INSTITUTO CULTURAL OAXACA

Experiencia negativa: I had a very disappointing experience at Instituto Cultural Oaxaca and would not choose this school again or recommended it to anyone. I chose this program because it was presented to me as a 40-hour-per-week Spanish immersion program. After I was pressured to pay for multiple weeks up front for a small discount, I was given a schedule showing that the actual classroom instruction was 20 hours per week, with only 8 to 10 hours of cooking classes added throughout the week. That still left the program well short of the 40 hours I believed I was paying for. Cooking classes may be enjoyable for some students, but they are not the same as structured Spanish instruction. I came for intensive language learning, not cooking classes. It felt like a bait and switch. The administration was the biggest problem. Before payment, the administrators were friendly, warm, and all smiles. After I paid, the tone changed completely. Communication with Carlos and Lucero felt evasive and frustrating. When I asked to speak with Carlos, I was told he would be available at the school the following day, but when I came to the school, he was not there. Lucero told me she was also an owner and asked how she could help, but when I explained that I wanted a refund because the program was not what I expected or was sold on, she said only Carlos could handle that. Then I was told to message Carlos or come back another time. This pattern continued and felt like a runaround. The group classes involved a lot of board work and explanation, with limited active speaking practice, repetition, and correction. If you are looking for a light review or a cultural experience, this may be fine. If you are looking for serious language development and guided speaking practice, I would look elsewhere. The positives were my teacher, Andrea, and the campus. Andrea was excellent: kind, knowledgeable, and a very good instructor. The campus is also beautiful. After a lot of back and forth, I was able to negotiate part of what I paid for into private one-on-one lessons. However, instead of receiving the 8 hours per day of Spanish immersion that I understood I had paid for, the resolution was 2.5 hours per day of private instruction to make up for it. The private lessons were a better use of the money, but the process was unnecessarily stressful. This would be a incredible program if it was ran by Andrea and the teachers and not by Lucero and Carlos. My recommendation: do not pay for multiple weeks up front. If you are considering this school, take photos of the program offerings and get the exact program structure, refund policy, and number of actual classroom instruction hours in writing before paying. That way, if the program is not delivered as presented, you have documentation for PROFECO if needed. Better yet, try other Spanish immersion programs in Oaxaca before committing here. Overall, I would give this school two stars: one for Andrea and one for the campus. The shady administration, dishonest program structure, and mismatch between what I was told and what was delivered made this a place I would not return to.

Experiencia fantástica: I have attended ICO twice in the past years for a total of 3 weeks. I started there when I was very much a beginner and I really enjoyed the classes and the creative exercises. Over my visits my spanish has improved and I have taken higher level classes. The teachers that I have worked with are excellent (Gaby V., Pati, Mary Carmen) and I know that they do regular conferences to learn the latest techniques for effective teaching (pedagogy.) During the pandemic the school developed small group online classes (called tertulias) on various topics (arts, culture, gastronomy) - which are super fun (they still have them.) But the very biggest impact on my improved spanish is the excellent on-going work that I do via online classes with Gaby V. The teachers are excellent at ICO and I highly recommend.

Experiencia negativa: I enrolled in this immersion program and, for an entire week, we had no teacher at all. I understand that people get sick, but the program made no effort to provide a substitute or any meaningful alternative instruction. We were simply left without classes for the whole week and then told we would not receive a refund because of their policy. Charging students for a week of instruction that was never provided is completely unacceptable. The program is run by Carlos and Lucero, a son and mother, and dealing with them was incredibly frustrating. Each one tells you to talk to the other, but somehow the other person is never available. It feels like a deliberate runaround designed to avoid responsibility. On top of that, both of them were cold, dismissive, and rude. The whole experience made it clear that this program suffers from a lack of professionalism, accountability, and basic respect for students. I would not recommend this program to anyone.

Experiencia fantástica: I studied at ICO for 6 weeks and I highly recommend the experience. I had four different teachers during my time as I progressed further into my studies and all of them were engaging, talented and wonderful. I believe the negative reviews stem from high-maintenance individuals, so if that's not you, it's safe to ignore those and reserve your spot at ICO!

Experiencia fantástica: I had a wonderful experience learning Spanish here! I did one month of classes at 20 hours a week and learned so so much. I have been to a couple Spanish schools now around Latin America but this one is by far the best I have been to. The two teachers I had were incredible at their jobs. The environment is quiet and beautiful. And part of my class was outside which I really enjoyed. I definitely recommend going here if you want to learn Spanish.

