Program Details
On our Summer in Costa Rica program, you’ll live in the vibrant capital of San José at Universidad Veritas. Here, you can improve your Spanish, take fascinating courses in English, and explore the country’s incredible biodiversity
- Location:
- San Jose, Costa Rica
- Program Type:
- Intensive Language
- Degree Level:
- Undergraduate
- Duration:
- 1-3 months
- Language:
- Spanish
Program Overview
- Program Description:
On our Summer in Costa Rica program, you’ll live in the vibrant capital of San José at Universidad Veritas. Here, you can improve your Spanish, take fascinating courses in English, and explore the country’s incredible biodiversity. You’ll live with a local family to truly immerse yourself in Tico culture. When you aren’t hitting the books, you can dip a toe into the activities that make Costa Rica a top destination, like hiking volcanoes, zip-lining over the rainforest, and sipping delicious home-grown coffee. The Costa Rican saying “pura vida!” translates to “pure life,” which you’ll find is the way of life in this laid-back Central American country.
- Setting Description:
- Costa Rica has an inviting warm climate year-round, which makes coming at any time during the year perfect. It’s been labeled as one of the most environmentally friendly, happiest countries in the world by several international surveys! The country is bordered by both the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean, making it a beach-lover’s paradise. Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity is also protected by many national parks, so you can view unspoiled rainforests, rivers, and volcanoes. There’s also plenty of opportunity for adventures here! Whitewater rafting, hiking, and zip-lining are all common activities. You could even have the chance to see howler monkeys up close and personal, or watch a leatherback turtle lay eggs on the beach! The Costa Ricans you meet in San José are known for being friendly and laid-back, and will help make your cultural immersion easier. While living in San José, you can look forward to visiting the National Theater, many busy markets, delicious local restaurants
- Cost:
- For current prices and dates please visit the CISabroad website.
Additional Program Information
- Scholarships:
- Yes
Program Reviews
Overall Rating
Based on 3 Reviews
- The Trip of a Lifetime10/26/18
When I first decided to study abroad I was a little scared but after arriving in San Jose, Costa Rica I knew I made the right decision. My host family was extremely nice and helped me get easily adjusted to living in Costa Rica while also making sure
that I felt like family and speaking with me in Spanish to help me boost my language skills. The teachers and classes were amazing. For my tropical ecology class I was able to swim with giant sea turtles and catch sting rays and see dolphins, all in the ocean! The food in Costa Rica, especially Puerto Viejo was fantastic! All in all this trip pushed me out of my comfort zone and showed me a whole new world I am grateful to have experienced.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
- Best Experience Ever!10/01/18CIS Abroad helped me in many ways in choosing the right program for me. I lived with a host family which was an amazing way to learn and be a part of the culture. Also, CIS Abroad is one of the most affordable programs to study abroad.Bottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
- The Best Decision I've Made (to Date)10/06/16
You've probably heard before that you should study abroad in college and that it's one of the best things you can do during college. That's true. Three huge benefits of studying abroad are 1) travel!! You get to see amazing things in other parts of
the world that you can't see from your backyard. 2) self-confidence (it's true, you learn a lot about yourself and grow in your abilities and therefore confidence when you leave home and live in a foreign country) 3) knowledge--academics, culture, language, it's all included. And three huge benefits you get of going abroad through CISabroad are: 1) an amazing staff, both at home and on-site. They'll help you through every step of the application and acceptance process, and once you're in your host country they're help you through getting settled, and with any questions or concerns you have thereafter 2) excursions! Part of the reason you go abroad is to see cool new things, meet new people, and have fun adventures right? With CIS, two excursion are included in the Summer in Costa Rica program. I got to go to Puerto Viejo (a super-cool small Caribbean town) and Tamarindo (a more modern town on the pacific side), and then for my final weekend chose to go to the Arenal volcano and hot springs, the La Fortuna waterfall, and ziplining in the Monteverde Cloud forest. These were all unbelievable experiences that I'll treasure forever--they were so much fun, and CIS made them so easy. 3) new friends! CISabroad arranges socials while you're in host country, and your excursions will be with other students in the CISabroad program as well. You'll get to really know the members of your group--you may even have classes with them and be living with them!--and make some great new friends. I'm still in touch with most of the people I met in Costa Rica, as well as my host family! Go abroad in college. Don't rob yourself of the opportunity to see what else is out there and what else you can do! And go with CIS--I know I'm glad I did.
read moreBottom Line:Yes, I would recommend this to a friend