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Mexican Learning Adventures
Exploring El Yucatán, Oaxaca, Puebla/Tlaxcala and the Otomí Highlands of Querétaro/Hidalgo. Adventures can be tailored to include eco-trekking, student service projects and exploration of native American community life.
Spanish Pronto founder, Alan Archibald, guides small groups to Oaxaca, Mexico and to Mexico's Yucatán peninsula. Each expedition accommodates 4 to 12 participants. (Parents may join programs tailored for teens. Learning adventures are also available for younger students accompanied by parents.)
Currently, Spanish Pronto founder, Alan Archibald, conducts six annual tours.
In the Yucatan, Mérida and Isla Mujeres serve as "home base." Mainland excursions explore the Mayan ruins at
Chichén Itzá, traditional Mayan culture, family-based farming and artisanship, and the rich life of Mérida, the colonial capitol of Yucatán State and home to one of Mexico's most extensive traditional markets. Snorkeling opportunities abound in the turquoise waters and coral reefs surrounding Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy where you may swim among docile manta rays.
Chichén Itzá, traditional Mayan culture, family-based farming and artisanship, and the rich life of Mérida, the colonial capitol of Yucatán State and home to one of Mexico's most extensive traditional markets. Snorkeling opportunities abound in the turquoise waters and coral reefs surrounding Isla Mujeres and Isla Contoy where you may swim among docile manta rays.
In Oaxaca State, Oaxaca city serves as home base although we will make several journeys to outlying towns and archeological sites.
For groups of eight or more, seven-day Yucatan expeditions cost $850.00, plus airfare. Seven-day Oaxaca adventures cost $850.00, plus airfare. Round-trip flights from most parts of the United States cost $450 - $750.00. Typically, flights to the Yucatan are less expensive than flights to Oaxaca. Spanish Pronto will gladly make reservations on your behalf.
Ten-day programs are available for $1000.00.
Spanish Pronto covers all ground costs: lodging, surface transportation, entrance fees and three wonderful meals per day. Throughout your journey, you will receive as much Spanish language instruction as you wish.
Spanish Pronto also conducts learning adventures in Puebla --Tlaxcala, and into the Otomí highlands of Hidalgo and Querétaro states --- including the overlooked colonial capitol, Querétaro City. Puerto Vallarta adventures include whale-watching and deep-sea fishing.
In order to contain expense, no insurance coverage is included for any of Spanish Pronto's Mexican expeditions. If you wish, Spanish Pronto will obtain travel/evacuation insurance on your behalf at a cost of approximately $100.00. "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad" by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, is an excellent, comprehensive presentation. Please visit:
http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html Recently, American Express has begun offering inexpensive "Travel Medical Protection" at 1-800-297-2900. My travel agency - Exito Travel - recommends:
www.travelex-insurance.com. Travelex can also be contacted at 1-800-228-9792. According to the Travelex brochure, "children under 16 receive package plan benefits at no additional charge, when accompanying adults purchase the plan." When last consulted, Travelex offered an insurance "plan rate" for $82.00 per adult.
http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html Recently, American Express has begun offering inexpensive "Travel Medical Protection" at 1-800-297-2900. My travel agency - Exito Travel - recommends:
www.travelex-insurance.com. Travelex can also be contacted at 1-800-228-9792. According to the Travelex brochure, "children under 16 receive package plan benefits at no additional charge, when accompanying adults purchase the plan." When last consulted, Travelex offered an insurance "plan rate" for $82.00 per adult.
Other traveler's health sites include:
The Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov (Click on "Travel Health," and again on "Immunizations.") The World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/ith
The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers: http://www.iamat.org
The International Society of Travel Medicine: www.istm.org
LatinMed (a superb Spanish language website dedicated to all branches of Medicine, not just traveler's medicine.) http://www.latinmed.com/default.asp
World Clinic: www.worldclinic.com
To learn more Spanish - or to deepen your knowledge of Latin-American history and culture - please explore
http://www.sipuebla.com/contents23.htm
http://www.sipuebla.com/contents23.htm
