My trip to Heredia, Costa Rica was abosolutely amazing. I went through SOL Education Abroad. While I was there in Costa Rica for three weeks, I was able to stay with a host family to connect with their ways of life and learn the language with other people

from the United States. During our trip, we were able to talk with our host families, take classes in Spanish at the local university, visit historical sites, go to the beach, zip lining, and much more. SOL Education Abroad was so organized in helping me get through the early stages process, during the program, and after the program as well. Everyone from the program sets up many activities to keep you busy.

This is an exceptional study abroad program. I signed up for SOL with little to no knowledge of Spanish and, now, have an appreciation and passion for the language. It has been an excellent introduction to Spanish, and I am working to further the great

progress that I made. This program is an excellent option for students with prior knowledge of Spanish as well as for those with none. Furthermore, the program includes many fun excursions, employs the best and brightest Spanish teachers, and provides students with opportunities to meet other motivated students from across the US. You will grow as a person while studying abroad in Costa Rica and living with a new family! I now have friends that I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life and a family in Costa Rica who took care of me like I was their own. Shout out to the highly caring and supportive staff who were always there to answer questions with a smile or take us to the doctors when we got sick. I highly recommend this program to all college students--do it!

This trip was a lot of fun. I gained hands on experience working with a wide range of ages in children. I felt very immersed in the culture by staying with a host family, as well as, the planned cultural excursions. A highlight of my trip was the city

tour and fruit tasting. It was fun and relaxed. I also loved getting to know the students I travelled with from my college as well as the family I was staying with. The combination of the two really brought me out of my shell and gave me a way to feel more confident in my abilities abroad.

This experience allowed me to work outside of my comfort zone to help change the lives of individuals. I was able to create fun lesson plans that engaged the students and allowed them to learn. My experience with my host family was amazing, they provided

me with nothing but love and delicious food! I m counting the days where I am able to return to Costa Rica to continue to teach students and alter their lives.

Traveling with Sol Abroad was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself when deciding to study abroad, and I would absolutely use them again when traveling. Sol was accommodating and flexible, and kept students up to date with their application

status, as well as upcoming deadlines. The program itself was life-changing. I now have new best friends that I imagine I'll speak to every day, and have since my trip ended. I made an A in the course I was taking, which is not surprising considering how much I enjoyed attending class every day, even at 8am. Every excursion and cultural activity made me feel even more in tune with Costa Rican culture. Ultimately I came to Costa Rica to improve my Spanish, to see more of our world, to learn more about myself, to meet people with the same love for travel as me, and to learn more about the culture of a country that I could potentially see myself living in one day. Without a doubt, I met all of these goals. Every time someone asks me what my favorite part was, I genuinely cannot settle on one single thing. I would return to Costa Rica tomorrow, and I would definitely return with Sol.

When I first saw everything that SOL offered and how low the cost was, I was immediately in. Costa Rica looked like a dream, so that’s where I decided to go. SOL HQ was extremely helpful and it was always exciting to get random emails about my program

calendar or program handbook. Coming to Costa Rica was the best thing that ever happened to me. I found myself here. I found what I love, I found my passion, I found inspiration, I found a new home, and I found family. I love SOL for giving me everything that I have. If you study through SOL, no matter where you go, you won’t regret it. SOL cares about you and whether you’re in Costa Rica or Spain or wherever, you will be taken care of and you will learn more than you thought was possible about yourself and the world around you.

Sol Education Abroad was everything I asked for and more! I met amazing people, stayed in an amazing country, learned about a beautiful language and culture, and did awesome activities! Everything was well organized and safe. I will absolutely recommend

Sol to anyone who is looking to go abroad!

Studying abroad in Costa Rica with SOL Education Abroad has been one of my most rewarding experiences in college. It's opened my eyes to new culture and traditions and allowed me to explore a beautiful country. The SOL directors provided us unique opportunties

to learn about Costa Rica while practicing Spanish through cooking and dance classes, coffee tours, ziplining through the cloud forest, and snorkeling over coral reefs! I'm grateful for the support of my directors, profesors, and host family as well as friendships and adventures with my SOL mates!

I'm finishing up my time here in Costa Rica with the SOL Education Abroad program, and I can whole heartedly say that this has been the best experience of my life. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't find myself trying or experiencing something

new. I was able to travel more in these last three months than I have in the past several years. I am leaving with having better my Spanish. I met amazing people both in and out of the program that I have no doubt will be lifelong friendships. I have nothing but great things to say about SOL. I am so glad I chose to do my study abroad experience with SOL.

