Culinary Arts & Culture
A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future
Explore
Have fun discovering Merida's rich Mayan history and traditions.
Network
Meet new friends and chefs. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Launch your future today! Cook using traditional and modern Mexican culinary techniques. Build confidence as a future chef.
The Destination
Welcome to Mérida, Mexico's cultural capital where ancient history, Caribbean flavors, and traditional music come together!
Traveling to the Yucatán is like stepping into a blend of eras and influences. Ancient Mayan pyramids stand just beyond the city, while within Mérida, Spanish colonial mansions, tree-lined boulevards, and vibrant markets showcase centuries of rich history. Local dishes combine traditional Mayan cooking with Caribbean ingredients like citrus, plantains, and achiote. The streets pulse with salsa, cumbia, and romantic guitar music, trova yucateca, fills the plazas on warm evenings.
Wander through colorful markets, discover artisan crafts in shaded courtyards, and take in the grandeur of the Catedral de Mérida, one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas. Dance alongside locals at weekend festivals or watch street performers light up the zócalo (public square). The city’s laid-back yet lively atmosphere invites you to connect, explore, and enjoy every moment.
Whether you’re exploring ancient ruins, swimming in sacred cenotes, or dancing under the stars with new friends, Mérida offers a summer packed with creativity, history, and delicious eats.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.
Social feed above may feature posts from all CIEE Study Abroad programs, including college programs.
Sample Itinerary
Sample Activities
Just Imagine all the fun you'll have!
- Team up with friends for a fastpaced scavenger hunt through Mérida’s colorful streets and plazas.
- Dance to salsa, cumbia, and more in a Latin rhythms class that will get you moving.
- Swim in the Yucatán’s famous cenotes—crystalclear natural pools once considered sacred by the Maya.
- Indulge your sweet tooth at the Chocolate Museum in Uxmal and learn about cacao’s ancient role in Mayan culture.
- Explore Hacienda Yaxcopoil, a historic estate that captures the elegance and history of colonial Yucatán.
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Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- Program open to current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. Students must have completed Freshman year of high school before traveling on program.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page.
Important note on dietary restrictions: Participants should be aware that cooking facilities and cooking courses do not accommodate special dietary needs.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.
More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us!
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.
| Program Balance | $4,950 |
| Total Fees | $4,950 |
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.
| Program Balance | $4,950 |
| Total Fees | $4,950 |
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.
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
3 Meals/Day
(Dietary Needs Accommodated)
All Ground Transportation
(Once In-country)
Optional Flight Chaperone
(Flight Cost Not Included)
Pre-departure Advice and Orientation
Access to WIFI
(No international data plan or SIM card included)
All Cultural Activities and Excursions
Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection
Our Staff
Karla Zarco
Center Director
Karla is the Center Director of CIEE in Mérida, and she brings to CIEE more than 25 years of experience working in the international education field. Karla studied abroad in...
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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