From our first phone call with Brent when we were asking about the origins of the program, to my email with Cata when we needed to change travel plans home owing to a family emergency, the caretaking and communication in the program let us know we were in the hands of something special. Arcos' reputation is what led us to investigate, learning about the program for ourselves is what had us enroll, and my daughter's personal experience is why she hasn't stopped talking about it since she came home after the program over the summer. In a world where learning and "interacting" has become more and more digitized and virtual, this experience was essentially human and present. Learning the language, yes; but also the culture, the geology, the history, the community. The program leaders, homestay hosts and teachers spearheading the whole adventure were top-notch. We give this whole experience a strong, full-throated: "RECOMMEND!"

I absolutely loved my experience with Arcos. The staff were all incredibly kind and welcoming, and always just a phone call away. The communication around the program was exceptional, and neither my parents nor I ever felt confused or out of the loop before and during the program. The peers I met and friends I made were similarly some of the kindest people I've had the pleasure of spending time with and getting to know better.

Not only being in a Spanish-speaking country, but also being in a Spanish-speaking household helped to cement my learning, and I strongly believe immersion and a homestay are the best ways to effectively and efficiently learn a new language. Even though I went to Costa Rica to develop my language skills, I got to participate in tons of cultural activities (dancing, cooking, going to an animal sanctuary, art classes, etc.) and excursions (La Fortuna waterfall and Jaco Beach for surfing), and expand my knowledge and appreciation of the Spanish language and Costa Rican culture.

My daughter did the 3-week Costa Rica program this summer and had an amazing time! Everything was smooth and well-orchestrated from the moment she was picked up from the airport in San Jose to the time she hopped on the return flight home. She stayed with a wonderful and warm host family, took daily Spanish classes, did multiple excursions and came home raving about her time in Costa Rica. She begged to stay on for another 3-week program, but we had other things planned. If I had it to do over, I would have had her do two back-to-back programs. It was an amazing way to start the summer.

The classes were fun and the teachers got everyone to participate. The excursions were fun. The host family was very nice and helpful. I would do it again. I also felt more comfortable practicing basic Spanish out loud after this program. The dancing class was surprisingly fun. The Spanish classes felt more comfortable than I expected. We did a cooking and art class as well. All were fun with great teachers. The area felt safe with a basketball court nearby for downtime. The one thing that I would suggest is one more swimming day or a longer swim on the waterfall hike day.

Arcos provided an incredible experience for my daughter, who visited Costa Rica with this program. She was able to experience an entirely new culture from the perspective of those who live there. Arcos was communicative regarding all programs and guidelines and put our minds at ease as parents. The host family was friendly, and took very good care of my daughter and her friends. We highly recommend this program, as it was a tremendous benefit for my daughter. She learned a lot and had wonderful stories to share upon her return.

My daughter said: I had a great time and a wonderful volunteer experience. My host family was caring and excellent cooks. We were in a great location and the kids were all fun to be with. I loved the outdoor experiences and realized I could do hard things. The beaches were really nice and the water was super warm. My host family was super nice and made great hand-pressed juice every day. The only challenges I found were language barriers because I don’t speak good Spanish but was still able to communicate using Google Translate.

This program was the cause of some of the best two weeks of my life. I made incredible friends, learned a lot of Spanish, immersed in the culture, and made some unforgettable memories. We went to school, learned the grammatical rules of Spanish, then used that knowledge in a local setting. I gained a lot of independence in this program, as well as learning how to use my language skills by interacting with the local people. I also loved my homestay mom dearly and had a very special time there. Highly recommend!

The family was very welcoming and kind! All of the meals my host mom gave me were very delicious. The environment was very nice and the surrounding nature was very pleasant to see. The people were very friendly and the excursions like to the waterfall and zip lining were very fun to do! If I had the choice, I would definitely come back to Costa Rica because the experience was so fun and memorable. I would recommend trying new things even if you feel a bit uncomfortable at first. Remember that all of the other kids are just as nervous as you!