Costa Rica Internships With Academic Credit | From 2-24 Weeks
Costa Rica Internships With Academic Credit | From 2-24 Weeks
4.6 · 10 reviews
Location
  • Costa Rica
    • San Ramón
Length
2 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Compensation
Unpaid
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Language
Spanish
Age Min.
18
Qualifications
  • At least one year of relevant college/university study in a related field

Pricing

$1,615
Price Details
Program Fees from US$1,615 for 2 weeks - includes arrangement of your placement, airport pick-up, orientation, accommodation, meals, and 24/7 in-country support.
What's Included
Accommodation Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance Visa
Aug 02, 2026
11 travelers are looking at this program

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to help you plan with confidence.

About Program

Award-winning and accredited intern programs in Costa Rica with Intern Abroad HQ. Start when you want and choose a duration from 2-24 weeks.

Through Intern Abroad HQ, you'll gain access to the most affordable internship opportunities, and save thousands of dollars on tuition fees through our optional academic credit programs.

Get a guaranteed internship in a range of fields, including Animal Science, Business, Education, Healthcare, Social Work, Marine Biology, Environmental Sciences, Marketing and more. We organize everything for you, including your customized internship placement, accommodation, airport pick-up, orientation, 24/7 in-country support, an international reference from your host organization, and more.

Intern Abroad HQ specializes in securing internships abroad for students and recent graduates who are seeking an immersive, personalized experience to enhance their employability. Intern alongside English-speaking professionals, or practice your local language skills!

Program Highlights

  • We guarantee to secure a placement for you, personalized to your career ambitions
  • All-inclusive affordable internship abroad programs from just US$1,615 for 2 weeks, including accommodation and more.
  • Affordable way to earn additional & transferable college credits, starting at only US$599!
  • Boost your global employability with a prestigious international reference letter that validates your skills to employers worldwide.
  • Flexible durations from 2-24 weeks, with year-round start dates

Gain 1-16 College Credits while you intern from only US$599!

Video and Photos

Popular Programs

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Healthcare Internships in Costa Rica

Healthcare internships in Costa Rica are based in clinics or hospitals, where interns assist and shadow local doctors and nurses. Specific placements are tailored for interns’ experience, internship length and Spanish language proficiency, but all provide the chance to see healthcare in action in a small Costa Rican town and learn from experienced local professionals.

Microfinance Internship in Costa Rica

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Program Reviews

4.60 Rating
based on 10 reviews
  • 5 rating 60%
  • 4 rating 40%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Growth 4.5
  • Support 4.7
  • Fun 4.5
  • Housing 4.6
  • Safety 4.6
Showing 1 - 8 of 10 reviews
Mia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Intern Abroad HQ made my international internship experience seamless and stress-free!

Intern Abroad HQ made my international internship experience seamless and stress-free! From the start, the Internship Program Manager and local coordinators were warm, communicative, and reassuring. They provide an incredible step-by-step checklist and an in-depth Program Guide that covers everything you need to feel confident and prepared before heading overseas. I always felt safe and well-supported, both during travel and while living in-country. I would highly recommend Intern Abroad HQ to anyone who is looking to step out of their comfort zone, grow professionally, and feel completely supported every step of the way.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My foremost advice for anyone starting an internship in a culturally diverse setting is to approach it with an open mind and an open heart. Be completely receptive to surprises and the inevitable learning curve, taking comfort in the fact that you will naturally adjust over time and gain the exact tools you need to navigate your new environment. Practically, the best way to integrate is to be an active listener. Don't hesitate to ask thoughtful questions to learn more about the diverse backgrounds of the people around you, and be willing to share insights about your own culture in return. Additionally, do your homework before you arrive. Researching the cultural norms of your host country ahead of time (such as proper communication styles and local standards of dress) is incredibly helpful. For me, doing this groundwork made easing into daily life here in Costa Rica much smoother, giving me the confidence to connect respectfully from day one.
Pros
  • Offers clear, step-by-step guides and checklists before departure.
  • Responsive program managers and local staff make traveling feel safe and secure.
  • Provides cost-effective international internship placements compared to many competitors.
What other participants should know
  • Does not directly grant college credit; you must arrange it through your university.
  • Accommodation standards can vary significantly depending on the destination.
  • Internships often require high independence with limited day-to-day oversight from staff.
41 people found this review helpful.
Samantha
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved it!

I had a great time. Not only did I learn so much I also was able to make connections all over the world. I was able to explore Costa Rica, be independent, and learn all about how NGOs are run in Costa Rica. I worked on land so did not go in the water much but I had a blast learning about the education and money side of the NGO. All of us "land" interns had a great bond and worked together on some projects. I also liked that we had weekends and some weekdays off so we can do some weekend trips or go to beaches that were father away.

What was your funniest moment?
The funniest moment was when we were at a bar and couldn't find one of the guys. We were worried he fell in a ditch somewhere, just for him to come through the door soaked. Apparently, he decided to go outside to wake up, then fell asleep after drinking so much, and was woken up by the rain. It was super funny.
Pros
  • People
  • The Food is good
  • Everyone that lives there is so nice
What other participants should know
  • Work is super little so you have lots of free time
  • no timeline for projects
  • no AC
52 people found this review helpful.
Claire
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Intern Success!

