My first time going to the tico lingo teen camp was in 2022 as a sophomore in highschool then I went again in 2023 as a junior. This camp has been one of the best experiences I've had. Through tico lingo, I have made connections all over the world. My roommates and I are still in touch and are extremely close due to the time we spent together. When we first arrived everyone welcomed us warmly, which helped majorly as someone who hadn't traveled alone before. The staff did a wonderful job of making sure we got to where we needed to be at all times. All of the staff of tico lingo are absolutely amazing and don't compare to anything back in the US. Specifically professor Freddy has made an amazing impact on my life. He was my teacher my first year and he inspired me to continue my Spanish education in and out of school. Freddy, Chris and everyone else involved are amazing people and have become my Costa Rican family. Not only have the staff been amazing but so have the host families, both years I have stayed with amazing people who have welcomed me into their homes and have helped me with my Spanish tremendously. Along with classes, tico lingos activities showed me what the differences between being a tourist and a "local" were. I absolutely loved both years I went and am definitely going back as a counselor.

If I could sum up Tico Lingo teen summer camp up in a sentence it would be “the opportunity that will set the tone for your teen’s pursuit of education” In the most cliche way, Tico lingo is the opportunity of a lifetime and one I would well advise your teen not pass up. The experience of being immersed in a new culture is mind blowing itself and the Staff and opportunities Tico Lingo presents will add so much to your teen’s experience. I had the pleasure of getting to know Christopher, the most passionate, hardworking and fun director. He is the backbone of the operation and (while keeping your teens safe) will make sure they have the best time possible. From scavenger hunts around the town to ice cream runs and taking us to see the Barbie movie, Chris listened, and made every kid smile. Along with Chris, I met Clay whose job was to take care of us by being fun, relatable ( college student) , and keeping us safe. He did that and so much more, he was incredibly funny and kind and brought so much laughter to my experience. Something I didn’t expect was how safe and kind Heredia is. I always felt safe walking around town and walking home, and everyone was helpful and patient. Besides all the amazing activities your teen will have the privilege to experience (coffee tour, zip lining, white water rafting, animal rescue, just to name a few) the classes your teen takes will give them passion for the language, get them excited, and teach them SO much! My professors were all incredibly patient and kind, and taught me so much. They went above and beyond to keep the group engaged and make learning fun! Every teacher at Tico lingo is incredibly smart, and kind.

My homestay family was a central part of my amazing experience and were incredibly caring and generous. The food my homestay mom, Rita, made was delicious and I miss it dearly! My homestay dad, Rafeal took incredible care cleaning my room when I was out and doing my laundry. Their sweet daughter Alma became my Tico sister and my roommates and I loved their dogs. I am still in contact with my Homestay family and couldn’t have found more welcoming people.

Before my trip I was a little nervous about my roommates, but along with getting their contact info in advance I was immediately reassured when I met them, both of my roommates are lifelong friends and we made amazing memories from venturing around the town meeting new people to staying up talking and snacking on Costa Rican fruits.

To a parent: Tico Lingo is the best choice of Spanish Immersion program, Heredia is safe and full of language and culture, Tico Lingo staff will take amazing care of your child and they will get the best Spanish immersion available. Homestay families will take your kid in as their own, being incredibly generous and kind. They will have the time of their lives and learn so much Language and culture.

To a teen: Trust me you don’t want to pass up this experience, you’ll meet new besties, you’ll try amazing new foods, you’ll have fun with your teachers and learn so much.

i really am thankful for this experience. i have noticed my spanish levels change in just days and i really do care for my peers deeply. i could go on about how this experienced has impacted me as a person in so many good ways. There was never a time where I wasn’t having fun. now when I think of Tico Lingo, I remember all of the loving people I met, and how much they still mean to me. the host families are beyond generous and have made my experience ten times better. i went from not knowing how to have a conversation at the dinner table, to playing games and doing many activities with my host family. I genuinely think of them as my second family. the teachers were so very helpful and interactive with the students. the afternoon activities always put me in a perfect place to test and practice my spanish while also having a good time. traveling with other people around me brought me closer to everyone. this program pushed me outside of my comfort zone to the max, and i think that is what i am most thankful for.

This is truly a unique experience, that is unlike any I have ever had. The camp is made so that there is structure to your day, but also a good amount of free time as well. The teachers in the learning are excellent. From my times with them, my Spanish level grew exponentially. The homestay parents are amazing and really do care for the campers. In my experience, I created an bond with my homestay parents that I truly treasure. The food they make, though quite simple, is out of this world. The activities that tico lingo plans are tons of fun. From going to the beach at Manuel Antonio to the animal rescue center; there are activities that make the stay that much worthwhile. I totally recommend doing this program because it is an amazing experience that you will never forget.

Going to Costa Rica was my first time out of the country since three years old. And, it couldn’t have been better. I’ve been learning Spanish for four years and have become nearly fluent, so it was great stretching myself. I loved picking up on the idiosyncrasies of the “Tico Spanish” and have made some amazing friendships with camp mates and Costa Ricans alike. The journeys you would go on after Spanish school were always amazing and really made you feel immersed in the country. Overall, 10/10 would recommend for all people looking to improve their Spanish.

My 13 year old girls had a great time at the Tico Lingo summer teen camp. The structure, the staff, the environment and all of the activities kept them learning and engaged.
This teen camp is all inclusive. The education, accommodations, excursions, activities, and food made the camp easy and affordable.
The kids had supervised freedom. They really grew with the language and the independence. Tico Lingo was organized and helped us with the whole process.
We would definitely take the summer teen camp again.

This experience was one of the best things I have ever done. While learning knowledgeable español we also were going on amazing adventures and learning new things everyday. We learned new things about cultures and other people and what their struggles were and how they lived their lives. It was something i will never forget, and being only 13 i already know that this is an experience I will take with me forward for many years. I loved the people and the camp counselors and my teacher was amazing! I hope to be back to next year.

I loved this, because of Tico lingo I have a new best two weeks of my life! Cat and Chris were amazing, and so nice! I really hope to come back next year, I learned so much Spanish and made some amazing new friends! Although I do wish we had a later curfew, I loved it here. Chris is being nice, and extremely understanding. If you need to find a place to go, or a place to send your child, I very strongly suggest coming to Costa Rica, and attending tico lingo, for amazing people, fun teachers, and a great time