Marine Conservation in Lisbon
School Trip Abroad with CIEE
Trade the classroom for the Atlantic coast, exploring aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity in the capital of Portugal.
Home to Europe’s largest fully protected marine reserve, Lisbon is an ideal place to study aquatic ecosystems. Over nine days, you and your students will wade into tide pools, snorkel a protected reserve, and work alongside scientists and local NGOs to help protect the ocean. You’ll immerse yourself in Portuguese culture, too. Fuel your adventures with warm pastéis de nata (Portugal’s famous custard tarts), fresh seafood, and hearty bifana pork sandwiches.
After your time in Lisbon, you and your students will return home with an appreciation for Portuguese culture and insights on how to implement conservation efforts in your own communities.
The Destination
Welcome to Portugal, one of Europe's oldest countries and a paradise for sea lovers.
Older than London, Paris, and Rome, the hilly seaport of Lisbon has always been a major European political, economic, and cultural center. The capital city is full of intriguing contrasts: tiny shops with fading facades versus mega malls, and narrow, cobblestone streets versus wide-open vistas. Here, you’ll ride the old cable cars up the steep hills, admire the buildings covered in tiles of countless colors and patterns, and bask in the spectacular views of the vibrant city.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter what program you choose to design with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout the program to provide advice, resources, and support.
Sample Itinerary
Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time to explore, too.
Your day might include:
- Morning instruction from expert CIEE educators
- Afternoon excursions that connect classroom learning to real-world experiences
- Immersive activities that bring local culture to life
Download this printable itinerary to share with your community, complete with learning outcomes, daily activities, and program highlights.
Activities & Excursions
Activity Spotlight
At CIEE, we thoughtfully plan excursions to connect classroom instruction with local experiences. Our local staff cultivates relationships within their communities, giving you and your students access to unique sites and activities made possible through our trusted local partnerships.
- This program includes one-of-a-kind experiences like:
- Snorkeling at the Nature Marine Park of Arrábida
- Observing wild bottlenose dolphins at the Sado Estuary
- Working with a local NGO on practical dune conservation at Cova do Vapor Beach
Please note activities are examples and subject to change. As we plan your program, we will work with you to finalize a list of place-based, immersive experiences that are the right match for your group and academic goals.
What's Included
Every program is designed in close collaboration with the CIEE High School Custom team and our full-time local staff in Lisbon, ensuring the learning outcomes and experiences align with your specific academic goals. Together, we can tailor our standard itinerary for this program as much or as little as you want!
Each Ready to Run high school program includes the following for students and chaperones:
- Interactive classes
- Cultural activities
- Housing, either a carefully-screened homestay or hotel
- All meals during the program
- In-country transportation and logistics
Beyond these inclusions, every CIEE Ready to Run school trip provides additional support including on-site orientations, 24/7 emergency support, comprehensive insurance coverage, and marketing resources to help you promote your program to your students.
Health, Safety, and Security
With 8 decades of experience, CIEE is a global leader in health and safety. Each of our sites undergoes regular assessments aligned with rigorous international risk management standards and data, ensuring the successful facilitation of every program. You can focus on your students and their experience, knowing CIEE’s dedicated Health, Safety, and Security team has your back. Read more about our commitment to student safety here.
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Interested in learning more?
Email the Custom Team at hscustom@ciee.org, schedule a call using our bookings page, or talk to your Global Education Advisor to learn more about this program and its benefits for your students.