Program Locations
Study Spanish Abroad in Costa Rica
Are you looking for an immersion experience in Costa Rica? ¡Qué chiva! Would you prefer to be surrounded by hills and volcanoes in a town close to the capital of San José? ¿Por qué no? How about studying Spanish in a beachfront school on the Pacific Ocean? Pura vida
The benefits of learning Spanish in Costa Rica
- It’s a safe and progressive place
- Interact with the friendly people of Costa Rica to practice and improve your Spanish skills
- Practice your language skills while exploring the country’s natural beauty
- Enjoy daily free activities, such as Latin dance, cooking, films and conversation hour with locals
- Volunteering opportunities! Participate in Community Outreach & Education, Regenerative Agriculture and Turtle/Environmental Protection programs in one of the most bio-diverse eco-systems in the world
- Travel and study with your kids in their Spanish for Families & Kids program
- Green season (best time of year!) is May – Oct, with light rains in afternoons
Program Info
In-country
In-country classes are when you travel overseas to study the language in a country where the language is spoken natively.
Group Size
Course Timings
Choose where to learn Spanish in Costa Rica
We have two exquisite Costa Rican locations for your language travel adventure. We’ll be able to help you choose if you’re not sure. But here they are:
Spanish in Sámara
- Located on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica
- Sámara beach is always hot and sunny: average temperatures of 89 F
- Study Spanish zero steps from the beach
- Take a morning cruise on a boat to spot dolphins and go snorkeling
- Go horseback riding along the coastline
- Take a quick dip in the ocean during your break
- Visit nearby Nicoya, the colonial capital of the region
- Paddle through the mangroves on a river to see a variety of birds
- Explore one of Costa Rica’s live volcano national parks
- Put on your dancing shoes and learn some Latin dance moves
Spanish in Heredia
- Located in the Central Valley
- Heredia is the “land of eternal spring:” year-round averages of 78 F
- Take a local tour to volcanoes, waterfalls and other natural wonders
- Play dominoes with the locals at the central park
- Take a dip in the public pool 2 blocks from school
- Visit the Museo de Cultura Popular in Santa Lucia
- Take a trip to the capital of San José which is only 6 miles away
Feedback
“Everything the school did worked to help me in my learning process. They were seriously fantastic!”
ILI Language Travel Student
Program Info
In-country
In-country classes are when you travel overseas to study the language in a country where the language is spoken natively.
Group Size
Course Timings
Formats
Choose your course type
Our study abroad partner schools in Costa Rica will offer a slightly different range of program formats to choose from, but these are likely to include, as a minimum:
Adult group classes
This is where one of the big benefits of studying Spanish in Costa Rica becomes clear – your fellow classmates will be from all over the world. The common language in and out of the classroom is Spanish.
Your teachers in Costa Rica will all have learned to teach Spanish using the same methodology – one which lends itself to using Spanish every moment of your time together.
That may seem daunting at first, but because your classes will be at your level of Spanish, you really have nothing to worry about. Even if you’re a complete beginner, your Spanish teacher will make you feel comfortable and confident. And then the fun starts!
Programs for families
The Family Spanish Immersion Program offers customized Spanish classes for kids and teenagers in multi-level groups. The focus is on learning through fun activities and games with other children around their age, promoting conversational fluency in Spanish.
This program is offered year-round for group ages 8-12 and 13-17 where the children are on the same schedule as their parent(s) if enrolled in an adult group class.
Programs for teenagers
Our partner school also offers Spanish immersion programs for teenagers, including a summer camp or a year-round program.
The Spanish summer camp focuses not only on the Spanish language but also leadership skills. This program takes place in July for kids 13-17 years old.
For a year-round experience, your 16-17 year old kids can focus on Academic Spanish and cultural immersion. This program includes a hand-picked Costa Rican family homestay with 2 meals. These are homestay family with teenage children to enhance their experience.
If you’re not sure which option is best for you, please contact us and we can discuss this with you.
Package options
Our partners will help you with the whole package – everything you need to think about to get you from where you are now, to sitting in a tropical classroom somewhere in Costa Rica, learning Spanish!
We know it can seem like a big leap, which is why we help you with all the moving parts:
Airport transfer (additional fee)
The school can provide a customized airport transfer service for your convenience, ensuring a smooth journey from your arrival at the airport.
Should you require it, they can also arrange transportation back to the airport on the day of your departure.
Accommodations
They’ll advise you on the most popular accommodation options in each location, and they’ll do everything they can to support any special requirements you have.
