Explore Costa Rica While Learning Spanish: Beach, Waterfalls, Rain Forest, Volcanic Hot Springs, and So Much More!
Come explore one of the most fascinating countries in Central America. Coffee, ziplining, eco-tourism, rain forests, pristine beaches: Habla Language Services’ trip to Costa Rica has it all! Experience “pura vida” as you visit three distinct ecosystems. See more info here.
What’s included:
- 10 hours of Spanish instruction with expert Gina Covello, MA.
- 4 days of project-based, immersion learning while living the language in small town.
- 11 breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch, 5 dinners, 2 afternoon snacks.
- 5 nights staying with host family to enhance the learning experience.
- Lodging at beach.
- Entrance to Waterfall, Coffee Plantation, Local Farm. Visits to high school and pain management clinic.
- Hanging Bridges Guided Walk in Rain Forest (2½ hours).
- Sloth trail (2 hours).
- Animal Sanctuary Wildlife Tour + Volunteer Food Prep (3½ hours).
- 2 Nights Accommodation at Hot Springs Resort.
- Overnight accommodation at Monteverde Cloud Forest.
- Lodging upon arrival at SJO and leaving LIR (2 nights).
- Shuttle from SJO and to LIR airports.
- Transportation escorted by Gina Covello throughout the program and local Costa Rican guide.
Lunches and gratuities are not included. Airfare not included.
Day 1
Fly into SJO and take shuttle to nearby hotel. Depending on what time your flight arrives, you can enjoy the pool or gym or grab some dinner.
Day 2
We will have an orientation over breakfast to introduce you to the currency, basic culture, and logistic briefing. Then we travel to Playa Hermosa for fun in the sun. Seafood lunch right on the beach! We then head to our beach hotel to enjoy a dip in the pool or jacuzzi, and listen for Howler Monkeys. Meals: B (maybe an evening snack over bonfire).
Day 3
Enjoy some free time at the hotel, then we’ll pick up lunch at Subway and head to the Llano Cortes Waterfall. After our picnic lunch, we’ll head up to Tilarán while enjoying a beautiful sunset. We will have a brief orientation and settle in with host families. Meals: B, D.
Day 4
Our 1st day of immersion starts here. We will have lessons in the morning with instruction on how to shop in the frutería and supermercado. You will also order lunch in a restaurant. You will explore the town and present your findings. Meals: B, D.
Day 5
Visit the high school to observe classes and we’ll teach/observe a quick English lesson. Visit an organic farm. Meals: B, snack, D.
Day 6
Lessons on coffee processing, small talk, and making reservations. You will then invite a new Tico friend to lunch for Spanish conversation and make a hotel reservation. We will then visit a local coffee plantation and enjoy coffee and a snack. Meals: B, snack, D.
Day 7
Lessons on taking a taxi for lunch. Visit a pain management clinic following a lesson on body parts. Meals: B, D.
Day 8
Work with your team to navigate the local bus system and answer questions on neighboring towns. This is your final exam! After, we’ll head to Místico Hanging Bridges for a tour over the rain forest canopy, while grabbing a quick brown bag lunch. Then we check into our hot springs resort and have dinner nearby. You can decide to enjoy a soak in the hot springs, get a spa treatment, or just enjoy dinner. Meals: B, L.
Day 9
Early breakfast at the hotel and then our highly popular sloth tour! We will grab a quick lunch in La Fortuna and then head up to Project ASIS Wildlife Rescue Center. We’ll spend the afternoon learning about the sanctuary and we’ll have the opportunity to prepare meals for the animals! We will head to our hot springs hotel for relaxation. There is also time for an optional Night Hike. Meals: B.
Day 10
Optional morning activities such as: chocolate tour, waterfall, beauty treatment. Then, we head to Monteverde Cloud Forest with lunch along the way. We first stop at Rosewood Souvenirs for shopping and to see Jose Luis’ woodshop and orchid garden. Next we check into our hotel and dine at the exquisite Hotel Belmar Farm-to-Table. There should be time for an optional Night Hike. Meals: B.
Day 11
Optional morning activities in the cloud forest include: birdwatching, ziplining, hiking. We’ll gather for lunch and then head for the best ice cream ever! Then head to the Monteverde Reserve Gift Shop and view the hummingbirds. We then drive to our hotel in Liberia and prep for your return home.
Day 12
Make arrangements with the hotel to bring you to the airport in time for your flight and say, “Hasta luego” to Costa Rica. Meals: B.
PRE-PANDEMIC PRICING!!
Early Bird price of $3300 due by March 1, 2023. We encourage early sign-ups and early deposits.
- $500 discount if 2 people share a room for hotel stays.
- $100 discount if paid by cash, check or Venmo.
- Regular cost is $3500. Registration extended to June 12, 2023.
- Contact us for family pricing. We need age of children.
Payments are non-refundable. We highly suggest purchasing travel insurance for trip cancellation and also international medical insurance/medivac and COVID coverage.
Apply for program here.
More info available here.
Please Note: If you need Spanish for your job, this trip may be fully tax-deductible. Please talk to your tax advisor. The entire trip is Spanish Immersion and you will leave knowing MUCH more Spanish than when you came.