Massage Therapy Study Abroad Programs in Costa Rica

Altogether, I had a great time. We got to see so much and I believe the pacing of the program was great, spending the right amount of time at each location. La Fortuna was my favorite! Traveling in a large group brought up trouble with waiting on students, health issues, etc. but I still think they were able to make the most of it. Having a flexible schedule and being open to adjustments definitely helps. Our guide Rodrigo and our bus drivers were the best!

I really enjoyed this experience. My review is based off of a free trip less expenses such as food and transportation, as I received scholarships for this course. I do know that many students paid upwards of $7,000 on this study abroad trip, which I do find to be a bit much. Considering we were staying in $80 / night hotels with non-working lights, mediocre amenities, and bad air conditioning and bedding coupled with the scarcity of included meals, the figure should have been more around $3,000 without airfare cost. I do not understand how the cost was so high for what was received. I also found living in the dorms with random Costa Rican people to be fun, but a bit restrictive. The morning meals were literally eggs, a piece of bread, and really bad coffee. I was also staying in a really small bunk bed which was uncomfortable. Staying in an affordable hotel would have been better. Next time I recommend the school book out Ester’s Place which is closer to the tech campus and run by a lovely lady who has many rooms available in her home hotel. She also had a much better breakfast and the cost was only $65 / night per person. I stayed here my first night flying in on the 12th and wish I could have gone back but due to restrictions I was not allowed. My family of four at the time in 2019 went on an all inclusive cruise to Italy, Spain, and France for under $10,000 with included meals, drinks , stay, etc. So this trip being $7,000 + for just ONE PERSON is a bit crazy. Regardless, the activities were awesome and for me, price was not an issue as stated before. So, my review without price factored was it was amazing. Great tour guide Rodrigo was so knowledgeable and a very nice guy. He took us to authentic places and not just generic touristy places. I enjoyed seeing the stark contrast in sustainability initiatives between exotic resorts, quasi-governmental organizations, and design firms. I truly did get a wonderful experience with understanding how firms work and the metric process used to gather sustainability info, as well as how to tell if a company may be kind of BS-ing the situation with their sustainability initiatives, or holding themselves accountable. I loved the zip line tour and the coffee and cocoa bean tour. The history tours around the towns was cool, but truly was not necessary. I feel we could have just had an informational PDF sent to us instead of touring these relatively boring historical landmarks. Activities are always more fun than learning about history. I think it would have been much more effective to fly into Liberia, tour the beach and Penninsula Papagayo’s HOA office, then make our way back to San Jose and visit firms, then fly out of SJO. The amount of time driving was frustrating. Or, instead, we would just fly into SJO and tour the Caribbean side of things and skip the western side of Costa Rica altogether. This way the time could be allocated more effectively. I also wish the professors would have split us into groups so we could have gotten to know everyone. There were certain folks I never really got to have conversations with because the groups would naturally clique and we never had forced exposure to each other. Overall it was a wonderful trip and, with a few adjustments I know the next one will be awesome as well!

Coming to TTU Costa Rica was an amazing experience and allowed me to try lots of new and unique things. Rodrigo was the absolute best and the entire trip wouldn't have been half as great and smooth without him! Gonna miss him back in the states, thank you so much for an amazing time!

I was lacking in my traveling experiences until CRSMT. This was a wonderful place to begin opening up my horizons. However, it wasn't without it's challenges: spending all day outside (in shade), no AC (optional up-charge), separated from family/home, travelers sicknesses, lots of memorizing, a few 11hr-ish days of classes, sunburn (if you're not careful), and many mosquitos! The things I loved there most was the friendly community. I never felt any judgement for speaking my broken Spanish, in fact sometimes the locals would help and teach me a few words here and there. There are plenty of places to find food including farmers markets, grocery stores, small local venues and many restaurants. There are two pharmacies in walking distance as well. You're a five minutes walk from the beach. Being able to look around during classes enjoy the beautiful green nature and the animals that would travel though was a pleasure. This course was very fast paced and intense but having this program while in Costa Rica made it feel like a retreat from normal hectic life to vitalize for my future. It also helped highlight all the things I'm grateful for at home.

