Arcos: Programs for Teens in Costa Rica

I am a parent to a 16 year old that went to Costa Rica through Arcos Journeys Abroad program. It was a 3 week study abroad focusing on Spanish. I was extremely nervous and felt many times I was making a bad decision; however, my fears never came to fruition and my son had a blast. He was well taken care of, Arcos stayed in constant contact communication with me and three weeks went by in a blink of an eye. The best part of this trip according to my son was the friendships he made. No regrets and my son is looking forward to next summer’s study abroad experience.

My 15 year old daughter had the experience of a lifetime! The staff at Arcos is friendly, welcoming, and trustworthy. The home stay was comfortable and safe. The community service opportunities were rewarding without being overwhelming. The eco adventures were thrilling and the absolute highlight of the trip. The students appreciated the sense of independence and loved living among the locals in a small Costa Rican town. Avery made life long friends and is already planning her next Arcos adventure.

I loved my task week trip to Costa Rica. I became very familiar with the town of Atenas and I got to experience an array of new things that helped me grow individually in a lot of ways. I made friends during the experience and I grew to have a greater understanding of differing cultures and people. The community service aspect enforced a work ethic in me. I liked the ability we had to explore Atenas and La Fortuna on our own. The activities included such as surfing and ziplining were worth the price!

This was the first time our 15 yr old daughter traveled anywhere by herself, much less to a foreign country with no one she knew. She was so nervous- hardly speaking the language; living with a family she didn’t know; making new friends; facing the unknown! But she took on the challenge and was SO happy she did. She had a wonderful experience and came home a very happy camper, feeling so confident and accomplished. No doubt Arcos had everything to do with it. From beginning to end Arcos was on it. Our questions & concerns were promptly addressed; the whole process was well organized and uncomplicated; information was clear & thoughtful; safety of kids always seemed to be their first priority. The program offered a perfect mix of cultural and language immersion with adventure sprinkled in. We recommend Arcos without hesitation! Our daughter has no regrets and would do it again.

My daughter, 14, went on the Arcos Journeys program to Costa Rica last summer 2022 (3 week option) and I would highly recommend it! From the beginning when she was picked up at the airport, to the end when she was assisted through the check-in process to fly home - it all went smoothly (note I would definitely recommend purchasing the unaccompanied minor fee through the airline - it was well worth it).

Everyone I dealt with during the initial paperwork process was efficient and thorough, any questions I had were immediately addressed. I had a last minute paperwork concern before she left for the airport and it was handled/resolved within 5 minutes of sending the email! I was initially hesitant about letting her go since she had never traveled alone, let alone to another country! But looking back on how smoothly it all went, this program is clearly run by a team of people who know what they're doing. And, most importantly, know how to manage a group of teens & structure a program in a foreign country so they're always safe! The program allowed her to fully immerse in another culture, have a ton of fun and improve her Spanish. She had the time of her life and already wants to go again next year!

Her homestay family was amazing - they were so kind, her accommodations were beautiful, and the food she was provided was exceptional (mangos, papaya, traditional Costa Rican cuisine, etc...). She made great friends, even the simple experience of walking into town together to have dessert at a cafe was really memorable for her! The Spanish classes were in this open air classroom that was just stunningly beautiful - her favorite part of the trip was her Spanish teacher - she learned a lot but really had a lot of fun at the same time. The excursions they planned for her group were really beyond what I expected - zip lining in the rainforest (her favorite), learning to surf, going to the beach, cooking/dancing classes, volunteering at a local school etc....All in all, everything was structured/planned really well - the director Cata was so personable and made her feel at home from day 1 - it was an experience I'm sure she'll remember her entire life!

If you're on the fence re letting your teen go through this program - go for it! It's a solid program - I 100% recommend it!

Great experience for young teens (HS program) hoping to learn a language and live somewhat independently yet have the support of a host family. Responsive great staff at Arcos. Highly recommend. Atenas is a great town to learn Spanish. Pretty and manageable. Not too much English spoken. Kind people willing to speak Spanish. The overall director, Brent, is great, honest and accessible. The on the ground director, Cata, is warm, friendly and caring. It's obvious how much they like doing what they do. And that shows in the attention to detail in providing a good experience for two NYC teenagers.

We found this program on the Internet without any friend's recommendations so were nervous. But the second we met with Brent and learned about all of his experience and his program team we were excited and at ease. He also connected us with other families who had sent their kids on various programs and we heard great things. He explained that once our daughter got to Costa Rica our primary contact would be Catalina which it was and she was GREAT. So we felt comfortable.
From our daughter's point of view, she loved Catalina, her family, made friends. The mother's cooking was delicious. The outings were fantastic and the opportunity to speak Spanish all the time was great. This program is exactly what they say it is. Excellent. Down to earth. Great people running it.

My daughter had a wonderful time and her Spanish improved significantly. The host family and the instructors were warm, welcoming and approachable. She felt safe and comfortable. The students had the independence to walk into town and explore. She enjoyed the wildlife, especially seeing baby sloths, and the weekend excursions. Due to covid and a delay in getting her passport renewed, we planned the trip last minute. Brent took the time to explain the details and choices over the phone. Arcos made everything easy. We felt comfortable as parents sending her overseas on her own for the first time. I wholeheartedly recommend Arcos and the Cost Rica Spanish immersion trip.