Puerto Rico
2025–26 ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

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.

• All boarding students can stay in their rooms on the night of Friday, March 6, 2026.

• On March 7, 2026, Students and Program leaders will meet at the Deerfield Campus to travel to Boston Logan Airport by coach bus.  They will fly from Logan airport to San Juan arriving on March 7, 2026. Students and Program Leaders will be based out of San Juan with excursions to Loíza, Adjuntas, La Cajuana, and Ponce. On March 14, 2026, Students will fly out of San Juan and return to Boston Logan Airport.  

• Cell Phone Policy: As part of Deerfield’s commitment to face-to-face interactions, during certain times of the program, students will be “unplugged” without access to cell phone

• Other Important Information about the program:  During this program, students will stay in hotels, inns, and lodges and share meals at accommodations and restaurants.