Spain Abroad provides life-changing international experiences for young adults, focusing on cultural immersion and digital wellness.
Digital Zen Abroad
Where Digital meets Zen
A digital wellness experience that encourages life balance and helps you figure out your next steps.
Craft your future, further your independent skills and practice wellness on the Southern Coast
Explore a transformative journey with Spain Abroad's GAP Year Program on the picturesque Southern Coast of Spain. Experience the enchanting fusion of ancient history and modern charm on the sun-drenched Southern Coast of Spain. Our gap year program is designed for 18-25 year olds seeking to embrace holistic wellness, life coaching, and cultural exploration in a breathtaking setting.
Your European GAP experience that balances tech with wellness!
Beach Yoga to Gaming…Creative breaks and breakthrough moments.
A place for gamers, creators, artists, and dreamers to level up their life. Gaming bays, retro games, wellness workshops, creative mentorship tracks and Mediterranean views included. We’re all about helping you embrace your passion and find that balance.
Choose your creative focus: music, art, screenwriting, Spanish language, content creation, or create your own path.
We’re more of an AND situation!
Your Journey
Level up your life on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Three months of intentional living where digital meets zen, creativity flows, and every day is an adventure.
1-3-Month Experience
Ages 18-25
Beachfront Apartments
6- 12 Person Squad
Southern Spain Location on the Mediterranean Sea
Daily Moves
- Morning Wellness: “Mindful Mañanas”
- Creative workshops
- Siesta/Game Café
- Community dinners
- Spanish Cooking Classes
- Evening Activities
- Friday Night Analog Game Nights
- Saturday Excursions
- Chill Sundays
Our gaming café and creative space where digital comfort meets Mediterranean chill. Gaming bays with high-speed internet, board gaming table, retro Nintendo and Sega arcade console, cozy seating, records, comics, books, foosball, snacks, and coffee/ cocoa bar.
Choose Your Season
Spring 2025
3 month option:
Feb 28 – May 15
1 month options:
Feb 28 – March 28
March 29 – April 25
April 15 – May 15
Summer 2025
June 24 – August 4 (6 weeks)
July 1 – July 31 (4 weeks)
Fall 2025
3 month option:
Sept 5 – November 23
1 month options:
September 5 – October 3
October 4 – November 1
November 2 – November 23 (3 weeks)
Spain Life
Mindful Mañana
- Beach yoga
- Mindfulness
- Cold dips
- Breathwork
Creative Mornings
- Screenwriting
- Art
- Music
- Dance
- Spanish Language
- Independent
Afternoon Vibes
- Siesta
- Game Café
- Beach time
Evening Energy
- Community Dinners
- Spanish Cooking Class
- Sunset Sessions
- Night Activities
- Analog Friday Game Nights
Saturday Adventures
- Adventure Excursions such as:
- Canyoning
- Caminito del Rey
- Cultural Excursions to places like:
- Seville
- Granada
- Malaga
- Gibraltar
Sunday Siesta
- Game Café
- Beach time
- Rest
Creative Tracks
Spanish
Level up your Spanish. Immerse yourself in Spanish that goes beyond textbooks. Language sessions, real-world practice, and local friendships take you from “¡Hola!” to real conversations. Perfect for beginners wanting basics or advanced speakers aiming for fluency. Cultural workshops, language exchanges, and street-level Spanish make learning feel less like study and more like life.
Screenwriting
Write that script! Three months. One mentor. Your story on paper. You have the potential to leave with a completed screenplay and the tools to re-write and write your next one. Weekly workshops, writing sessions with views of the Mediterranean, and a creative community to bounce ideas off. Whether you’re starting with a blank page or have a draft to develop, we’ll help you level up your writing game.
Art
Build a portfolio. Turn Spanish inspiration into portfolio gold. Work with professional artists, explore different mediums, and capture Mediterranean magic through your art. From traditional pottery to watercolor sunsets, and sketching Spanish plazas, develop your style and build a portfolio that stands out. Weekly mentor sessions, studio time, and local art scene immersion.
Music
Find your sound. Private lessons in your choice of:
- Piano
- Guitar
- Ukulele
- Voice
Grow your skills with one-on-one instruction while soaking in International music culture. Practice with Mediterranean views and maybe even perform for others. From beginner to advanced, develop your skills at your pace.
