Spanish Study Abroad Programs in Central America

Overall I loved my time in Costa Rica but the unfortunate part about it was I was there for 2 months and the 2nd month we did not have any excursions or cultural events even though we paid so much money to be there and I feel like we were lied to on what everything would cost to travel individually. I think I loved my time in Costa Rica because me and my roommates made the most out of it even though we felt separated from the rest of the program because we were the only ones who lived away from everyone and we could not walk to our other friends home stays because our homestay mother would make us Uber once it was already dark we did not have the money to continuously do that if we just wanted to hangout with our friends. Also we were mislead about the internship transportation luckily I was in a group of 4 for my internship and we could split Ubers but even then I was struggling financially towards the end of the trip and had no idea that we would have to figure out our own transportation to our internships if I had known that before I would have never done the internship it was totally misleading. Lastly, I enjoyed my homestay but I hated having the same meals from lunch and dinner and when I told my homestay mother that we all did not like that she did not change it she continued to do it.

Hola a todos, estuve una estancia muy bonita aquí en Arequipa y en las clases de Máximo Nivel. Sobre todo la clases de Dyana. Antes, tenía muchos profesores de español, pero, como ella da sus clases . . . ¡Era la mejorar de todas! Siempre alegre y sonriendo. El clima En la clase siempre era más familiar o como con amigos buenos. Así, nunca me senti como en una clase de escuela. Hacer las conversaciones y la gramatica no era trabajo . Pero tambien muy detallado Y muy bien explicado. Eran tres semanas que ya me hacen falta. Y tambien las clases de cocina con Nora. No solo la comida me gustó mucho. Ella lo hace de una manera. muy buena. Quizá, se podría dar a las estudiante estudiantes de cocina tambien dar un pequeño certificado que dice, que ahora tienen experiencias en la cocina peruana :-)

Dayana made learning Spanish fun. We laughed a lot and learned a lot. She was always encouraging and supportive. Dayana did a good job focusing on our errors with supplementary materials. Our group was very cohesive, in large part because Dayana brought us together. Best Spanish teacher ever!

I was pleasantly surprised with this whole experience! You all have been incredible. Maximo's culture is very welcoming + easy to connect with other people. I so so appreciate all of the support you've provided. Also, Pamela is fantastic!! I wish I could learn from her for longer. She is warm and a great, relatable teacher who has made me feel proud + confident in my Spanish level. My only regret is not staying longer!

Nely was a great teacher. We discussed many debatable topics and I learned a lot of new vocabulary. Everyone at Maximo was great from Patrick, Maia, Gabby and many others. Maximo really takes great care of all their students. I can´t say enough good things about Maximo.

My experience on the program was life changing, heart widening, and eye opening. I loved learning about how different communities have created long lasting change for social justice and better collective futures. The Indigenous, particularly Maya, focus, teachings, and stories was a highlight. This program challenged what I thought I was possible in terms of life paths and ways Maya activism manifests. My experience on this program will stay with me and I wish to be able to relive the experiences I had. The Indigenous teachings, stories, and lessons softened me and has shaped my new wide worldview.

I am, and forever will be, grateful for the opportunity to live in San Jose; my host family, my friends (local and fellow foreign students), and every place I visited made the trip so worth it. My classes were an amazing balance between rigor and freedom, giving me space to fully immerse myself where I was every day while also providing an enriching experience!

One of the most engaging and welcoming trips I’ve ever done!! I was able to do thing out of my comfort zone and get the whole experience of living in Costa Rica! I loved my house family (casa Marisol) she made sure that we were safe, welcomed and well fed 😁!! Not only was my stay homey but the staff was incredible! They were very supportive and friendly always making sure I felt comfortable in what I was doing. Quepos is beautiful and filled with many wonderful places to see and explore. I’m so grateful and happy I was able to do the tours and volunteer project! I had a blast and got to truly appreciate the pura vida life style 🤙

I am so grateful that I found this program. My semester abroad in Guatemala and Costa Rica with CGEE was everything I hoped it would be and more. When considering what I wanted my semester abroad to look like, I knew I didn't want something basic. I wanted to go on an adventure and to expose myself to a greater world. One of the major reasons I chose this program, other than doing something awesome, was to learn Spanish. Having studied French in high school, I had no background Spanish and wanted to develop that skillset from the ground up. Thankfully, that's exactly what happened. My Spanish went from ground zero to basic conversation skills. Highlights of my time in Guate and Costa Rica include participating in a Mayan ceremony on Lake Atitlán in Guatemala, visiting a national park on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, exploring the cafes of Quetzaltenango with friends that I plan to hold close for life, and learning from many incredibly impactful organizations and individuals. My time in Guatemala forever changed me and I sincerely hope to return in the future. My experience was the perfect mix of academically engaging and personally fulfilling. I seriously cannot recommend this program enough.

