Spanish Immersion Program—Costa Rica | Guatemala | Peru

I came to Maximo Nivel to learn Spanish.

I can speak French and Greek but not much Spanish. I studied in my home in New England and was committed to it but had no real speaking ability and always suffered from stage fright in talking Spanish to anyone!

My knowledge of grammar and vocab is quite good but I got nowhere with speaking and where I live there are not many Spanish speakers for me to practice

I spent good time looking for a school, well thought of with good reviews that could give me the immersion experience and that was Maximo Nivel! I have spent one month here in Quepos Costa Rica and feel that I have advanced significantly in my understanding the language and speaking I although still have a way to go. No more stage fright!

The professors are great and help you every step of the way. My writing skills in Spanish have dramatically improved.
The school is on the Pacific Ocean. You have your school responsibilities but also have a large selection of excursions for the weekend!

There are several different living options to choose from all of them reasonable in cost. Unless you choose to live with a family and have meals prepared/laundry done you would be on your own in town to accomplish your goals.

I ended up spending two months in the program starting in a pre-intermediate course and eventually starting the next course with some online classes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in San José with the employees being so helpful and kind, the host families were the sweetest and I really feel like the immersion program was helpful and thorough.

Within a few weeks I was able to understand more and listen to conversations clearly. The online classes were very informative and I would definitely sign up again with my teacher.

I would definitely recommend this immersion program!

Having just completed a 4-week intensive Spanish language program Maximo Nivel in San Jose, Costa Rica, we have nothing but praise for Maximo Nivel.

My wife and I are a retired Canadian couple. We decided it would be fun to learn a new language overseas. We are very happy we chose Maximo Nivel for this. Maximo Nivel exceeded our expectations and was far beyond what we expected. Everything was well planned and organised from airport pick-up, to class placement.

Our teacher Katia was highly structured and well organised. She came well-prepared for lessons and anticipated areas that might be confusing for us. She brought in extra worksheets and material for us to work on and was patient and answered all our questions well. My wife and I were the only ones in her classes for 3 of the 4 weeks, so we received great individual attention. The classes were a bit intense 4 hours per day, 5 days per week but we learned a lot.

The staff at Maximo Nivel were also very helpful and friendly. We had a small issue with our apartment and the staff immediately tried to fix it. The campus itself is open 7 days a week, with free coffee and tea and a tutor on site to help with any questions.

We found the 4-week course so useful that we decided to sign up for an additional 3 weeks of intensive classes at Maximo Nivel in Manuel Antonio. The staff in San Jose have been very helpful in providing information and making transport arrangements for our transfer.

Moreover, my wife and I are so pleased that we are now thinking of planning study programs at the Peru and Guatemala campuses of Maximo Nivel later for this year or next.

Many thanks to the team at Maximo Nivel, and especially to Marlon, Gabby and Hector in addition to our teacher Katia. It is great when one finds something that exceed one’s expectations.

As an alumnus returning more than a decade after my first experience with your TEFL program, I chose to study Spanish with you because of the exceptional quality I remembered. And once again, you delivered a remarkable experience.

From the moment I arrived—greeted by a kind driver who safely transported me from a late-night flight to my host family's home—I felt supported and cared for. The home I stayed in for four weeks was warm, welcoming, and culturally rich. I didn’t just learn the language; I lived it. I was embraced by my host “mother,” who made me feel like part of something truly special.

Each day, my bus journey to San Pedro was enjoyable and I really felt part of the city. I was greeted like a returning friend, where all the staff, from the front desk to the cafeteria ladies, helped me with the smallest requests.

But the heart of my success lies with a gem of a teacher: Leda. Her impact on my learning was profound. She didn’t just teach me Spanish; she helped me internalize it, live it, and use it with confidence.

What made Leda truly exceptional was not only her mastery of the language but the depth of life experience she brought into every lesson. As a mature learner myself, I found her wisdom, grace, and lived perspective deeply enriching. She didn’t just teach vocabulary and grammar—she infused our sessions with cultural insight, emotional intelligence, and a kind of mentorship that only someone who has genuinely lived can offer.

Her ability to connect, to challenge, and to uplift came from a place of authenticity. It was her quality of life—her richness of experience—that made my learning journey not just successful, but transformative.

Her dedication, sophistication, and depth of experience made her an exemplary educator. While I’m sure many of your teachers are treasures, Leda is a polished diamond—one that deserves to be displayed in the crown of your organization.