Experiencia fantástica: The Instituto is located in an old estate of a mansion. I was pleased with the quality and professionalism of the staff and the teachers. I took classes there for three weeks in February to March 2026 and enjoyed it very much. I had been to three other Spanish schools in Mexico and Costa Rica and like them, but this was the largest school I had been to and it was very well run. If you are looking for a Spanish school in Oaxaca I recommend this one.

Experiencia fantástica: I had a great time studying Spanish at ICO. Valeria was an excellent teacher. I would confidently recommend this place to anyone.

Experiencia negativa: I went here to find out more information on classes. I talked with a older women who was very hostile to me when I was asking about prices i was told. "I know the prices but you can go on the internet and look them up" I really wanted to goto this school but when the staff are not friendly it doesnt make me want to attend.

Experiencia fantástica: Amazing classes with amazing people. A great experience I recommend!

Experiencia fantástica: Came for the 2 week Day of the Dead Immersion. I had a wonderful time and appreciated the level of instruction, the kindness and competence of the staff and the fun events!

Experiencia fantástica: The ICO is a terrific school in a great city. The teachers, classes, workshops, location, one-on-one tutors, and opportunities for cultural exchange outside of class are all perfect for real language emersion.

Experiencia fantástica: I greatly enjoyed my 2 weeks at ICO. I felt the classes were very beneficial in improving my grammar and speaking skills. I especially enjoyed the hour of conversation in the afternoons and the cultural workshops as well. The school also paired me with a wonderful homestay that provided me with the opportunity to further practice my Spanish. If I am ever back in Oaxaca, I will definitely study at ICO again!

Experiencia fantástica: Our family of three attended Spanish language classes for 2 weeks in 2025, and it was excellent for our purposes. Our child was in a supportive environment with attentive teachers, my partner was able to get lots of practice, and I was able to review my high school Spanish from decades ago. I especially appreciated the thoughtfulness of my lessons (designed to maximize speaking), the small class sizes (mine had 5 students), and the skillfulness of my teacher Jocsan (who I could see--as a teacher myself--returning to each student to make sure they understood before moving on). I would not hesitate to recommend it to other families looking for a meaningful learning experience.

Experiencia negativa: Soy oaxaqueña y vine a este lugar porque me habían comentado de qué aquí podía practicar mi inglés con otros extranjeros y yo les podía ayudar con su español, pero al venir aquí a pedir informes, una señora muy grosera, nos dijo que este no era lugar para practicar inglés y que tampoco le interesaba saber sobre el tema, es un lugar 100% para extranjeros donde no admiten oaxaqueños y se comportan muy racialmente hacia nosotros

Experiencia fantástica: My wife and I attended a one week intensive Spanish course at institute cultural oaxaca and it was certainly worth it. We were paired with peers at similar to ourselves in classes sizes not too big, which provide the opportunity for everyone in the class to engage and speak as we began our spanish journey. The teachers are were trained and help with the pronunciation, especially with some of the trickier sounds. Plus doing lessons in Oaxaca is so much fun given the city's rich culture.

Experiencia fantástica: Instituto Cultural Oaxaca (ICO) is such a special place — my initial communications with Carlos were incredibly supportive, the teachers were amazing, the Spanish intensive and cultural classes were wonderful, the community of like-minded learners was fantastic, the grounds were gorgeous and I learned so much during my two short weeks there. I would highly recommend ICO to anyone interested in diving into their Spanish studies and embracing the beautiful culture of Oaxaca. I absolutely cannot wait to plan my next trip there!

Experiencia fantástica: Excellent language school. Easy walk from center of town and in a very nice neighbourhood. Easy to book private lessons last minute. Our teacher Valeria was fantastic and a very engaging teacher. I would return here for language lessons - highly recommend.

Experiencia fantástica: Even though I had to shorten my stay in Oaxaca due to unforeseen circumstances, this language school exceeded my expectations in terms of the helpfulness and consideration of its staff; the professionalism of its teachers (both linguistics and salsa!); and the architectural beauty and historic location of the Institute itself. As a result, I fully plan to return and continue my Spanish studies at the ICO next year. Thanks to all for your kindness and understanding!

Experiencia fantástica: Amazing virtual language class. Small class size. What i love about the classes is that you are learning a language while learning about interesting topics.

