Summer in San Juan
Unique Experiences
Join weekly language exchange meetups
with local students to practice Spanish and explore cultural topics together
Volunteer with a local food bank
or community kitchen to help prepare and distribute meals to families in need
Take part in a community beach clean-up
and learn how grassroots groups are protecting Puerto Rico’s coastal ecosystems
Your Destination
San Juan is Puerto Rico’s vibrant capital city, celebrated for its rich history, colorful colonial architecture, and stunning Caribbean beaches. Summer in San Juan offers warm weather, lively cultural festivals, and endless opportunities to enjoy outdoor life – from exploring the historic streets of Old San Juan to relaxing along the scenic coastline. With a unique blend of Latin American and U.S. influences, the city is home to world-class museums, music, cuisine, and a welcoming local community. Whether you are majoring in business, science, engineering, technology, communications, psychology, health sciences, liberal arts, language, or fine arts, San Juan is the perfect place to study abroad while experiencing a dynamic and culturally rich destination without leaving the U.S. mainland.
Program Highlights
- Unmatched Flexibility: Spend one or two 4-week sessions in the same host city or travel between cities for a comparative cultural experience.
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses that align with your academic major.
- 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.
- Cultural Activities: Volunteer with members of the local community, join student clubs to socialize with your peers, and attend local workshops and events to get to know your host city.
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:
- Experience the magic of Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent waters with a night kayaking tour in Laguna Grande, just outside of San Juan
- Dive into the history and impact of reggaetón, the genre that put Puerto Rico on the global music map, and attend a live reggaetón performance
- Engage in community-based resilience efforts by volunteering with local organizations working on sustainable rebuilding and environmental restoration
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and are 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
Top 10 Puerto Rican Slang Words
Puerto Rican Spanish has its own unique rhythm, and if you’re studying abroad there, you’ll quickly notice locals dropping words and phrases you’ve never seen in a textbook. Understanding Puerto... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE San Juan offers diverse residence hall housing options to ensure you're comfortable in your home away from home. From single to shared rooms, we will strive for your accommodation preferences to be met. All housing has convenient access to plenty of shopping, supermarkets, restaurants, and public transportation.
Standard Housing: Includes a double room in a residence hall or shared apartment, located within 30 minutes of the city center by public transportation. Meals are not included in the dorms or apartments.
Residence Hall: Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have shared bathrooms and an individual or shared kitchen.
Shared Apartments: Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring fewer amenities with basic furniture, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi access, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen.
Select Housing: Includes a single room in a residence hall or shared apartment. Meals are not included in the dorms or apartments. Select housing requires an additional fee.
Residence Hall: Student dorms are modern, offer Wi-Fi access, and typically have shared bathrooms and an individual or shared kitchen. Residence halls are located within 30 minutes of the city center.
Shared Apartments: Shared apartments are modest in size, featuring fewer amenities with basic furniture, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi access, bed linens and towels, and a kitchen.
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
Residence Halls/Shared Apartments: Meals are not included.
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:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- MSI Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
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 Summer Session I 2026 4 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Summer Session II 2026 4 weeks | Start Date * | End Date * | ||
| Program Summer Session I and II 2026 8 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 and MSI 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.
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 and MSI 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.
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 and MSI 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
Alejandra Herrera
Regional Director of Operations for Latin America, Interim Center Director, Santiago Chile
Alejandra is a passionate and experienced educator in higher education in Chile with more than 10 years in the field of International Education.
Get Started
1
2
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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