2021 Lake Oswego Costa Rica Spanish Immersion Program

Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2021 Lake Oswego Costa Rica Spanish Immersion Program! We have created two webpages dedicated to this exciting program so that travelers are as informed as possible throughout the process. The first page, Pre-Enrollment, is meant to share exciting details, highlights and pertinent info that participants will want to know before enrolling. Once enrolled, the Post-Enrollment page, is meant to prepare travelers for participation on the adventure ahead. Please be sure to review the information on the appropriate page thoroughly and we can't wait to start our enriching adventure!
Travel Dates: July 14, 2021 - July 29, 2021
Group Organizer(s):
  • Mary Petrides
WTT Contact:
Program Tuition: $2,790 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
Estimated Airfare: $726

Tuition Calculator

There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan.  Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.

Program Tuition: $2,790

Pay in Full

$2,790.00

due today

Payment Plan

Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:

$76.34

per month

* This is an approximate price. Your exact total will be confirmed when your enrollment is processed.

All prices in United States Dollars.

Costa Rica Service Adventure

From white sand beaches to misty cloud forests, towering volcanoes to beautiful rivers that carve through tropical canyons, and  hospitable, friendly communities, Costa Rica has it all! Our service adventures give travelers the opportunity to delve deep into small, rural communities set in stunningly beautiful corners of the country.  In addition to white water rafting, relaxing on white sand beaches and swimming at the base of a towering waterfall, students will gain confidence in their Spanish, contribute to a meaningful service project and grow into more confident travelers. Adventure awaits!

Service Adventures

Service Adventures

Service Adventures can combine rural homestays, adventure travel, and meaningful service projects which are guided by our community partners. Living in these small communities provides the opportunity to engage the language and culture from a uniquely advantageous position.

Program Highlights


Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!

Immerse yourself in the local language and culture by staying with a host family

Contribute to a local community by working on a service project

Zip-line though the rainforest

Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle

Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes

Stay on a farm deep in the rainforest

Learn to surf with some of Costa Rica's best instructors

Learn new moves in a Latin dance class

Discover the gorgeous beaches and world-class national parks on the Pacific coast

The Itinerary


We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group. 

DayLocationDescriptionLodging
July 14USA - AlajuelaToday the group will travel from the USA to Costa Rica, scheduled to arrive in the evening. After arrival, the group will settle into their hotel and have an orientation meeting where the group will discuss the upcoming trip in detail.La Rosa de America
July 15Alajuela - Pura SuerteOur journey begins at Pura Suerte, which is 4 hours away from Alajuela, and is a beautiful ecological farm deep in the southern rain forest of the country. Upon arrival at Pura Suerte we will tour the farm on a hand on experience that involves tropical fruits and farm animals as well as a nearby coffee plantation that produces some of the best beans in the area. We will learn about the importance of organic farming and how rural farmers are taking advantage of sustainable farming practices. We will settle in our jungalows and enjoy dinner after some group activities.Jungalows
July 16Pura SuerteAfter breakfast we will hike down to Nauyaca waterfall, one of the most beautiful in the entire country. We will spend the morning swimming, relaxing, and enjoying lunch at the waterfall. In the afternoon, we will have time for group activities and to relax in our cabins.Jungalows
July 17Pura Suerte - Host VillageToday we will head to the host village to meet our host families. Upon arrival, students will tour the community and learn about our service project. Students will have lunch with their own individual host families this afternoon. Throughout the program, we'll have the opportunity to interact with community members in Spanish, participate in cultural exchanges, and explore Costa Rican culture.Host Family
July 18Host CommunityOur days in the village will consist mainly of working on our community service project. Lunch will be either be on-site or at home with families. In the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include time with host families, excursions around the village, or activities with the local community.Host Family
July 19Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Family
July 20Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Family
July 21Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Family
July 22Host CommunityToday, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary.Host Family
July 23Host Community - Manuel AntonioAfter breakfast we will head west to Uvita on the central Pacific coast. We will settle into our hotel and then head to the beach where students can take surf lessons on a stretch of coastline that has a reputation for being great for beginners. Students can relax and swim on the pool. Dinner will be at the hotel.Hotel Mono Azul Manuel Antonio
July 24Manuel AntonioToday we will explore Manuel Antonio National Park which bursts with wildlife. Inside we will find idyllic beaches and winding trails that lead through dense jungle. In the afternoon, students can relax, swim by the pool and explore local artisan markets. Hotel Mono Azul Manuel Antonio
July 25Manuel Antonio - La FortunaAfter breakfast we’ll start our 4 hour drive to La Fortuna, home of Costa Rica's most famous volcano, Volcán Arenal. We will have time to explore town and visit the central park. Tonight we will have time to reflect upon out time at the host community and our experiences thus far. La Fortuna Poshpacker
July 26La FortunaToday we'll start the day visiting La Fortuna Waterfall after breakfast. In the afternoon we'll have time to visit some of the local shops and get to know La Fortuna town a little better. This evening, we will relax at some luxurious hot springs and enjoy a buffet dinner. La Fortuna Poshpacker
July 27Fortuna - AlajuelaThe adventures continue this morning as we soar through the forest canopy on a zipline tour. In the afternoon, we will head back to the central valley, have dinner and settle into our accommodations.La Rosa de America
July 28AlajuelaFor our final day in country, we will explore Alajuela and its surroundings, including a visit to a nearby national park. We will also make time today to comply with our COVID-19 testing requirements ahead of our international departure tomorrow. Tonight, we will enjoy a final farewell dinner and reflect on how this trip has impacted us.La Rosa de America
July 29Alajuela - USAAfter breakfast, we will head to the airport for an early morning departure back to the USA. ¡Hasta luego!Your own bed!

Accommodations


In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.  We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.  

Below are the accommodations we anticipate using on your trip, subject to availability. 
Finca Pura Suerte

A grouping of bamboo cabins and impressive communal spaces, this farm is nestled deep in low-land rain forest with views of the Pacific coastline. The accommodations are comfortable, the food fantastic, and the surreal setting provides an ideal introduction to the country’s impressive flora and fauna.

Homestay

This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.

Rosa de las Américas

A charming ranch-style hotel on the outskirts of San José, Rosa de  las Americas is a great spot to unwind after a long day’s travels. This hotel is complete with a lush gardens, a big pool, updated rooms, and friendly staff.

Hotel Mono Azul Manuel Antonio

Hotel Mono Azul is a comfortable, family-friendly oasis in Manuel Antonio. The hotel has 2 swimming pools, sunbathing and shaded patio areas, a full service restaurant, free WiFi and tour booking. It offers a wide range of lodging options. All rooms are equipped with A/C with free Wi-Fi to keep everyone feeling comfortable and connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.

Arenal Poshpacker

Located right in downtown La Fortuna, Arenal Poshpacker offers a great location, a pool, restaurant and cozy bedrooms. This is the ideal location from which students can the nearby waterfalls, caves, thermal hot springs, and of course the amazing Arenal Volcano. All rooms are equipped with A/C with free Wi-Fi to keep everyone feeling comfortable and connected.

Safety and Support


 EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING

Communication was excellent! We had absolutely all the info we needed from the moment we signed up. LOVED the blog with photos. The prep and follow up activities on culture shock, re-entry, etc. were fantastic!!! Thank you!!!

Erika
Parent of John, traveler on Peru Service Adventure

Your Adventure Includes

Estimated Airfare

In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel. 

Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.

 

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Resource center

Resource Center

Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.

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