Intercultura Costa Rica

The school was in a great location! My friends and I felt safe the entire time. The teachers were great but some were more strict then others. I was placed in a lower level than my friend although I knew more Spanish than her. It worked out and was still a great experience! Although my class was pretty easy, I still learned a lot and enjoyed my time. My living situation was another story! So many cockroaches everywhere! It was hard for me to sleep at night! I expected bugs but this was unreal! My friends never saw any the whole time they were there so I know my situation wasn't normal.

As a parent, one of the things I appreciated most about Intercultura's Teen Camp was that I was able to experience the school myself while my daughter attended the camp. I was taking adult Spanish classes at the same time, which gave me a unique perspective on the quality of the program and the people behind it. My daughter absolutely loved her experience. She made friends from around the world, improved her Spanish, and came home with a level of confidence and independence that surprised me. Every time we connected, she was excited about a new activity, excursion, or friendship. What impressed me most was the balance between structure and fun. The students were immersed in Spanish and Costa Rican culture, but the program never felt overly academic. They were learning naturally through activities, outings, and daily interactions. The staff created a warm, supportive environment where teens felt safe, included, and encouraged to step outside their comfort zones. Because I was also studying at Intercultura, I got to see firsthand how dedicated the teachers and staff are. The same welcoming atmosphere that I experienced as an adult learner was clearly reflected in the teen program as well. By the end of the program, my daughter wasn't ready to leave. She had formed meaningful friendships, gained confidence in her language abilities, and created memories that she still talks about. As a parent, that's exactly what I hoped for when we signed up. I would wholeheartedly recommend Intercultura's Teen Camp to any family looking for a safe, enriching, and genuinely life-changing international experience for their teenager.

My daughter and I had the unique opportunity to experience both Intercultura's Teen Camp and Adult Spanish Program at the same time, and it ended up being one of the most memorable trips we've ever taken together. We started at the Heredia campus, and I can't recommend the immersion experience enough. Being surrounded by Spanish every day accelerated my learning far more than I expected, and the mild spring-like weather was absolutely perfect. The teachers were engaging, patient, and skilled at making students feel comfortable speaking, regardless of their level. While I attended adult group classes, my daughter participated in the teen camp. It was wonderful knowing we were both having our own enriching experiences during the day and then sharing stories in the evenings. She made friends from around the world and came home with increased confidence, improved Spanish, and unforgettable memories. We also spent time at the beachfront campus in Sámara, which was equally fantastic but in a completely different way. Studying Spanish just steps from the ocean felt like the perfect balance of learning and vacation. The location is stunning, and the classes kept me engaged and motivated while still allowing plenty of time to enjoy the beach and local community. What impressed me most was how Intercultura successfully serves learners of all ages. Whether you're a parent looking to improve your Spanish, a teenager seeking an international summer experience, or a family hoping to combine both, the programs are exceptionally well run. I would highly recommend both the adult program and the teen camp. Experiencing the city and beach campuses gave us the best of both worlds, and it was a trip we'll be talking about for years.

I can't say enough how good an experience I had. It is a simple operation but with the best teachers. I learned a lot. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When we arrived in Costa Rica we had very little spanish. Having moved here, we knew we needed much more facility with the language. The school has been helpful, patient, and they've managed to make the process fun. We have 2 classes a week, for 3 hours each, plus homework. Learning has of course been invaluable, but there's a separate, hidden benefit to the school for ex-pats- when you need help dealing with people and situations here, they volunteer to suggest and explain things. They know the area well and can help you integrate; this has been as valuable as the language skill. Highly recommended.

I first heard about Intercultura through the agency Prolinguis in Switzerland. They pointed me toward Sámara as one of the best spots in Costa Rica, so I took their word for it and booked a three-week stay. I‘ll admit, I was pretty overwhelmed at first. It was my first time studying abroad and my first time in a country I didn‘t know at all. But looking back, I had a great time. I met so many amazing people from various countries that I still keep in touch with even now. My host family was great - I still find myself craving Costa Rican Food. Solo quiero dar las gracias de nuevo a Alice y a Estefanía por ser unas anfitrionas tan maravillosas y por dejarme vivir en su preciosa casa durante tres semanas :) Also, a huge shout-out to Iris. My final week ended up being my favorite, mostly thanks to her. I learned so much and walked away feeling like I could actually use my Spanish. I‘ve never had a teacher who could make a language feel so simple (especially grammar, which is usually a nightmare for me). She has this amazing skill for making lessons fun while still pushing you to get better. I would definitely not mind doing more lessons with her :-)

