The Six most Unmissable Places to Learn Spanish in South America

Best Places to Learn Spanish in South America

One of the easiest ways to pick up a new language is by studying abroad, where you have every opportunity to put your new linguistic skills to the test. Although Spanish language courses in Spain might seem like the obvious choice, the best places to learn Spanish are in South America.

Not only are Spanish-language classes affordable, but local accents are comprehensible, and you also get the chance to explore a new continent.

But it’s a big place to choose from! That’s why we’ve put together this rundown of the best places to learn Spanish in South America.

From the Inca heartland of Cusco to the pampas of Argentina, and from the beaches of Colombia, there are plenty of places to immerse yourself in Spanish in Latin America.

 

Know before you go: where to learn Spanish in South America

 

Comprising 12 distinct countries and covering 6.89 million square miles, South America offers plenty of options for Spanish-language study – and maybe even too many.

 

Before you read our suggestions for the best places to learn Spanish, it’s worth being aware of the following:

 

1. Cost: The price of Spanish lessons varies wildly across the continent. As a rule of thumb, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay have the most expensive classes, while Peru and Bolivia are often the cheapest places in South America to learn Spanish.

2. Accent:

   South American Spanish is generally considered easier to understand than castellano – aka Spanish from Spain. However, the Argentinean and Chilean accents are notoriously complicated to learn – although for many, the Argentinean and Uruguayan accents are the gentlest on the ear as they have a distinctive Italian lilt. Peru and Colombia are widely considered to be the easiest to understand from a non-native speaker’s perspective. Ultimately, in whatever South American country you choose to learn Spanish, it’s likely that this accent will be the one you understand best.

3. Visas:

   Depending on how long you plan to study at a Spanish school in South America, you may need to be aware of the visa situation and how long you can legally remain in the country. You can find up-to-date information on your state department’s or foreign office’s website. Go here for the USA, UK, Canada and Australia.

4. Accommodation:

   One of the best ways to supercharge your Spanish language skills is to stay in a local homestay. This means you live with a local family for the duration of your studies, offering unparalleled opportunities to put into practice the Spanish vocabulary you learned in class.

Would you like to take Spanish lessons in Cusco? Contact us or learn more here.

Best places to learn Spanish in South America

What are the best countries to consider for a Spanish immersion program in Latin America? There are many great locations to choose from, but if we have to narrow it down, we’ll stay with the following Six Unmissable Places to Learn Spanish in South America

 

1. Cusco, Peru

   The former Inca capital, Cusco finds itself pretty high on most South America travellers’ lists due to its proximity to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. But it’s also a buzzing, highland city that makes for a great place to study Spanish in South America.

   Not only are there plenty of Spanish-language schools in Cusco, but it’s also a very international yet authentically Peruvian city, meaning you can enjoy studying abroad while being surrounded by travelers and other learners from across the globe.

   

   What’s more, Cusco is within striking distance of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a fertile valley that formed part of the Inca Empire and is now riddled with Inca ruins and traditional Andean villages. If you fancy a truly immersive Spanish-language experience, you can even study at a Spanish-language school in the Sacred Valley.

   Would you like to take Spanish lessons in Cusco? Contact us or learn more here.

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

   Ah, the Paris of South America! For many travellers, Buenos Aires is the continent’s finest city and the ultimate place to go to learn Spanish. This cosmopolitan city combines grand, French and Italian-style buildings, a passion for tango and carnivorous decadence in its love of a good steak.

   Spanish schools in Buenos Aires put you right in the heart of the action – think joining an impromptu tango dance in the middle of a leafy city square or discovering the nightlife in a city that rarely sleeps. Studying Spanish in Argentina might take you a while as you get your tongue around the “ll,” which is pronounced “sh,” and the lunfardo (aka the city’s extensive slang), but once you do, you’ll certainly feel like a true local.

3. Lima, Peru.

   Peru’s busy capital doesn’t ooze quite the same Latin passion as Buenos Aires, but Lima remains an excellent place to study Spanish. The “City of Kings,” as it was first christened, has the continent’s oldest buildings (we’re talking mid-16th-century-old), sparkling museums packed to the rafters with gold, ceramics and stonework dating back thousands of years, and quite possibly the best food on the continent. If you don’t believe us, you’ve clearly not tried ceviche at one of the city’s trademark cevicherías!

   

   Learning Spanish in Lima, you can expect to find yourself hanging out in the city’s trendiest neighborhood, Miraflores and even hopping on a plane or a bus for a weekend trip exploring the rest of the country, thanks to the city’s excellent transport network.

4. Montevideo, Uruguay

   Although the accent might be similar and they share the banks of the Río de la Plata, the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo couldn’t be more different from Buenos Aires across the water. It’s calmer than its cousin, but combines a modern face with a historic old core that gives way to huge shopping malls and beaches in the southeast. It’s often rated as offering the highest quality of life and safest city on the continent, so if you’re looking for a green city with access to an extensive golden coastline, then you can’t go wrong with studying at a language school in Montevideo.

5. Cartagena, Colombia

   Colombia is a great place to study Spanish in South America as Colombians are known for their neutral accents – meaning you have a better chance of understanding what they’re saying!

   Spanish language schools in Cartagena offer the enviable option of studying in a beautiful colonial city, with access to white-sand beaches blessed with glorious year-round sunshine.

   

   In terms of security, Colombia certainly has become safer in the past few years and is now a popular destination for backpackers. Cartagena receives plenty of tourists, making it a vibrant, multicultural, and affordable city for studying Spanish in South America.

6. Montañita, Ecuador.

   If you’re looking for a truly unique opportunity to study Spanish in Latin America, learning Spanish on the coast in Ecuador, in Montañita, might well be what you didn’t even realize you had in mind.  Living in this funky beach town, you can study Spanish while relaxing on the beach during the afternoons after class.

   It’s also a fantastic opportunity to take surf lessons if you are into watersports. Montañita is a small beach town at only a two-hour bus ride from Guayaquil. It has all the ingredients for an exciting tourist destination and some of Latin America’s best waves. Montañita is located on the coast of Ecuador, just one degree from the equator, and has a tropical climate.

These are currently the hottest destinations to Study Spanish in Latin America. Of course, there are many other destinations too.

We hope our list of Best Places to Learn Spanish in South America was helpful for you. For questions,  contact us!

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