SPECIAL SERVICES AT CPI

CPI LIBRARY

At each campus, CPI provides a library where students may relax, read, do homework or use the internet. The librarian is available to offer assistance with homework or tutoring when needed. There is a wide selection of Spanish literature for loan which provides students with another way to enrich vocabulary and enhance their knowledge of Latin American society. For more information click here.

MONDAY ORIENTATION FOR NEW STUDENTS

On the first day of class, after students complete their written Spanish placement exam, the CPI student coordinator holds an orientation to help students adjust to their new surroundings.  Topics include: cultural issues, local customs, information about homestay families, how to get around town and safety tips, as well as general information about CPI - our daily schedules, classes, tours and extracurricular activities offered during the week.

BILINGUAL OFFICE STAFF

Whether your main objective is to learn Spanish or combine language study with a vacation, our goal is to assist you with every aspect of your stay in Costa Rica.  Each CPI campus has at least two bilingual (English and Spanish) staff members available to attend to your needs, questions, and concerns.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

Transportation
Our free airport pick-up service is available for students that arrive into the Juan Santamaría International (SJO) airport in San Jose and are staying in CPI arranged accommodations.

Students that are studying in (CPI) Heredia will be taken by the CPI driver directly to their host family or CPI accommodation (in San Joaquín de Flores, which is located 15 minutes from the Juan Santamaría airport).

Students studying in CPI Monteverde and CPI Flamingo will be taken by the CPI driver to either a B & B or a hostel in San Joaquín de Flores or another town close to the airport. Student departures are handled in the same manner; the CPI driver picks up the student at a local hostel or B & B and provides a direct transfer to the airport. This service is also offered free of charge (within a week of ending classes) to students departing from SJO airport and using CPI accommodation.

Please note: The day following arrival, students studying at the Monteverde or Flamingo campuses are offered transport to their campus. This transportation is provided by STV travel or the transportation company Interbus. The journey from the hostel/B&B to Monteverde and Flamingo costs between $32 and $35; the transfer takes about 4 to 5 hours. The cost of the night at the B&B/hostel and this transportation are not included in the tuition price.

CPI does not offer free airport transfer service from either the Liberia International Airport or the Domestic Airport in Tamarindo; however, we are happy to arrange for a taxi at your request. For more information click here.

Mail Service
CPI visits the local post office three times per week; if you wish, we can mail your letters and post cards.

Internet
Internet and wireless internet service is available at all campuses free of charge.

Free activities
In addition to the planned excursions described below, we offer weekly free or low cost school sponsored activities.  These include: Latin cooking and dance classes, afternoon soccer matches between CPI and local soccer enthusiasts, movie nights, and visits to museums, galleries, theatres and discotheques and more...

TOURS COORDINATOR

CPI tours coordinators arrange afternoon and weekend excursions at each CPI campus, and are also happy to assist students with their travel arrangements within Costa Rica.

More about tours

At CPI Heredia, afternoon tours include trips to: Irazu Volcano, Poás Volcano, the Orosi Valley, Lankaster Gardens and Cartago, a boat tour along the Sarapiqui river, a horseback tour of Barva Volcano, a visit to the butterfly gardens in Guacimal and Sarchi, and a city tour of Heredia or San José.

More about tours at CPI Heredia

In Monteverde, students may choose to take a night tour of the Monteverde reserve, partake in the canopy tour arranged by Sky Trek (an exhilarating zipline through the rain forest), hike along the trails of the Santa Elena or Bajo del Tigre reserves, ride horseback through the farms surrounding the cloud forest, visit the Trapiche for a tour of a typical farm and traditional sugar cane processing, hike to the San Luis waterfall, go to the Frog Pond or Serpentarium, or visit the local hot springs.

More about tours at CPI Monteverde

CPI Flamingo organizes many afternoon beach activities, including: snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing expeditions, surfing, sea kayaking and fishing trips, horseback riding, and visits to nearby beaches such as Playa Tamarindo and Playa Conchal.

More about tours at CPI Flamingo

Each weekend, CPI works with local tour agencies to organize trips to Manuel Antonio National Park, Volcán Arenal, Limón/Puerto Viejo, Monteverde, Cartago, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Montezuma, and Palo Verde National Park. The cost of each tour includes round-trip transportation, a bilingual guide, accommodations, entrance fees to national parks and local tourist attractions, and breakfasts. If planned tours do not interest you, our Tours Coordinator is available to assist you in making other arrangements.

GROUPS AND TOUR LEADERS

We can customize our programs to meet your needs. The CPI GROUPS DEPARTMENT provides assistance designing custom tailored programs for groups consisting of 8-70 participants, including high school and university students, retirement groups, Spanish clubs and professionals in a variety of fields.  For more information regarding special seminars designed for specific professions, and other interests please reference the pull-down menu below:

Seminars and courses

Medical Seminar
Social Work Seminar
Soccer Camp
Teen Program
RetiremenTravel
Dive Certification

More about groups

EXITO TRAVEL - A CPI Partner Agency

Study Spanish and travel extensively throughout Latin America. Because 100% of the travel we do is in Latin America, Exito can get you the absolute best fares for your itinerary.

Book your Flights Online