Learn Spanish while exploring the rich heritage and vibrant landscapes of Costa Rica and Guatemala. Enjoy class among the palm trees on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and also under the shadow of the Volcán de Agua in the charming colonial town of Antigua, Guatemala. Take study breaks at surf camp, raft the world-famous Pacuare River, fish with locals in beautiful Lake Atitlan, ride ziplines through the rainforest canopy and roast marshmallows over open lava. Roll up your sleeves for some hard and rewarding work, perfecting your Spanish while helping on a Costa Rican farm and working with Guatemalan children. Enjoy the remarkable hospitality of ‘Ticos and Guatemalans, sharing their culture, food and breathtaking landscapes. Discover the magic of Pura Vida in this perfect blend of education, service and adventure.
“I thought it was an amazing trip. The other students in the group were fantastic, the leaders were awesome and the activities were fantastic! I loved the trip and it has been one of the highlights of my life!”
— Sarah D., ARCC Student
Spanish Language School on the Beach
Our summer adventure begins at our school’s campus on Costa Rica’s stunning Pacific coast, a perfect place to immerse ourselves into this wonderful country. We spend four hours a day in Spanish classes, instructed by experienced native language teachers. Our remaining time is spent exploring the small towns, beaches, and rainforests of this enchanting part of Costa Rica. We go to surf camp and perform community service work in local schools. In the evenings we learn to cook traditional Costa Rican foods, salsa dance, and watch movies in Spanish! We all stay together in hotel accommodations not far from our school campus.
Pacuare River Rafting
Always a favorite ARCC summer activity, we take a break from our Spanish education to raft for two days on the Class III-IV rapids of the Pacuare River. Renowned for its rapids, the Pacuare is consistently rated one of the 10 best rivers in the world for rafting. We paddle past silvery waterfalls, a wilderness of dense vegetation, and the calls of tropical birds and monkeys. We overnight at our own jungle river lodge where we have a scrumptious dinner and relax in hammocks overlooking the river before retiring to our rooms for the night. The next day we board our rafts again as we paddle back to civilization.
Savegre Cultural Immersion
Next we move to the coffee-growing high-country of Savegre, a region that ARCC groups have visited every summer for 14 years. To reach our destination, we board 4-wheel drive trucks, slowly bumping our way over unpaved roads to a humble family farm. Each summer this family welcomes ARCC groups with open arms. For five days we perfect our Spanish as we immerse ourselves into life on a typical Costa Rica farm, where life is blissfully simple and pure. We explore swimming holes and waterfalls, lend a hand on the farm milking cows and collecting eggs, and perform service work in the family’s tree nursery. We stay in simple but beautifully crafted ‘cabinas’ built by our hosts especially for our groups.
Lago de Atitlán Adventure
From Costa Rica we travel by plane to Guatemala, seat of the Mayan Empire. Our first stop is Lake Atitlan, where we immerse ourselves in this ancient culture by staying in a small indigenous village on the lakeside. During the day we explore the many villages lying under the shadow of the lake’s three towering volcanoes. While hiking to spectacular vistas, learning the age-old art of traditional weaving, and fishing with locals in their wooden canoes, we hone our language skills and prepare for our second week of class.
Spanish LanguageSchool in Antigua
Antigua has long been home to those wishing to study Spanish abroad. This charming colonial town hosts an incredible array of language schools and we’re proud to work with one of the best. Our partner school has a long history of superior Spanish instruction and an important social mission. By assisting in the school’s mobile library project, we help bring the joy of reading to underprivileged children in Antigua’s small surrounding communities. We integrate ourselves even more fully into Guatemalan life by staying with local host families in groups of two and three. Every day we enjoy savory Guatemalan cuisine and lively conversation around the dinner table (in Spanish, of course!).
Hiking the Volcán de Pacaya
We end our travels with a trip up the Pacaya Volcano just outside Antigua. If the lava is flowing, we have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to roast marshmallows over molten rock. Regardless, the views from Pacaya are incredible and the feeling of standing on earth not yet a week old is indescribable. This truly is the perfect vantage point from which to view the incredible Language and Service Adventure we’ve shared over the last three weeks.
