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Our top 5 locations for winter sunshine

If you want to escape the cold, the rain and the January blues, this one’s for you…

Check out our five great places for winter sun where you can swap boots for flip flops and duffle coat for swimsuit. Just make sure you send a postcard to make your friends envious back home…they won’t believe it’s all in the name of education!

1. Buenos Aires

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If there’s one place sure to lift your winter mood it’s Buenos Aires. You just can’t help but be swept up in the colour and vibrance of this thrilling capital city of Argentina. Whether it’s the food (thick, succulent steaks like you’ve never tasted), wine (rich Malbecs are Argentina’s forte), dance (from impromptu tango in the streets to extravagant evening shows), shopping (boutiques, galleries, antique shops and more), nightlife (don’t even think of going out before midnight, and be prepared for daylight when you emerge) or architecture (old-world cafes alongside magnificent colonial buildings), there is something here for everyone. Add to this the summer sunshine between December and February and the relative good value of the Argentine peso, compared to western currencies, and you’re in for a real treat at little expense. Choose a regular Spanish course or up the ante by adding some dancing, polo, horse riding or volunteering to your adventure.

Spanish courses in Buenos Aires

2. Cape Town

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If you want to get away for more than the usual week or two, or are even considering a job or lifestyle change, then head to South Africa for a TEFL course. A fantastic destination from mid-October to mid-February, when it basks in temperatures in the high twenties, this is the ideal place to spend 4 weeks learning how to teach English as a foreign language. When your head isn’t buried in a textbook, the treats that await you make it all worthwhile; the fascinating cultural melting pot that is Cape Town, delicious African and international cuisine, world-class locally-produced wines, pristine coastline, magnificent countryside and diverse flora and fauna. And once this is all over you have a passport to travel the world with your prestigious CELTA qualification – no need, then, to ever winter in the cold again!

TEFL courses in South Africa

3. Martinique

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Our latest must-visit location is the Caribbean island of Martinique. Ok, we’re kind of biased as two of our team have recently taken a French course in Martinique, and come back with infectious enthusiasm for this palm-fringed island just north of St Lucia. They were overwhelmed by the friendliness and hospitality of the locals, the delicious local food, the clear turquoise waters, the beautiful climate, the excellent French tuition, beautiful accommodation, and activities such as diving and dancing. As a place to learn French in the winter, it doesn’t get much better than this – we’re hooked!

French course in Martinique – a first-hand review

Sun, sea, sand and French…in exotic Martinique

French courses in Martinique

4. Galapagos

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New year, new you – change your life with a 4-week CELTA course in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands. You can obtain the most prestigious English language teaching qualification whilst interacting with the unique flora and fauna of these beautiful islands and participating in sustainable development and environmental protection projects. The aim of this course is for you to of course gain your teaching qualification, but also to educate the local community and make a difference. It’s a once in a lifetime experience! Next start dates 11th January, 8th February, 21st March 2016.

CELTA course in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

5. Rio de Janeiro

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With verdant rainforests on one side, stunning mountains on the other and endless stretches of white sand beaches, Rio boasts one of the most spectacular urban settings in the world. There’s more to this spectacular city than Carnival, although if you can catch this week-long haze of samba, fiesta and hedonism it’s probably quite an appropriate introduction. And if you visit in winter this is exactly what you can do, as Carnival takes place February 5th-10th 2016 – the perfect antidote to winter back home and a great excuse to let your hair down. Solve the problem of finding accommodation at this popular time by staying with a local family whilst taking a language course – you don’t get better immersion in the language and culture than this!

Portuguese courses in Rio de Janeiro

Cactus offers language courses in more than 20 languages and 120 destinations worldwide. We also run adult evening and junior afternoon courses in the UK, which are the ideal way to learn the basics or brush up on existing language knowledge in advance of a holiday or business trip abroad.

Our top 6 locations in South America this winter

South America has something for everyone. From snow-capped mountains to white sand beaches and colonial history to Caribbean charm, its landscapes and people never cease to amaze. As a place to escape winter, it has it all!

