Sol Abroad High School Program in Costa Rica

With Sol Abroad I took a weekend trip to Manuel Antonio National Park, and went white water rafting the next day. Both were an incredible experience for me. I caught myself smiling without even realizing it. The scenery in Costa Rica was some of the most beautiful raw nature i've had the opporunity to see. Overall, I think it was a worthy experience.

Atenas has a ton of really amazing sights and experiences. The weather was always nice. The park was a great place to talk and hang out with friends, there were many excellent places to eat and have fun.

Last weekend, my group went white water rafting near Manuel Antonio National Park. This was my favorite excursion during my four weeks here. My tour guide was so much fun! When the water was rough, he would stand up on the raft and jump as high as he could. At one point when the water was deep and calm, he pushed me out of the raft and into the water. Then he grabbed my life jacket to help me into the raft... or so I thought. He grabbed my life vest and threw me like a rag doll to the other side of the water! The water felt great, and I hope I can go back again before I leave for the US!

Hi! I'm a high school student from the Midwest and this summer I went to Costa Rica as part of the Sol Abroad study abroad program. During my stay I was placed in a house in Atenas, Costa Rica with a roommate from the United States and a host mother. The house that I stayed in was absolutely beautiful and my host mother was very sweet. My roommate and I are not native Spanish speakers and our host mom spoke almost no English but she was very patient with us. She was also an amazing cook and served us 3 delicious and authentic meals per day. In the morning students attend school which helps us to enhance our understanding of the Spanish language. In the afternoons we participate in cultural activities such as cooking classes, latin dance classes, and volunteer days. On the weekend we go on excursion where we hike up volcanoes, go to the beach, go ziplining, and go white water rafting. In my opinion this program perfectly combines a small town cultural experience with the tourist type of activities you might do on vacation. There are also many opportunities to explore local cafes, restaurants, and shops with friends in your free time. I had a ton of fun on this trip and I wholeheartedly recommend it to high school students who want to experience another culture, be better at speaking spanish, make a bunch of lifelong friends, and have an unforgettable time in another country.

The first day of my trip, I had a vague idea of what to expect but still found myself nervous and anxious. I was the only kid on the trip without a roommate, which added to my nervousness. Orlando and the other students came to pick me up at my house and we headed on our way. Not realizing that the walk to town was approximately thirty minutes through broken pavement, grass, and hills, I wore nice sandals which are good for walking.... on flat surfaces. Tip one kids- wear sneakers. We proceeded to downtown, exchanged money at the bank, and enjoyed the rest of our tour through to town. I immediately fell in love with Atenas. The park is fantastic for chilling with friends. There are volleyball and basketball courts, soccer fields, a half pipe for skateboarding, and lots of small stores and pastry shops. All the locals are super friendly and I had no problem making friends in my group of English speakers. That day was the beginning of a great month long adventure that I will always remember!

Sol Abroad does an amazing job with the students they take on. I highly recommend that you open prospective students to this opportunity. Your sons and daughters will be in good hands. From daily class to day and weekend excursions, students are active and engaged. Their are always opportunities to use their Spanish daily. As for me the Póas Volcano had to be my favorite excursion. The weather is cool and the view of the crater is amazing. All the excursions we exceptional.

I had a wonderful time and met many lifelong friends, and Costa Rica is so beautiful and was the perfect environment for it. The excursions were very fun, however the bus rides were terrible, but that's ok.

I loved this program and the experience it provided me with. My host mother Leticia was a wonderful women who was nice, funny, and a good cook. I really wish I had had more conversations with her. The excursions and cultural activities really made my experience. Not only were they fun, but they helped bring the students together, especially during the long bus rides. The people I met really helped shape my experience. I liked everyone I met, though I admittedly got annoyed with some people at some times, but that´s to be expected. people in our group got very close. So close that some people are going to visit each other and stay at each other´s houses when they are in the same state. The teachers were great too. They really cared and tried to bend the curriculm to fit your needs, which teachers in America are mostly unable to do. I would highly recommend this program, and I am thinking about coming back another year.