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Location
  • Costa Rica
Length
4 - 52 weeks
Program Categories
Cultural Immersion Language Immersion Study Abroad
General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Timeframe
Academic Year Fall Spring Winter
Housing
Host Family
Language
Spanish
Age Min.
14
Age Max
18

Pricing

Price Details
Airport pickup upon arrival
Host family accommodation and 2 meals (semester or academic year) or 3 meals (trimester or summer) per day
Comprehensive medical/accident insurance
Arrival Orientation in San Jose
Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the program for use on college applications.

Semester and Academic Year lengths includes all of the above, and:
2 weeks (semester) or 3 weeks (academic year) of Spanish classes (20 hours/week)
1 full weekend excursion
1 half-day excursion
Tuition in a Santa Ines High school in Heredia
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Meals
Jan 05, 2024
Mar 10, 2017
Wish List
10 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Studying abroad in Costa Rica gives you the chance to have the adventure of a lifetime while learning Spanish during a trimester, semester or academic year abroad. High school students will be fully immersed in a local high school, and live with a host family for a truly authentic cultural experience.

Teens will have a chance to participate in excursions and various activities to further explore the country and culture during their study abroad program.

Are you ready to make pura vida your motto? Costa Rica Study Abroad is perfect for you if:
-You prefer to go with the flow – schedules are flexible and you roll with whatever changes come your way
-You have a commitment to speaking Spanish – even if you’re a complete beginner (all levels welcome – language courses include in semester and academic year programs)
-You’re an environmental justice warrior and want to learn from the experts (and live their values)

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Video and Photos

make international friends while studying in costa rica
explore costa rica as an exchange student
Make friends and enjoy costa rican life
Take in the sites of Costa Rica
study abroad in costa rica
Make Friends and Memories in Costa Rica!

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

We appreciate that everyone has a unique worldview and value everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, ability, military status, religion, sexual orientation or political view. We are committed to building relationships and ensuring everyone we encounter feels welcomed, respected, and accepted. Greenheart is committed to helping anyone find the best program fit and will go the extra mile to make sure our participants feel safe and supported wherever they end up.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes travelers identifying as LGTBQ+, and is committed to helping you find the best program for you. We can provide information on the cultural norms of our destination countries and are prepared to advise you on the best programs based on your needs and interests.
While most of our programs could be a good fit, we also know that certain cultures and countries are more accepting of and prepared to host LGBTQ+ people than others. We are committed to working with LGBTQ+ people to determine which experiences may be the right fit for them. Please reach out if you want to discuss which of our programs might fit you best ahead of applying at travelabroad@greenheart.org or set up a phone call with us here.
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Neurodivergent Support

Greenheart works with partners who have varying levels of what is considered "good mental health". While we cannot change their eligibility conditions, we will work with participants to the best of our abilities in order to get them the program placement they want. We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Accessibility Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes students of varying ability to explore their study abroad options! While resources and support differ from country to country, Greenheart Travel staff work with individual students as needed to find program options that will set students up for success.

Impact

Sustainability

We believe in supporting our travelers to make a positive impact in their communities. The Greenheart Club provides Greenheart Grant funding to alumni projects all over the world.
As the leading eco-friendly exchange organization, we are passionate about helping travelers explore the globe while respecting the environment and cultural heritage of the destinations they explore.
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Ethical Impact

Greenheart Travel is a branch of Greenheart International, a Chicago-based organization that connects people and planet to create global leaders through personal development, volunteer service, environmentalism, fair trade, and cultural exchange. We provide resources, grants, and experiences to those who want to immerse themselves in another culture and leave it better than when they arrived. Through volunteering, creating relationships and more.
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Program Highlights

  • You can choose between trimester, semester or academic year lengths
  • No previous Spanish language experience required — beginners welcome!
  • Host family accommodation and meals included in the program
  • Online application process makes it easy to get started
  • Personal program manager for every student to help before, during and after your program

Program Reviews

4.00 Rating
based on 1 review
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  • Growth 4
  • Support 4
  • Fun 3
  • Housing 4
  • Safety 4
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 reviews
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Rachael
24
Female
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

