Founded, owned and operated by Romy Morales and her family, CPI provides the best combination of high quality intensive language study, warm family atmosphere, and a safe environment at all three CPI campuses: Heredia, Monteverde and Flamingo.
With programs for students of all ages and skill levels – from zero Spanish to advanced speakers - emphasizing effective learning in an intimate setting of no more than 4 students per class, along with three different locations in Costa Rica: San Joaquin Flores, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Playa Flamingo, CPI is undoubtedly your best choice! Ensuring individualized attention coupled with the ability to choose either one of three locations OR all three, you can experience the best of what Costa Rica has to offer. Thanks to our effective methodology many CPI students claim they learned more Spanish through our immersion program than in traditional high school and college classes. Is your goal to have an amazing learning vacation while becoming more fluent and speaking Spanish more confidently? Then the CPI experience is for you!
San Joaquin Flores: San Joaquin Flores, a little town in the province of Heredia, as you walk to school you inevitably admire the volcanic chain surrounding the valley, stop to smell the beautiful tropical flowers lining the streets and can even view up close a coffee plantation while strolling along the quaint streets. Locals know and greet each other with a friendly ‘adios’ in typical Costa Rican fashion. Enjoy the ease of public transportation and delve a bit more into an urban ambience by venturing into Heredia center and the capital of San Jose – both stops an easy bus ride. An added bonus - nature is never far; so just as easily as you can see urban centers, you can also hike the trails of Poas Volcano, visit La Paz Waterfall Gardens, zip along a canopy, take a nature boat ride along the Tarcoles River - all possible through the afternoon trips organized by the school. On the week-ends you can hit the beaches, Arenal Volcano or white water raft.
Monteverde Cloud Forest: Monteverde, both a local and tourist favorite, is completely immersed in lush vegetation with breathtaking vistas. Take a leisurely cloud forest hike in one or various selected trails or check out the hummingbird gallery; for those who have a knack for adventure, zipline through the cloud forest tree tops along cables that extend nearly 900m long-- or take it a step further with a bungee jump! It is easy to see why this destination attracts many visitors, as one can encounter a monkey or sloth in their natural habitat just by taking a stroll into the small town center but can also experience the local culture of a welcoming mountain town. Sign up for the Trapiche typical sugar and cacao homestead learning opportunity or volunteer on a sustainable farm through Life Monteverde. Seeking to relax? You can practice yoga daily, schedule a massage or catch one of the spectacular sunsets beyond the Nicoya Peninsula.
Playa Flamingo: Do you love the idea of a tropical beach - white sand and ocean soaking as you maximize a shore experience with Spanish! Located on the gorgeous Guanacaste coastline, you quickly can see why this spot is so popular. Each day after finishing Spanish, adventure out and learn to surf or scuba dive, sail towards the sunset on a catamaran cruise or just lounge on a blanket reading a book – you can go as relaxed or as adventuresome as meets your fancy. Explore the Guanacaste culture with a visit to Sta. Cruz and the Guaitil pre-Colombian pottery village to see masters hand craft their one of a kind pottery pieces, all inspired by nature and local customs. Or take a flat boat cruise along the river basin in El Viejo where history combines with nature; here it is possible to see 3 types of monkeys, river birds and crocodiles.
Visiting each CPI location is highly recommended. Our experienced CPI professors provide continuity with a smooth transition between campuses, each Monday students continue where they had left off on the previous Friday. With CPI you truly develop your confidence in speaking the language with a program which aligns to the international standards established by both ACTFL and the Instituto Cervantes of Spain.
Most students choose to stay with local families as a way of learning more about the culture, Costa Rican cuisine and practicing their Spanish. We love to share how students, after taking advantage of so many amazing adventure and nature tours, state that the absolute best part of their Costa Rica experience was interaction with their Costa Rican families. In one of the happiest countries on the planet, Ticos share their Pura Vida attitude extending love and care to our students.
Is CPI for me? YES! Our student base has a varied demographic: families traveling with their young and teenage children looking for an educational vacation, retirees seeking a relaxed ambience to perfect their Spanish, and college students receiving university credit for their course work taken at CPI.
The CPI office staff is bilingual, attentive to different needs, and willing to dedicate considerable time to provide suggestions, and even organize out of class activities. It is obvious they work hard to make students feel part of the CPI family. Our students classify CPI as extremely organized and very well structured: the staff working for CPI are friendly and professional, greeting you with warm smiles each day and ready to help whenever needed – most declare that they cannot wait to return to Costa Rica! And actually, most do!
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