Our colleagues in each school will then have you complete their forms to book you into the accommodation of your choice. It’s really that easy. Before you leave for Costa Rica, they’ll be in touch with all the contact details you need, along with clear instructions on how to find your accommodation, and travel between the accommodation and the school.
Excursions
One thing is certain, there will always be plenty to do when you’re studying Spanish abroad in Costa Rica. Sure, you’ll have your Spanish lessons each day from Monday to Friday, but that won’t generally take up the whole day, unless you book a very intensive Spanish course.
Most afternoons the school in Costa Rica will put on activities and excursions for you. Many will be low-key social activities in and around the school, such as latin dancing, cooking, yoga, zumba, arts, intercambio, and more. However there will also be the opportunities to sign up for extra half-day or day paid excursions – to take a morning cruise to spot dolphins and go snorkeling, go horseback riding in the mountains or the coastline, take a mountain biking tour and much more.
Then on the weekends, there will frequently be full-day excursions to a beautiful tropical island, go water-rafting through the rainforest, hike to a live volcano, go birdwatching,… you get the idea!
And of course, if all that sounds like too much, these activities are optional. You can kick back, go find a beach or a quiet cafe, and watch the world go by.
If you require a different course duration or a different class time to usual, please get in touch and we’ll tell you what’s possible and provide you with a quote.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re certain that you’ll have plenty of questions ahead of booking a Spanish in Costa Rica language program, and that’s why we’re here to help.
Here are some of the questions we get asked the most. Please use the form below to get in touch, and we’ll be right back to you.
Selected FAQs
Yes. Many of our partners offer Language + Activity type of courses. Here are some example courses: Spanish and cooking; French and wine tasting; Italian and fashion; Portuguese and surfing and many more combinations.
Some of our partner schools have campuses in different ciites and allow students to spend part of their time in one location and continue their studies in another one as they follow the same curriculum.
We are accredited by the International Association of Language Centres (IALC) and have created great partnerships with other small language schools around the world.
We have sent students to a number of schools and in exchange we receive a commission on the student’s tuition for the recommendation at no extra cost to you. We put this money towards our Free English Program for Immigrants and Refugees. This helps close the gap on funding we receive from the state of Massachusetts and what the program actually costs to run.
Most of our partner schools have a minimum of one week requirement for their language travel program so you can go for a week or more!
Yes. Many of our partner schools offer language classes for younger kids as well so there could be opportunities to plan a family language travel experience depending on your destination.
In most cases, when studying abroad, the availability of food options can vary. Many of our partners offer accommodations with the option of one or two meals a day as part of the package. You may also choose to do all your food shopping or eat out if you prefer.
The cost of studying abroad can vary widely depending on several factors, including how long you go for, the type of course. you choose, accommodation, airport transfers, and other expenses. However, as a general guideline, you can expect to budget approximately $500 per week for tuition and accommodation. Keep in mind that the overall cost may fluctuate based on your specific choices and the duration of your stay as well as airfare and spending money.
Most of our partners offer homestay, shared or studio apartments options.
When it comes to making arrangements for flights and transportation from the airport to your accommodation, students are responsible for purchasing their flight tickets independently. However, our partner schools often offer the convenience of airport transfers, which can be booked in conjunction with the courses and accommodations. This service simplifies the process of getting from the airport to your destination once you arrive at your study location.
Our students typically travel on their own, accompanied by a partner, friend, or family members. Additionally, our partner schools have the capability to host group trips, and we can assist in organizing these group language travel experiences. However, currently, we do not personally accompany the groups on these trips. Perhaps in the future, we might consider offering such a service as we continue growing!
View all our Frequently Asked Questions >
Still got an unanswered question?
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Ready to get started with a Spanish program abroad?
Booking a Study Abroad experience through ILI couldn’t be easier! Simply follow the steps below to get started:
- Complete our online form.
- We’ll be in touch if you need help narrowing down your destination.
- We’ll put you in touch with our partner school for additional details and clarifications.
- You book your chosen program directly with them!
Still not sure?
Not a problem! If you are searching for more information you can:
- View our frequently asked questions
- Get in touch and ask us a question
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The ILI Promise
At ILI, we believe that all our actions should stem from grace and loving kindness.
- We operate as an equal opportunity organization.
- We nurture relationships beyond the classroom.
- We are committed to providing the highest quality language instruction and teacher training.
- We promote intercultural understanding and celebrates the diversity in our local communities.
- We works collaboratively to build and sustain the communities we serve.
- We believe in life-changing teaching and learning.