Summer Camp in Costa Rica
Expand your Horizons through Language, Culture, and Adventure
Through Intercultura Costa Rica’s Teen Spanish Summer Camp, teens experience true cultural immersion through daily Spanish classes while living with a local Costa Rican family and participating in daily activities and weekend tours around the country.
We believe that immersion experiences truly change a person, offering new perspectives and mind-opening opportunities to understand what it means to be communicate in and be part of a global community.
Teens learn cross-cultural, empowered communication skills through classroom learning and hands-on experience interacting with Costa Ricans from all walks of life. Throughout the camp, teens are pushed to step our of their comfort zone, explore the concepts of social responsibility, intercultural intelligence and learn how to use today’s technological tools as an agent for positive change. At the end of the two-week camp they will not only have moved closer to their goal of Spanish fluency, but also increased their intercultural intelligence AND their confidence to navigate the quickly changing culture of our world.
Ages: 13 - 17
Middle & high school students
14 Days
Dates 2025: Sunday July 13 - July 27
$2,790 USD Early Bird
Deposit must be paid before April 1 / $2,990 deposit paid after April 1
(Includes: Spanish immersion classes, 3 dedicated staff members, homestay accommodations, hotel with AC & pool, nutritious meals, exciting excursions and enriching cultural activities.)
Ready to give your teen the gift of a lifetime? Be the first to secure your spot in this unforgettable experience.
Teens learn cross-cultural, empowered communication skills through classroom learning and hands-on experience interacting with Costa Ricans from all walks of life. Throughout the camp, teens are pushed to step our of their comfort zone, explore the concepts of social responsibility, intercultural intelligence and learn how to use today’s technological tools as an agent for positive change. At the end of the two-week camp they will not only have moved closer to their goal of Spanish fluency, but also increased their intercultural intelligence AND their confidence to navigate the quickly changing culture of our world.
TEEN CAMP PROGRAM DETAILS
What Your Teen Will Experience And How To Get Started
Our camp takes place at both our campuses, Heredia City and Samara Beach, providing teens the chance to experience the varied landscapes of Costa Rican culture in a traditional university city, followed by a week at our beautiful tropical beach school. In addition, they will visit the many different natural landscapes Costa Rica offers, from mountainous rainforest to indigenous communities to lowland jungle. We are first and foremost a school, not a travel agency; as such we keep our program prices accessible, and we offer two need and merit-based partial scholarships for each teen camp.
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE:
We keep parents and teens informed, with a pre-arrival online orientation and a group parent chat before and during the program, as well as daily photo postings during the camp on a private platform.
The maximum number of participants for camp is 24, minimum is 12 (student-staff maximum ratio 8:1)
Spanish classes are held in small groups of maximum 6 students, placed according to age and Spanish ability (average class size is 4)
Intercultura is students “home away from home”, and they enjoy hanging out with their new friends at our beautiful campuses, with lots of social area, study rooms, student kitchens and outdoor space with hammocks!
SCHOOL STAFF:
Intercultura was founded in 1993 and has been receiving student groups since 1994. Our experience and recommendations from past participants speak for themselves. (include link to group refs and teen refs here)
In addition to our Teen Program director and homestay coordinator, we have two dedicated, 24/7 bilingual chaperones for the camp.
At both campuses, we have a full staff of multilingual coordinators and experienced, dynamic professors who are specifically trained to give young adult classes by our Academic Director (include link to Marcelo-s bio here)
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The first week students are in carefully selected homestays at our city campus, a short walk to school. Our full-time homestay coordinator is available at any time for advising or any emergency needs.
The second week students are at a Samara Beach hotel, 4 blocks from school, with AC and pool, in shared, same-gender rooms.
At homestays, all students have their own room, and may request to be the only student at their homestay. Or, they can request a homestay with another same-gender student (separate room), or can request to share a room if travelling with a friend. Homestays are all within a short walk of school (max. 10-15 minute walk)
The school and our homestay families are accustomed to hosting students of all ages, ethnicities, religions, gender-identity and sexual orientation. Campers are encouraged to write to us with any special concerns we should take into account while choosing a homestay family.
Homestays can provide vegetarian food. Vegan supplements are also available upon request.