Be willing to grow out of your comfort zone! Immersion in a foreign country at an accelerated learning pace calls for one to be able to embrace and adapt to challenges. With that said; the skills, character, and sense of community one develops by going through this program is second to none. This is a truly incredible experience for anyone interested in learning massage therapy while experiencing “Blue Zone” lifestyle in a tropical paradise! Rana 2023

It could be said that every experience will change you, but if you want an experience that provides a change that can perhaps alter everything you think you know about yourself or life in general, then this might be the place for you. It is an accelerated program, so you will be pushed, and it is in this pushing, in the stress, that there is change, but it is in a structured environment with great community around you, so the stress is eustress, and the growth is positive. You will learn massage and come away feeling greatly accomplished and with the assurance that you can make great strides in your life in a very short period of time. Enjoy!

As told by a wise soul during my time here, "Massage school is about more than just learning massage." And, I have to agree. In this fast-paced program, I tested my endurance, will, and walls. The group that I studied with became the biggest support system in my life not only through the intensive training but also in a personal growth way. I am so grateful for these people and the experience here at this school. Thank you.

My time at CRSMT has been life changing. I have grown professionally and have been challenged in ways I never knew I needed. The curriculum is intensive but definitely worth it in the end. The faculty and staff are always there when we need them and the entire cohort is also very supportive. You’ll never feel alone on this journey if you embrace it fully. Coming to CRSMT was one of the best decisions I’ve made and I wouldn’t trade it for anything! If you’re on the fence, come on! Take that leap! I highly recommend it.

I just finished the Rana (Jan-May) semester of the 600-hour program for the massage program. CRSMT is a great school with wonderful, passionate teachers and staff. I wanted an immersive, all-consuming experience (vs working full time and going to school at night) and THIS WAS DEFINITELY what I was looking for. It sounds like 'living the dream' to go to massage school in Costa Rica and it was, but not in a lazy, ethereal way. It was hard work, lots of studying and being engaged and each one of us had care with every fiber of our being. It was demanding and stringent but I'm sure it's an experience I'll remember fondly as time goes on. I'm excited to start Asian modalities next week!

I am deeply grateful to have been a part of the Mariposa Class of 2021 at CRSMT. I have a passion for how the human body works, empowering others and myself to feel connection to the body, and holistic wellness. Massage is a tool I plan to use and integrate into my career fully upon graduation and CRSMT has set me up to feel confident and excited to start practicing bodywork and massage in my community. Full immersion in nature and in Samara, Costa Rica has been the greatest part of it all. I was able to fully focus on school for four months and enjoy the ocean, the community, and do some small travel trips during my time here. I highly recommend this program if you are interested in fully diving into massage and want to also learn things about yourself through living in a new place with a new community.

CRSMT was such a unique massage school experience. How many people get to say that studied in Costa Rica? It was challenging, fast paced, and full of excitement. The teachers are amazing and bring the curriculum to life. The location is vibrant and rich with culture. Overall, the experience was mentally, emotionally, and physically intense. I have grown so much personally and professionally and can say that I feel very confident in my future as a massage therapist.

Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy responded to this reviewJuly 01, 2021

Thanks so much Abby. It's been a real pleasure to get to know you. We are so excited to see what you do in your massage career. We know it will be amazing!

Having the opportunity to understand myself and all the pieces that make me a whole, have been irreplaceable. Getting to live with people that inspire me everyday, create intelligent vibrations, yet still have all the energy in the world to be themselves and care about me, and have the best time no matter the circumstances. This includes the students, teachers and staff! You WILL gain a family here. When you understand that the people who have chosen to come here are on a similar journey to yours, the light that shines from each person and is shared throughout the entire campus, is immaculate. 
 The amount of instruction and practice time is a lot, but there was no better way to immerse in massage therapy, self-growth, and in a way that always encouraged self-care. You get to experience what it means to embrace every challenge, to be patient, be gentle with yourself, to be uncomfortable, and do it every single day. You CAN overcome challenges and adversity and at CRMST, you will see that you don’t have to learn the hard way. At times it can be exhausting, but the reward is empowering. The lifestyle you create here only reveals your strengths and molds you to exactly the person you would want to become. I fell in love with living by the ocean, and seeing the Earth rotate while watching the night sky. Life here is simple, but there is so much to reap. Going forward now, I cannot wait to follow this career and use all the knowledge I have now because it is MORE than enough to succeed. The information I have absorbed and experiences I have undergone here are exquisite. Yes, being a good massage therapist is knowing your anatomy and how to touch, which we were taught, but what makes a REALLY great therapist and friend, is every other intangible quality you learn from being here at CRSMT. In the words of Jan, “learning massage is just a byproduct of going to school at CRSTM.” There is so much passion for this industry that you will find here. I know now exactly what it feels like to be completely confident: in myself, my touch, my skills and in this family.

