January in San Juan
Unique Experiences
Explore San Juan's vibrant heritage
with guided tours of historic forts and colorful Old Town streets
Dance to the rhythm of Puerto Rico
through salsa workshops and live music events
Immerse yourself in local flavors
with cooking classes, traditional food tastings, and visits to bustling markets
Your Destination
San Juan is Puerto Rico’s vibrant capital, known for its tropical warmth, colorful streets, and lively cultural scene. January offers the ideal time to soak up the sun and experience Puerto Rican traditions without the peak-season crowds. Wander through Old San Juan’s cobblestone alleys, relax on pristine beaches, and celebrate local festivals like the San Sebastián Street Festival. Whether you’re majoring in business, health sciences, communications, psychology, liberal arts, or language, San Juan is the perfect place to study abroad on winter break.
Program Highlights
- Academic Course: Take one CIEE course delivered in-person at the CIEE Center.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in activities, excursions, study tours, and more that showcase your host city's culture, values, and local art, film, music, cuisine, and sports scenes.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in San Juan will open doors for you to explore Puerto Rico’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of excursions and activities:
- Explore the colorful streets, historic forts like El Morro and San Cristóbal, and colonial architecture of Old San Juan while learning about its rich history
- Participate in a lively salsa dance class to immerse yourself in Puerto Rico’s vibrant music and dance culture
- Take a guided trip to El Yunque National Forest to experience Puerto Rico’s tropical biodiversity and waterfalls
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
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Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE San Juan offers convenient housing to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. All housing has convenient access to plenty of shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, and public transportation.
Standard Housing: Includes a dorm room in dormitories located at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus. This provides students with a convenient, immersive campus living experience close to classes and campus resources. Dorm living also makes it easy to connect with fellow students and fully engage in campus life.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
Meals are not included. Students have access to kitchen facilities in the residence halls. There are many restaurants (budget-friendly) on the University campus, where the residence halls are located. Additionally, Uber Eats and similar applications are available throughout San Juan.
Academics
CIEE San Juan: Study in San Juan, a dynamic city where rich history meets Caribbean charm. From exploring colorful streets and historic forts to soaking up the sun on stunning beaches, experience the vibrant culture and warm hospitality that make San Juan unforgettable.
Course Information
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program January 2027 3 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Brenden Picard
Programs Manager
He brings extensive experience in international education and program management. Brenden has worked closely with students from the United States and partner universities worldwide, fostering meaningful cross-cultural exchange and enhancing...
Get Started
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Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
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Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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