Campers must have travel insurance, bring a debit card for emergencies, and have cash on hand for extra expenses (repellent, sunscreen, snacks, souvenirs, etc)
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- Pre-arrival orientation session and placement exam
- 4 hours of group Spanish per day
- 3 nutritious meals per day
- Daily snacks during activities
- Homestay accommodation for the week at the city campus
- Hotel accommodation for the week at the beach campus
- All tours, activities, transport and lodging for the duration of the program
- Service learning activities
- Graduation and course certificate
- Dedicated platforms for parent-staff communications and postings pre- and during camp
* Airfare, personal/self-care items and spending money are not included (students typically bring between $100-$130 for the 2 weeks.
The following is a rough outline of our camp itinerary. Activities may be adjusted or change times depending on weather and other factors.
Pre-Camp Online Orientation:
Parents and teens are invited to join us for a pre-arrival orientation, approximately one month before the program start date. We will answer any questions participants may have and give an overview of the program, things to expect and what to bring.
Sunday Arrival Day:
ARRIVAL AT SAN JOSE AIRPORT (all day, preferably before 5.30pm):
Students arrive at SJO airport, where they will be picked up by their host family and taken the house to get settled in, receive their keys, connect to wifi and have a snack.
MEET & GREET WELCOME (6.30 to 8pm):
The family will then walk you to school, where you will be welcomed by our bilingual chaperones and meet your fellow campers. We will have some ice-breakers, followed by a pizza party and delicious local ice-cream and sorbets. After dinner, your chaperones will return you to your host family for the night so you can rest before your first day of classes!
Monday to Friday, Week 1, Heredia:
After your delicious, hearty breakfast at the homestay you will walk to school with your host family (first day) and other campers. On Monday, you will have an orientation about school and the culture in general, followed by a tour of the lovely town of Heredia where you will visit the marketplace, central plaza with its colonial architecture, the Olympic swimming pool, and more. After the tour, you will have a Latin cooking class which is also your lunch!
AFTERNOON: Spanish classes are held in the afternoon (leaving the sunny mornings free for activities and tours), after which you will return to your host family for dinner, before heading out for your first evening activity with the group.
Over the next few days, you will enjoy tours to an indigenous community, waterfalls, tropical animal rescue center, roller-skating and volunteering, and a party with local students!
Weekend Trip #1:
This weekend is action-packed…you will see a live volcano, zipline through the cloud forest, enjoy waterslides and hot springs at night, take a boat-trip across a lake, ending up in Samara for your next week of classes at our beautiful campus right on the beach! You will check into your hotel, where you can relax at the pool before dinner at a local restaurant and a walk around the town.
Monday to Thursday, Week 2, Samara:
Monday starts with surf, Latin dance and beach time, followed by afternoon Spanish classes, dinner at a local restaurant, and a bonfire on the beach with s’mores, weather permitting. Classes alternate mornings and afternoons for the rest of the week, with activities the rest of the day that include Zumba or indoor soccer with locals, dolphin-watching, snorkeling, beach volleyball, and more. At the end of the week, you will have a graduation celebration at the school.
Weekend Trip # 2:
You will leave Thursday after class for one of Costa Rica’s amazing national parks, where you will rappel down a riverside cliff, bathe in the natural hotsprings right at your hotel, go tubing down the river, ride horses and swim in a clear blue waterfall! You will return on Saturday night for your last night back at a hotel close to the airport for your last night with the group, where you will enjoy a farewell dinner and one last night at the pool!
Sunday Departure Day:
Camp is over, bags are packed, and our bilingual chaperones will be accompanying the students to the airport in groups according to their departure time. We hope you have learned a lot and to see you back in Costa Rica soon, !Buen Viaje y PURA VIDA!
To register, please fill out our online registration for Teen Spanish Summer Camp.
If you have any questions or concerns before registering, you may contact us groups@interculturacostarica.com or via Whats App at +506- 8330-3555 to talk to our group and teen advisor, Torri, or one of our directors.
- 10% discount for 3+ family members travelling together
- $200 Early-bird discount for bookings with deposits received before April 1st .
- Two need and merit-based scholarships per teen camp, as justified by required financial statements and teacher recommendations. Please contact us at groups@interculturacostarica.com if you would like to apply.
1. GAIN GLOBAL COMPETENCIES
Our goal is to provide youth with the opportunity to understand the world through a global lens, while fostering conscious, intercultural communication competencies.
