Teen Spanish Summer Camp in Costa Rica

I really liked Tico Lingo because of how much Spanish I learned. The activities were very fun and creative. I learned a lot about culture and about the people of Costa Rica. The leaders here were very funny and fun. My favorite part about camp was the zipline tour. Even though we went to school for 4 hours it was still very fun. On the 1st day I wasn’t sure about how I felt but by the end I can’t wait to come back. I am really glad I got to meet the counselors, especially Morgan and Clay. I loved this camp!

The first day was undeniably rough. Away from home, in a foreign country speaking a different language. Yes, it is difficult at first but Roy Bennett said “it’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.” That’s what happens at Tico Lingo. You also get to experience so many things you probably wouldn’t at home such as going to a mercado and shopping for foreign foods or doing a ropes course over a coffee farm or even ziplining and seeing the most spectacular views (especially when it wasn’t raining). However, some of my favorites were kayaking at the base of La Fortuna and/or experiencing the hot springs. Traveling back to the beautiful town of Heredia you get the chance to meet the most heartwarming families that you have a chance to stay with and get to know. As you are walking to school you will most likely see beautiful views of mountains and the outline of San Jose (which you do get to see a glimpse of). The people you stay with and the friends you make along the way make the whole experience. The staff that works here tried their hardest to ensure you have the best time ever! (Morgan, Clay, Craig the mermaid princess, Chris, and Mary are my faves!). Also I was worried about not knowing enough Spanish but the program provides a class with a great teacher to student ratio (1:5 avg) which gives you one-on-one time to improve and practice your Spanish skills. As you get aboard the bus for the final time one of the amazing staff walks you through customs, and airline baggage. When you walk away you get a chance to reflect on some of the best experiences of your life! ¡Pura Vida!

The time I spent here at Tico Lingo will forever remain in my heart. The people I met here were extraordinary and so full of love.

The time I spent learning Spanish has truly helped me to better my abilities as well as confidence in speaking. I was lucky enough to have Marlyn as a teacher and she was phenomenal. She always took the time to explain any concept, no matter how big or small, so that all of us 4 students were on the same page. She never allowed anyone to fall behind and taught with incredible grace, patience and a kind smile that made Spanish class an environment of nurture-filled learning.

The tours we went on and activities truly helped me to get closer to the other campers, understand more of Tico culture and test my Spanish skills. Throughout the whole camp I was supported every step of the way by an amazing staff of kind, funny and helpful people. Chris added a fun energy to every activity even in times of rowdy kids. Morgan and Clay worked together to solve every problem they encountered with love and care while also getting to know campers. Mary allowed students to have fun while also joining in. Craig was the fun-loving camera guy who always knew how to make campers laugh.

But above all, my Tico family. People that took me in and treated me like I had known them for years. We all laughed together and when I had something to get off my chest they always listened so happily. The family of Rita, Rafael, and Alma is one I will never forget for the love and care they showed me with my time here. Their food was absolutely delicious and their family is beautiful. I will forever see Rita and Rafael as my family in Costa Rica.

In total, all my love goes to the wonderful staff that allowed for me to grow my Spanish and who also touched my heart. Thank you! And please if you are lucky enough to get the opportunity to join in this amazing camp take it! It’s worth it! And it’ll be something you’ll never forget! Costa Rica is a place like NO OTHER! ¡Pura Vida!

Coming to a new country for the first time by yourself is quite the journey. Because you don’t have your parents or other figures to guide you, you can truly discover who you are and what you enjoy doing. As someone with dietary restrictions, I often found I was eating a lot of the same foods. At first this was annoying, tedious even, but it really immerses you in the culture and the foods eaten on a daily basis.

Making friends is so easy and you are able to adapt to the other language quickly. I often caught myself thinking or talking to others in Spanish without realizing it. I liked the length of the program as it gives you a good taste of studying abroad while you still learn a ton. We got to do a variety of activities which helped others (and myself) see the true beauty of Costa Rica.

From making coffee to white water rafting, Tico Lingo ensures the best and most safe time for all campers. Our homestay families were incredibly kind, understanding and they made delicious food. Having homestay buddies is a great way to bond. Additionally most of the homestays are close to each other meaning between 6-8 pm (depending on the day) you could invite friends over to hang out. Shopping, whether in markets or stores, is also a one of a kind experience.

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to explore a new culture, get a taste for studying abroad, making new friends and learning Spanish. I can confidently state Tico Lingo meets all of these needs. Therefore I highly recommend it. ❤️

Going out of state alone was a new concept to me, so it was a hard pill to swallow going to Central America by myself (kind of) for a 2 week program. I was lucky to have a really cool and relatively laid back roommate who lived here part time. I joked that it was just like Miami traffic…until the first road. Suffice to say, it was not even close to it. I knew that Freddy would be a joker from the first day of school when he feigned sleeping in.

