

COSTA RICA
SPANISH LANGUAGE AND ADVENTURE
An 18-Day Cultural Immersion Program






Costa Rica

Program Details
Dates: | Temporarily Paused |
Duration: | 18 days |
Tuition: | $4,195 |
Arrive: | San Jose, CR* |
Depart: | San Jose, CR* |
Grade | 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th (Students Grouped According to Age) |
*Optional Leader Escorted Flight from Miami
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Program Highlights
- Learn and Improve Your Spanish Speaking Skills Through Fun and Dynamic Language Classes
- Practice Your Language Skills in Real-Life Conservations with Native Costa Ricans
- Communicate with Local Residents While Working on Vital Community Service Projects
- Volunteer with Students at a Cloud Forest Elementary School
- Experience Traditional Customs During Immersive Homestays with Welcoming Families
- Raft the Whitewater Rapids of the World-Renowned Pacuare River
- Fly Through the Lush Rainforest Canopy on a Breathtaking Zipline Ride
- 20 Hours of Spanish Language Education Courses
Spotlight Cultural Experience
Spanish Language Immersion
Students will have the opportunity to learn new language skills through interactive and dynamic lessons that are appropriate for all learning styles, cultures and ages. Throughout the course of this 18-day program, students will practice speaking in meaningful, real-life situations that teach them to communicate in a socially and linguistically appropriate context. Mixing classroom lessons with immersive real-life experiences and conversations, this program will cover a variety of different levels based on each individual student’s experience and familiarity with the Spanish language. Students will also practice and hone their new skills during community service projects, friendly homestays, and everyday interactions with local guides and residents. There is no better classroom for language than living amongst native speakers!
Program Overview
Enhance your Spanish language skills while experiencing the friendly culture and exciting adventures this beautiful Central American country has to offer! This program is perfect for Spanish speakers of all skill levels who want to improve their language abilities. Students will participate in lessons led by local instructors in an interactive classroom setting, then apply their Spanish knowledge throughout our travels. From working with community residents to homestays with local families, students will have plenty of opportunities to practice their speaking skills in real-life conversations with native Costa Ricans. Plus, we will enjoy world-famous adventure activities like whitewater rafting, jungle zip lines, and surfing the waves of the Pacific coast as we experience the “Pura Vida” lifestyle of this friendly and welcoming country!
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Program Details
San Jose
Our introduction to the Costa Rica summer program for teens begins in its capital city San Jose, with a fun orientation to Costa Rican culture. Here we are able to adjust to “Tico time” while exploring lively markets and sampling typical local fare, before traveling to our next destination.
Nicoya Penninsula
This beautiful area is one of the only five “blue zones” on the planet, where people live longer, healthier and happier lives than anywhere else in the world! Here we fully embrace the “Pura Vida” (Pure life!) culture of Costa Rica. Improve your language skills with Spanish lessons, interact with local residents, learn traditional cooking techniques, and perfect your Latin dance moves.
Rural Cloud Forest Community
Traveling to the high mountains, we spend time in a rural region that ARCC has been visiting for over 20 years. This is an opportunity to live and work in a small Costa Rican village. We bring supplies to a local school and engage with the village children through games and English lessons. It’s a chance for the group to practice their Spanish skills and participate first-hand in the daily lives of village residents, from preparing native dishes to exciting soccer matches. We conclude our stay with a huge community celebration, complete with a feast and traditional dances and games, where we are the guests of honor!
Rio Pacuare Rainforest
The volcanoes and mountains of the Andean-Sierra Madre chain form the spine of Costa Rica and provide the waters that eventually become the world-renowned Pacuare River. As we paddle the Class II-IV rapids of this pure and pristine river, we pass silvery waterfalls, a wilderness of dense vegetation, and the calls of tropical birds and monkeys. We overnight at a beautiful river lodge deep in the rainforest, where we experience amazing canopy ziplines and soak in refreshing waterfall pools in the heart of the jungle.
The Pacific Coast
The search for gold historically drew explorers to this country, but now Costa Rica’s coasts are rich with amazing places just waiting to be discovered! Gorgeous beaches, superb waves, and quirky surf culture are all treasures to be found in Costa Rica. The white sand beaches and warm Pacific waters provide an opportunity to practice our surf and kayak skills, or snorkel amongst colorful marine wildlife. In the evenings we gather around a beach bonfire, sharing stories and laughter while watching some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
Program Reviews
“This trip is amazing!”
— Tristan S., Red Hook, NY, ARCC Student“Stella had a great time, she learned a lot about the culture and wildlife of Costa Rica. She used her language skills and helped people which made her very happy.”
— Parent of Stella Von S., Brooklyn, NY“Even though my daughter had been to Costa Rica with our family, it was an amazing adventure to travel on her own and be responsible for herself!”
— Parent of Elizabeth C., New Canaan, CT“ARCC is super safe, fun, well-planned and makes you feel so comfortable!”
— Grace E., Minneapolis, MN, ARCC Student“The people you meet on this trip make you open your eyes and you become part of a strong, bonded family.”
— Luis C., Westport, CT, ARCC Student“It’s a trustworthy and reliable company. We have no regrets sending our daughter on a trip under their supervision. A summer well spent!”
— Parent of Ankita S., Danville, CA“Best summer of my life!”
— Stella Von S., Brooklyn, NY, ARCC Student
Group Journal Excerpts
Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Costa Rica summer program:
A Surfing Song
The sun comes up, The sky is blue My first day of surfing And real camping, too. Rashguard on, I’m ready to roll, Determination in my soul Chorus Not sure what to expect Don’t know what to say I remember the sound of the waves crashing For the first time that day. Me and the…Read more
Building a Library
We woke up extremely early this morning and we sat down to a breakfast of…banana pancakes! We walked to the site where we would be working and building for the next few days. We split into two groups, one that sanded the wood, and one that sawed and hammered the wood into place. My group…Read more
Our New Home
