Summer trip programs for the middle schools in Costa Rica are all about entertainment, education, and excitement. Costa Rica has over the years developed certain programs that allow middle school kids to travel abroad and experience many cross-cultural lifestyles.
These exciting programs cater for kids around the ages of 12-14. It has been discovered that travel is one of the best ways that young people can broaden their horizons, gain perspective and become more independent, and that’s apart from all the learning and fun.
Studying abroad during high school is an absolutely fantastic opportunity
Why? It goes a long way in encouraging language learning, cultural experiences, and volunteering opportunities. There is such a variety of programs in Costa Rica, allowing the kids to follow their dreams.
Costa Rica has so much to offer, from verdant mountains to agriculturally diverse jungles and exciting city life.
This country might be a lesser-known destination for high school kids, but nonetheless, it is full of amazing opportunities.
How would you like to brush up on your Spanish skills, or what about enjoy learning more about the Latin American culture – then there are all the community projects as well.
Extracurricular such as learning the dance Cumbia to cooking up a delicious Gallo pinto, the healthy and hearty Costa Rican dish – you will probably learn all this from your Costa Rican homestay family.
There is so much adventure, fun, and excitement going on here that it means packing in your hiking boots, wetsuit, and your surfboard!
The question is – which summer program would suit your teen?
Parents know that studying abroad experiences have proven to have long-term benefits for their children, both professionally and personally.
Let’s look at some benefits of summer trips to Costa Rica:
- Language skills are improved: Some short summer programs of just a few weeks can make a huge difference in giving foundation to a language. Costa Rica is Spanish and in the globalized world, many employers and careers value a second language of which Spanish ranks very high; fourth in the world.
- Students get a well-rounded college application: All the lessons and experiences students learn abroad make for great content for future college admission. And they get new insights into new cultures, challenging themselves with experiences in the international context.
- Their personality is developed as they learn lifelong skills: A structured high school summer trip can really do wonders to your child’s independence, adaptability, and maturity. They’re learning about the world and meeting people from all different cultures to leave them with broadened impressions.
Where would a teen go in in Costa Rica?
Some of the Costa Rica high school summer programs use the capital city, San José, as a students’ home base. As Costa Rica’s capital, San José is modern; within easy access to some famous wildlife national parks.
It’s one of the safest cities in Latin America with plenty of theaters, universities, parks, and more.
Heredia is a city known as the “city of flowers”. It’s a very popular destination for high school programs and is well known for its access to much natural outdoor beauty. There is a thriving university and small urban center there.
Other programs will send students to the loveliest small towns or in rural areas. Atenas is one such small town, boasting amazing climate, some of the best in the world, that’s according to the National Geographic Magazine.
It has sunny days and mild weather – situated in the heart of a rural region where mangos and coffee thrive. It has great opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the Costa Rican daily life!
A lot of the programs host students in even smaller villages and some coastal villages.
There are exciting learning opportunities for students to learn Spanish, and give them the chance to combine their learning experiences with all the summer fun.
If a teen is searching for a longer high school Costa Rica program, then read up about gap-year programs in Costa Rica or year-long high school programs in Costa Rica.
Are these fabulous sounding summer trips affordable?
- Costa Rican summer programs for high school students start typically at around $2,600 for a couple of weeks – some can be more expensive and most don’t include flights. A one-week program would be around $1,350. Some programs are tiered so the weekly price gets lower as you book more weeks. Check out for scholarships available on different websites.
- Parents need to encourage their child to plan a budget for the trip and to start saving – it helps a child to try and fundraise for their spending money. The Costa Rica high school summer programs usually include airport excursions transportation, housing, some adventure, and cultural activities, the classes of course, and the volunteer projects.
- A lot of the programs make use of home stays. These include a few daily meals. Program fees usually include health insurance, per-arrival support, as well as in-country local staff support 24/7, etc. Flights usually aren’t included, or spending money for souvenirs, or certain meals for overnight excursions. But you would need to check with the study abroad organization.
Will your child be safe?
This is usually a big worry, but parents can rest assured that the reputable high schools in the Costa Rica programs are extremely well-versed in managing and running safe programs for teens.
Let’s have a look at the best travel abroad programs in Costa Rica for teens. The ones below have stellar reviews on GoAbroad, and provide top-notch student experiences with plenty of safety and support.
ISA is a very reputable study abroad provider – established in 1989. Students are taught by university professors and they live with other ISA high school students in home stays near the university.
Since 1997, API has been a trusted provider of college and high school study abroad programs
This is a top-rated high school program, offering language courses at the prestigious ATESA language school. Students take Spanish courses and live with a host family.
SPI provides outstanding educational travel experiences. They have been operating for over 20 years now.
Their Spanish language Immersion Program takes place in two beautiful destinations, Monteverde or Flamingo Beach.
Teens can learn Spanish with other high school students from all over the world. Greenheart is well-known for its quality high school summer programs in San Jose and Quepos.
- Others are Projects Abroad and Maximo Nivel.
Keeping in touch with your children while they study abroad
There are a variety of ways to keep in contact with your child while they are in Costa Rica. Most of the towns have access to WIFI.
A lot of the high schools require that students have a working cell-phone number while they are abroad so that local staff can reach them at any time.
This can be done by smartphones and prepaid phones. Read more on communication plans here: Your Child is Overseas. Now What?
For many parents, it can be pretty nerve-wracking thinking of their son or daughter abroad no matter how old they are.
But believe it, with all help and guidance from parents, children really get much out of the amazing experience.
Once they’re safely abroad, take a step back, and relax.
When parents know their children are safe and sound abroad, they can enjoy hearing about the very exciting whirlwind orientation of meeting new friends, seeing some incredible sights, and learning Spanish.
Parents should resist the temptation of calling and chatting on the phone with their children too much so the children can really immerse themselves in this golden opportunity of sharpening their independence and building strong friends with new peers.
A summer trip to Costa Rica, even for a short time, can have a long-lasting and positive impact on a child’s personal, academic, and professional development – it’s a huge investment in their future.