour, then this is not the place for you. It seems like almost every other building in the older areas of the city is painted a vibrant orange, red, purple..actually, any shade or hue you can think of. Heck, even the cathedral is a strange yellowy orange colour.   In fact, this colourful colonial architecture is a major part of the charm, and, together with the area’s other historical attractions, led to Guanajuato being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here is a very small selection of Spanish course providers in Mexico.  Please mention Hablarama.com if you get in touch with any of these schools!

Pending.