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Study Program in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America. Within a 15,950 sq. mile territory (51,560 sq. km) this country holds an incredible amount of biodiversity spread in a network of National Parks and nature reserves that cover 25% of its area. There are active volcanoes and different kinds of forests including rain, cloud, dry, and humid forests. The beaches on both the Atlantic and the Pacific sides are spectacular, some of them emerging right out of the forest, such as Manuel Antonio in the Central Pacific region, with its white sand beaches and turquoise-color water. Besides natural beauty, the Costa Rican people, also known as "Ticos", who are hard workers, modest and very friendly to foreign students, are considered the best asset of the country. Temperatures range from 70° to 80° F. year round. The dry season is from January to March, and the rainy season is from April to December, being July the month when it rains the least during the rainy season. The political and economic environments are among the most stable in Latin America. Most of the population is middle-class by Costa Rican standards, and levels of education are among the highest in the Americas, with a 97% literacy rate. Costa Rica has not had an army since 1949 and proudly claims the 1987 Noble Peace Prize winner, Dr. Oscar Arias Sanchez.
Students stay in the colonial province of Heredia, located between the Central Valley and the Central Volcanic Cordillera, 7 miles north of the Capital, San José. It is very safe and has a slower pace compared to San José. Climate conditions are very comfortable year round. There are various university campuses and parks in the surrounding areas. Concentrated in the center of town, there are great recreational centers, restaurants, exhibition rooms, night clubs, gyms, shops, Internet cafes, book stores and almost everything else that would be need to make the staying comfortable.
Home Stay Program Students who wish to stay longer living with the host family may do so. This will require an extra charge of $15 for everyday of extra stay payable to the IPED.
The Study Abroad Program in Costa Rica features an interesting variety of cultural activities, such as Latin dance lessons like salsa, merengue and Costa Rican cumbia. In addition, there are cooking lessons to teach students about native tropical fruits and dishes. At the end of each cooking lesson, students have the opportunity to blend their own tropical fruit drinks and to cook empanadas de platano, gallo pinto, and gallitos de chicharon. It is also possible to participate in other cultural activities not included in the program. These activities might include street fairs and handicrafts sales; folkloric dances and orchestras in the central park in Heredia; movie nights featuring Latin American and Spanish movies; exhibitions of paintings, photography, and sculptures made by Costa Rican artists, etc.
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About The Program
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