Frequently Asked Questions

You can either complete our inquiry form or email us at mas@naatikmexico.org. Our immersion team will be in touch to discuss your needs and set up your booking with you.

Details of what is included in your package can be found on our pricing page. All fees help us to provide local children with classes and library access, as well as pay our local staff a dignified living wage. To read more about this visit our impact page.

We offer packages of one week or more, typically with classes beginning on a Monday following a Sunday arrival. We recommend that to gain the most value from your learning experience, you consider studying with us for at least two weeks. We have no upper limit on length of study.

Getting to Na’atik from any of the region’s airports is simple, with bus, train and Na’atik transfers available.

Have a look at our dedicated how to get here page for help with planning your journey. If you have additional questions, please contact us at mas@naatikmexico.org.

Our vibrant community of trusted homestay families have been carefully selected to ensure the best possible experience for immersion students. Most have been associated with the school for many years, often through sending their own children to study English with us. All of our homestay families are welcoming and offer comfortable rooms, along with excellent regional food. To read more about this please visit our accommodation page.

Our classes are taught by experienced and qualified teachers and are designed to match your level. We will send you an evaluation beforehand to ensure we place you with the best teacher and, if you are taking group classes, in the most appropriate class for your level. Group classes are capped at five students. Your teacher will discuss your goals with you at the beginning of your first class and, where possible, tailor the content covered to match, whether that be a focus on grammar, vocabulary or a particular part of Spanish you wish to master.

To read more about our classes visit our teaching philosophy page.

Many of our students are taking the first steps in their Spanish language journeys and our teachers are happy to work with students of any level. However, to help you settle in with your homestay family and make the most of your Carrillo experience, we do recommend taking a few online classes with us before you arrive.

Many families choose to study with us here at Na’atik. Our immersion packages are designed to provide a balance of learning and fun for all members of the family. We can either offer our Family Adventure Package or tailor the standard package to meet your needs.

We are always happy to welcome groups. Read more about our group options and download a sample itinerary here.

Our students find they spend much of their free time with our lovely host families and exploring Carrillo. Although it’s a small city, there are cafés and good restaurants where locals like to hang out in the evenings and on weekends. If you’d like to get out and see more of the area, we offer guided tours and additional activities in and around Carrillo. Alternatively, if you prefer to venture out on your own, we can advise you on how best to visit nearby Caribbean beaches, ancient Maya ruins and captivating colonial towns.

Traveling around Carrillo is extremely easy. Your package includes the use of a bicycle, on which you can quickly reach any part of the city. If you prefer to travel by taxi, these only cost about $1-$2 USD within the city. Most places are walkable, though you may find you’ll prefer a bike or taxi in our tropical heat!

This region of Mexico is known for its unique traditional dishes which are influenced by Maya and Caribbean cuisine. Your homestay family will introduce you to their favorites. If you are exploring the town and want to try something different, we recommend exotic fruit from the market, delicious tacos from the taquerías and fresh baked goods from the local panaderías; you won’t be disappointed! There are also two supermarkets in town with everything you need.

While the tap water is great for a cooling shower at the end of the day, we would recommend against drinking it. Filtered water is available at the school and in your homestay, as well as used by local restaurants to make drinks. Feel free to bring a reusable bottle with you to refill during your stay! Bottled water is also inexpensive and widely available.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the school and in all homestays. There are also a number of internet cafés in the city.

There are several banks in the city with ATMs and some stores which also offer currency conversion between US dollars and Mexican pesos.

Our packages which include the homestay experience are all-inclusive. Unless you wish to purchase extra food, buy souvenirs and go on additional excursions, you won’t spend too much while you’re here.

If you are not staying with a homestay or want a quick snack while exploring the city, everything in Carrillo is inexpensive. You can go to the mercado or local taquerías and get terrific tacos for a dollar or two. We are always happy to help with recommendations if needed.

Public transportation in the peninsula is also low-cost, making exploring further afield affordable.

Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended to protect you while away from home. Please ensure you select a policy that covers your belongings and provides medical coverage in the case of unexpected illness, injury, or emergency. Parents and guardians of students under the age of 18 are required to sign a medical release waiver.

Carrillo is extremely friendly and getting around town on your own is safe and easy. In the evening there are often events in our central parque and local businesses, like stores and restaurants, are open until late.

Carrillo and Cancún are in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, which is as safe to visit as other popular tourist destinations such as London, Paris and Berlin. The crime rate in the city is extremely low. However, as in any place in the world, we recommend that visitors use common sense.

You can read our latest reviews on GoOverseas and TripAdvisor to find out more about our previous students' experiences.

IMMERSION

If you have paid towards your booking our cancellation policy is the following:

-If you cancel, we will refund all but the non-refundable $150 USD per persod deposit up until 3 weeks prior to your program start date.

-If you cancel within 21 days of your course start date you will not receive a refund but your payment will be respected for a rescheduled program at a later date.

-If you cancel all or part of your package during your visit you will not receive a refund for any remaining days of your immersion experience.

-In the instance of a full or partial refund, PayPal fees will be deducted from the refunded amount.

EXCURSIONS

If you need to cancel your Na’atik excursion booking, please let us know as soon as possible.

In order to ensure the fair treatment of our teachers, guides and local suppliers, we require at least 24

hours’ notice of cancellation. Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice are non-refundable.

In the event of an accident or illness preventing you from taking part in the booked activity, we will

endeavour to rearrange for a suitable time, however we cannot guarantee this.

In the unfortunate event that weather conditions or other unforeseen outside forces prevent us from

delivering the excursion as advertised, we will discuss rearrangement or refunding your booking with you.

Please note that any refund will not include PayPal fees where applicable.