Experiencia fantástica: Instituto Cultural Oaxaca es un programa excelente. Mi maestra Rachel es una maestra notable. Ella es tanto incredible persona como una incredible profesora. Estoy feliz con mi tiempo en Oaxaca. Me gustan mucho mis clases por la tarde de cocina y arte.

Experiencia fantástica: Had a wonderful week at ICO! Valería was an excellent teacher. I felt like I was challenged and grew my skills in just a week but still had fun. I’m hoping to return soon!

Experiencia fantástica: Excellent! Five of us went for a one week class. We all had very basic, at best, Spanish language understanding. The instructors were patient, kind and knowledgeable. Lovely campus. I would go back for more.

Experiencia fantástica: 先生のレベルが高いのと、少人数クラスなので気兼ねなく質問できます。 他の語学学校に行った人たちもICOの先生はレベルが高いと言っていました。 12時からの会話のクラスも初心者レベルの時はゲームなどで会話がままならないながらに楽しむことができます。 午後からはワークショップがあり、料理、サルサ、タペテ、死者の日はお面づくりなどが楽しめます。 庭も教室も広く開放感があり、リラックスしながら勉強できるので本当におすすめです！

Experiencia fantástica: If you are thinking about learning Spanish in a Spanish speaking country, no need to look any further than the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca (ICO)! I have attended language schools in several places in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries, and I have never found a school as well organized, thoughtful, intentional and well staffed as I have with ICO. Classes are a joy to attend because the professors are amazing and passionate about what they do! Students are placed in the appropriate level for our language acquisition and each teacher provides tremendous support to help language growth. There are many options for activities at ICO, from arts and crafts to cooking. I spent a summer at the institute and truly enjoyed my time in morning classes, then after break returning for activities such as painting alebrijes, learning to cook Oaxacan dishes, and engaging in private language classes. The grounds of ICO are beautiful and very safe. Everything is well cared for and clean. It is relaxing and enjoyable, as there are gardens and lots of outdoor space. The staff that run the school are very kind and helpful. They are quick to respond and answer any questions. They also offer online classes that can be taken anywhere in the world! I love the passion the staff has for promoting authentic language learning. I recommend ICO to anyone (they offer classes to children as young as 6 and I can't wait for my son to be able to attend) interested in learning or expanding your Spanish language acquisition!

Experiencia fantástica: 5週間のショートスティだったのに、観光も少しできました。 はじめ、日本人がいなくて不安だったが、学校のインテルカンビオがあって、たくさんの人と知り合えることができました。 学校のサルサ、クッキングワークショップや陶芸などもあり、いろんなアクティビティで楽しく学びました。アパートを探す際の無料サポートしてもらったのでアパートで一人暮らすのが楽しかった。 今となっては日本人がいなくても良かったと思う、スペイン語力も実際に伸びました。

Experiencia fantástica: Hello lovers of the Spanish Language! Do not miss Spanish studies at ICO. For every level of proficiency, ICO has developed workbooks that brilliantly mobilize your creative conversational and grammatical neurons. Memorization does not do the trick. I just finished a week of Level B2 with Profesora Gabriela, a gifted teacher who combines such precision with vibrant joy. Who could ask for anything more? I learned so much! If our schedules mesh, I hope to continue my studies with Profesora Gabriela online. Deseo que ustedes cumplian sus sueños al ICO. Kathleen Biddick, Professor Emerita, Temple University

Experiencia fantástica: attended the school in June this year, really enjoyed the classes. My teacher was very nice, he made sure we understood what each topic in class correctly. Wish I could remember his name to say thanks. The secretary was lovely and very help thank you

Experiencia fantástica: I love studying here because the teachers allow me to move at my own pace, and the beautiful surroundings inspire me to love attending classes. Add to that an occasional fiesta with crafts from the women of Oaxaca, and we have the perfect recipe for learning about the culture of my favorite place.

Experiencia negativa: I went to the Instituto Cultural Oaxaca in hopes of finding a place to improve my Spanish. I am Mexican but Spanish is my second language. I was met by the director (Lucero Topete) her attitude towards me was rude, condescending and racist. She had no regard for culture or learning Spanish as a second language. It appears that the Instituto Cultural only caters to a certain kind of clientele.

