CEA CAPA Education Abroad in San José, Costa Rica

I loved studying abroad with CEA CAPA in Costa Rica. It was such a fun, life changing experience. While studying abroad I was able to dive into the culture, learn medial Spanish, earn Spanish credits towards my degree, and learn more about myself as a person. I love that the CEA CAPA program made sure that on each excursion or school event the students attended off campus, transportation and food were provided. I felt very cared for within this program. I also appreciated the overnight excursion to La fortuna. While in La fortuna we visited a chocolate farm, and the Baldi Hot Springs Resort. It was a beautiful, memorable experience. The hotel was lovely, and it was a perfect head-clearing activity, when we needed a pause from learning how to adapt in another country. The forethought of the CEA CAPA program for the students wellbeing is tremendous.

I was in search of a thrilling and educational adventure and that is exactly what this program is. Many of the professors were outstanding and incredibly knowlegable, the CEA on site staff were beyond helpful, caring, and became our friends. The hands on educational opportunities were once in a lifetime and the homestays were nothing short of phenominal. I wouldn't change anything about the program. It is perfect for the outdoor lover, the thrill seaker, the night life enjoyer, and just about everyone else.

I had SUCH a good time studying abroad in Costa Rica. Cea Capa picked me and all the other students up from the airport which was so comforting with the change of moving to another country for a semester. The excursions with Cea Capa were perfect for settling in and making friends with the other study-abroad students. Other weekends were filled with field trips for class, we got to see firsthand what we were learning in class. I took Spanish, Tropical Birds, Climate Change, and Freshwater Ecology. I've never had a better relationship with professors, I enjoyed going to class and I learned so much while I was there. On weekends without a field trip or excursions, I would go on personal trips, mostly to the beach and explore the beautiful San Jose.

I highly recommend this program with CEA CAPA to study abroad in Costa Rica. This program was perfect for me and definitely life changing. I am an environmental science major and they offered a plethora of classes at the university we studied at, Universidad Vertías. My host mom was amazing, so kind and clean and made the best food! And we lived two blocks away from school. All of my other CEA friends loved their host families too, and we were all in a close radius to the school, so walking never took more than 15 minutes; Veritas offered a shuttle too though! The classes I took were so amazing and interesting, and all of my professors were super knowledgeable about their topics, with the classes I also went on amazing field trips that are included in the cost!! I went whale watching, snorkeling in the 2nd biggest reef in the Pacific and on a relaxing off the grid bird watching retreat; all included in my program cost!! CEA also took us on three amazing excursions, also included in program cost, which is where I met my closest friends abroad. The CEA onsite staff were also super helpful when planning our own weekends away, they had recommendations of hostels, places to visit, they even helped us get bus tickets. They were also super helpful and professional when people had medical problems, and personally went to the doctor with them to make sure the student felt safe. There were also many CEA events during the quarter where we really got to bond as a CEA group, as well as meet eachother’s host families!! I made some of my closest friends while abroad thanks to these experiences and I am so grateful. I couldn’t recommend this program more; super interesting and engaging classes, easy to travel around the country and Costa Rica is just a magical place. The beaches are magical, the rainforests are whimsical and the mountains and waterfalls too!! You will never get bored!!

I never could have imagined how profound an impact studying abroad in Costa Rican would have on my life. I met people from Costa Rica such as my host family, people at the gym and local students that I still talk to frequently. I also met people from the United States that I will likely maintain life-long friendships with. I was able to travel within the country and experience new foods and cultures that changed the way I see the world and interact with the people around me. Overall it was an amazing, life-changing experience and highly recommend that anyone looking to study abroad chooses Costa Rica.

Costa Rica was one of the most amazing and unique experiences that I have ever done. I studied abroad over the summer in 2024 and it was amazing. Overall, it was an 11 week program, a 5 week class, a 1 week break, and another 5 week class. One of the classes I took was a photography class and it was so amazing because Costa Rica has amazing wildlife and nature and it was the most beautiful thing to be able to photograph over the time that I studied there. I stayed in a Homestay while I was there, which means I was living with a family native to Costa Rica. At first, I was nervous because I did not speak much Spanish, but that is where technology came into play. I absolutely adore my Mama Tica and I cannot wait to see her again, I am still in contact with her. I also made so many friends from all over the US and I am still in contact with them as well! Overall, I highly recommend this program!

Where to even begin?! Costa Rica was life altering in so many ways. CEA CAPA made me realize that my dreams can become reality. I was guided through all the hurdles that I believed stood in my way and was able to follow through with a semester abroad, and thank goodness I did, because not only did I fall in love with the culture, community and education... but I was able to make connections both socially and professionally that will last a life time. The hardest part of studying abroad is coming home... I am greatly looking forward to returning to Costa Rica and continuing my travels with my new found confidence thanks to an experience abroad.

This previous summer I studied medical Spanish abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica for three weeks. While there, I was enrolled in a five credit course at Veritas University where I learned ample medical terms in Spanish. We had two hour classes Monday through Thursday and presentations from medical professionals once a week. My classmates were solely students from my university’s program, although Costa Rica’s academic season is during America’s summer season and we arrived during the midst of their normal semester. In addition to classes, I shadowed physicians (12 hours total), volunteered with a local nonprofit organization (4 hours total), and engaged in guided tours of the city, museums, and various public/private hospitals. My program also included a cooking class (off campus), a dance class (on campus), a day-excursion (to a coffee farm) and an overnight-excursion (to a chocolate farm, hot springs water park, and hostel near a volcano). We were also allowed to explore on our own freely throughout the week. The CEA CAPA staff were amazing by attentively answering any questions/concerns and physically guiding us throughout every program-specific activity (on and off campus).

As a young black woman, I was anxious about being in a foreign environment, however, it was almost immediately that I was embraced with the “pura vida” and welcoming spirit of Costa Rica. Before our departure, a questionnaire was provided to help with housing arrangements. I lived with two roommates (who were from my university) and a native older woman (called a “mama tica” or Costa Rican mother). In my program our host families/mama ticas prepared breakfast and dinner but would provide additional meals if requested. Our dietary restrictions and preferences were deeply considered and the food was overall good. My roommates and I walked five minutes to campus and felt very safe, as police frequently patrolled the neighborhood, though the entire country was quite safe and is highly noted for its lack of crime. I believe being completely immersed in Spanish culture significantly improved my Spanish proficiency and cultural understanding but also completely changed my perspective on international education. I absolutely enjoyed my time abroad and would recommend it to everyone regardless of their background or experience. I hope this review was helpful and you have an amazing time abroad!