Development Studies Study Abroad Programs in San Jose, Costa Rica

I had the best experience with our Guide Michael for our Political Science Study Abroad. Michael was very easy to speak to in regards to personal matters and not once was there any judgement whatsoever. For my first experience on a study abroad program I’m glad that it was with someone as a guide so caring like him.

This experience has been one of the best of my life. The people of Costa Rica have given so much patience and gratitude for our work and that makes the long days totally worth it. My confidence has grown so much over this trip and it has given me so much clarity. I am forever blessed to have met the Maximo staff and everyone along the road.

this experience was truly amazing. We were paired with the best team, and learned so much right off the bat. After leaving this trip I now feel so much more confident in myself, and the future. I am so thankful for this experience and suggest that if you are fortunate enough to do it, you should!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ My experience with Maximum in Costa Rica was absolutely amazing and unforgettable. This was my very first time studying abroad, and I could not have asked for a more welcoming, loving, and meaningful experience. From the moment I arrived, everyone at Maximum made me feel like family. The energy, kindness, accommodations, and overall atmosphere were so warm and uplifting. Every experience and visit touched my heart in a special way. From visiting nursing homes, substance abuse facilities, and the HIV clinic, every encounter was memorable and meaningful. Every person I met made an impact on me. Everyone was so welcoming and willing to take me under their wing—teaching me their language, sharing their culture, and allowing me to experience life from a completely different perspective. This experience opened my eyes and gave me a new appreciation for life. It allowed me to see the beauty in people, culture, and community in a way I will never forget. I truly felt the energy of such beautiful people, and if given the opportunity, I would come back and work here to continue making an impact just as we experienced during this journey. A very special thank you to Ellen, our leader and guide. She was absolutely amazing, and I am so grateful for the wonderful experiences and locations she selected for us. Her guidance and care made this trip even more special. I would also love to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone I had the pleasure of meeting: Hector, Karen, Victoria, Jax, Gabby, Kaylee, Maria Arias (thank you for the awesome chicken sandwich!), our amazing driver, Michael, Sharon, and so many others who made us feel welcomed and cared for. Special thanks as well to Dr. Alex, Dr. Tatiana, and Nurse Gerald for taking time out of their busy schedules to teach, guide, and share their knowledge and experiences with us. To every person who participated and made this journey possible: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You made a lasting impact on my life, and I will forever remember this experience. God bless you all!

We had an impactful experience during our study abroad trip. They planned a variety of meaningful experiences and provided tentative support during the entire trip. A special thanks to Ellen for her support and grace.

The service learning trip to Costa Rica instilled a greater love for agricultural and eco sustainability. I conquered one of my greatest fears by completing the hanging bridges hike. I highly recommend to everyone to see Costa Rica though the eyes of the local people. Pura Vita!

My experience was eye-opening. I enjoyed my time at the site and at Maximo Nivel. Everyone was kind and very helpful. The faculty at the healthcare facility was honest and open to answering questions. I would most definitely come again to experience the culture of Costa Rica.

I had the best time working with animals this week at the husky shelter. I learned so much about the people in Costa Rica and also the animals. I loved seeing the amount of love and care all the workers had for each of the animals.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time! I loved the different foods that our host family made for us. They always made sure we had enough food! I also really enjoyed my work site! I was able to see how to correctly interact with dogs! I loved the person that told us what to do everyday. She was so sweet!

It was amazing to see the realities of some of the children and their families and to learn and grow from that! I am so excited to continue my career in education and have this in my teaching background!

It was an absolutely great experience teaching English to the kids at Divino Niño, it showed that even though a lot of them come from backgrounds that are not great, it still showed their resilience and how they move forward in their lives.

My trip was awesome there’s some stuff I wish I could have done. But overall I had a very good time. I wanted to go to the beach but the rafting and activities were great. I had a great service site and thoroughly enjoyed it .

Everything was perfect! Had so much fun. everyone accommodated to each persons needs! we stayed for 2 weeks and had the time of our lives. Would totally come again, i completely recommend for anyone who comes to costa rica!

Excellent program. I’m a professor and I have worked with Maximo to bring undergrad student groups to Costa Rica since 2012. They provide excellent academic, health and safety and logistical supports. They also have numerous contacts and relationships in the local communities for sustainability and volunteer projects.