My homestay family Damaris and Carlos took care of my house mate and and I like we were part of their family (which came and went quite often, their son lives in Miami, and it was refreshing to talk to someone who was in the 305). From being mostly antisocial to the much more extroverted classmates. At the end of the program I’ve warmed up to them. For some, friend is a stretch but I’d rather them than a stranger. Leif, Snow, Elliot and Claire were likely my biggest friends in Tico Lingo. Claire with her strange small dog energy, Snow for both being the more quiet kids, Leif for being cool and understanding, and Elliot for being a mass of concentrated coolness in a very short body. I think I’ve have gained much more weight had I not walked every day to school. The constant rain frustrated me. Regardless, the activities were many though the ropes courses were fun for me, as I got to climb around and get a good fun workout to balance the copious amounts of food I’ve been eating. The animal sanctuary allowed me to see a multitude of animals I love, so did the mall’s rooftop dog park (guess what animals were in the DOG park ha ha). The pools were not exactly a waterpark, but it was fun to launch people down the slides.

I believe I am 30% rice and beans with how much of that I have eaten the last two weeks. In the exchange with the English school, I saw that the other students know more English than we know Spanish. The counselors were great, Clay and Morgan kept things loose but together when Chris wasn’t there.

All in all, while I am looking forward to my return to Miami, I’ll say for the record that Tico Lingo was an incredibly fun experience that I wouldn’t be against recommending to others.

This was an amazing experience! Almost as soon as I walked through the front gates I was greeted by very welcoming staff and other hesitant campers. But soon, because of the wonderful environment that the teachers/counselors fostered, we quickly became excited to ask questions and talk about our lives. Whether it was the different rest stops we passed in our states (i.e., wawa) what our dream vacation was (other than Costa Rica of course), or the state of the American economy. I not only learned Spanish in my classes but also the perspectives of kids my age across the United States.

In the afternoons we truly got to appreciate the beauty of Costa Rica and land and culture through various excursions. Although we may have fallen on our faces while at a roller skating rink or or gotten borderline sun poisoning while kayaking (PACK SUNSCREEN) there were still plenty of opportunities to practice Spanish and try new things.

Speaking of trying new things, there are so many chances to try amazing Costa Rican food. Both at homestays and during the lunch blocks in the afternoon, I’m vegetarian and I was very happy and surprised to try all the delicious non-meat options Costa Rica has to offer. All in all this was a fantastic 9/10 experience (10/10 if I had remembered to reapply sunscreen while kayaking) and I would definitely recommend it to teens who love exploring places and cultures as well as improving their Spanish.

The first day at Tico Lingo was a little strange because I did not know anyone but as I got to get to know everyone I felt more involved. The first week at Tico Lingo was exciting and fun. Every day after class was a fun adventure. The teachers are super kind and helpful. We had lunch every day after school. The staff are very nice and Chris (the head) is amazing. He organized all the trips and the fun activities. Without Chris this would have never happened. My favorite parts were when we visited the coffee plantation, animal rescue center, white water rafting, ziplining and the tour of the capital San Jose. My homestay family was amazing. They fed me great food everyday. My family spoke to me in Spanish only so I can practice at home too. If you want to learn, improve or practice your Spanish you should definitely come to Tico Lingo. If you want to maximize your Spanish at Tico Lingo you should be speaking in Spanish. My experience at TIco Lingo was amazing and I would definitely come back.

The experiences I’ve had at Tico Lingo Spanish Camp have changed by life. I enjoyed every day to the fullest and I have made close friends with the staff and other campers. I feel like I’ve known these people for years but it has been just 2 weeks.

The staff is incredible - Clay and Morgan are amazing. They are both so kind and fun. Craig is super nice and very interesting. He has traveled the world and told us some of his stories. Chris is an amazing individual for setting this all up and giving us the opportunity to learn and experience Costa Rican culture and the language. The teachers are also fantastic. Karina is so kind and smart and such a good teacher. Freddy is so funny and has an amazing way of teaching. Unfortunately I did not have the pleasure of meeting the other teachers but from what I have heard they are just as magnificent.

The outings are great experiences from touring Heredia to kayaking next to a volcano. I feel like the last 2 weeks have been the most action packed 2 weeks of my life. I particularly liked the animal rescue center because it was great to see those animals that aren’t in America and the food was great. Speaking of food, I have tried and loved so many new foods. I loved the plantains and casado particularly. My host family and house experience has also been amazing. My host mother Noileen has been very kind and welcoming to me and my host brothers. Her food has also been great. She is an amazing cook. My host brothers are also a big part of my experience. Originally I was worried I would end up having to live with 2 weird kids for 2 weeks but as I have come to realize most of the people here are very like minded to me and I have shared years worth of memories with my host brothers in 2 weeks.

I truly hope we stay friends and can meet again down the road. I just want to thank everyone for everything they have done for me: Chris, Clay, Morgan, Craig, Karina, Freddy and even Alberto the bus driver who brought us to and from all our excursions. If you are thinking about coming it is an amazing and eye opening experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.