Spanish Schools in Costa Rica: Frequently Asked Questions

Costa Rica is one of our most popular locations in which our students choose to study Spanish. Spanish Abroad has been sending students to multiple Spanish schools in Costa Rica since we first started in 1996 and we typically receive similar questions in regards to our Spanish programs. Most of our customers are traveling to a foreign country for the first time, so it is only natural that they have multiple questions, and since this is their first time studying abroad, they will need to learn the basics quick. 

Our staff have all have travelled abroad and visited different spanish schools all over the world, so we are able to give fast and accurate information to provide the proper expectations for any given location. Below you will find some of the more commonly asked questions for our Costa Rica Spanish schools, which tend to carry over for most locations.

Costa Rica Spanish School Programs FAQ's

1. When can I start a Spanish Program? 

You can start your program on any Monday of the year unless it is a holiday. Accommodations at a host family or student residence will start on Sunday. Extra nights are available based on a first come first serve basis and typically cost around $20-$35. 

2. How do I get to my accommodations? 

Upon arrival at the San Jose airport we offer free airport pickup for any of our Spanish programs in the San Jose area. This includes Heredia, San Pedro, and San Jose. We offer private shuttle transportation for $35-$40 to any of our beach locations. Typically you will need to arrive by 11AM to catch a shuttle in time. If not you will need to stay the night in San Jose, which we can arrange at a local hotel that provides airport pickup and a one night stay for $35. The Spanish school in Tamarindo also offers airport pickup from the Liberia international airport which is only 1 hour from Tamarindo for $60. 

3. How do you screen your host families?

We have sent students to our Spanish schools in Costa Rica for a minimum of 5 years and for some over a decade. They have pre-screened families based on providing clean and comfortable homes. Over the years, our Spanish schools have narrowed down their pool to the best families possible based on student feedback and continual visitation reviews. 

4. How much are the Spanish courses in Costa Rica? 

Our entire Spanish programs range from $250-$500 per week depending on the length of time you study and the location you choose. The Spanish schools in the San Jose area are more affordable due to the lower cost of living and range from $250-$350 per week for a standard program including Group classes 4 lessons per day, Host family accommodations, and 2 meals per day. The same program in beach locations come at a higher cost due to their higher real estate costs and higher prices for food, wages, etc. 

5. Will I have time to have fun while studying Spanish?

The standard Spanish course in Costa Rica at any of our Spanish schools is 4 hours per day. You will typically have classes in the mornings, so you will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful country. There are many outfitters for any location in which you study that can arrange canopy tours, atv trips, volcano tours, hiking, biking, kayaking, and any outdoor sport you can dream up. 

The schools also offer onsite activities for students which typically consist of city tours, dancing, cooking classes, movie nights and much more. The schools also arrange excursions to popular sites of interest including Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Tortuguero, and much more. 

6. How far are the accommodations from the school? 

For our Spanish schools in the San Jose area, host families are within 30 minutes walking distance from the school. In Heredia for instance, we have families within a 3-10 minute walk. These families are assigned on a first come first serve basis, assigned at the time of registration. Beach locations have host families within 20 minutes by ground transportation. The Tamarindo Spanish school provides a free shuttle to and from the school each day. Other beach locations have very affordable public buses that are easy to use. 

7. Can I receive University Credit while I study abroad? 

We offer academic credit through Brookhaven College for our Spanish school in Tamarindo if you study for at least 3 weeks. This is arranged at an additional cost and the credit is transferred directly to your school from Brookhaven via an official transcript. 

8. Can I bring my children? 

We have a specific family program in Tamarindo, Costa Rica where you can take Spanish classes, while your children study Spanish with other kids around their age. We offer the opportunity to stay together as a family with local hosts or we can arrange an apartment style accommodations at a local hotel. We also have a children's camp during the month of July that incorporates lunch and specific activities for children. 

9. When is the best time to study Spanish in Costa Rica? 

May to November is rainy season, however the North American Summer (June to August) is when we tend to receive the most students due to Summer break and key vacation times. The rain is typically a tropical down pour that only lasts a few hours. December to January is also a very popular time to visit and is ideal due the the dry warm weather. 

10. Why should I choose a Spanish school offered by Spanish Abroad? 

Spanish Abroad has offered Spanish schools in Costa Rica for over a decade, and only choose those which have a great reputation and maintain the best feedback from our students. These schools choose the highest quality instructors, host families, and provide activities for an overall once in a lifetime experience. We only want the best for our students, so we only recommend schools that we know will fulfill the expectations we develop for our customers. 

Feel free to contact Spanish Abroad with any questions you might have. This may be your first time studying abroad so we understand how you can be apprehensive. We want you to have the right expectations and understanding before you travel abroad, so you have the best experience possible.