Content Creation
Build your platform! Got stories to tell? We have equipment and amazing locations. Use our podcast booth (coming Summer 2025) develop your content strategy, and create engaging posts with Southern Spain as your backdrop. Build an authentic online presence while living your best offline life. Perfect for aspiring creators who want substance behind their style.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Create your path! Bring your online work, studies, or passion projects to the Mediterranean. Whether you’re coding, studying, or building your empire, our Hub provides the perfect setup: pro workspaces, fast WiFi, and a community that gets it. Balance your digital goals with beach life, wellness sessions, and Spanish culture. Your focus, your schedule, our support – all with Mediterranean views.
Mañana Vibes
When hustle culture became too much… Plot twist! We left the American grind for Mediterranean time.
What we learned? Spanish living hits different:
- Quality > Quantity
- Real connections > Social stats
- Nature breaks > Burnout
- Community > Competition
- Slow mornings > Stress alerts
And our students? They’re rewriting their stories here with a more balanced approach to their life too.
Trading anxiety for adventure. Screen time for hanging with friends.
Finding their flow in a place where Mañana isn’t just another day – it’s a whole vibe.
FAQ
What makes Digital Zen Abroad different?
We’re not about unplugging – we’re about balance. Online gaming setups meet Mediterranean sunsets. Creative mentorship meets beach life. Digital comfort meets real-world adventure.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
Nope! Whether you’re fluent or can only say “hola,” we meet you where you are. If you’re a beginner, you’ll join our Spanish Quick Start workshop for basic knowledge to unlock local interactions. If you choose the Spanish Creative Path, your Spanish class will help place you in the correct group for your level.
What's included in my tuition?
- Beachfront living
- Your chosen Creative Track
- Gaming café & Cocina access
- Wellness sessions
- Spanish Quick Start Workshops
- Saturday adventures
- Catered lunches
- Community dinners
- All program activities
*Friend discount: Bring a friend, you both save 15%*
Can I do multiple tracks?
Absolutely! Add a second creative track for 1250€/month. Mix and match between screenwriting, art, music, dance, Spanish, or independent study.
What if I'm a beginner?
Every track is designed for all levels. Whether you’re learning to draw or writing your third screenplay, we meet you where you are.
What's the living situation?
You’ll share a room with your squad in our beachfront, all-gender apartments. Plenty of room for personal space, but we’re all about that community vibe.
What's The Gaming Café like?
Our gaming café and creative space includes gaming setups, podcast studio (coming soon), board game lounge, retro gaming arcade console, and endless coffee.
When can I game/create?
The Gaming Café has set hours (closed during morning wellness), but is open from Noon-5pm and 9pm-Midnight. you’ve also got WiFi in your apartment for those late-night creative flow states.
How do you handle tech balance?
We’re not about restrictions – we’re about finding your perfect settings. Morning wellness, creative sessions, and analog activities balance naturally with digital time. We also coach you how to use either a digital or old-school planner to improve your daily flow and keep track of your appoitments.
What are Analog Fridays?
Think next-level board games, role-playing campaigns, murder mysteries, escape rooms, and tech-free adventures.
What about the social scene?
If you’re 18+, you can enjoy Spain’s casual drinking culture (think wine with tapas, not wild parties). We don’t want any drunkenness, so keep it cool. No alcohol in housing though – we keep that space chill for everyone.
How do I stay in touch with home?
WhatsApp is your friend! Plus, you’ll have fast WiFi for gaming with friends back home or updating your content. Just remember the time difference!
Health & Safety?
- 24/7 staff support Local medical connections
- Clean, safe facilities
- Zero tolerance drug policy
Can my family visit?
We prefer family tours are before or after the program – if you wait til after, you can show them all your favorite spots.
Want to stay longer?
Many students level up for multiple seasons. We don’t provide student visas, but there are 3 months between Fall and Spring season dates, so you stay within your allowed time in the EU. AKA, you get 90 days here, have to leave the EU for 90 and can come back for another 90.
Come take a glimpse into our GAP Year program in Estepona. Our students experience this beautiful city filled with wonderful people, activities, and culture. It truly is “one of a kind”.
