Journeys Abroad - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - High School and College Students

  Mexico

Puerto Vallarta

  United States

Chicago

Term: Summer 
Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: July 1-July 31

Description: High School Students:
Your Journey Abroad will take you to one of the safest, most beautiful cities on the continent and immerse you in a new, vibrant culture and language. Besides a lifetime of memories and skills, your Journey Abroad will actually earn you thousands of dollars!  Consider that college admissions and merit-based financial aide is largely based on what makes you different from your peers.  When weighing whether to admit a student and how much scholarship money to award them, colleges look for more than just GPA, tests scores, and athletic activities.

College:
The Puerto Vallarta study abroad program is for the serious Spanish student who values the opportunity to explore themselves and the culture in which they are immersed.  College students will take courses through the University of Guadalajara in Puerto Vallarta campus. Credits earned at the University of Guadalajara in Puerto Vallarta campus are recognized by most American universities and will count towards the necessary amount of credits needed to earn your bachelors degree at your home institution.

Highlights: Students will love Puerto Vallartas endless, sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean and quaint downtown with cobblestone streets.  Beaches are public and easily accessed from where students will be living.  Puerto Vallarta is on a large bay, brimming with dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and other marine water life. Interestingly, there are no sharks. Like most Latin American towns, Puerto Vallarta has an easily navigated public transportation system.  After students Puerto Vallarta orientation upon arrival, they will be experts in hailing a bus and jumping on to their desired destination. A favorite activity of Puerto Vallarta residents is strolling the Malecon, or boardwalk, that runs along the ocean through downtown.

Included in your Journeys Abroad tuition are four Vallarta Adventures that take place each Saturday. The Journeys Abroad class will embark upon a different adventure each Saturday morning. They could be any of the following: jungle jeep safari, jungle canopy tours, snorkeling tours, sailing, a tour to a surrounding village, mountain/ beach tour on horseback, deep sea fishing, going to a soccer game in Guadalajara, or a variety of other fun tours in and around Puerto Vallarta. If students are uncomfortable with any of the chosen excursions, accommodations will be made for them to choose an adventure more suitable to their preferences. Tours will be conducted through Vallarta Adventures tour company, which has an absolutely impeccable reputation for safety, quality, and friendliness of their day tours.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: USD 3,100

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 12

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Journeys Abroad's Mission Statement: Journeys Abroad takes high school and college students to one of Mexico's most beautiful and pristine towns, Puerto Vallarta, for one month. Journeys Abroad was begun by award winning educators to provide an exciting and safe travel abroad experience for students. The Journeys Abroad experience is extremely affordable; students stay with families from one of Puerto Vallarta's most respected private schools, Colegio Vancouver. Students will take intensive Spanish classes in the mornings and have the afternoons available for going to Vallarta's sandy beaches, playing sports, cooking classes, sports, dance lessons, service, or exploring Vallarta's colonial charm. Two evenings/week, students will have a "cultural seminar" that will focus on certain aspects of the Mexican culture. The seminars consist of lectures, field trips, and group discussion. Each Saturday, students will go on a "Vallarta Adevnture" with the resident group adviser (Chris Adrian, M.Ed., University of Notre Dame). Adventures will include: jungle safaris, snorkeling, island tours, village excursions, horseback riding on the beach and in the jungle, attending professional soccer matches, marine life observations, and more! The price includes round-trip flight, room and board, Saturday adventures, diploma, course work, and more.

Year Founded: 2008