Puerto Rico
Heritage and Musical Expression
This immersive program invites students to explore Puerto Rico through its music, art, and community life, uncovering how creativity expresses identity, history, and resilience. From the rhythms of Bomba and Plena to the global influence of modern musicians, Puerto Rican culture tells a story of adaptation, pride, and ongoing dialogue about the island’s past, present, and future.
Students begin their journey in San Juan, walking through colorful streets layered with centuries of cultural exchange. Workshops, performances, and museum visits provide insight into how music and art both preserve tradition and inspire new forms of expression. Beyond the capital, visits to communities such as Loíza and Adjuntas reveal how people across the island draw on creativity, local leadership, and collaboration to strengthen their sense of place and respond to changing economic, social, and environmental realities.
Throughout the experience, students are invited to consider complex questions about identity, belonging, and governance. They meet artists, educators, and community members who offer a range of perspectives on what it means to live, create, and lead in Puerto Rico today. By engaging in dialogue, asking thoughtful questions, and reflecting together, students practice critical thinking and learn to weigh multiple viewpoints before forming their own conclusions.
By the end of the program, participants carry with them not only the rhythms of Puerto Rican life but also the habits of curiosity, empathy, and informed reflection that will serve them in their studies and in their roles as engaged global citizens.
Program Notes
- As part of Deerfield’s commitment to face-to-face interactions, during certain times of the trip students will be “unplugged” without access to cell phones.
- This program ends half way through the March Break. Families are responsible for transportation from the arrival U.S.-based airport at the end of the trip to the student’s destination for the remainder of the March break.
- Students and faculty leaders will update families and friends at home through our Notes From The Field blog.
Program Dates
March 7 – 14, 2026
Program Eligibility
This program is open to all students. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.
Please note that this program overlaps with the following:
- SATs on March 14, 2026
- The following athletics trips:
- NEPSAC championships (girls and boys swimming, girls and boys hockey) March 7-8.
Program Snapshot
Accommodations: Hotels
Meals: Group meals at Hotels and Restaurants
Activities: This program will include some physical activity, various site visits, and some community-based activities. Activities will be both indoors and outdoors.
Faculty Trip Leaders
- Callie Gray
Estimated Cost: $5,500
All meals, transportation, accommodations, and activities during the program dates are included in the program fee.
2026 Preliminary Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change
The program begins in San Juan, where students ease into their Puerto Rican adventure through orientation activities, group discussions, and explorations of the city’s colorful streets. Over the first few days, participants dive into Puerto Rico’s artistic and historical heritage—walking through Old San Juan, learning about key figures like Pedro Albizu Campos, and engaging with local musicians and artists. Visits to cultural centers and workshops at Fundación Cultural Cofradía and La Goyco allow students to experience firsthand how art and music, particularly Bomba, serve as vehicles for cultural identity, resistance, and community building. Evenings include group reflections, shared meals, and opportunities to connect with local artists in spaces like Poet’s Passage, deepening students’ understanding of the social and historical forces that shape Puerto Rican culture today.
As the journey continues, students travel beyond San Juan to immerse themselves in the island’s diverse regions and communities. They explore Loíza’s vibrant Afro-Puerto Rican traditions, and visit Casa Pueblo, a vibrant community center in Adjuntas dedicated to environmental education, cultural preservation, and community-based projects. Hands-on workshops, community dialogues, and art experiences encourage reflection on the intersections of history, identity, and sustainability. The final days bring the group back to San Juan for a street art tour, museum visits, and a closing ceremony that ties together themes of creativity, resilience, and connection. By the program’s end, students carry with them a deeper appreciation of Puerto Rico’s cultural richness and the ways artistic expression sustains community and heritage across generations.
Health & Safety
We take student health and safety seriously. Please review the information below as you consider applying for the trip.
Travel Medicine Advisory Letter
A letter from Dr. Bryant Benson provides important guidance on health preparations for travel. View Letter