I did not know any Spanish when I stepped off the plane in Costa Rica, but the classes were so informative and engaging that I was speaking with locals in no time. The staff and directors with Sol are very kind, patient, and helpful. One of the best parts

about the Sol program is living with a host family. Sol takes great care in placing students with their host families and housemates. My living situation was perfect. Also, the people in Heredia are so kind and so willing to help you with learning Spanish. The excursions that Sol has planned within the program are very fun and they help the students see the variety of adventures and beauty Costa Rica has to offer. I absolutely loved my time in Costa Rica and would recommend the Sol program to anyone.

The SOL program is extremely interactive, be prepared to practice your Spanish! However, the directors speak English and will repeat things as necessary. You can ask them anything! They are tour guides, so they know all about the history and culture.

They can recommend any place you may want to go, for the best price! The excursions are beautiful, no matter which ones you are able to go to. The host families are welcoming and love experiencing new cultures, as well as cooking for you! Be sure to try everything at least once, as the food (fruit and veggies) taste much different (in a good way!) from up north. The people practice "pura vida" or "pure life" which includes being conscientious about the environment. This program will not disappoint!

My experience with SOL is not one I will ever forget. It sounds cliche, but the truth behind this statement will reveal itself to you if you study abroad. I made so many amazing friendships with SOL, and I grew so much as a person. My spanish improved

immensely and I now feel confident speaking because of my classes. The excursions were all breathtaking, amazing experiences. SOL includes culture activities as well, like a dancing class, a Costa Rican cooking class, and a tour of the city of Heredia where you can try a bunch of amazing fruit you have probably never heard off. My personal favorite was the dance class. The best part of the experience was my host family though. They embraced me with so much love, and were so accomodating. I am vegan and not once did I have to eat anything I did not want to. My host family treated me like family and so did everyone at SOL. I would recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I did not want to leave Costa Rica.

In May I returned to the U.S. after four months abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica, a sweet, lively town about an hour by bus from the nation's capital, San Jose. I studied with Sol Education Abroad, and I loved it. The directors made sure that we were more

than tourists: at every opportunity, we talked about the social, political, economic, and cultural situations of the areas we visited. I spent my semester parasailing, white-water rafting, waterfall rappelling, hiking, and zip-lining...all while taking five classes and improving my Spanish by leaps and bounds. (Parents, never fear! I did indeed study plenty, and one of my five classes was with locals. That's right, in Spanish for Spanish speakers, dealing with the Costa Rican government structure, with Spanish tests and Spanish presentations! Was it hard? YES. Was it worth it? YES.) My Spanish improved big time, especially since I lived with a host family. I still talk to my host mom, and I have plans to return in a few years. My host family's open arms are just a microcosm of the way that all of Costa Rica welcomed us not simply as tourists, but rather students of their language and their culture. I had conversations with bus drivers and taxi drivers and hotel clerks alike, all whom were impressed by my desire to communicate in Spanish and excited to share their opinion on the best beaches or the most beautiful can't-miss views in the country. I could talk about my time abroad for a really long time. From volunteer work to typical meals to beach weekends with the girls to Holy Week processions that filled the streets, I can't do justice to how my time in Costa Rica with Sol changed me. Basically, I have to tell you this: just go! You won't be sorry; I know I wasn't.

I think that my life is change permanently because I have had the chance to experience this with these people. Our director has bestowed upon us her wisdom and I have greatly appreciated being in the mist of such an incredible woman who has made it here

mission to not only encourage us to get the traditional education but to also learn of the things that can change a heart because that changes the world. Keep an open mind. There are lessons in everything while immersed in a different culture that move you and will change you. I think future students should know that this program is a commitment. A commitment to navigate through the illusion of what we think a culture is by what we view on television or read in books and get immersed in the lives of these individuals to see what their values are, as well as there problems are. Accept the growing pains there will be many moments when you are moved by the beauty of this country and other moment when you see the pain that exist in all countries and allow tears to flow for their pain. You will forever be changed and that is a promise."