2. LANGUAGE LEARNING BENEFITS
There are so many proven benefits to language learning, especially for young brains that easily absorb new concepts! Give your child the opportunity to make real life connections within the meaningful context that immersion experiences offer.
3. NEW CULTURES & PEOPLE
Not only do we gain a better understanding of the world in which we live, we also learn to appreciate how we perceive “the other” and we garner a deeper appreciation for how our own micro & macro cultures can interact and benefit from contact with new ones.
4. SAFE & SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURE
Intercultura´s summer camp provides a packed schedule led by experienced chaperones and professors, who also understand the importance of fostering responsible independence.
5. INVEST IN THE FUTURE
Colleges, internships and first jobs are asking for competency in multiple languages. Give your child the opportunity to stand out and to be ahead of the game!
Our camp takes place at both our campuses, Heredia City and Samara Beach, providing teens the chance to experience the varied landscapes of Costa Rican culture in a traditional university city, followed by a week at our beautiful tropical beach school. In addition, they will visit the many different natural landscapes Costa Rica offers, from mountainous rainforest to indigenous communities to lowland jungle. We are first and foremost a school, not a travel agency; as such we keep our program prices accessible, and we offer two need and merit-based partial scholarships for each teen camp.
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE:
We keep parents and teens informed, with a pre-arrival online orientation and a group parent chat before and during the program, as well as daily photo postings during the camp on a private platform.
The maximum number of participants for camp is 24, minimum is 12 (student-staff maximum ratio 8:1)
Spanish classes are held in small groups of maximum 6 students, placed according to age and Spanish ability (average class size is 4)
Intercultura is students “home away from home”, and they enjoy hanging out with their new friends at our beautiful campuses, with lots of social area, study rooms, student kitchens and outdoor space with hammocks!
SCHOOL STAFF:
Intercultura was founded in 1993 and has been receiving student groups since 1994. Our experience and recommendations from past participants speak for themselves. (include link to group refs and teen refs here)
In addition to our Teen Program director and homestay coordinator, we have two dedicated, 24/7 bilingual chaperones for the camp.
At both campuses, we have a full staff of multilingual coordinators and experienced, dynamic professors who are specifically trained to give young adult classes by our Academic Director (include link to Marcelo-s bio here)
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The first week students are in carefully selected homestays at our city campus, a short walk to school. Our full-time homestay coordinator is available at any time for advising or any emergency needs.
The second week students are at a Samara Beach hotel, 4 blocks from school, with AC and pool, in shared, same-gender rooms.
At homestays, all students have their own room, and may request to be the only student at their homestay. Or, they can request a homestay with another same-gender student (separate room), or can request to share a room if travelling with a friend. Homestays are all within a short walk of school (max. 10-15 minute walk)
The school and our homestay families are accustomed to hosting students of all ages, ethnicities, religions, gender-identity and sexual orientation. Campers are encouraged to write to us with any special concerns we should take into account while choosing a homestay family.
Homestays can provide vegetarian food. Vegan supplements are also available upon request.
Campers must have travel insurance, bring a debit card for emergencies, and have cash on hand for extra expenses (repellent, sunscreen, snacks, souvenirs, etc)
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- Pre-arrival orientation session and placement exam
- 4 hours of group Spanish per day
- 3 nutritious meals per day
- Daily snacks during activities
- Homestay accommodation for the week at the city campus
- Hotel accommodation for the week at the beach campus
- All tours, activities, transport and lodging for the duration of the program
- Service learning activities
- Graduation and course certificate
- Dedicated platforms for parent-staff communications and postings pre- and during camp
* Airfare, personal/self-care items and spending money are not included (students typically bring between $100-$130 for the 2 weeks.
The following is a rough outline of our camp itinerary. Activities may be adjusted or change times depending on weather and other factors.
Pre-Camp Online Orientation:
Parents and teens are invited to join us for a pre-arrival orientation, approximately one month before the program start date. We will answer any questions participants may have and give an overview of the program, things to expect and what to bring.
Sunday Arrival Day:
ARRIVAL AT SAN JOSE AIRPORT (all day, preferably before 5.30pm):
Students arrive at SJO airport, where they will be picked up by their host family and taken the house to get settled in, receive their keys, connect to wifi and have a snack.
