Culinary Arts & Spanish Culture
Summer '25 New Program!
Why Choose This Program?
Explore
Have fun discovering Alicante’s scenic beaches, plazas, and cafés.
Network
Meet new friends and chefs. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Cook using traditional and modern Spanish culinary techniques. Build confidence as a future chef.
The Destination
Welcome to Alicante, where you’ll find a rich, gastronomic scene and fun Mediterranean vibes.
Alicante’s cuisine is a celebration of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, from seafood caught just off the coast to mouthwatering seasonal produce. The city's food scene features traditional dishes like arroz a banda and tapas alongside street food markets, bakeries, and pastry shops. Alicante’s bustling Mercado Central is a treat for the senses, with vendors sharing fresh fish, cured meats, and fragrant spices that define the Valencian region's culinary identity.
Alicante pulses with energy in the summer, from lively open-air concerts to packed beaches. Enjoy the sea breeze along the marina, discover hidden plazas and medieval corners, walk along the palm-lined Explanada de España, or soak in the views from the Castillo de Santa Bárbara. The city is pleasantly small, so you won’t wear yourself out while exploring!
Alicante’s scenery, culture, and cuisine invites you to savor every moment and experience the charm of La Costa Blanca.
Cultural Awareness
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Alicante.
Sample Itinerary
Sun, Sand, and Competition: Beach Olympics in Alicante
Our students competed in beach olympics to start wrapping up their final week as Global Navigators (for now)!
El Museo de las Ilusiones
A challenge to your imagination. The Museum of Illusions and Public Transport.
Tapas & Talking: Community Conversations the Tasty Way
Our Global Navigators get the opportunity to connect their Spanish skills from the classroom to real life by speaking with locals in our Community Conversations everyday!
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 = $6,150
Total Fees = $6,150Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
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.
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 = $6,150
Total Fees = $6,150Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
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.
Ready to change your life?
What's Included
Interactive Classes
Housing
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
24/7 Emergency On-site Support
3 Meals/Day
Our Staff
Rocío Díez
Center Director
Rocío oversees all semester and summer programs. Rocio, who joined CIEE in 2015, has extensive working experience in the fields of communication and cultural management. She holds a B.A. in...
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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