Spanish Immersion in Atenas, Costa Rica

We were thrilled with the Arcos Costa Rica trip for our son! It was his first trip abroad without us and he had a wonderful experience! The itinerary was full of exciting excursions and cultural activities and he really enjoyed his homestay. We'd highly recommend the program and can't wait for him to go on new adventures with Arcos for his last two years of high school!

I've traveled with school groups to Oaxaca, Mexico and to Granada, Spain. In both cases, the programs delivered what we expected and more. These are unique programs because of their small scale and personal touch. They balance Spanish language instruction (which is notably very good), cultural experiences and home stay time. Any small glitch or need is addressed quickly and effectively. Special attention is paid to details such as celebrating student birthdays. The staff are accommodating, flexible, kind and professional. Our school chose to travel with Arcos again this year -- this time to Costa Rica.

My daughter gained a better understanding of Costa Rican culture and experienced an overall wonderful adventure. The Arcos staff is very caring, thorough, and personal. I rate their availability and coordination 5 out of 5. I would recommend this program to future participants.

Arcos staff were promptly responsive to the few questions I had. My son adored his host family, praising their kindness and generosity. He loved the excellent food and appreciated his host mother doing all his laundry and changing his sheets daily. He felt so well-cared for he didn't want to leave! He enjoyed the city, visiting the market and playing basketball with local kids. It was a wonderful and memorable week, thanks to Arcos and the host family.

The Arcos program in Costa Rica was a fantastic experience for my daughter. The greatest benefit was the independence she gained. I also appreciated the direct contact with the program director, Catalina, who was great about keeping me up to date with my daughter's activities.

My son did the Spanish Immersion program in Atenas, Costa Rica with his classmates. The greatest benefits were language and cultural immersion mixed with fun exploring. My advice for future participants is to pack light and reapply sunblock often. It was a wonderful experience--thank you Arcos!

Our son's experience with Arcos Journeys Abroad in Costa Rica was invaluable. He gained independence and knowledge of the Spanish language and culture. We are especially grateful for Arcos's assistance in getting him on his return flight, which required extra help after we overlooked paying the unaccompanied minor fee. Thank you, Arcos!

My daughter participated in the Spanish Immersion program in Atenas, Costa Rica. I highly recommend Arcos Journeys Abroad and give them 5 stars for their excellent coordination, staff, and availability. The greatest benefit for my child was the knowledge gained and achieving such fluency in the language. I would certainly recommend this program to future participants.

The program offered immense benefits for my child, primarily through the valuable immersion experience with local people, particularly the homestay with native Costa Ricans, and the various activities they participated in. I give the coordination, staff, and staff availability my highest rating.

This was an incredible experience for my daughter. She was able to see a different way of living through her time with Arcos in Atenas, Costa Rica.The pre-departure materials including the acceptance package, guidelines, and packing list were excellent. The experience is worth it!

Our son came back and could not stop sharing his amazing time and experience with Arcos! The greatest benefits were the homestay with a Costa Rican family and being in a non-tourist environment in the town of Atenas. Excellent coordination, staff, and availability.

The benefit of learning more Spanish was fantastic. The classes were three hours with a mid-morning snack break which was great for a reset. My homestay was perfect. A helpful tip for future students: learn your address by heart, as taxis are an easy and useful way to travel and you may need to direct the driver.

This was a wonderful first experience with a program abroad! The directors were very kind, and the classes were engaging and informative. I learned a lot about verbs and past tense. I also loved our host family—they were so kind and took great care of us. Future students should consider the volunteer option. I enjoyed the challenge of speaking to locals and getting around town.

I highly recommend this study abroad program with Arcos in Costa Rica. The classes offer a good range of activities to improve Spanish. A great benefit is the chance to learn Spanish alongside other students. Remember to pack light as you will want space for souvenirs!

I recommend the Arcos Journeys Abroad program to other high school students for its enriching experiences and cultural immersion in Costa Rica. I learned so much in the classes and the immersive experience of having to speak Spanish was a valuable challenge.

The program staff, including María Laura and the teachers at Atesa, were amazing—knowledgeable, professional, and very caring. The homestay with Carlos and Genia was a 5-star experience, enriching our time in Costa Rica. The teachers maintained high teaching standards. The main challenge for students was staying off tech to engage more with their surroundings.

The classes and directors were excellent and fun. It was impressive to see the everyone become more comfortable practicing Spanish by the end of the trip. The homestay was very nice, helpful, and felt safe, with great food. I highly recommend this program for academic and personal growth.

Arcos is my top recommendation for studying abroad! The classes were very fun, and the homestay hosts were so kind. I definitely recommend trying to practice your Spanish as much as possible. While speaking Spanish was challenging, being around native speakers was a great benefit.

The Arcos directors were very great, and the classes were fun and not overly academic. The biggest challenge was the lack of free time, but the benefits, like Spanish language practice and learning about a new place, made it worthwhile. Future students should definitely apply.

My advice to future participants is to pack light. The biggest challenge I faced was being away from family, but the benefits, like learning a lot of new Spanish, make this an excellent experience. I highly recommend this program to future students—it will change your life!