Experiencia fantástica: eL LUGAR ES SENSACIONAL, LAS CLASES MUY AMENAS, LA CHICA DE LA RECEPCIÓN (QUE ES JAPONESA AH PROPÓSITO) SE ESMERA BASTANTE PARA HACER SU TRABAJO, EN VERDAD QUE VALE MUCHO LA PENA

Experiencia positiva: El lugar perfecto, para recibir una educación en el aprendizaje de un idioma. Aparte de los eventos privados que se realizan en su jardín.

Experiencia negativa: Pesimo servicio al cliente, la recepcionista que habla super mal educada, no contesta las preguntas. yo llame incluso cuando ya me habian dicho que el servicio era malo, pero quise darles la oportunidad, cuando lo hice wow con la sorpresa que me lleve, todo lo que me habian dicho era real, no la recomiendo nada, acaban de perder un estudiante internacional solo por ese pesimo servicio de call center.

Experiencia negativa: Quise pedir información con un amigo extranjero y la señora que contestó fue muy grosera! le urgía colgarme y no me quiso dar información

Experiencia positiva: In as much as I really appreciated and respected my teacher (Mary Carmen) I cant say that I learned anything more in the one week there than I could’ve on my own through YouTube videos and general interaction. Can’t help but feel that the place is very profit motivated ( three pesos xtra for milk in your “free coffee “ and a daily interuptions during classes by people trying to sell tours and upgrades. Wouldn’t go back again.

Experiencia fantástica: This is one of the best place to learn Spanish in Oaxaca. School is really good and has a nice facility. Oaxaca is a nice city for tourists and the school also helps to know more about the culture in Oaxaca.

Experiencia positiva: Well preaerved place

Experiencia negativa: El peor Servicio a Cliente! Llame para pedir informes para hacer un evento y la persona que me atendió, fue de lo mas déspota y poco servicial. Para empezar me dijo que no dan informes por teléfono. Cuando le explique que yo vivo en el extranjero y que no me era posible ir físicamente a pedir informes, me dijo que mandara a un familiar e intento darme información de la manera mas descortés que he experimentado en mi carrera de atención al cliente. Una e mis dudas fue si habría espacio suficiente para hacer una pequeña representación de la Guelaguetza a lo que respondió a manera de burla y cito "con 2000 metros cuadrados de jardín usted cree sea suficiente, como quiere pedir informes si ni conocen". Realmente lamentable.

Experiencia positiva: I studied here for 3 weeks. Great place and ok staff. I stayed at a home stay and was not informed i’d be living with 2 dogs and a cat which is fine but give a heads up for the people that’s allergic. Also when you pay in Peso be SURE to remind them of the 5% discount that you should receive because they will not give it to you if you don’t remind them. Be very clear about what you want and always follow up with the staff! Oaxaca is beautiful and class at ICO are good.

Experiencia fantástica: I loved this school, the teachers and the people I met. They have an intercambio program that pairs you with someone local who wants to practice English and helps you practice your Spanish, which helped me become integrated into the city and not feel as much like a tourist. The weekend trips that were offered, especially to learn more about the Day of the Dead celebrations, were outstanding. There were so many opportunities to learn outside of the classroom as well as inside.

Experiencia negativa: A really horrible place. There is no denying the beauty of the campus but Lucero Topete is the most rude and uncaring woman I have ever meet. When I raised a safety issue with her she told me she did not care and she did not want to hear about it. I attended for 3 days and would not go back.

Experiencia negativa: I spent a month studying here and, after reading the mixed reviews, they are true. The instructors are hit-or-miss: zero structure or really good teaching skills. The class sizes are unpredictable, from 1 to 8 students. The grounds are beautiful but they are on a busy intersection where there is always lots of street noise and protests, a common theme in Oaxaca and around this school. Lucero sounds sweet via email but she doesn't appear to treat her staff well or provide good in-person service (ex: asking a staff member for a couple of blank pieces of paper to take notes one morning was an issue, and a response to a fair Q if the cooking classes were held on site or elsewhere yielded a sarcastic response of 'with 2,100 sq meters of space, you don't think we have place for a kitchen?'). Charging you for milk for your coffee. They also forced a study to return their used photocopy booklet when she needed to change levels... were they going to use the remaining pages? As well, they inflate the rates on the tours they offer, taking a cut but also having guides collect entry fees prior to visiting sites that were double the real prices (ex: Hierva el Agua). As well, a friend missed the tour bus in the morning because she went to the washroom for 2 min beforehand even though she spoke to the driver beforehand to make sure she could go, and the school refused to refund her. Ridiculous. The homestay experience (I didn't use it) received mixed reviews from friends but was generally quite costly; I found many private AirBNBs for half the cost with better conditions, although all the families are exceptionally warm and great people. This will depend on your interests while in Oaxaca. Overall, for the cost and quality of teaching, you're better off at another school or studying in another country, like Guatemala. If you can afford it, one-on-one lessons are also much better. I don't like leaving a mixed review because the staff are generally super sweet but this is a clearly a school that needs to step it's game up.

