The highly regarded Instituto de Lenguas Jovel (Francisco Madero 45, tel. 967/678-4069, www.institutojovel.com) offers private and group Spanish courses, all taught by professionally trained native-Spanish-speaking instructors. Courses include 15, 20, or 30 hours of instruction per week, and can be taken privately or in groups of up to five students (US$195–390 per week private, US$120–240 per week group, depending on hours).

Specialized classes for doctors, teachers, social workers, and other professionals are also offered (US$320 per week) and include 15 hours of private weekly instruction, plus visits to local hospitals, schools, or NGOs, depending on your field.

Room and board also can be arranged, including home-stays, hotel rooms, or furnished apartments (either shared or private) at very reasonable rates. The school organizes a number of interesting workshops as well, from Mexican cooking to jewelry making.

Operated out of the Centro Cultural El Puente, El Puente Spanish Language School (Calle Real de Guadalupe 55, tel. 967/678-3723, www.elpuenteweb.com) offers one-on-one and group Spanish lessons; a week of classes includes 15 hours of instruction for US$120–140. Home-stay packages, which include seven nights’ lodging and three meals per day, increase the weekly rate to US$190–230. There is also a small restaurant, gallery, Internet café, and movie house on-site.

La Casa en el Árbol (Calle Real de Mexicanos 10, tel. 967/674-5272, www.lacasaenelarbol.org) offers language classes in the Maya languages of Tzotzil and Tzeltal, which are used throughout the region—a useful skill if you plan to stay in Chiapas awhile! Classes cost US$6.75–3.50 per hour (1–5 students); monthly rates are US$32.50 (4 hours per week, minimum 6 students). Spanish-language courses and home stays are also offered at competitive rates.