To add some details about the town we are staying in: it is really small and scattered with only about 80 people living here (I have seen only about 20 so far). They must walk up and down the roads (or by horse or Jeep) to get to the center of town (which is not…Read more
Saving the Sea Turtles
Today we came back to San José after finishing our turtle unit. We were at the turtle reserve for three days and we learned a lot about turtles. On Saturday night, we saw a leatherback turtle laying eggs. She was ENORMOUS!! The day before, we saw baby turtles crawl into the ocean. I can’t believe…Read more
Teaching English, What a Day!
Today we taught English to local 5th and 6th graders…what a day! After a delicious breakfast of omelets and fruit, we worked hard to finish preparing our lessons. We set up games of Bingo, quilt making with sentences, charades, and flashcards. We taught them family and farm animal vocabulary. The kids were very energetic and…Read more
Wildlife we’ve seen so far
Blue Morpho Butterfly Glass Frog Coati Fer de lance snake Toucan!! Iguana Jesus Christ Lizard Anole Lizard Land crab Jellyfish Sand Dollars (alive) Hermit Crabs Green Sea Turtle Howler Monkey Spider Monkey White-Faced Capuchin Monkey Leatherback Sea Turtle SlothRead more
Common Questions
What is the packing list for this program?
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate, and cultural differences. Please click here to view the Costa Rica: Ultimate packing list.
What is the weather like in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica, the weather is a lot like Florida in the summer time. During the day it can be hot, sunny and humid (80’s-90’s). Late afternoons often bring showers, which will cool us off. Some days you will go to bed with only a simple cover as it is often warm enough to sleep without your sleeping bag. When we ascend into the high elevation rainforest and cloud forest, the temperature becomes cooler (in the 50’s at night).
What are the service projects like?
The specific service projects that each group will work on depend on the needs of the communities at the time that the groups are there. Possibilities include: teaching English; constructing bridges in a small village; making improvements to community buildings or schools; planting trees; environmental education and village clean-up; and assisting in a sea-turtle recovery project.
What kind of health precautions should I take before traveling on this program?
Costa Rica is a relatively clean and safe place to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your program. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more detailed information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first-aid kit and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
Where will we sleep?
During this program we sleep in a variety of accommodations: small simple hotels, jungle lodge, community house, and tent camps.
What is the transportation like once we are in Costa Rica?
Typically we will take a private 20-person shuttle from place to place. When traveling to more remote areas we will occasionally split into two groups and use smaller 4-wheel drive vehicles. We also take a short ferry ride during the turtle project portion of our program.
What is the food like?
On this program, you will experience typical Costa Rican fare – rice and beans. This staple is supplemented with a delicious assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. The group will also be creating the menu and preparing the meals during some sections of the program.
Vegetarians and medical dietary requirements (i.e. allergies) are catered for. It does help if we are informed of this prior to departure date.
How much money should I bring?
We suggest you bring about $75 per week on your program. This is for souvenirs, laundry, and other incidentals. ARCC pays for all meals, lodging, transportation and activities. There is some time to shop for souvenirs in San Jose and elsewhere during the program. We recommend you bring some of your money in cash and the rest on an ATM card.
In Costa Rica the official currency is the Colon, but US dollars are widely accepted. We suggest that you carry about $25 of your money in small denominations (1’s and 5’s). Visa and MasterCard are also widely accepted. We do not recommend Traveler’s checks. ATM’s are found in San Jose, but are limited outside the city.
As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, all students traveling to Costa Rica need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after your program start date.
Be sure to make a photocopy of your passport and keep it in a separate place. If you lose your passport and you have a photocopy, it is much easier to replace.
Do I need a visa?
No. US and Canadian Citizens do not need a visa for this program.
What is the time difference between Costa Rica and the USA?
During the summer, Costa Rica is on Mountain Time. Therefore, on your program the time will be 2 hours earlier than in New York (Eastern Time) and 1 hour later than in San Francisco (Pacific Time).
How often can we take showers and do laundry?
Students are taught how to hand wash their clothes by their leaders, and will have the opportunity to do so throughout the program. Due to the remote locations we travel to, students do as the locals do, and use the warm Costa Rican sun to line dry their clothes. For ease of travel, quick dry clothes are recommended on the packing list.
Do I really need to bring a backpack, or can I bring a rolling suitcase on this program?
You will want to bring two pieces of luggage: your main bag and a daypack. Your main bag should be a backpack, travel backpack or large duffel bag. This larger piece of luggage should be approximately 4,500-5,000 cubic inches or 70-75 liters, and should be able to hold everything on your Clothing & Equipment List. The daypack should be large enough to hold an extra layer of clothing, a water bottle, sunscreen, some snacks, etc. Some travel backpacks come with an attached daypack that you can zip off and use. Otherwise, your school backpack is a good option. When you travel, you should plan to check your large piece of luggage and bring the daypack on the plane as your carry-on.
Please keep in mind that while you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.
You will also need to pack an EMPTY small duffel bag inside your main piece of luggage. When you get to Costa Rica, you will use this duffel bag to store certain items that you will not use during specific sections of your program.
Do I need to speak Spanish to join this program?
No. English is widely spoken in Costa Rica and your leaders and local guides will speak both English and Spanish.
What kinds of goods and supplies can we bring to donate for the people we meet?
We have the chance to live amongst some needy people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms. Pens, pencils, notepads, calculators and books are widely accepted. Soccer balls are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles ARCC would ask that every person to bring no more than a gym of bag of goods to donate.
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