As summer becomes a distant memory here in the northern hemisphere, things are just hotting up down south. And whilst we can’t complain after what’s been a formidable summer, some of us just can’t bear to swap strappy sandals for cosy boots. If this is you, packing your bags and heading to South America might just be what the doctor ordered. And if it’s all in the name of education, who are we to argue?

We’re excited to offer Spanish courses in some of South America’s most vibrant destinations and, in an effort to help you narrow down the options, here are our top 6 to escape to this winter. Digest, dream…and plan away!

1. Buenos Aires

We say it all the time, but only because it’s true: this elegant capital city of Argentina is quite simply a must-see. Decidedly more European than South American in flavour, Buenos Aires boasts stylish shops, sumptuous restaurants and quaint cafés, and its air is filled day and night with the sultry rhythms of tango and the sizzle of succulent steaks on the grill. Nothing more to do but soak it all up with a glass of local Malbec in hand.

Spanish courses in Buenos Aires

2. Santiago de Chile

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On the other side of the continent sits Santiago, the modern and cosmopolitan capital of Chile. Boasting a stunning setting on a plain with the magnificent backdrop of the Andes, Santiago offers a wealth of arts and culture alongside superb outdoor pursuits. Fresh powder skiing one day, wine tasting another, sunbathing on a beach the next…you won’t be stuck for activities to do after class, many of which are included in the school’s brilliant activities programme, along with horse riding, trekking, rafting, cooking lessons and more!

Spanish courses in Santiago de Chile

3. Lima

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Peru’s capital city was once one of South America’s most powerful and richest cities, and glimpses of its glorious past today mix with its vibrant present. Colonial mansions, impressive museums, cutting edge art and a thriving nightlife are good enough reasons to visit, but Lima is also busy building itself a reputation as something of a gastronomic mecca. Its cuisine is a delightful reflection of the city’s rich cultural history and enviable coastal location, a mix of Spanish, African and Asian influences alongside signature seafood dishes such as ceviche. You might come here to explore the city’s history but your taste buds will thank you for it.

Spanish courses in Lima

4. Bogota

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Bogota has turned itself around quite impressively in recent years. Visitors to the city can today enjoy the capital’s colonial treasures, glittering pre-Colombian art, enticing restaurants and diverse intellectual life in a much cleaner and safer environment than of recent years. And those coming to learn Spanish can feel suitably smug that the Spanish spoken here is supposedly the purest in the New World. Even if you’re heading to other parts of Colombia, make sure you spend some time here in its capital to surround yourself in history and chat to the inherently friendly locals.

Spanish courses in Bogota

5. Cartagena

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If your number one objective is to seek an antidote to winter back home, Cartagena is likely to seduce you in a second. This beautiful colonial city on Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast is utterly mesmerising; glistening under the sun, it is a place of dreams and long-forgotten times. Horse-drawn carriages are as common a sight as glorious pink bougainvilla spilling from balconies above, while quaint cobbled streets lead to magnificent churches and shady plazas where café colombiano can be sipped to the distant beat of salsa. Don’t come here with much of an itinerary because this is a place to lose yourself, and maybe accidentally forget to leave.

Spanish courses in Cartagena

6. Havana

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History, romance and intrigue…it’s all here to lap up in Cuba’s iconic capital. This Caribbean outpost of communism is a must-see for reasons too long to list: elegant colonial palaces, faded pastel façades, classic American cars, the legend of Che Guevara, infectious salsa beats and a non-stop nightlife might well be some. Stepping into the shoes of Hemingway, mojito in hand, could well be another. Whatever your reason for coming, Havana won’t disappoint. As you bask under the Caribbean sun and soak it all up, winter back home will be the last thing on your mind. Winter…what winter?

Spanish courses in Havana

Cactus offers Spanish courses in countries across Central and South America, as well as in Spain. We also run evening Spanish courses in the UK, which are the perfect way to learn the basics or brush up before you go.