Having the opportunity to understand myself and all the pieces that make me a whole, have been irreplaceable. Getting to live with people that inspire me everyday, create intelligent vibrations, yet still have all the energy in the world to be themselves and care about me, and have the best time no matter the circumstances. This includes the students, teachers and staff! You WILL gain a family here. When you understand that the people who have chosen to come here are on a similar journey to yours, the light that shines from each person and is shared throughout the entire campus, is immaculate. 
 The amount of instruction and practice time is a lot, but there was no better way to immerse in massage therapy, self-growth, and in a way that always encouraged self-care. You get to experience what it means to embrace every challenge, to be patient, be gentle with yourself, to be uncomfortable, and do it every single day. You CAN overcome challenges and adversity and at CRMST, you will see that you don’t have to learn the hard way. At times it can be exhausting, but the reward is empowering. The lifestyle you create here only reveals your strengths and molds you to exactly the person you would want to become. I fell in love with living by the ocean, and seeing the Earth rotate while watching the night sky. Life here is simple, but there is so much to reap. Going forward now, I cannot wait to follow this career and use all the knowledge I have now because it is MORE than enough to succeed. The information I have absorbed and experiences I have undergone here are exquisite. Yes, being a good massage therapist is knowing your anatomy and how to touch, which we were taught, but what makes a REALLY great therapist and friend, is every other intangible quality you learn from being here at CRSMT. In the words of Jan, “learning massage is just a byproduct of going to school at CRSTM.” There is so much passion for this industry that you will find here. I know now exactly what it feels like to be completely confident: in myself, my touch, my skills and in this family.

Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy responded to this reviewMay 07, 2021

Thanks Morgan we appreciate your words and your kind spirit. It's such a joy to have had you here, and we are so excited to see what kind of amazing things you'll go on to do in the future!

This has been a one-of-a-kind experience. There were times I thought my brain would literally explode in protest of the sheer amount of information I was shoving into it--but it was worth it. Most of the curriculum is physiology and mechanics focused, while the intuitive and energy-based classes (which sparked so much awe and joy in this field for me) are at the end of the program. My connection to others, and to the natural beauty around me, grew so much during my time at CRSMT.

Costa Rica School of Massage Therapy responded to this reviewApril 28, 2021

Thanks so much Annika, we appreciate you! We know you'll go on to have an amazing massage therapy career. Best wishes!

I couldn't have picked a better school. The curriculum was better then I expected and the instructors are top notch top of their field. All were very supportive in the success of each and every student. It was truly a remarkable learning experience which was both challenging and rewarding. The friendships made here became very close like family, ones that will last a very long time. I can't say enough good about this incredible journey other than thank you CRSMT.

What an exceptional fast paced program in the most beautiful place to learn massage therapy. It will test your grit, but if you truly put effort into succeeding, you'll come out on top as a new person. Being here as truly changed my life for the better in numerous ways and has shown me a new profound love for body work.

One of the best experiences I could have chosen for myself. When they ask you why...why not? Coming to the CRSMT program is a chance of a lifetime experience. If one is courageous enough, make the leap and allow the program to catch you.

I found this place on a whim and from the beginning it didn't feel real. This place has helped me evolve in so many ways. Ive been taught that I am capable of so much here and that I can achieve whatever I put my mind to. The support here is exponential. The staff, the students, and even the locals around bring so much positive energy. It's an intensive program to say the least but oh so worth it. Thank you CRSMT!

CRSMT is a phenomenal school of massage therapy. They have prepared us so well to spring into our new careers as massage therapists! They take great care to provide us with tools for self-care to help us through the extremely challenging program, and push proper body mechanics so we can have career longevity! The setting is absolutely beautiful, and the caliber of many of the educators is beyond expectation. This program will change you as a person. The challenges are steep, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. When you come out the other side, though, you will be amazed to see what you are capable of!

Putting my experience at CRSMT into words is no easy task. This school provides a top notch education with life and personal growth experiences that are difficult to describe as they are profound. I am eternally grateful for the support and education I received here and I feel well prepared for my journey into bodywork. If you hear the call deep down inside to come here, do it. You will be challenged, you will be supported, you will evolve.