I spend a semester in Costa Rica with Sol Education and I am now preparing to spend another semester through Sol's program in Oaxaca, Mexico. This program is extremely well put together and filled with excursions and support networks for people who are

excited to travel to a new country and learn Spanish. I found that the opportunities to share experiences with other Solmates and to meet locals were endless. One of the problems with being abroad can be too much down time which leads to isolation, but that was never a problem. With Sol, you can be as involved and immersed as you want to be.

I absolutely loved this experience. Staying with the host family, I enjoyed the experience so much more. The teachers at the university were always there to push you to practice more and more Spanish and always try even if you are unsure of your language

abilities. The excursions planned through the program were amazing and a good opening to the program to learn more about the program with other students that had just arrived at the same time as you.

You will have so much fun make so many good friends! The directors and everyone involved in Sol are so dedicated to making this the best experience you've had to date. They've helped me with everything from my speaking skills, to overcoming homesickness,

to helping me plan my own trips! It's been amazing--it's gone by so quickly! This has been the best decision I've ever made, hands down!

I had such a great time in Costa Rica with SOL! The best aspect of the trip was definitely the people- from the program directors, to my host family, to the people we met on our own trips- they were all amazing and incredibly helpful. I learned so much

Spanish and became so much more confident in speaking the language. My host family was the biggest contributing factor to my improvement; the classes were great for learning and/or brushing up on concepts, but my host family is where I practiced the most. I'd say if you're confident traveling alone or are semi-comfortable speaking the language, go with another program, but it is a great first step into study abroad!

Studying abroad in Costa Rica through SOL was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life! The support I received leading up to, throughout, and prior to studying abroad was incredible. The directors, Janiva and Jessenia, are so accommodating,

helpful, and caring toward each and every student in the program. They helped us to see beyond the tourist attractions in order to learn about all of the rich culture and interact with locals. They did a wonderful job of placing us with host families as well as roommates. My host family was amazing! My host mom helped my roommate and I to learn as much Spanish as we could, and she was so patient! She even took us to her hometown and introduced us to her whole family. The food was superb. Not a complaint there! The excursions were all so comprehensive and enriching! My favorite excursion was when we went to a sustainable living community for a weekend. It was such an enlightening and rewarding experience! I learned so much about Costa Rica, the world, and myself through this program. I am so lucky to have found SOL!

I gained so much knowledge about nature and culture and I love it. I believe that studying in Costa Rica will give me life long useful knowledge that can be applied to anything. I now follow the "Pura Vida" lifestyle and I have never been so free and

relaxed!

I went to Costa Rica seeking adventure and found it in many more places than I anticipated. Not only did I get to experience the natural beauty the country offers through excursions provided by Sol and personal travel, but I fell in love with the culture.

My host family provided me with support, the most delicious food, and eventually became a second family. My directors were more than helpful and were my most trusted teachers. Other students on my program became my closest friends. Costa Rica has more to offer than just volcanoes and gorgeous beaches - and Sol will teach you how to be more than a tourist: how to be a traveler.

Because of SOL, I gained a new outlook on life, new hobbies and passions, and a new-found love for life. The program was chalk full of cultural activities, excursions, and ways to get involved. The group of people I met will be lifelong friends and the

experiences I've had here will be lifelong memories. I don't want to leave, but I am excited for a future full of traveling and a more positive outlook!

The host family experience was beyond anything I could have expected. Classes with local Costa Ricans were very worthwhile and helped with my speaking and writing abilities. Tons of travel opportunities and site seeing. Beautiful country, well managed,

great cultural immersion. No complaints!

I enjoyed going through Sol for this program. [My family] was seriously amazing. It is going to be very hard to say goodbye and I plan to stay in touch with them.The directors are amazing and help you experience everything to the fullest. The people in

Costa Rica are amazing and most will help if you ask for it. You can get recommendations to places from just about anyone. I have truely been emerged in the spanish language and experienced the culture here. Make sure to experience everything here to the fullest and don't waste time being afraid to try something new.

Todo es possible con SOL! Seriously, you not only gain a solid spanish foundation at the ULatina, but you make real connections with the people in your group and of course, Ticos! The directors care for you as a human being, not just another student who

they have to assist every now and then. Living with a host family in Heredia will change your life because you quickly see how beautiful it is to become apart of someone else's family as well. The plethora of cultural activities and excursions are unmatched in other programs and those are activities help reinforce why you ever left your country to study elsewhere in the first place.