This program was such a unique experience that provided a great balance of cultural exchange and learning by living with a host family along with a professional aspect of the internship. I really enjoyed getting to work with people from all over the world and explore and travel around the country during my time off. The internship was very welcoming and flexible to my schedule with lots of time for enjoying the rest of the experience! Some of my favorite memories were learning learning new styles of dances and hearing live music throughout the country.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most interesting food that I got to try was chicharrones, fried porkbelly skin eaten like chips for a snack. Definitely my favorite food that I discovered was the guanábana fruit or soursop!
Pros
  • Flexible time for traveling and exploring the country
  • Language immersion
  • Living and eating with host family!
What other participants should know
  • Smaller social network
  • If you are earning credits, a lot of the internship work takes place asynchronysly online
  • Less freedom in daily schedule preferences based on host family placement
142 people found this review helpful.
Isabella
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

amazing internship

i loved everything about living in costa rica and also got to gain marketing experience. my summer internship at the dive shop was an unforgettable experience. as a marketing intern, I gained invaluable hands-on experience in creating engaging social media content, designing promotional materials, and assisting with email marketing campaigns. the opportunity to work in such a beautiful and diverse country while contributing to the success of a local business was incredibly rewarding. I learned about the importance of sustainable tourism and the impact of marine conservation efforts. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone interested in marketing, travel, or marine biology.

158 people found this review helpful.
James
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An enjoyable and enlightening experience

I'm writing this 4 months into my 6 months on the Sustainable Business and Environmental Tourism Internship in Quepos, Costa Rica and I can safely say I've made the best choice I could have. The internship has been really interesting and I've been supported well throughout. Intern Abroad provide weekly reflection reviews for the first 12 weeks which really make the experience useful in developing my own professional skills. On arrival, travel was arranged for me and the accommodation has been fantastic throughout with lovely food. I feel like I've really immersed myself in the culture and helped make a difference to the company while learning a bit more about the business practices needed for a charity.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I'm doing my best to immerse myself into the culture and my home stay mother has really helped me with that by giving us a typical Costa Rican meal for breakfast and dinner very often. Upon learning I was keen to try everything, she made me cow's tongue or "lengua" for dinner one night to try. I ended up really enjoying it as well!
Pros
  • Beautiful wildlife
  • A lovely team around you with many other interns to socialize with
  • A chance to practise your spanish (a lot of people speak english too so you won't get too stuck)
What other participants should know
  • Costa Rica is quite expensive
  • There isn't a lot of nightlife if you're looking for that kind of thing
188 people found this review helpful.
Lowie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Microfinance internship San Ramon, Costa Rica

I had the privilege of working with a company that is specialised in constructing social houses during my internship. My primary role involved supporting administrative tasks and collaborating with the team to implement solutions that improved efficiency. Engaging in constant Spanish conversations with the locals, making a significant impact in my role, and exploring remarkable places all contributed to creating great memories that will last forever.

This would not been possible without the Intern Abroad team and their exceptional support. Their correct communication ensured that every aspect was taken care of. Whenever I had a question, they provided clear and friendly answers very quickly. The level of support I received was truly remarkable, making my journey smooth and enjoyable.

Moreover, I was incredibly fortunate to have the best host family during my time abroad. Their support and kindness made my experience even more special, and I'm grateful for everything they did for me.

193 people found this review helpful.
Joanna
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Literally Amazing Here

It's literally so cool here, I love how walk/bus-able everything is, the food is amazing, the other interns here are so cool, and the location in general is just so gorgeous, I love it here! The only reason it's not a 5 is I got stuck with some kind of sucky roommates, but all of the other housemate are amazing and I love them so much ! The diving here has been really fun, but since it's the rainy season the water visibility has been kinda bleh, but it's still super cool. There's lots of stuff to do around here whether you wanna do stuff in town, or bus over to Manuel Antonio real fast, everything is quite close and easily accessible.

Pros
  • Diving
  • Some housemates
  • Food
What other participants should know
  • The roommates I got (but that's relative)
  • Very very humid (out of IAHQ's control)
  • Walking up a gigantic hill every time I wanna go to town or the marina and then back home
199 people found this review helpful.
Eleonora
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Environmental Conservation internship in Costa Rica

My Environmental Conservation internship in Costa Rica has been inspiring and exciting. I was surprised by everyone's kindness and all the attention that I received from my host family. My host mother was a great cook, so I enjoyed every meal in the house! During my internship, my main job was to collect butterfly eggs and store them in a laboratory, then release larvae on specific plant leaves. This meant educating myself about various types of plants and butterflies to collect and match them back to the correct plant. I had to ensure all the butterflies had enough fermented food and that their sanctuaries were clear of spiders and snails. I also helped with the plantation of medical plants and orchid identification. This internship allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of my field of interest. Most of the skills I gained relate to maintaining a conservation area and studying different flowers and medicinal plants. I believe that these activities can be used in the fields of environmental conservation or science for me in future! My favourite internship memory was my decision to do the internship. Every day was priceless and unique.

Pros
  • educational
  • helps you explore a lot of new places/ cultures
  • being in local family
What other participants should know
  • travelling abroad might be stressful
  • language barrier
244 people found this review helpful.

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