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¡Cómo Mola Madrid y Barcelona!

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12-Day Teacher-Led Language and Cultural Immersion in Spain

12-Day Program | Visit Spain’s two largest cities and greatest rivals: avant-garde, international Barcelona and traditional Madrid. The inhabitants of the two cities are proud of their distinct regional history, heritage, and language. This unique Spanish language immersion experience begins for your student group In Barcelona, where you may hear Catalan while you stroll along La Rambla, a pedestrian wonderland of shops and street performers. Visit La Sagrada Familia Cathedral and Park Güell, two of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous works. After taking in the wonders of Spain’s most cosmopolitan city, spend five fun and unforgettable days with your familia española, putting your language skills to work. Our unforgettable Family Stay Experience® allows students to become temporary locals and participate in an in-depth language immersion in Spanish culture. Finally, you are off to Madrid to enjoy the Palacio Real, the internationally renowned Museo del Prado, the bustling Plaza Mayor and so much more! Enjoy an excursion to Toledo, la Ciudad de las Tres Culturas, before heading home. All travel dates are tentative, pending teacher approval and airline confirmation.

Program Price: $3,369

Please note that the base price does not include the cost of international flights* Prices are based on a minimum group size of 18 students. When the minimum group size is not reached, a small-group supplement will apply. Final prices are determined by dates, air arrangements, family stay communities and other program components as confirmed by Xperitas, as well as the total size of the group and number of leaders at the time of final billing. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in fuel prices, exchange rates, and airfare costs beyond the control of Xperitas.

Email Lucia@xperitas.org with your departure city for an estimated international flight cost.

🐦Save $200 when you enroll before June 15, 2026 (discount applied to final payment)

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Travel Dates

All travel dates are tentative, pending teacher approval and airline confirmation.

OVERVIEW

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DAY 1

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Departure

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En route to Barcelona

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Meals Included: None

DAY 2

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Barcelona

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Arrive and transfer to your hotel

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Spend the day exploring Barcelona on foot. Walk along La Rambla and enjoy finding your way around the labyrinth that is the Barri Gòtic. Visit the Museu Picasso to see one of the most extensive collections of artwork by Pablo Picasso. Enjoy an Xperitas welcome dinner.

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Meals Included: Dinner

DAY 3

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Barcelona

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When visiting Barcelona, taking in all of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpieces is a must! First, visit the astounding Sagrada Familia Cathedral and then head to Park Güell to see his beautiful mosaic masterpieces. Conclude your Gaudí tour with a stroll along the Passeig de Gràcia. Be sure to spot Casa Batlló y Casa Milà!

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Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 4

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En Route to Family Stay

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Now the real adventure begins! After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to your family stay community, where you will share everyday life with a Spanish family.

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Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

DAYS 5 - 8

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Family Stay

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Immerse yourself in the Spanish culture by experiencing everyday life with your host family! It’s your opportunity to use your language skills in real-life situations and make new friends.

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Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

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Madrid

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Bid your familia española, “¡Adiós!” as you’re off by train to Madrid, Spain’s capital city. Explore historic Madrid de los Austrias on foot, including the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.

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Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 10

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Madrid

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Visit the splendid Palacio Real and the treasures of the world-renowned Museo del Prado

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Later, relax at an outdoor café in the Plaza del Oriente or rent boats in the Parque del Buen Retiro.

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In the evening, enjoy a traditional flamenco show.

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Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 11

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Madrid

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Take the train to Toledo

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All-day excursion in Toledo. Walk along its enchanting and winding streets and visit the massive Cathedral. Toledo has been known for sword making since the Roman times, so don’t forget to go to a sword factory while you are there!

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Return to Madrid for last-minute souvenir shopping.

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Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 12

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Return

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Transfer to the airport for your return to the United States

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Meals Included: Breakfast

The order of this itinerary and all itinerary items are subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances that may arise prior to or during the program.

INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

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What's Included

  • Round-trip airfare from city listed (and any airline fuel surcharges at time of booking)

  • In-country transportation (air, motorcoach, van, as applicable)

  • All overnight accommodations

  • Insurance for accidents or illness and trip cancellation coverage due to medical reasons only

  • International phone allowance $10 per day for one leader while in country

  • Xperitas Family Stay with all meals included

  • Local Family Stay Coordinator on call during family stay

  • 24/7 Xperitas emergency support while abroad

  • Meals as indicated on the itinerary

  • Entrance fee allowance of $60 per student and public transit allowance of $20 per student

  • Tipping allowance of $10 per student

Activities Included

  • El Palacio Real

  • Flamenco show

  • Excursion to Toledo

  • Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo

  • La Sagrada Familia

  • Park Güell

Suggested activities that can be covered by entrance fee allowance:

  • El Museo Nacional del Prado

  • Telefèric de Montjuïc

  • Casa Batlló

  • Casa Mila

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  • Airline baggage fees

  • Variance in air cost due to changes in group contract after booking or if the group size prevents using the booked air contract

  • Costs incurred due to late or missed flights.

  • Activities, excursions, etc., listed on the itinerary but not in program inclusions, above, are to be paid using the student entrance fee allowance.

  • Passport, visa (including ETIAS) or other document costs

  • Transportation to/from departure city

  • Any meals not indicated on itineraries

  • Spending money and gifts

  • Any fees associated with advanced seating assignments

  • Small-group supplement when group has fewer than 18 participants

PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION SCHEDULE

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Important Deadlines

Payment reminders will be sent 1 week and 1 day before each payment is due.

Accepted Payment Methods

Payments may be made by credit card, debit card, ACH transfer, or check. A 2.9% processing fee applies to all credit and debit card transactions.

Checks must be made payable to Xperitas and include the participant’s full name and destination country. Postdated checks are not accepted and will be returned.

Family Stay Application

  • Family Stay applications are due on November 1, 2026.

Passport Submission

  • Passport information and copy of passport due on December 1, 2026/February 1, 2027

XPERITAS FINANCIAL AID

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Bringing Equity to Student Immersion Travel

Xperitas is a nonprofit educational organization committed to making our short-term immersion travel programs accessible to as many students as possible. We provide meaningful financial aid on a “needs based” sliding scale to create equitable access. Over the past decade we have dedicated over a million dollars to financial aid, scholarship and classroom grant programs.

Financial Aid Applications Due October 15!

THE FAMILY STAY EXPERIENCE®

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Authentic Language Immersion

At Xperitas, we work with teachers to provide their students with outstanding language and cultural immersion experiences. We believe that when students have an authentic experience outside of the classroom, using their language skills in a different culture, they make a deeper cultural connection. Our programs are designed to inspire students to make personal connections with communities worldwide and gain greater cultural awareness. Benefits reported to us by teachers, parents and the students themselves are as follows: 

  • A better understanding of language and the nuance of dialect 

  • An understanding of language within the context of the culture 

  • A greater awareness of different perspectives  

  • A sense of increased independence, self-sufficiency, and cultural competence 

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How are Host Families chosen?

Since 1972, we have carefully selected families who volunteer to share their home, language, and culture with our student travelers. Students live with a local host family while abroad on their language immersion program, creating an authentic language and cultural immersion experience, unmatched by other cross-cultural programs. No Family Stay Experience is “typical”; every one is as unique as the families that host.

  • Families are volunteer, not a paid service

  • Students share meals and family routines in the target language

  • Families and students explore differences and similarities in culture and tradition

These connections can last a lifetime! Many students and host families stay in touch for years afterward.

The success of our Family Stay Experience® is due to our network of of dedicated Family Stay Coordinators around the world, who work tirelessly to ensure a safe and enjoyable hosting experience.

  • Xperitas Family Stay Coordinators are local to the host communities

  • Recruit and screen families in their own networks and match them to Xperitas participants

  • Are on call 24/7 during the program to address any issues that arise