January in Santiago DR
Unique Experiences
Explore the diverse environments
of a tropical island by hiking and cycling along beautiful beaches, rivers, and mountains
Get captivated by the local lifestyle
by immersing yourself in Dominican traditions and exploring street art in the “Heart City.”
Enjoy local Dominican cuisine
from street food like savory empanadas, fresh tropical fruit juices, yun-yun, and yaroas to the most elaborate dishes in fine restaurants and welcoming homes.
11%
major league baseball players who are Dominican
1,000
miles of tropical paradisiac coastline in the country
10,161 FT
highest peak of the Caribbean, Pico Duarte
Your Destination
Find yourself surrounded by mountains in the lush valley of the Cibao region in the center of the island of Hispaniola. Here lies Santiago de los Caballeros, the second largest city in the Dominican Republic, which puts you steps away from places of historical, cultural, and ecological interest – not to mention about an hour’s drive to the Atlantic Coast with crystal-clear warm water and white sand. Santiago is the commercial and cultural center of the fertile Cibao Valley region, housing the León Jimenez cultural center and the commercial street of Calle del Sol.
Founded in 1495 by 30 caballeros from Columbus’ early expeditions, Santiago boasts a fascinating history, exciting museums, and endless cultural experiences, including music, art, and festivals. This growing, modern city is home to many Dominican specialties, such as cigars, rum, chocolate, coffee, amber, and larimar, and a population of more than 800,000. Despite its sprawling size, Santiago retains many small-town features. Traditional merchants call out their wares in a musical chant, and street vendors balance large baskets of fruit and vegetables on their heads.
Close to the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, Santiago offers endless sports options, including surfing, kitesurfing, and golfing, along with ample cultural and artistic entertainment and recreation. Here you can dance to the contagious rhythm of merengue and bachata and enjoy the best Dominican gastronomy. And of course, engorge all the entertainment a baseball fan can ask for.
Come and enjoy a vibrant and growing city in the Caribbean with everything the tropics offer, from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world to the highest peak of the Caribbean.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
While participating in the January in Santiago program, you have a chance to:
- Immerse yourself in the heartbeat of Dominican culture by keeping up with the national baseball championship. Become a passionate fan of one of the local teams, and cheer for them during the winter league. Connect with fellow enthusiasts and meet others who keep the baseball spirit alive on the island.
- Examine the historic and cultural charms of Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities. Walk the cobblestoned paths around the historic colonial zone, with an enlightening decolonial tour. Meet the resilient Congos de Villa Mella maroon community and learn about their rich heritage. Enjoy a freshly brewed coffee or a savory snack from one of the many cafes surrounding El Conde Street.
- Visit nearby cities and places of historical, social, or ecological relevance, such as Puerto Plata, Jarabacoa, or Rio Blanco. Take advantage of the stunning landscapes for outdoor adventures including surfing or kitesurfing, hiking through lush trails and even waterfall jumping. With its renowned perfect winds and picturesque mountain views, the area surrounding Santiago features the perfect setting to experience first-hand Dominican expertise in tourism.
- Tour the vibrant streets of Los Pepines and admire Santiago's traditional Downtown and its murals. People-watch or dare to dance in a true Dominican street gathering with live music at the family setting of El Son de Keka.
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
Why YOU should come to Santiago? By Ada I. Rios
It’s officially about a month until the semester is over. During my time studying in Santiago, I’ve verified that I prefer the heat to the cold. Sometimes on my way... keep reading
Tour de las ballenas en Samaná by Eliana Olivier
Our overnight trip as part of the CIEE Liberal Arts program consisted of a trip to Samaná. We were able to take advantage of the long weekend due to the... keep reading
Day trip to Puerto Plata by Allejandra Spear
After the first three weeks full of exploring and adjusting to the environment and school, we ended the month with a day trip to a nearby city, Puerto plata. It... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
All students live with CIEE host families. Living with a Dominican family is your ticket to integrating into Santiago de los Caballeros, as it provides an excellent opportunity to immerse into the local culture. Although most families do not speak English, some have been offering their homes to U.S. students for more than 20 years and are used to the cultural exchange.
Homestays: Includes a room in a homestay. Your host family provides a room with a desk, laundry once a week, and Wi-Fi. All homestays are within walking distance (a 20- to 30-minute walk) of Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) campus and are located close to coffee shops, commercial centers, ATMs, and restaurants. Although single housing is prioritized, students may share a homestay with other CIEE students, depending on availability.
Meals
Homestays include three meals per day. Host families and students arrange their own meal schedules. If students miss a meal, they are responsible for either preparing it at home or eating in one of the many restaurants and cafés throughout the city.
Academics
Courses are taught at CIEE Santiago De Los Caballeros and are only for CIEE students. Classes are scheduled Monday-Friday and meet three to five times per week, and attendance is strictly enforced both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class. Instruction is supported and augmented online with our learning management system, Canvas.
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.
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
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Meals
Our Staff
Lucía Agüero
Center Director
Lucía Agüero is a passionate educator and lifelong learner with over fifteen years of professional experience.
Dorka Tejada
Custom & College Senior Program Coordinator
Dorka Tejada earned her technical degree in Agronomy at Loyola Dajabón, Dominican Republic, and has taken numerous business administration, tourism, and hotel management courses.
Randolp Valenzuela
HSSA & College Program Coordinator
Randolp Valenzuela has a degree in electrical technics and has taken numerous courses in business administration and media communication. He has more than a decade of experience coordinating youth camps...
Get Started
1
Start an Application
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!
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.
3
Contact an Advisor
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
You might also like
- Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
- Study Program
Spend your summer in the Dominican Republic learning about the complexities of healthcare in developing nations.
- Language Immersion
- Mountains to Hike
- Small City
- Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
- Study Program
Take your Spanish language skills to the next level while immersing yourself in the rich culture of the Dominican Republic.
- Mountains to Hike
- Small City
- Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
- Study Program
Raise your already strong Spanish language skills
- Host Institution
- Mountains to Hike
- Small City