We had a fantastic time and learned so much. The teaching and service were excellent. We are coming back again. We had a life changing experience! During this trip we me so many wonderful people. The city is lovely and the country is full of wonderful animals and natural vistas. Doug and Di

Originally this program came up in my last year of high school because I was thinking of doing a gap year, instead I chose to go to school. Currently in my second year and I decided to do a semester in San Jose, Costa Rica. If I’m being honest I wish I chose this than going to school. I’m doing accredited classes while enjoying my time here learning Spanish. If I were to compare my experience from my university at home and here, I am way more happier here, this is probably the happiest I’ve even especially when it comes down to my education. Here I don’t mind putting in the extra work just so then I can have extra time to explore the city with friends or even go on tours is way more worth it. I wish I had done it sooner

I attended a small-group class in Spanish as a beginner with basic-level in order to communicate while travelling in South America. Therefore I joined Maximo Nivel I San Jose for 3 weeks. At the weekends I explored Costa Rica with its beautiful beaches, volcanos and the huge bio diversity of its national parks. I learned quickly the most important expressions and questions in Spanish but also had a lot of fun at class with my classmates and the teachers which teached us Spanish also by using games and connecting the classes with our own experiences we made in Costa Rica. I can definitely recommend Maximo Nivel and also its location in San Jose as it is centrally located, which makes it the perfect location for exploring whole Costa Rica.

I spent the last 2 weeks studying Medical Spanish in Costa Rica at Maximo Nivel. The staff here has been super supportive from start to finish. They are able to turn and anxiety provoking process into a smooth experience. I was picked up from the airport on the day of arrival and taken to Maximo nivel. We had an orientation which was super helpful and then taken to our host family. The host family accommodations were fantastic. Great food and coffee. The host family was super inviting. It was clean. The other students were super friendly. Spanish classes were fantastic as well. I do think that these classes will help me treat spanish speaking patients in the future.

I really liked this program because it was a smaller group of people. This allowed me to truly get to know all the people on my program and have positive relationships with the professors. For some of the classes, the professors took our group on field trips to see what we were learning in class out in real life. I really appreciated learning sustainability from a different country perspective and learning about issues Costa Rica faces. The city of San Jose was very manageable. It was not too big so you could easily navigate it. I found so many cool, little neighborhoods with cute cafés and shops. San José was a great central point for traveling because it is the capital and also located in the middle of the country. I was able to buy cheap bus tickets to anywhere in the country very easily. Additionally, I felt very safe when traveling in Costa Rica because the locals are very nice and helpful. They are also very patient when you are trying to practice your Spanish. I think one of the most helpful things in this program was having program directors on sight in San José. They were API employees but from Costa Rica. My program directors helped us with anything we needed, plus they were so knowledgable about the country and its history. I would have lunch with them every other week and they would just check in and give us recommendations if we wanted to travel somewhere. They made all of us feel so at home. The academics for this program were more intensive than I had anticipated because we spent Monday through Thursday in class all day, similar to high school. I wished I could have had more breaks throughout the day to explore the city. I also wish the program of ICDS would have given us opportunities to meet locals, such as a speaking club or something similar to that. I found it very hard to meet local students because the program classes were in English and we were separated from the main college classes. To meet people and learn the language you really have to take initiative and not be afraid of messing up! Overall, this is a wonderful program. I learned so much about my major and also about this country.

This summer I decided to check off a bucket list item and come to Guatemala to learn Spanish. I am so glad I decided on Maximo Nivel. I am at the beginner level and have lessons 5 hours a day with Sandra. Sandra is absolutely one of the best (and most patient) teachers I have ever had, and I mean this compliment with all my heart. I am also doing a homestay with Silvia and it is the perfect situation for living here and trying to learn the culture and the language. Silvia and her family are extremely welcoming, the food is fabulous, and they are also trying to help me with my Spanish language goals. Finally, all the staff here at Maximo Nivel are extremely professional and helpful. They are always available to help answer questions or offer advice. Everyone has a smile for you... I am so happy I picked Maximo Nivel for my study abroad experience and would recommend them to anyone interested.