High School Homestays Programs in Costa Rica

Immerse yourself in the Spanish language of Costa Rica, the happiest country on the planet! Live like a true local in the traditional town of Atenas. Set in a tropical paradise, you will take Spanish classes in open-air classrooms on an orange and mango farm. Classes are small in size and perfect for truly learning the language. Gain a new level of confidence in your Spanish skills while toucans fly overhead. Live with a carefully selected homestay and enjoy home-cooked meals. The program is rich in activities and outdoor adventure. Experience the thrill of a zip-lining through the rainforest and the rush of white water rafting. Travel to Arenal Volcano, soak in hot springs and swim in the pool of a spectacular waterfall. Visit Manuel Antonio beach and the national park, which is full of native wildlife. Play soccer as well as participate in an art workshop, cooking class, and dance class while in Atenas. This program includes volunteering, which is a great way to use your Spanish skills while giving back to the community. Multiple summer sessions are offered. All levels of Spanish are welcome.

Our high school study abroad program in Costa Rica is filled with an immersive homestay and high school experience and an unbelievable tour of this stunning land. This is your chance to make lifelong friends across cultures and become a member of the community. Costa Rica is the place of pura vida (pure life), a contagious attitude of living life to the fullest. And it shows – Costa Rica is the world's happiest country according to the Happy Planet index. Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos, and you’ll often hear them demonstrate their national pride by describing something as muy tico, or “very Costa Rican.” Ticos are generally easy-going, so you’re likely to get along with most people you meet. With its tropical climate, biodiversity, fresh food, and relaxed lifestyle, going to school in Costa Rica is an enchanting way to discover a new culture. By living with a host family and attending a local high school, you’ll get an inside look at this idyllic society.

Spend a semester in Costa Rica discovering nature, building friendships, and speaking Spanish every day. Wake up to misty mornings, monkey calls echoing through the trees, and breakfast made from ingredients grown right on campus. In Monteverde, you’ll live steps from cloud forest trails and share a home with goats, gardens, and a close-knit group of fellow students. This semester-long program blends academic challenge with daily discovery, combining high school courses with hands-on learning and full cultural immersion.

Make a positive impact by assisting disadvantaged communities in San Jose, Costa Rica. This unique and affordable volunteering abroad program allows you to provide educational enrichment for underprivileged children. During your stay, you'll have the opportunity to learn Spanish, volunteer in social programs for children, and explore the beauty of Costa Rica in your free time. You'll contribute to the well-being of children, gain skills in childcare and teaching, and improve your Spanish language skills. This program is open to participants of all ages, including families. Teens aged 16-17 can join solo with parental consent. Other requirements include: - Police clearance - Basic level of English and/or Spanish - Open-minded and flexible attitude - Creative and highly independent - Experience working with children

Develop your Spanish skills in Costa Rica with the Maximo Nivel Spanish Camp. Maximo Nivel Summer Spanish Camp is a full-immersion experience that integrates the Spanish language into all aspects of the program, including community service, sports, cultural activities, and tourism. You receive 3 hours of Spanish classes per day before heading out to different cultural activities and tours in the afternoon. Activities include museum visits, national park tours, creative workshops, recreational games, and more. This unique experience helps you develop a better sense of the world and grow into a true global citizen. Spanish Camp is an experience you remember forever! Every day, Spanish campers immerse themselves in the Spanish language while participating in a variety of activities and events around the capital city of San Jose and the beach towns of Manuel Antonio and Quepos. During weeknights, planned activities include salsa lessons, bonfires, karaoke, game nights, and movie nights, as well as quality time and Spanish language practice with your host family. On weekends, you take part in exciting cultural adventures and nature tours led by our professional guides.

Learn and improve your Spanish skills through full language and cultural immersion on Greenheart Travel’s summer language camp program in San Jose or Manuel Antonio! We welcome teen students of all skills, including beginners! Live with a Costa Rican host family and make friends from around the world, all while learning about the country and culture of Costa Rica. Program at a glance: - 15 morning classes a week (3 classes per day for 50 minutes each) - Schools in 2 locations — San Jose & Manuel Antonio - Classes are taught by native-speaking teachers who specialize in teaching Spanish as a foreign language - Written tests are given on the first day of class to determine the appropriate level: Elementary, Intermediate, or Advanced - Lessons involve speaking, listening, reading, and writing in lively and informal small classes

Global Works specializes in teen service trips and educational experiences to Costa Rica for high school and middle school students. These student travel programs have been our most popular over the years for good reason. Incredible biodiversity and a welcoming culture make Costa Rica an awesome choice for a summer adventure. Global Works offers volunteer programs in different focus areas. We offer opportunities for community service, Spanish immersion, cultural exchange, pre-med and public health, wildlife, adventure travel, and a middle school-focused program to this special corner of the globe. Program Options: * Costa Rica: Service & Sand (15 days) * Costa Rica: Wildlife Adventure (17 days) * Costa Rica: Intro to Pre-Med & Public Health (17 days) * Costa Rica: Middle School Service Adventure (10 days)

The Costa Rica: Cloud Forest Community Initiative program offers the perfect mix of adventure and service. Whitewater raft through the lush rainforest of the Pacuare River, spotting wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and toucans along the way. Live in a remote cloud forest village, contributing to important infrastructure projects. Learn to surf the calm waves of Costa Rica’s Pacific Ocean, while enjoying the country’s stunning palm-fringed beaches. Discover the process of coffee production in the lush green mountains where it’s grown, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of rainforests, pristine coastlines, and hidden waterfalls, all while connecting with and supporting local communities.