MEET & GREET WELCOME (6.30 to 8pm):
The family will then walk you to school, where you will be welcomed by our bilingual chaperones and meet your fellow campers. We will have some ice-breakers, followed by a pizza party and delicious local ice-cream and sorbets. After dinner, your chaperones will return you to your host family for the night so you can rest before your first day of classes!
Monday to Friday, Week 1, Heredia:
After your delicious, hearty breakfast at the homestay you will walk to school with your host family (first day) and other campers. On Monday, you will have an orientation about school and the culture in general, followed by a tour of the lovely town of Heredia where you will visit the marketplace, central plaza with its colonial architecture, the Olympic swimming pool, and more. After the tour, you will have a Latin cooking class which is also your lunch!
AFTERNOON: Spanish classes are held in the afternoon (leaving the sunny mornings free for activities and tours), after which you will return to your host family for dinner, before heading out for your first evening activity with the group.
Over the next few days, you will enjoy tours to an indigenous community, waterfalls, tropical animal rescue center, roller-skating and volunteering, and a party with local students!
Weekend Trip #1:
This weekend is action-packed…you will see a live volcano, zipline through the cloud forest, enjoy waterslides and hotsprings at night, take a boat-trip across a lake, ending up in Samara for your next week of classes at our beautiful campus right on the beach! You will check into your hotel, where you can relax at the pool before dinner at a local restaurant and a walk around the town.
Monday to Thursday, Week 2, Samara Beach:
Monday starts with surf, Latin dance and beach time, followed by afternoon Spanish classes, dinner at a local restaurant, and a bonfire on the beach with s’mores, weather permitting. Classes alternate mornings and afternoons for the rest of the week, with activities the rest of the day that include Zumba or indoor soccer with locals, dolphin-watching, snorkeling, beach volleyball, and more. At the end of the week, you will have a graduation celebration at the school.
Weekend Trip # 2:
You will leave Thursday after class for one of Costa Rica’s amazing national parks, where you will rappel down a riverside cliff, bathe in the natural hotsprings right at your hotel, go tubing down the river, ride horses and swim in a clear blue waterfall! You will return on Saturday night for your last night back at a hotel close to the airport for your last night with the group, where you will enjoy a farewell dinner and one last night at the pool!
Sunday Departure Day:
Camp is over, bags are packed, and our bilingual chaperones will be accompanying the students to the airport in groups according to their departure time. We hope you have learned a lot and to see you back in Costa Rica soon, !Buen Viaje y PURA VIDA!
To register, please fill out our online registration for Teen Spanish Summer Camp. If you have any questions or concerns before registering, you may contact us groups@interculturacostarica.com or via Whats App at +506- 8330-3555 to talk to our group and teen advisor, Torri, or one of our directors.
- 10% discount for 3+ family members travelling together
- $200 Early-bird discount for bookings with deposits received before April 1st .
- Two need and merit-based scholarships per teen camp, as justified by required financial statements and teacher recommendations. Please contact us at groups@interculturacostarica.com if you would like to apply.
1. GAIN GLOBAL COMPETENCIES
Our goal is to provide youth with the opportunity to understand the world through a global lens, while fostering conscious, intercultural communication competencies.
2. LANGUAGE LEARNING BENEFITS
There are so many proven benefits to language learning, especially for young brains that easily absorb new concepts! Give your child the opportunity to make real life connections within the meaningful context that immersion experiences offer.
3. NEW CULTURES & PEOPLE
Not only do we gain a better understanding of the world in which we live, we also learn to appreciate how we perceive “the other” and we garner a deeper appreciation for how our own micro & macro cultures can interact and benefit from contact with new ones.
4. SAFE & SUSTAINABLE ADVENTURE
Intercultura´s summer camp provides a packed schedule led by experienced chaperones and professors, who also understand the importance of fostering responsible independence.
5. INVEST IN THE FUTURE
Colleges, internships and first jobs are asking for competency in multiple languages. Give your child the opportunity to stand out and to be ahead of the game!
REVIEWS
On our drive north, Cora just shared 4 hours of adventures from these two weeks. And, we ran out of energy, not stories, upon arrival. I am so thrilled to hear what an amazing camp this was. Cora adores the two teachers and thinks this group of kids is just wonderful. I do think it takes a special parent to send their kid to a camp abroad, so I am grateful to all of you for sending your kids with Cora this summer. Aside from departure flights, which have nothing to do with Intercultura, this camp seems to have gone on without a hitch. Pretty spectacular! Thank you to all from the Cora Family.