I LOVE SOL! I had the best semester of my life thanks to the awesome professors at my host university, my amazing director, my loving host mother, and of course my sol mates. My host my was incredible and I really felt like part of her family. The house

was nice and always clean. My roommate and I had our own private bathroom and balcony. The cultural activities with sol were so much fun, I loved the cooking class at a local couple's home. The cultural activities were a great way to get immersed into the culture and to get to know your sol mates. The excursions were well organized and super fun! If you're thinking about studying abroad just do it with sol. You can search all of the programs out there, stress, and make lists, but in the end sol is the best!

Through my experience with Sol in Costa Rica I feel much less patriotic about the arbitrary region that I was born in and am much more conscious about the planetary issues we are currently facing. Also, in my time here I have been inspired to add an Anthropology

minor to my degree. Our Sol director made sure we were always comfortable, having fun and made this a growing experience far beyond the boundaries of learning a language. Don't stay locked in your room watching Youtube videos. Go out. Join a gym, a club, a team, enjoy the night life and meet the locals.This could likely be the greatest semester of your life!

It will be everything you expected and it will also be everything you didn't expect. The directors go above and beyond their job description to give us this wonderful experience. While it would be so easy to work their 9-5 day and then go home to their

loved ones, the directors with Sol put their heart and soul into what they do and make this experience bigger than life. Be present. Let yourself feel every emotion possible on the spectrum while you're here. It will all amount to a grand experience in the end. I definitely learned more about myself than I ever thought was possible.

SOL Education Abroad is a diamond among diamonds. You can spend an eternity searching for the perfect Spanish speaking program. STOP NOW! This is the one for you if you want the ability to culturally immerse yourself, make many friends from all over the

world and also be treated to many outstanding activities and excursions. The directors are leaders, hold us accountable and also live 24/7 for our happiness and development.

I had a fantastic time during my abroad experience in Costa Rica. Our program directors were incredible people that gave us the best experience possible. The opportunity to have so much free time and experience the country, the local scene, and practicing

Spanish with locals was invaluable. The country was absolutely beautiful and spending our weekends surrounding ourselves with nature is something I will never forget. I could not possibly have enjoyed my time abroad more.

If you are truly going for the Spanish immersion experience it is worthwhile if you put the time and effort into it. The locals are friendly and if you stay within the limits you are given you will be safe. Spending time with your Tica (Costa Rica)family

is very beneficial. My family was great and I heard wonderful things about the rest of the families my classmates were with. The times I went out were great. Venturing out if you do not speak Spanish very well will help you practice. By venturing out I mean local stores, market, etc. Our directors were Geneva and Karol and they were awesome and super helpful anytime we needed anything. The distance from my host family to the Universidad Latina was a twenty minute walk which was great. I liked walking and taking in the city. It's small and humble, but you can appreciate the littlest of things if you have an open mind.

I studied abroad in Costa Rica for about 2 months and it was an amazing experience. I met my roommate for the first time at the Dallas airport and we both were nervous about what was going to happen being submerged in the Costa Rican culture. When we

arrived at the airport, Sol picked us up and drove us to our host family that was waiting to greet us at their front door. We said "hola," talked with the little Spanish we knew, and played charades for everything else we didn't know how to say. For the next three weeks, our days were completely filled with Latin dance class, cooking class, soccer, city tours, and excursions to beautiful places every weekend. Through all these activities, I got to experience Costa Rica's beautiful scenery but also got to learn and take part in the culture. In the last three weeks we got to plan our own trips that our directors would help us with or give suggestions if we needed it. On the weekends we traveled all over Costa Rica and on the weekdays we explored more of Heredia and San Jose. We went to the movies, bowling, shopping, and everything else the city had to offer. For 3 hours each day we went to class at ULatina in Heredia, Costa Rica. Normally I don't like small classes because you get called on all the time, but here your class is with friends from the program so it made it fun. Because of the small class, we were able to get more help directly from the professor. Then when we went home to our host family we practiced our spanish more, making it easier and more fun to bond with them. Host families are a big part of the program. They take care of you and take you in as part of their family. We celebrated birthdays and holidays, they took us out to an amusement park, to go shopping, and they took us out to eat pizza when we were craving it. Family would come over to the house just to hang out and visit sometimes so we got to know the extended family well too. My time in Costa Rica is incomparable to any other country I have traveled to. I have never been so immersed in a culture the way I was there. My experience was amazing and I highly recommend Sol Education Abroad. Studying abroad is something everyone has always told me to do because it's an amazing opportunity to be able to travel as a student. Now that I have, I'm one of those people that says every student should study abroad if they have the chance. It's a whole new experience where you learn about yourself, the country, the culture, and the language. I hope that when I travel to other places my experience is just as amazing as this one.