10 Months Abroad in Costa Rica with Greenheart Travel

Mar 10, 2017

As I come to the end of my ten months abroad in Costa Rica, I cannot help but reflect on how transformative and eye-opening my experience here has been. Not only has my High School Year Abroad with Greenheart Travel helped me learn Spanish as a second language, but it has also exposed me to different lifestyles and customs. I have become more familiar with myself, as well as how I can use my new awareness of other cultures to work towards what I want for myself and the world around me. Through living with a host family, attending school in a small, coffee-farming town, developing friendships with local students, traveling with other exchange students from all over the world, and publishing monthly travel articles on the Greenheart Travel website, I have gained entirely new perspectives and experiences. Studying abroad has given me the opportunity to change the way I see myself and everything around me, and that it a gift that I will cherish and benefit from for the rest of my life.

What would you improve about this program?
Although Greenheart Travel provides great support while abroad, the organization may not be the same in your host country. None of the other exchange students or I were informed that Greenheart is partnered with another organization in Costa Rica, and this made it slightly confusing when we were given different rules and contacts upon arrival. It is not a big deal after settling into the host country, but it could be helpful if students / volunteers going abroad were aware prior to departure.
56 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Me and my host family on the day of my host brother's first communion.
The view from a hiking trail near my home here in Costa Rica.
The other exchange students and I got to explore locations all over Costa Rica, including Monteverde, Guanacaste, and Puntarenas.
Read my full story

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Rachael Maloney

Program
High School Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica
Thumbnail

Why did you choose this program?

I chose to study abroad with Greenheart Travel because they offer an immersion experience that is comprised of many opportunities that appeal to me.

During my time with Greenheart, I have been able to participate in everyday life as a local, as well as explore Costa Rica with exchange students from all over the world. Studying abroad has exposed me to other cultures, languages, and locations, and that would not have been possible without this program.

Greenheart has given me my first, of hopefully many, extended adventures abroad.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

On weekdays, I wake up at six in the morning and get ready in accordance with the family bathroom schedule (six people vs. one bathroom can get a little tricky!).

I walk past coffee farms on my way to school with my two host brothers, and attend classes from 7:00 am until about 4:00 pm. After school, I do homework, if assigned any, and spend a lot of time talking with my host family and helping my mom make dinner.

My family and I usually do chores around the house on weekends, and occasionally visit other cities or go hiking.

Although every participant’s day-to-day life will look different, many host families value time spent together, and school will likely take up the majority of your week.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Keep a journal. It does not matter how many pictures you take or how often you update your online blog; there are things you will likely forget.

I am so thankful every time I read through old journal entries and am reminded of small, beautiful moments that I would have otherwise forgotten. Recording your thoughts and opinions is also a great way to document your growth and see how you have changed over time.

Even if journalling does not become your new found hobby, it can save your future self from forgetting the small things that make your time spent abroad so special.

Do you have a favorite memory from your time abroad that you would like to share?

Although it is impossible to choose a single memory, I can narrow it down to a few:

  • Learning how to cook traditional Costa Rican dishes with my host mom.
  • Exploring places within Costa Rica, as well as Nicaragua, with an incredible group of exchange students from different countries all over the world.
  • Singing ranchera music during a karaoke night at a friend’s house.

Location

Location:
Costa Rica
Currency:
Costa Rican Colón
Weather:
Jan-Mar
83 F / 67 F
Apr-Jun
85 F / 69 F
Jul-Sep
85 F / 69 F
Oct-Dec
83 F / 67 F
Airports:
Juan Santamaría International Airport
( SJO )
Limón International Airport
( LIO )
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
( LIR )

A pioneer of ecotourism, Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas. Costa Rica began reversing deforestation in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only renewable energy. Head to the cloud forest, relax on the beautiful beaches, or visit a coffee farm.

About Greenheart

Greenheart Travel is a 501(c)3 non-profit, mission-driven organization based in Chicago, USA. We are passionate about providing immersive cultural experiences for teenagers and adults in countries all over the world. We believe in the power of travel; a power that broadens perspective and turns strangers into family. It’s this belief that motivates...

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