Experiencia fantástica: Wonderful school. Terrific faculty, beautiful grounds, and a progressive curriculum. While in Oaxaca I recommended this school to an acquaintance from Switzerland who wasn't getting much from the classes she was taking at a different school, and she thanked me profusely.

Experiencia fantástica: I studied with ICO for the month of Feb 2018. Overall it was a great experience. I had a wonderful teacher, all of the staff were helpful and friendly. The cultural classes were challenging and interesting, although the offerings changed week to week and weren't always interesting to me. I'm glad I didn't book the four weeks up front, which gave me a bit more flexibility at a slightly higher cost. I would definitely study with ICO again.

Experiencia negativa: Beautiful place. Too bad the manager hasn't learned good manners. We visited the place this morning asking for information and she behaved extremely rude to us. Not coming back anytime soon.

Experiencia fantástica: My time at ICO was very rewarding. The school helped me find a host family for the month I stayed. I walked to the school through the city everyday. After studying, I would take cooking or dancing classes. Many of the students would go out at night. We were a diverse and friendly bunch. We would go dancing or just to eat. Sometimes we would just wander around and meet people in the zócalo. The school also organized trips to the markets or other points of interest in Oaxaca like Hierve el Agua. The teachers were all very nice. I would love to go back and do it again!

Experiencia fantástica: Muy buena escuela para extranjeros que desean aprender español a través de múltiples actividades.

Experiencia fantástica: My teacher, Herman, and the staff have been wonderful. The main program is a ton of effort, but after a week of level A2 I can already talk to random strangers in Oaxaca with more confidence, after 2 weeks I have been able to converse with different people across industries in Mexico. All learning it takes effort on your part, but the school is willing to do as much work as you. Thank you for 2 great weeks.

Experiencia negativa: If I could give this place zero stars I would. Do not waste your money here. The owner and director Lucero Topote, is the worst person I have ever encountered. She knows no customer service and does not care about the quality of the classes provided, which are honestly too expensive. There is no receptiveness or understanding when concerns are expressed by the paying customer. There is no structure to the course and they do not care if they are not providing what they advertise on their website. Even though they are adamant about upholding their no refund policy listed on there. There is clearly no caliber when selecting the teachers they hire despite stating otherwise on their website. I was not the only student who had trouble, when others expressed their concern condescending responses were received. Do not be fooled by the pretty campus, yes it's nice, but the treatment and behavior is not worth it. When asking for a refund I was told by Lucero that she had to speak to the "owner" which is in fact herself. Seriously save yourself the trouble from this horrible place.

Experiencia fantástica: Loved this place. Had a wonderful teacher with only 4 or 5 other students in class. The grounds are lovely, and the busy staff very helpful. When I was disappointed with my assignment in a home stay they immediately found me a better one. Very inexpensive as well. Plus, beautiful Oaxaca too.

Experiencia fantástica: I lived in Oaxaca and studied at ICO for 2 months. Going into my trip, I was really apprehensive about being in Oaxaca alone and how effective the school would be at helping me to acquire the language. I had the best experience! ICO absolutely surpassed my expectations. The office staff were warm and friendly, the teachers were personable, and the workshops were really fun. It was super easy to meet new friends, and there are always a million things happening at night in the zocalo, so it's impossible to get bored (and a great place to practice what you learned in class)! I highly recommend the ICO experience to everyone on the planet.

Experiencia fantástica: A really fine, well run school. I attended one-on-one instruction which went very well. Very nice grounds. Walking distance to some really fine, world class restaurants (that do not cost that much!). I attended and then took the DELE exam. The Institute is a DELE exam center. Bonus!

Experiencia fantástica: The institute is a veritable institution and leading actor in cultural immersion.

Experiencia fantástica: Without a doubt the best Spanish language school in Oaxaca.