I've been with Maximo a little over two months into my 6 month stay doing Spanish immersion. The locals, staff, and friends I have met here have been nothing short of incredible! Learning Spanish from native speakers and immersing yourself in the culture is the best way to do it. Cusco, Peru is such an amazing city full of history and wonderful nature. I cannot recommend it enough!

I was originally very nervous about studying abroad. I almost backed out multiple times. However, immediately upon meeting the staff of USAC, I felt instantly better. The staff made me feel so safe and cared for. Any questions I had were answered promptly. Beyond that, the travel experience was amazing. I feel like I learned so much on this trip, not just about the world, but about myself too. I met some of my best friends on this trip, and we still keep in contact today. If you're considering traveling with USAC, go for it. Take the jump. Make it count.

I had so much fun studying abroad in Costa Rica through Arcos. My program director Angie was super caring! The university professors and the rest of Arcos staff were super friendly as well. I learned a lot of Spanish, ate really good food, made some new friends and explored really beautiful places.The study abroad had excursions and activities planned throughout the weeks. There was enough structure to have something to look forward to, but also enough flexibility to do something on your own!

I spent 6 weeks studying abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica. I took two classes during my time there: Latin American Culture and Spanish for Health Professionals. I learned so much from the content of those classes as well as from my professors, host family, and the locals. While being immersed, I had the opportunity to see so much of the country and eat so much delicious food. This is an experience that I will never forget!

Studying abroad can seem scary and intimidating, however the Costa Rican culture and USAC staff made my journey so welcoming, easy, and fun! The staff were truly so kind and genuinely cared about their students. Any question, concern, or recommendations were happily answered and they followed up with everything. They made my experience so enjoyable and allowed me to fully focus on my academics and experiences.

This study abroad was certainly out of the ordinary for what you would get for a semester abroad. If you’re looking for an authentic experience in countries that are less popular for study abroad, this is for you! This program was incredibly thought-out and well organized and I learned so much that was directly applicable to my studies and work. Please don’t let chatter about safety in Guatemala deter you—I felt safe, even as a woman, and the staff to support you were very prepared about safety concerns. I would recommend this program to anyone willing to experience something unique and that challenges your current ways of thinking. This program is especially applicable to majors in sociology/anthropology, gender studies, Spanish, poli sci, Latin American studies, international relations, race/ethnicity studies, education, journalism and similar things.

I spent two weeks in Guatemala with Maximo Nivel. My Spanish level was minimal when I arrived. I felt like I was able to have a basic conversation and move around the city with the Spanish I learned. My homestay was very nice, and the staff here solved any issues I had; I would definitely do it again.

I had a lot of fun and got to go on trips (apart from the program, mostly) to see a lot of awesome places during the weekends this summer. I learned a lot more Spanish and improved my speaking pace, while also being able to understand a lot more and at a much quicker listening pace as well. That is the thing I think I am most proud of is my improvements with the language. But I am glad I studied abroad because it also gave me a LOT of opportunities to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. I have grown a lot as a person even in just 2 and a half months here. The nature and wildlife here are incredible and worth seeing.

Living in Costa Rica for 4 weeks has been an incredible experience. It helped me integrate myself into the culture, language, and nature of the country. I was able to learn Spanish for 4 weeks with no Spanish to being able to form sentences and talk Spanish in tandem with not only my teachers but with the locals. The staff have been excellent in taking care of all my needs including changing accommodations, health issues, checking up regularly. This experience is 5 stars overall!

I am happy to report that I’ve had a magically adventurous time here, my Spanish has noticeably improved, my hosts were kind and accommodating, and the Maximo and Inca Trails staff were wonderful. Special shoutout to Martha and Susan! They are amazing teachers and people. I’m sad to be leaving but happy to be heading home renewed, inspired and closer to fluency. You all run an excellent program!

During my semester abroad, I developed my Spanish skills and learned a lot about the world of research and conservation. During the final month, students complete a self-designed independent research project of their choosing. For me, this time was the most valuable of the entire trip.