As a Costa Rican teen, participating in 'Amigos Sin Fronteras' with the foreign students at Intercultura was an amazing experience. We had a great time hanging out and grabbing dinner at the local mall, and I even joined them for a ropes course adventure in the coffee plantations up in the mountains. Both activities were a fantastic way to meet teenagers from the USA, Canada, and Germany. I hope Intercultura invites me to the next event; I love making friends from all over the world, and this program has given me the perfect opportunity to do just that.

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I took 2 weeks Spanish class at the school last winter. Everyone from the office and teachers where very professional and friendly. The location of the school just beside the beach and the ambience of the school it couldn’t be better.

I actually already reviewed my Spanish and homestay program, but I also wanted to give a shout out to Annia and Holli for helping me volunteer for two days while I was there. I've been a basketball player all my life, and I've mentored kids from vulnerable areas in my home town of San Jose, through basketball. So I figured why not see if there was something I could do while in Heredia. I volunteered two afternoons after my Spanish classes at a local children's center called Obras de Jesus, which was founded by an association to provide after school tutoring and meals to kids from a neighborhood called Guarari which is really marginalized and has very few opportunities for kids. Alot of the kids I met only ate once a day there at the center, because their parents didn't have enough money to feed them otherwise. Some of them woudl come without shoes, and the center was always doing drives to collect shoes for them. I'm planning on taking down a suitcase full of sneakers next time I go. So anyway, basically I taught them the rules and we played pickup games which i think are called mehengas there, and it was so fun and just a great feeling seeing the kids out there having fun and getting into something most had never played before. In Costa Rica it's mostly football, but there are basketball courts everywhere in the local playgrounds. I bought a few balls to leave with the center, and I hope the kids keep playing and practicing. I also really liked that both boys and girls played, there was no division or feeling like it was only for boys.

I was a student at Intercultura whilst teaching English. The teachers were fantastic and I picked up more Spanish in a short time than I did in four years of studying at high school! It’s such a great place to learn and make connections. The teachers taught at my pace and outside of class there were lots of opportunities to practice. The extra curricular activities are great too

Intercultural was my gateway to a bilingual life abroad. I started there with no Spanish speaking skills and after 6 months of studying and living in Heredia, I developed solid Spanish communication skills and a strong understanding of the local culture and way of life. Due to all of the cultural activities and sense of community within the school, I was immersed in the local culture and quickly felt at home. I learned to dance Salsa and make gallo pinto(my favorite breakfast food), enjoyed their planned excursions and made tons of friends along the way - this was one of the best experiences of my life! The staff at Intercultura is very kind and welcoming and truly support you in your immersion journey. Sign up now!

I loved my time at Intercultura! I found it on Global Scholarships, where it was named one of the best seven Spanish schools in the world, and the only one in Costa Rica, which I really wanted to visit. I also liked that the school listed their teachers’ qualifications on their website, along with student reviews of the teachers, I think this is really important because you know they’re actual teachers. Anyway, the teachers I had were excellent - they really cared about how much I was learning and what our class was getting out of each lesson. They made the lessons fun and relevant and I got to practice speaking a lot. I also liked that they had a really clear structure - first we’d do pre-conversation vocabulary and grammar point review, and then a topic was chosen that included those points, then you progress from easier to harder activities related to it. We also had freedom to expand upon the topic and go with other subjects that would come up in the class related to our interests. After class we had tons of fun activities (which were free) that exposed us to Costa Rican culture, and I got to continue to practice speaking Spanish. My Spanish improved so much, and my cooking Costa Rica style too! I loved spending time at the beach and also being at the city campus - they were two different, but both great, experiences. The school was very well run and organized and felt personal but not too small at the same time. It was fun to meet people from other countries and local Costa Ricans as well, it really opened my eyes and made me realize how easy it is to get past the differences just by having contact with people from so many different backgrounds, including different religions and sexual orientations, it was a really open and diverse atmosphere, which I loved. It’s part of the school’s philosophy and you can see they really mean it, it’s not just a blurb on a website.