Learn the language. Live the culture. Be the change. Join our summer camp for ages 13 - 17! Ready for a meaningful immersion experience? Take part in our Teen Summer Camp for a more encompassing adventure than the usual camp routine. Our new language program also empowers you to become an agent for positive change. Teens all over the world are getting involved and making their voices heard, and we want to offer you some skills to do the same. What better place than Costa Rica, a country recently named by the UN as a Champion of the Earth, where over 95% of the energy produced is renewable and the natural world is highly valued, where the people live long and are considered some of the happiest on the planet? Learn about sustainable agriculture, indigenous cultures, and interconnected ecosystems while practicing mindfulness and empathetic communication. Find where you fit into this dynamically changing world we live in. Please inquire about camp dates and all other details!

Join the Teen Volunteer Summer Camp in Costa Rica with International Volunteer HQ for an unforgettable cultural immersion and community volunteering experience designed for 16- and 17-year-olds. This fully supervised program combines meaningful volunteer work with social activities, cultural exploration, and friendly group adventures. Each week you’ll contribute to local community projects, with around four hours of volunteering per day. Outside of volunteer work you’ll take part in activities like salsa lessons, nature tours, cultural outings, sports sessions, and excursions that show off Costa Rica’s natural beauty and vibrant culture. Your stay includes accommodation with a host family, three meals a day, airport pick-up and drop-off, group transport to all activities, orientation, and 24/7 supervision by dedicated counsellors. You also receive a volunteer certificate and group T-shirt to mark the experience.

The Teen Spanish Summer Camp combines intensive Spanish classes, local homestay accommodation, daily cultural activities, and weekend adventure tours. We welcome the adventurous and studious for a truly unique learning experience in Costa Rica! High school students who are looking for opportunities to expand their Spanish speaking skills, get a leg up in the language against their peers back home, and explore a new way of life in Central America will excel in this camp. The camp emphasizes studying and acquiring Spanish skills through cultural immersion. Students will not only walk away with increased confidence in speaking Spanish, but also with a worldly and cultural perspective on life and an adventure to share with everyone back home! Ages: 13 – 17 Duration: 2 weeks

Explore Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes, vibrant communities, and unwavering commitment to preserving its natural treasures. Deepen your awareness and learn from local communities to take climate action back to your home community. Embark on an unforgettable journey through Costa Rica, where nature, culture, and sustainability come together. Begin in San José, exploring museums, bustling markets, and engaging in discussions on climate justice. Travel from the Los Santos Region to the remote Osa Peninsula, hiking through lush national parks, discovering breathtaking landscapes, and connecting with local communities. Immerse yourself in Costa Rican life during a 10-night homestay, participating in meaningful community projects and forging lasting connections. Experience thrilling adventures from the rainforest canopy to the Pacific Coast, and explore eco-initiatives, including sustainable farms, an active wind farm, and sea turtle nesting sites. The Biodiversity, Climate & the Environment program blends cultural immersion, conservation, and adventure in one unforgettable expedition.

VN's high school program in northern Costa Rica offers high school students a unique opportunity to engage in personalized, meaningful community service while experiencing Costa Rican culture firsthand. Participants work with rural communities, including schools, conservation projects, and health initiatives. Activities include sports and recreation, after-school programs, arts and crafts, and health initiatives. Students benefit from guided and personalized activites that provide hands-on experience. The program also includes cultural immersion through homestays or accommodations in small family-run hotels, cooking and meals with local communities, Spanish language practice, and guided exploration of local communities and natural sites. This safe and well-supported program allows students to make a tangible impact, develop personal and professional skills, and foster global awareness and empathy. Individual attention, Small group sizes, and experienced staff ensure personalized guidance and meaningful engagement throughout the experience.

Discover Costa Rica is a flexible, intensive short-term educational program designed for academic institutions, organized groups, and individual students. It combines thematic learning, cultural immersion, language development, and exploration of Costa Rica’s natural environment—all within a fully guided and adaptable format. Ideal for academic breaks, spring break, summer sessions, or custom-designed weeks, the program welcomes high school and university-level participants seeking impactful global experiences. Participants engage in a wide range of activities, including Spanish classes led by Propella instructors, optional social impact projects in local communities, and eco-friendly field experiences such as visits to sustainable farms, protected rainforests, and conservation initiatives. Hands-on learning and cultural connection are thoughtfully integrated to ensure each journey is both meaningful and memorable. Propella handles every aspect of the experience—from program design, accommodations, and guided activities to transportation, language support, and operational safety—delivering a seamless, enriching, and personalized educational journey from start to finish.

Choose any one of our four summer courses or combine them to craft your ideal two-week to eight-week summer adventure rainforest trekking, whitewater rafting, surfing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, volunteering, and more in Costa Rica and Panama! Our summer courses aren’t for vacationers. They’re for students who want to become more knowledgeable about themselves and the world around them – maybe even to build your résumé or material for your college essay application. All courses include opportunities to volunteer, build life and leadership skills, learn from local cultures, and gain a new level of self-awareness and appreciation for the world around you. Course Options: - Tropical Trek, Raft & Waves - Scuba, Sea Turtles, Spanish & Sloths - Pacific Surf & Saving Lives - Pacific Surf Extension * Please note that, for the health and safety of our participants, OBCR has made program adjustments to these courses. Please contact us to learn about our COVID-19 considerations.*