Thank you, Máximo Nivel, for continuing to uphold the highest standards of education and care. And thank you for Leda—an educator who embodies everything your organization stands for.

As an alumnus returning more than a decade after my first experience with your TEFL program, I chose to study Spanish with you because of the exceptional quality I remembered. And once again, you delivered a remarkable experience.

From the moment I arrived—greeted by a kind driver who safely transported me from a late-night flight to my host family's home—I felt supported and cared for. The home I stayed in for four weeks was warm, welcoming, and culturally rich. I didn’t just learn the language; I lived it. I was embraced by my host “mother,” who made me feel like part of something truly special.

Each day, my bus journey to San Padro was enjoyable and I really felt part of the city. I was greeted like a returning friend, where all the staff, from the front desk to the cafeteria ladies, helped me with the smallest requests. But the heart of my success lies with a gem of a teacher: Leda. Her impact on my learning was profound. She didn’t just teach me Spanish; she helped me internalize it, live it, and use it with confidence.

What made Leda truly exceptional was not only her mastery of the language but the depth of life experience she brought into every lesson. As a mature learner myself, I found her wisdom, grace, and lived perspective deeply enriching. She didn’t just teach vocabulary and grammar—she infused our sessions with cultural insight, emotional intelligence, and a kind of mentorship that only someone who has genuinely lived can offer.

Her ability to connect, to challenge, and to uplift came from a place of authenticity. It was her quality of life—her richness of experience—that made my learning journey not just successful, but transformative.

Her dedication, sophistication, and depth of experience made her an exemplary educator. While I’m sure many of your teachers are treasures, Leda is a polished diamond—one that deserves to be displayed in the crown of your organization.

Thank you, Máximo Nivel, for continuing to uphold the highest standards of education and care. And thank you for Leda—an educator who embodies everything your organization stands for.

I had an amazing experience!! I was there for 3 weeks and the project at the time was building a veterinary clinic in San Felipe! I would walk 50 minutes everyday from my host family’s house to the project and though it was long it gave me a chance to see Antigua and see so many people! The foreman Freddy was so awesome and knew how to do everything so expertly and once he showed me what to do he kind of left me to my work, so I got a lot of hands on experience but if I ever had a question or needed help Freddy was always there. It was satisfying to see the progress of the project by the end of my trip but it would have been a lot more fulfilling to have been able to see it through start to finish. The first week I was the only person working, which was not what I was expecting, but you never know how many volunteers are gonna be there each week. I would work for about 3 and half hours and then had the afternoons free which gave me a chance to take a private Spanish class for one hour everyday with the most amazing teacher, Ana! I learned a lot and it gave me the chance to practice my Spanish and review some things that I was rusty on. I had the weekends off and I would always do whatever activity Maximo had planned for Saturday morning because it gave me a chance to meet and make friends and it immersed me in some Guatemalan culture!! Also I would highly recommend if you have time to do some tours/activities with Guinness Travel you definitely should! I was able to go and hike Acatenango Volcano which was one of the most amazing experiences I had in Guatemala!! I would also like to give a Shout Out to the whole staff at Maximo who are so friendly, supportive and helpful if I ever needed anything I felt comfortable talking to any one of them!! Overall it was a great experience for me and a good way to immerse myself in a different culture while also feeling like I made some sort of an impact even if it was small!

Máximo nivel Manuel Antonio Costa Rica— the staff are amazing! They are so friendly and helpful and I had so much fun with all the activities; paint night and making empanadas for the cooking class was my favourite. I met so many new people from all over the world and my teacher made Spanish lessons so much fun. They provide an excellent orientation and I felt like I always had support from the staff if I had any questions or emergencies. Such great people. The facility is beautiful, new and has a pool to use to cool off after class. I am so sad to leave but I hope to come back soon!

I loved getting to know local people and practicing my (poor) Spanish. Everyone was very nice and patient with me and trying to help me learn. I enjoyed taking tours, and getting to know the surroundings. I also like the cooking class! It helps to learn more about the local cuisine. My teacher was very good, personable and knowledgeable of course in English but also as a conversationalist. I’ve learned a lot from her about the Costa Rican ways. The school itself is very well planned as a structure with open classes and plenty of opportunities to meet people and interact. I loved the idea of the pool, didn’t use it but I will if I return.