Cora
Camp July 2024
Eli made it home at 1am. He was full of stories and had so many wonderful things to say about your kids. When I asked him his favorite part of the experience, he said, "the friends I made". Good luck to those still trying to get their kids home!
Eli
Camp July 2024
Samantha got home (Boston area) around 6pm yesterday. Like Eli, full of stories! She absolutely loved the experience. So grateful to Torri, the chaperones, the teachers, hosts, and you families for sharing your awesome kids. Thank you!!
Samantha
Camp July 2024
OUTSTANDING, in every respect. We sent our 13 year old, who traveled from the U.S.A., by himself, and he came back raving about the experience -- the homestays, the food, the Spanish classes, and the trips and tours. As a parent, I can attest to the extraordinary care, attention, and responsiveness of camp staff who stayed in touch with us throughout. Moreover, at the end of the trip, when our child unexpectedly had to stay an extra day or two (due to ridiculous airline issues) the camp promptly made arrangements for our kid to stay over with the family he already knew and loved. I can't recommend this program more highly. My kid, who has traveled with us to many places around the world, said this was the best trip he had ever been on.
Thank you guys so much for giving Josh such a terrific experience!
Grant Vinik
Camp July 2024
EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUENESS OF OUR TEEN SPANISH IMMERSION CAMP
A Wrap-Up of 2024
TEEN CAMP 2023
"Hello to all of you! I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful time Nika had at the camp! She came home full of new impressions and told us that she really loved the camp!
Thank you again and best regards from all of us."
Stella Verbukh
TEEN CAMP 2022
“This program exceeded our expectations! Thank you for meeting our kids where they were at in terms of their language needs. I think more than the language boost, what impressed me was the commitment to the use of Spanish as well as the commitment to being bilingual. Your instructors were great and really made the experience one that was super positive and got our kids even more excited about continuing their dual language program here in TX.”
Sarah Ruttan
TEEN CAMP 2018
“I wholeheartedly recommend Intercultura for both adults and kids. Three of my kids enrolled there for 12 weeks last spring and had a fabulous experience. We were at the Heredia campus for 9 weeks and the Samara campus for 3 weeks. My kids had very basic Spanish before we went (numbers, colors, shapes, etc.), but zero comprehension or conversation skills. Upon enrolling in school again here Colorado, my 7th grade son's middle school evaluated him in Spanish, and his Spanish level is beyond what they offer in the three years of middle school classes. The teacher placed him at a 2nd semester high school level. And both my daughters were able to enter into a full-Spanish immersion program here. My daughter's teachers says that her conversation skills are better than her peers who have been in the program for 3 years. All that's to say, I was extremely pleased at the progress that my kids made in 3 months! We are hoping to return and attend classes at Intercultura on a regular basis. I attended there for a month when I was in college as well, and it was definitely a turning point for me in my conversation and comprehension skills.
As to the safety of the area, I would feel comfortable sending my own son alone. I was there alone (my husband had to stay in the U.S. for work) with four kids and never had any problems. If your son is responsible, he will do great. I trust the staff to take good care of the teens. Your son will learn a ton and visit some amazing places.”
Britton Varn
TEEN CAMP 2017
"My favorite thing about camp was getting to meet new people in a new country and have an amazing experience. I loved all the activities and getting to try new things everyday. Also I would definitely stay with the same host families again. Our moms were so sweet and loving. They treated you like their own kids and just wanted to get to know you. I especially loved my Mama Tica in Heredia because she was always laughing and having the best time. And I think talking to people around town or in our home stays really helped. Especially over dinner or another meal. That was the best time. I would definitely recommend Intercultura to other students. It's a great way to learn Spanish while having the time of your life and meeting new friends. All the activities are well planned out and you're surrounded by teachers and adults who want to help you however they can. Everyone is extremely open and sweet. Overall it was one of the best trips I've ever been on and I would recommend it to everyone trying to improve their Spanish. Muchas gracias."
Bella Soboleski, bellasobo@yahoo.com
INTERCULTURA COSTA RICA HAS 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE HOSTING TEEN GROUPS
We know how to offer an experience of a lifetime! Read our featured article in the Costa Rican Times.

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