The excursions are an awesome way to get to know the different people in your sessions and a great way to explore the country. My favorite excursion was the Manuel Antonio trip. It was a great mix of nature and adventure. The white water rafting tour

was the best activity of the excursions. SOL has been extremely accommodating ever step of the way from talking to university counselors, tips on how to prepare for going abroad, and even advice on exploring the city you find yourself in. It has just been such a great experience! Be prepared to have the time of your life!

I have grown so much here and have fallen in love with the nature and culture! Really try to experience a "pura vida" attitude and be open to everything and everyone because you don't know what you'll get out of it. It's the experience of a life time.

The directors are so fun and helpful! Every day was enjoyable. Though this will be an experience out of your comfort zone, I always felt comfortable because of the people. I have grown so much and genuinely loved everything I have done here. The culture, the people, the nature, everything is so beautiful and through Sol I was able to experience it all!

Be prepared for a different lifestyle. One that is very simple, but so pleasant if you appreciate it for what it is. Costa Ricans live by their means and not in excess. Don't expect to get everything the way you usually do at home. Embrace a new perspective

on life. This program has given me a whole new perspective on life and I want to discover more all over the world. New culture, new lifestyle, new concepts. Challenging and rewarding every bit of it. If you can do a program like this do NOT miss your chance. It will change your life. Thank you so much to my advisers Jessenia, Rodrigo, and Janeva!

The program is very well organized and everyone involved--students, faculty, and directors--exceeded my expectations in terms of helpfulness and enthusiasm.Sol has helpful directors and offers many included activities that are well organized. You will

be with other students from all over the country who are at many different levels of Spanish. The program has helped me become more comfortable with my Spanish speaking skills. I plan to change my Spanish minor to a major, and I hope to continue attaining fluency so that I can incorporate Spanish into a career in business or communications.

This experience was so much more than I could have ever imagined. The fact a lone that you live with a family may seem a bit frightening at first, but it was the best part. They are so eager to help make the trip wonderful for you. Show you the culture.

Talk with you, learn about you. I really gained another set of parents during my stay. The trips were fantastic, the cultural immersion made speaking spanish to locals fun and easy. Quickly I felt myself become really comfortable in Costa Rica hence what led me to even stay longer than the time I originally came for. I loved the fact that Sol has a group of students at the University it made making friends really easy. We refer to everyone as a solmate and it is so true. A bunch of students all with the same passions for adventure and travel, what more could you want. I was so glad I went with my school allowing me to already have a nice big group of students to share my experiences with. I loved all the food, the fruits and main dining customs. Overall this was the best experience of my life and I truly encourage all of you to do this. If it wasn't, I would not have taken the time to write this review. SOL is a fantastic program and you will be happy to call yourself solmate when its all over.

Going to Costa Rica with Sol was one of the best academic choices I have made in college. The regional directors made the application process very simple and straightforward. The price is great compared to other programs I researched, especially for all

of the amazing excursions that are included. The information I was given before I left made the trip a lot less stressful because I had been told exactly what to expect. It was my first time to fly alone, and I had no problems at all. From the time I reached the airport in San Jose, I felt that the local staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. I never had to worry about anything because I knew they had everything taken care of. The best part of the trip was living with a host family. It is hands down the best way to practice your Spanish while learning about the culture. I learned a lot from my host mom and her grandson during the time i spent with them. You will make a lot of great friends from around the US while you are there, but you will also gain a second family if you make it a priority to form a relationship with your hosts. I loved being in Heredia because we were close to San Jose, but we had a much slower-paced, better, safer atmosphere.

I loved my trip. I loved the host family, the school, the excursions--everything. I really did have a life changing experience. I know that that sounds super cliche and how a good review should sound, but in my case it is the truth. I fell in love with

a culture and family that was not my own from America. I stepped out side of my comfort zone and met incredible people from around the world. I became confident with my spanish skills and I had an endless number of adventures from white water rafting and zip-lining through a rain forest to star-gazing with Australians and dancing with locals.