Getting the opportunity to study abroad in San Jose, Costa Rica, was by far one of the greatest experiences of my life! I got to live with an amazing host family, go on tons of adventures, excursions, beach trips, and explored all over the city of San Jose! I met so many new people, made so many new friends and got to really immerse myself in the Costa Rican culture which I absolutely loved! The city of San Jose itself had so so much to do including farmers markets, tons of cute cafes to study in, entertainment everywhere, cultural events, concerts, Christmas markets, and more! Almost every weekend my friends and I from my program took buses which were super accessible + cheap to the coasts and spent the weekends at the prettiest beach towns ever! CEA CAPA had a very supportive on-site team that provided help + support whenever necessary as well which was such a big help. I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone! Costa Rica is an incredible country and being able to experience it through CEA CAPA was a dream!

Studying abroad in San José was an unforgettable and transformative experience. The city’s vibrant culture, welcoming people, and rich history made every day feel meaningful. I improved my Spanish skills through daily interactions and classes, which boosted my confidence. From exploring local markets to trying traditional Costa Rican food, I gained a deeper appreciation for the culture. The program also encouraged independence and personal growth while connecting me with students from around the world. Overall, studying in San José helped me grow academically, culturally, and personally, making it one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

I really enjoyed my time in Costa Rica. It opened my eyes to an entire new culture and way of living and really made me branch out.

Living with a host family was the best decision I could have made. I built a relationship in this little amount of time that will last forever. Talking to locals and living with one gave me an experience that I would not have gotten otherwise.

I felt like the people there made me feel very included and I was not looked at weird for looking different and not speaking spanish that well.

I truly enjoyed my experience studying abroad in Costa Rica on CEA CAPA's program to San Jose. I learned medical spanish while also enjoyed my first time out of the country. With CEA CAPA the excursions that come with the program were truly great and a wonderful way to see Costa Rica as the beautiful country it is. The experience was like nothing ever before and I truly cannot wait to go on something like this again. I loved it so much that I am now an ambassador for CEA CAPA and looking into another study abroad experience. It made me see the world as something outside of the everyday life that I live and went to show me that there are so many uniquely different opportunities out there if you go searching for them.

I attended the CEA CAPA Medical Spanish course at Universidad de Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica, and had an amazing experience. Even though it was a 4-week abroad experience, I truly learned so much about academically, culturally, and personally. My growth independently, in my Spanish speaking, and understanding of Costa Rican culture is something I will never forget. From the beginning, I felt very supported by the program; emotionally, physically, and academically. Besides the academics, the country DID NOT disappoint. It had always been a dream of mine to go to Costa Rica, and the school did an amazing job organizing weekend trips to places such as Monteverde and Jaco. As a young woman, I felt fairly safe during my time in San Jose. However, I would recommend always going out in a group and never alone; no matter the time of day. The locals in San Jose are very friendly, and often stare as they typically as confused of why you are there and not in a more touristy area. They love to stop and ask where you are from and why you are there; and it is just because they are curious! I really did not have any issues with safety while I was abroad. The school and program also helps lots of emotional support such as on-site therapists, as well as the staff themselves. I highly recommend this study abroad program, and experience!

I honestly went into this experience with no expectations, with the fear that if I didn't meet said expectations, I would leave with a lot of regrets. But the beauty in that is I was game for anything. It also hurt me because I could have sought out more opportunities to discover new things, but ran out of time to do so. One weekend, I wanted to revisit La Fortuna, hoping to actually see the volcano, but I left my host mom's house without my wallet, so I couldn't board the bus. It worked out because it was a rainy weekend, so my desire to see the volcano probably would not have worked out, but I got to attend a Korean festival in the city and discover a new coffee shop that I enjoyed returning to.

As someone who enjoys being outside without being super outdoorsy, I loved Costa Rica. It was easy to find outdoor activities I enjoyed, like lying on a nice beach, walking around town for a couple of hours, or mild hikes that may have included ziplining. You do need to have some enjoyment of the outdoors, but there are plenty of ways to be outside comfortably.

Academically, the school was neat! They don't believe that exams are the best way to demonstrate students' knowledge, so there are very few exams, if any. They do make up for this in projects and presentations, but I found myself diving into the research since I got to choose what I wanted to learn instead of being assigned a topic. The professors also use this as an opportunity to further their learning, which made my work feel valued more. One thing I wish I had known about the classes was that they're primarily Americans with a handful of Germans taking classes. There are no national students taking the class with you or other international students. So there was a disconnect between the local students and the ones studying abroad, on top of the fact that the local students are studying artistic things, whereas the international students are studying language or science topics, so even less overlap.

I had an amazing time with CEA CAPA in San José, Costa Rica, during the Spring 2025 semester! The program included trips to Monteverde, La Fortuna, and Manuel Antonio, for 3 weekends in February, which were all amazing. I took intensive Spanish classes five days a week, three hours a day, with fantastic professors who really helped me improve my Spanish significantly. Universidad Veritas was small and mostly filled with other study abroad students. Traveling on the weekends was super easy, I took the bus and went to explore Uvita, Jaco, Tamarindo, and even the Caribbean coast with friends on my own. I went on lots of hikes, saw many waterfalls and cool wildlife, it was a very adventurous experience.

There are lots to do in Costa Rica. It is pretty easy to travel across the country and do different activities like hiking Volcan Poas or heading to the sandy black beaches in Limon. CEA CAPA offers support in finding the best places to travel and how to get there safely. I really enjoyed the four months I was abroad because I got to travel around while also completing my academics and learning about Costa Rica culture and the healthcare systems and the differences with other health institutions. I also made some amazing friendships while abroad and I am still in contact with many of them. If I could go back and change my program, I would not because my experience was amazing and I encourage others to also do this program with CEA CAPA.