When it came time to send my son to a Spanish language program in a Spanish- speaking country, I started by reconnecting with Intercultura. I studied at Intercultura in 1994, and it was an experience that has stayed with me for life. I loved the school, the teachers, my host family, the leap I made in speaking Spanish, and the beautiful country. After reading the recent student reviews and the biographies of the qualified teachers on their website, I was happy to see that Intercultura continued to thrive for over 30 years. I felt very comfortable sending him there - some of the wonderful administrators I had 30 years ago were still there! My son studied at Intercultura for two weeks in 2025. He spent one week at the beach campus in Samara and one week at the campus in Heredia. The class sizes were small - he was one of 4 students at the beach and one of 3 in Heredia. The classes were very interactive and he had plenty of focused conversation time. He said the school also offered lots of activities outside of class time and he was never bored. One of the things he loved the most was making friends with Costa Rican kids that were at the school studying ESL. He is still in touch with with a few kids there. His confidence speaking Spanish greatly improved and he had a lot of fun and a great experience at the same time.

I signed up for a homestay at the beach for the second week without really thinking about it bc I wanted to contribute to the community, and I have tto admit it was a little awkward for me at first. It was so different there and the houses are extremely basic, which I wasn't prepared for even tho i saw all the pictures, and I'm shy anyway so when I first got there it was just kind of a shock and embarrassing bc i couldn't really remember anything from class the week before haha But my homestay mom was SO nice, and when i saw here the next day after class it was way less weird (or probably i was) and long story short, that ended up being an AMAZING week for so many reasons and living with Abril (homestay mom) helped my Spanish get so much better! No exaggeration like 3x better. I didn't want to leave!

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I’ve had the opportunity to both work at and participate in several activities with Intercultura, and I can honestly say it’s a truly enriching experience. I really love both locations. The campus in Sámara offers an incredible connection to the natural beauty of Costa Rica, especially its stunning beaches. It has a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere where learning feels fun and alive. There are always engaging activities that make it easy to connect with others, creating a strong sense of community. The Heredia campus, on the other hand, gives you a taste of life in the Central Valley. It’s close to the city, but without the intensity of San José, which makes it feel more relaxed and authentic. There, you also experience a more traditional side of Costa Rican culture—family values, warmth, humor, and a genuine sense of joy in everyday life. What makes Intercultura truly special is the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Through these interactions, you not only learn about other cultures, but also about yourself. It’s much more than a language school—it’s a space for personal growth, connection, and meaningful experiences.

As a professional journalist with a strong interest in languages, I was terrifically inspired by the quality of teaching at Intercultura and the application that it had for my work as a writer and publisher. After spending just two weeks at Intercultura studying Spanish - a new language for me - I was able to deliver a short valedictory in Spanish and leave the school with an appreciation of both the language and the local culture. Intercultura is a vital part of this culture, and a tremendous opportunity for students from around the world to expand their knowledge of other cultures and their impact on everyday life. My daughter also studied at Intercultura several years later, and did a work-study internship in the office for three months at the same time. She came back fluent in Spanish, and with a whole new group of friends from all over the world.

The teen immersion program is a fun way for kids to gain confidence, and increase proficiency. My son learned so much and excelled when he was in class this year. He made friends easily and learned so much about the culture of Costa Rica. All the teachers were great un his experience.

My experience with the teaching staff of Intercultura has left me impressed, time and again, with their dedication, passion, creativity, and knowledge. Intercultura hires not only native speakers, but vetted and experienced teachers who are committed to connecting with their students and helping them to advance individually.

A couple of years ago, my son Mason spent six weeks in the teen program at Intercultura’s Sámara campus. It was truly one of the most rewarding experiences he’s ever had. It went far beyond just learning a language, he lived with a local family and fully immersed himself in the culture. This experience helped him grow tremendously as a teenager. He made new friends, learned to surf, and came home not only feeling more confident in his Spanish, but feeling more confident as young man.

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Learning Spanish Intercultura was amazing! Everything Intercultura has to offer is exceptional- from the academics with extraordinary teachers who were invested my success to speak Spanish well to the community that the school creates to support learning and making you feel at home in Costa Rica through nursing home stays and incredible extracurricular activities.