At CPI Heredia, students experience Spanish through genuine connections with local people and full immersion in everyday Costa Rican life. Located in the residential town of San Joaquín de Flores, our school offers a welcoming environment where students practice Spanish naturally beyond the typical tourist circuit.

Our Essential Experiences Courses extend learning far beyond the classroom through after-class activities ranging from museum visits and language exchanges with Costa Rican students to authentic culinary experiences and some of Costa Rica’s favorite pastimes, such as dance and sports. Together, these experiences transform a stay in San Joaquín de Flores into a vibrant and truly memorable journey of language learning and cultural immersion.

The Essential Experience offers a language and cultural immersion experience in Costa Rica, structured around two weeks of group Spanish classes taught by qualified native-speaking instructors, with homestay accommodation.

At the beginner through pre-intermediate levels, this intensive two-week format gives students the opportunity to complete one level of instruction. At higher levels, the duration of each level may vary from two to three weeks, depending on the learner’s pace. Learn more about our Spanish program levels here.

The Essential Plus Experience provides a more extended language and cultural immersion, structured around three weeks of group Spanish classes with homestay accommodation.

This format adds a third week to strengthen continuity in the learning process and deepen engagement with the language. Depending on the level, this additional week may count toward the academic progression of the course or focus on developing oral communication and the use of Spanish in real-life contexts. At higher levels, the full three-week period may be required to complete a single level of instruction. Learn more about our Spanish program levels here.

The Essential Plus Connected Experience offers a comprehensive four-week immersion, combining group Spanish classes and homestay accommodation with an added online component.

Students participate in four weeks of in-person instruction and complete an online mini-course, either before or after their stay. It serves as preparation for the immersion experience or as reinforcement to maintain progress beyond the classroom.

At the beginner through pre-intermediate levels, this format allows students to complete up to two levels of instruction. At intermediate and higher levels, it typically includes one level, complemented by a week focused on developing fluency, oral interaction, and the use of Spanish in everyday situations. Learn more about our Spanish program levels here.

All Essential Experiences include a thoughtfully designed combination of cultural, language, and wellness activities that extend learning beyond the classroom. These activities create opportunities to practice Spanish in meaningful, real-world contexts while engaging with the local community, helping students build confidence, deepen cultural awareness, and develop a more nuanced understanding of Costa Rican life.

Monday: Guided walking tour and local gastronomic experience (lunch not included)

Tuesday: Spanish conversation activity

Wednesday: Cultural activity

Thursday: Wellness activity

Weekend: One full day beach tour

Optional activity: Volunteer work with English language learners at CPI

2026

• August: August 3
• September: September 7
• October: October 5
• November: November 2
• December: November 30

2027

• January: January 8
• February: February 1
• March: March 1
• April: April 5
• May: May 3