Playa del Carmen is a beautiful place to spend some time, blessed with miles of unspoiled white sandy beaches, crystal-clear Caribbean waters and easy access to the magnificent Mayan ruins such as Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Uxmal.

These pyramids and temples are silent testimonies to the powerful civilization that built them and designated them holy places. Xel-Ha, a National Park and ecological wonder where both fresh and seawater mingle to create a natural aquarium, contains several prehispanic temples which are a must see.

Playa town center is situated so that you are never very far from the beach. Shopping here offers incredible variety with many quaint shops. The town square is right on the main beach and is a great place to just relax and watch the world go by.

Beachfront restaurants and smaller hotels offer an alternative to the much busier Cancun. Playa del Carmen is growing at an incredible pace, but somehow manages to retain the small town atmosphere that has made it a long time favorite for many.

Playa del Carmen is also the home base to the ferries that cross daily to Cozumel, Mexico's largest island. This kicked back island is just 12 miles off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula and is a divers paradise! It has many open air bars, Mayan ruins and endless miles of deserted beaches that all play a part in the mystique that is Isla Cozumel.

Our school is conveniently located just steps away from Playa del Carmen's famous Avenida 5 (5th Avenue) and 5 minutes walking distance from the stunning white sand beaches of the Caribbean Sea. The school's great location means that you are always within close proximity to all of the main pedestrian areas, charming restaurants, cafes, boutiques and the beach.

Playa is small enough that most students walk to get around. If needed, inexpensive taxis are available for approximately $15 Mexican pesos per trip within the city of Playa del Carmen. Some students rent bicycles or use bikes loaned to them by the family they are staying with. Some families provide this service; others do not.

Our charming school (maximum capacity is 80-100 students) offers a cozy and relaxed atmosphere, with a good mix of international students (approximate 10-15% of the students are from North America). The classes are held either outside in the school's lush garden or in one of the 7 air-conditioned classrooms within the school's 3 storey building.

Our school is the perfect location for a relaxed learning holiday or a sun-filled vacation packed with extra-curricular activities. Students can enjoy wireless land modem access or use one of the school's computers for Internet activity. There are several Internet cafés within one block of the school should you wish to spend extra time on-line.

Other amenities at the school include 2 palapas roofs (typical Mexican canopy roofs), a cafeteria (which offers sandwiches, juices, sodas, coffee, snacks etc.), a rooftop terrace, air conditioning, 4 television/ DVD players, kitchen, refrigerator and a lush tropical garden complete with a fruit growing banana tree, a Holy Ceiba Tree (Sacred Mayan tree) and two charming iguanas named Pancho and Freida.

After classes are over for the day our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture, traditions, customs and everyday life.

What to to do: Small beach town with relaxed atmosphere, great beaches and nightlife with a ferry excursion to the island of Cozumel. Fantastic water sports, sailing, diving and cruising available. National Park and ecological wonder where both fresh and sea water mingle to create a natural aquarium, prehispanic temples.

Host Family: (private or shared room) with breakfast daily.

Living with a host family is probably the best and most effective way to become fully immersed into the language and culture of your chosen country. All families are chosen after a careful selection procedure and are visited regularly by the school to ensure that high living standards are maintained. As many of our host families live in the surrounding neighborhoods, the trip to school, is usually not more than 15 - 25 minutes walk away.

This is also a very popular option especially for those students looking for further independence. Our apartments are normally located within the same distance as the host families (many are closer and in walking distance to the school).