A single semester is an option based on availability
The Digital Zen Abroad Abroad Program Includes:
- Engaging and personalized Spanish Classes.
- Budget training with your weekly stipend for food and free spending
- Goal setting and planning for your future
- Possible apprenticeship opportunities
- Exploring your interests—with a large array of activities at our fingertips, you are able to try anything from pottery and art classes to scuba diving to music classes, yoga, and so much more!
- Cultural excursions to Malaga, Cadiz, Granada, Seville, Gibraltar…
- An array of culinary experiences: Students participate in Spanish cooking classes weekly, receive grocery stipends to budget and cook meals together, as well as participate in group meals out on the town.
- The opportunity to give back to the community. Volunteering is an important component to our program. We work with different charities to help support the surrounding community.
Program Highlights:
Life Coaching and Mentoring: Get personalized sessions to boost your
development, build resilience and grow your independent skills.
Holistic Wellness Focus:
Dive into a full wellness experience that includes
mindfulness, healthy living tips, and workshops to help you grow personally.
Cultural Immersion:
Immerse yourself in Spain’s diverse culture with trips,
language practice, and community involvement.
Beachside living: Take in the chill vibes and enjoy the slow pace to relax,
refocus, and explore in our coastal paradise.
A Typical Day in our Semester Abroad Program
(Here is a sample schedule)
We believe in offering a fun, interactive, and immersive educational experience that is both practical and useful in propelling you to your next step. It just so happens to be in one of the most beautiful locations in the world: the quaint, pedestrian village of Estepona that sits on the stunning Mediterranean Sea!
Semester Abroad Program
Educational Options and Activities
About our Language School
At Spanish Language Courses, students find themselves in a familiar environment. Our facilities have six classrooms, two offices and a meeting room arranged around a typical Andalusian patio.
Students will be able to learn Spanish and work in a calm and welcoming environment. The teachers at Spanish Language Courses are well-qualified with over 15 years of teaching experience. They have the ability to adapt to the characteristics and needs of the students to ensure that they learn Spanish in an efficient and enjoyable way.
Cooking!
At Spain Abroad, we believe that learning to cook is a vital part of developing independent living skills. Each week, our students participate in cooking classes led by our skilled Spanish chef, where they not only learn essential culinary techniques but also dive into the rich flavors of Spanish cuisine. Beyond the classroom, students regularly cook meals together with their peers and staff, fostering a sense of community while honing their abilities. Whether mastering a traditional paella or perfecting the art of tapas, our students gain confidence in the kitchen and a deeper appreciation for the vibrant culture of Spain.
Volunteering!
We emphasize the importance of giving back to the community as a key component of personal growth and development. Our students engage in meaningful volunteer work, from assisting at the local animal shelter and supporting children with special needs to helping individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease. They also take part in fundraising efforts for cancer research and participate in beach clean-ups to take care of and give back to the local natural environment. Through these diverse volunteer opportunities, our students learn the value of empathy, responsibility, and the impact they can make in the lives of others, while deepening their connection to the local community and culture.
Art!
Our students immerse themselves in the creative process through weekly art classes that go beyond simply making art—they learn how to become artists. Guided by experienced instructors, they explore a variety of art styles, honing their skills in everything from painting to sculpture. These classes encourage students to express themselves creatively, think critically, and push the boundaries of their artistic abilities. The result is not only a collection of impressive works of art but also a deeper understanding of the artistic journey and the confidence to see the world through an artist’s eyes.
Beach Life!
The beach is a cornerstone of our students’ experience, offering both excitement and serenity. They spend plenty of time by the Mediterranean, engaging in organized activities like beach volleyball, boat rides, and yoga sessions that focus on manifestation and meditation. Whether they’re swimming in the clear waters, relaxing on the sand, or finding inner peace through meditation, our students connect with the natural beauty of the coast. The beach provides a perfect setting for fun, relaxation, and personal growth, making it a cherished part of their journey in Spain.
Add-On Activities
In addition to the life coaching, wellness coaching, volunteering, hiking, group activities, art, history, cooking, Spanish language and culture classes we offer within our program, we are connected to a wonderful community that offers additional activities if you so choose.