Costa Rica Program Fees and Information

Read how your fees are spent or compare our prices with other volunteer organisations.

View our prices in other volunteer locations's or combine your stay in Costa Rica with stays in other locations as part of a combination stay.

What you receive

• Orientation upon arrival
• 24 hour support
• Accommodation & Food
• Regular follow-up meetings
• Costa Rican Introduction
• Costa Rican cooking classes
• Social Activities and Events (Bonfires, dinners, excursions)

Spanish Language Course (Additional $US 190/ € 140)

If you would like to to participate in one of our teaching or community development projects, you must demonstrate at a minimum, an intermediate level of Spanish language proficiency. If you have little or no Spanish language skills, we prefer you to enrol on our Spanish language and cultural emersion program during the first week of your program. This excellent program includes 20 hours of tailored Spanish language classes in small groups no more than 6 students as well as cultural emersion activities such as Salsa dancing classes, cooking lessons, yoga, and classes in arts and crafts.

The course is taught by professional ESL teachers at a local leading language school. This certified program is highly recommended and is excellent for quickly picking up Spanish.

Apart from our fees, you must pay for:

• Your travel to Samara
• Vaccinations
• Travel and health insurance
• Food (about 2 - 6 Euro's per day) and other personal expenses

Application Process

Our application process typically takes two or three weeks, but can be speeded up if there is a need for that. When we get the "Initial application" from you, we will send you and Application Form.

(1) Complete the Initial Application Form:
The first stage of the application process is to fill out the brief initial application form. Upon receiving this we will send you the full application form.

(2) Complete the Full Application Form:
Fill out the application form. After receiving this we will assess your suitability and place you on one of our programs.

(3) Placement info:
We will return detailed Placement Information and an Invoice. If you accept the placement you should pay the invoice and send us receipt of payment by email or fax.

(4) Program Fee:
The program fee should be paid to us at least 2 months before you are due to start your placement. However please be aware that we have a limited amount of placements, so placements will only be secured when we receive by email or fax a receipt of payment.

(5) Communication:
Once you have made your traveling arrangements you should mail your time of arrival and the means of transportation and we will confirm pickup.

Project Duration and Arrival Dates

For the majority of our Costa Rica programs, you can join us for any amount of time from 4 week to 6 months. However, some projects have minimum time restrictions.

We recommend a trip of 3-6 months since it offers the best value. Regardless of the length of your stay, you will be able to learn Spanish and you will have time to get to know a new culture, come to know its people, and form relationships that will outlast the duration of your stay. Participants should arrive in Samara 3 days before the project start date.

Dates of arrival: All teaching will start on the Monday after the introduction. Dates are principally every other Friday.

Dates for the Year 2008:
Fri 23 May, Fri 06 June, Fri 20 June, Fri 04 July, Fri 18 July, Fri 01 August, Fri 15 August, Fri 29 August, Fri 12 September, Fri 26 September, Fri 10 October, Fri 24 October, Fri 07 November, Fri 21 November, Fri 05 December, Fri 19 December

Dates for the Year 2009:
Fri 02 January, Fri 16 January, Fri 30 January, Fri 13 February, Fri 27 February, Fri 13 March, Fri 27 March, Fri 10 April, Fri 24 April, Fri 08 May, Fri 22 May, Fri 05 June, Fri 19 June, Fri 03 July, Fri 17 July, Fri 31 July, Fri 14 August, Fri 28 August, Fri 11 September, Fri 25 September, Fri 09 October, Fri 23 October, Fri 06 November, Fri 20 November, Fri 04 December, Fri 18 December

Getting Here

How to get here

We meet and greet all volunteers at San Jose's International Airport (Juan Santa Maria) in Costa Rica. Volunteers should try to arrive before 4pm on their arrival Saturday. If its not possible for you to arrive before 4pm then you should aim to arrive on the Friday. One of our staff members will be holding a place card with your name on it. Depending on your project location you will either be taken to San Ramon where our head offices are located and orientated or we will take you to a bus teminal and put you on the bus to your location. You will then be met at the other end by the project's director or one of his /her representatives. You will then be orientated and placed in your language or program.

3. If you miss the last bus from Nicoya to Samara your final option is to take a taxi from Nicoya to Samara which should cost around $20.

On arrival if you need any assistance with your travel or you miss a bus etc, please do not hesitate to call the country coordinator or the Costa Rican head office number (656-0373) and we’ll help the best we can.

Reception

All volunteers will arrive to Samara by Bus or by air. We will meet you at the bus station in Samara or at the airport in Carrillo. We will show you around the town and introduce you to Samara. Our Costa Rican representatives will prepare you for your placement, discussing program and formalities.

Food

Travel to Teach Costa Rica volunteers have 2 or 3 meals, depending on the project selected, included in their program fee. Food will be standard Costa Rican cuisine. All food and drinks served by your host family will be safe to eat and vegetarians can be accommodated.

Costa Rican cuisine is known for being tasty, yet fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruits and vegetables. The main staple consists of rice and black beans, which in many households is eaten at all three meals during the day.

Volunteer Work

Apart from teaching English, volunteers can teach maths, sports, music, art, and run workshops. Our work in Costa Rica can also involve teaching in child care centres and community classes for adults. A typical day will involve between 2 and 4 hours of work, and weekends are usually free.

If you are not working in a school, your work schedule will depend on the project you have chosen.

Accomodation

We offer a choice of home stay accommodation and small volunteer dorms that hold up to 4 volunteers sharing. You will be in a clean friendly environment but please do not expect too many luxuries.

Vaccinations/ Medication

Malaria: Prophylaxis with chloroquine is recommended for the provinces of Alajuela, Limon (except for Limon City), Guanacaste, and Heredia.

Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travellers.

Typhoid: Recommended for all travellers.

Hepatitis B: For travellers who may have intimate contact with local residents, especially if visiting for more than 6 months.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Two doses recommended for all travellers born after 1956, if not previously given.

Tetanus-diphtheria Revaccination recommended every 10 years.

More information available from the WHO's (World Health Organisation) Travellers health information

Insurance

Please purchase health and travel insurance independently. You need health insurance that will cover medical treatment and repatriation in case of accident or illness.

Visas

Costa Rica welcomes tourists and travellers from every country. A visa will be issued on arrival to Juan Santa Maria International Airport in San Jose for citizens of the United States, Canada, most European countries, and also for some Asian countries. This visa is for 90 days and can be extended by leaving the country for a period of 3 days and re-entering for a further 90 days. Please check the visa requirements of your country for entry before you arrive to Costa Rica.

For more advice please see Costa Rican Visa Information or contact the nearest Costa Rica embassy in your country. List of Costa Rica embassies abroad

Certification

You will get a Travel to Teach certificate stating the time and place you have been teaching.