Study Abroad Programs in San Jose, Costa Rica

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!

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.

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!

I learnt Spanish with a native speaker, she was very kind. There is a very nice atmosphere there. The teachers teach very well. They have a professional approach to learning. They come up with games that make it easy to consolidate words.

My experience in Maximo was absolutely perfect. It was my first solo travel ever and I felt absolutely guided through it. My teachers Runnia and especially Francis were perfect. It was super fun in the classes which made the learning feel less boring but super fun and rewarding. The staff around the organisation is great, some of the nicest people I’ve met. The cooking and dancing classes are well organized and super fun. They also do their best to adjust classes to your expectations. Wishes are not seen as criticism but rather as a possibility to make the clients happy. Quepos/Manuel Antonio itself is a nice town, offering great beaches nice accommodations, aswell as bars and most importantly great people! I will remember this trip for a long time and I’m super happy I made my experiences in Costa Rica with Maximo. I hope to return one day.

Máximo Nivel offered a wonderful Spanish immersion experience in San Jose, Costa Rica. The staff are incredibly friendly and the entire institute is very well organized. The methods used in class really encourage conversation and useful practice of your linguistic skills. Within even just the first few days of my program, I felt as though I was already breaking down the barrier in my language learning journey. If you’re interested in immersing yourself in the Spanish language, Máximo Nivel is a must!

I had two different Spanish teachers throughout my 7 weeks - Angie and Dulce. Both were amazing teachers and I learned so much! I learned not only lots of Spanish grammar, Guatemalan slang words, and conjugations, but also about the culture and history of Antigua and the Guatemalan people. The classes were always so much fun! Thank you Maximo Nivel!

I really loved my experience. I was scared of coming here alone but I met some really cool people and made some great memories. So I was never alone. The staff and my teacher were great. I’ll be back!

Rogelio taught me what it means to be selfless & serve the community without being funded by the missions that do not resonate with what´s being offered. Keep the values, stick with what resonates. Love is an endless act of forgiveness, forgiveness is an endless act of love! Forgive all, love all! We are one, blessings! I love you all!

Administration and staff were excellent. Without their united team effort the our program would probably would not have happen. As the actual program, excellent visits, although unfortunately visits to the University of Costa Rica Department of political science and law school didn't occur given the problems of getting further off the ground no one's really to blame