DATES & DEADLINES

  • Application Deadline: Friday, June 20, 2025
  • Program Deposit Due of $300 (non-refundable): Tuesday, July 1, 2025
  • Balance of Program Fees Due: Friday, August 1, 2025
  • Tuition Due: varies by campus – check your campus’s calendar
  • Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation: Saturday, August 2, 2025
  • Program Dates: Saturday, August 23 to Saturday, September 20, 2025 (4 weeks)

Contact your WCCCSA Campus Coordinator for more information about spending four weeks in Costa Rica!

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Attend an upcoming virtual information session to learn more about this program:

  • Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 2:00pm
  • Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 11:00am
  • Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 3:00pm
  • Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 1:00pm

Zoom link for all meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88932150026
Zoom meeting ID: 889 3215 0026

PROGRAM DOCUMENTS

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Costa Rica is a land of many natural wonders: Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, luscious rainforests, dense cloud forests, volatile volcanoes, and abundant animal and plant life. Immerse yourself in language and culture while surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty and the warm, welcoming people of Costa Rica. The Costa Ricans (Ticos y Ticas) are dedicated to promoting harmony between nature, community development, and economic growth. They have made a major commitment to protect the nation’s natural resources and beauty while preserving its long tradition of political democracy and stability. Costa Rica offers you a safe and accessible place to study and to explore the beauty of its natural treasures. It offers reliable public transportation, the highest literacy rate in Central America, and an excellent healthcare system. While studying Spanish, enjoy the congeniality of the people along with the natural beauty and unique flora and fauna: All combine to make Costa Rica an idyllic place to live and study.

LOCATION

This unique program includes study in two locations!

Heredia – located just to the northeast of the capital city of San Jose, and about 35 minutes from the airport, Heredia is a historic and thriving small city. Its location in the foothills of the mountains lends it the nick-name “land of eternal spring”, with a year-round average temperature of 78 F.  Heredia enjoys beautiful colonial-style architecture, as well as many modern facilities including a sports stadium and a shopping mall. Your Spanish language classes and cultural activities will be held at Intercultura Costa Rica Language School in the center of the city. Spend 3 weeks here. To learn more about Heredia, visit: https://costarica.org/cities/heredia/

Playa Samara – located on the Pacific Ocean about three hours from the San Jose airport, Samara is a quiet, beautiful beach town. Playa Samara is hot, with average day-time temperatures of 89 F. The Intercultura Costa Rica language school campus is just steps from the sandy beach. Study Spanish and learn to surf or paddle board, or just relax in this idyllic location! Spend 1 week here. To learn more about Playa Samara, visit: https://visitplayasamara.com/samara-beach/

COURSES

You will take Spanish language classes at Intercultura Costa Rica Language School at the Heredia campus and the Playa Samara campus. Classes are taught by qualified Spanish language instructors, and meet for four hours per day, four to five days per week. Classes generally have no more than six students, allowing plenty of opportunity to improve speaking and listening skills. A language test upon arrival will place you into the best class for your skill level. Earn five credits of Spanish (SPAN& 121, 122, 123, 221, 222, or 223).

HOUSING

While in Heredia, you will live with a local Costa Rican family. A single occupancy furnished room and two meals per day (breakfast and dinner, while in town) are included. You can request to live in a home with or without another student, though neither option is guaranteed. Homestays are located within a 20-minute walk or bus ride to the language school’s campus. You are encouraged to interact with your homestay family as much as possible to facilitate learning the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture, and to get to know the family. You are expected to respect the norms and customs of your host family. While in Samara, you will be housed in a large student residence with shared, furnished rooms that is located adjacent to the language school’s campus. The shared bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms and air-conditioning. You can prepare your own meals in the residence kitchen or eat out at nearby restaurants.

EXCURSIONS/ACTIVITIES

  • Orientation Tours: Enjoy a familiarization walking tour of Heredia and Samara upon arrival.
  • Weekend Excursion #1: three-day, two-night trip to Manual Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean (transportation, lodging, breakfast, and entry fee included).
  • Weekend Excursion #2: three-day, two-night trip to Arenal Volcano and Baldí Hot Springs, including a canopy zip-line tour (transportation, lodging, breakfast, one dinner, and entry fees included).
  • Day-Trips and Activities: White-water rafting tour, tour of Doka coffee plantation, visit to La Paz Waterfalls, ocean kayaking and snorkeling tour.
  • Optional Cultural Activities: Activities vary but will include several dance classes, cooking classes, yoga classes, a visit to the local farmers market, and others.
  • Independent Activities: While in Heredia, use your free afternoons to explore the Gold or Jade Museums (in San Jose), the MADC art museum, the National Museum, and/or enjoy a soccer match in San Jose’s sports stadium. While in Samara, use your free afternoons or mornings to paddle board, kayak, or take surf lessons (1 kayak trip included in program fee).

COST: $3383

Based on an enrollment of up to 7-20 participants.

INCLUDED

  • Airport pick-up at SJO on August 23 (if arriving before 11pm) and transfer to SJO on September 20 (if departing after 3pm)
  • While in Heredia: Single occupancy room in homestay
  • While in Heredia: Breakfast and dinner while in homestay
  • While in Samara: Shared room in student residence (large house) with air-conditioning
  • Pre-Departure Orientation
  • On-site arrival orientations
  • 72-hours of Spanish language instruction
  • Three-day, two-night trip to Manual Antonio National Park and the Pacific Ocean (transportation, lodging, breakfast, and entry fee included).
  • Three-day, two-night trip to Arenal Volcano and Baldí Hot Springs, including a canopy tour (transportation, lodging, breakfast, one dinner, and entry fees included).
  • White-water rafting day-trip, tour of Doka coffee plantation, visit to La Paz Waterfalls, ocean kayaking and snorkeling tour
  • Afternoon cultural activities such as dance lessons, yoga and cooking classes
  • Departure ceremony
  • Medical insurance

 NOT INCLUDED

  • Round-trip airfare to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO)
  • College tuition and fees for five credits (paid to your home campus)
  • Passport fees (and visa fees, if applicable)
  • Lunches (approximately $7-10 per day)
  • Dinners while on weekend excursions (approximately $15-25 per meal)
  • Breakfasts and dinners while in Samara
  • Public transportation expenses during free time (optional)
  • Spending money
  • Expenses to communicate with family and friends outside of Costa Rica (phone sim card or international service plan).

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

  • WCCCSA Costa Rica participants can indicate on their program application if they would like to be considered for one of two $500 WCCCSA Scholarships (scholarship availability requires a minimum of 7 participants in this program).

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION (mandatory)

  • Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025
  • Time: 9:30am-noon
  • Location: Shoreline Community College (in-person and online)

What to bring:

  • Parents, guardians, or whomever you feel should attend with you
  • Notepad to take notes
  • Curiosity and questions