Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Heredia, Costa Rica

Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Heredia, Costa Rica

Location
  • Costa Rica
    • Heredia
Length
1 to 24 weeks
Language
Spanish
Payment plans

Program Details

Language Level
BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced
Immersion Level
Intensive Standard
Class Size
Private Lessons Small Class (1-7)
Weekly Classroom Hours
20
Housing
Host Family Hostel Hotel
Age Min.
18

Pricing

$390
Price Details
The starting price of $390 USD covers one week of the Intensive Spanish Immersion Program and includes 20 hours of small group Spanish classes.

Included in every program:
• Written and oral placement exam
• Airport pickup from SJO
• Guided orientation and walking tour of Heredia
• All class materials
• Unlimited coffee, tea, and high speed WiFi at the school
• 24/7 local support in Heredia
• Free weekly cultural activities such as dance or yoga
• Language exchanges with local Costa Ricans
• Official certificate of course completion

Homestay accommodations, private lessons, and weekend tours can be added to customize your experience.
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Some Meals Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

Written and oral Spanish exam
Airport pickup from SJO Airport
Orientation tour with map of Heredia
All necessary class materials
Free internet access at school and in homestays
Fresh coffee and tea each morning
Conversational classes with locals
Official certificate of course completion

What's Not Included
Airfare Domestic Airfare Some Meals SIM cards Travel Insurance Visa
Jan 12, 2026
Mar 30, 2026
103 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Tico Lingo’s Intensive Spanish Immersion Program offers a deep, authentic way to learn Spanish in Costa Rica. Located in the traditional, non touristy city of Heredia, the program combines small group Spanish classes with a maximum of six students, immersive homestay options, and cultural activities designed to build real world fluency.

With a strong focus on oral communication, students practice Spanish daily both inside and outside the classroom while engaging with locals, visiting markets, and navigating everyday life in Heredia. Classes are taught by experienced, native speaking teachers who tailor lessons to each student’s level and goals. The school atmosphere is relaxed, social, and welcoming, with free local coffee, optional weekend excursions, and a strong sense of community.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, Tico Lingo offers a personalized path to Spanish fluency through cultural connection, academic structure, and pura vida hospitality.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Students praise the program’s personalized, immersive Spanish classes and supportive, welcoming host families that boost confidence and fluency.

Program Highlights

  • Start any Monday and choose your program length from 1 to 24 weeks
  • All levels welcome, from complete beginners to advanced speakers
  • Small group classes with a maximum of six students
  • Free cultural activities including dance classes, yoga, pilates, and guided city tours
  • Optional weekend trips to volcanoes, beaches, and wildlife rescue centers

Teen Spanish Camp Update | Camp #2 and #3 | Still Open!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

Tico Lingo is a diverse and welcoming space committed to creating respectful and inclusive environments where BIPOC students feel seen, safe, and supported. We encourage open dialogue around cultural identity and social equity, and we work with local partners who share our values of diversity and inclusion. Our community includes students from all over the world, representing a wide range of races, religions, and economic backgrounds, and our team is always available to listen, support, and empower every learner.
Tico Lingo is proud to be an inclusive and welcoming space for LGBTQIA+ students. We work with homestay families and staff who value respect, safety, and open-mindedness, and we are happy to accommodate housing and classroom preferences whenever possible. Our team is here to support each student’s identity and ensure a comfortable, affirming immersion experience in Costa Rica.
Tico Lingo is committed to supporting neurodivergent students by fostering a flexible, patient, and understanding learning environment. Our small class sizes, personalized instruction, and calm school atmosphere allow us to adapt to a variety of learning styles and sensory needs. We encourage open communication before and during the program so we can work together to create a positive and supportive experience for every student.
Tico Lingo welcomes students of all abilities and is happy to accommodate participants with physical disabilities or chronic conditions whenever possible. While our historic building in Heredia has some physical limitations, we work closely with students in advance to assess individual needs and make personalized arrangements for housing, transportation, and classroom access. Our team is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for every learner.

Impact 🌎

At Tico Lingo, we strive to minimize our environmental footprint while maximizing our positive contribution to Costa Rica’s ecosystems. We’ve eliminated single-use plastics across all programs, provide students with reusable drinkware and eatware, and promote low-impact travel throughout Heredia and beyond. In partnership with local animal rescue centers like Rescate and Toucan Rescue Ranch, we support wildlife conservation through financial donations, student engagement, and education.
Tico Lingo builds its programs around fairness, respect, and responsible community engagement. We work exclusively with local Costa Rican families, tours guides, and activity instructors, and Spanish teachers to ensure ethical pay and direct economic benefit to our local community. Students are encouraged to engage with Costa Rican cultural traditions thoughtfully and respectfully, using their Spanish to connect with the local community with openness and curiosity. The goal is to foster meaningful, positive experiences for both the student and the people of Heredia.

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating
based on 126 reviews
  • 5 rating 99.21%
  • 4 rating 0%
  • 3 rating 0.79%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Instruction 4.95
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.85
  • Housing 4.9
  • Value 4.95
Showing 73 - 80 of 126 reviews
Casey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spanish immersion program

I thought that the course was excellent. The teachers and the staff take care of you from the first contact until the last day. Good Costa Rican coffee every morning! There are optional tours, classes, and weekend activities. The teachers spoke only Spanish in the class for our level and never spoke English unless there was a complete misunderstanding. It was challenging but still at a good speed that I wasn’t left behind. The classes are really what you make it. I definitely improved my language level. I’d go there again!

What was your funniest moment?
I thought that the daily classes were fun. I also liked taking the optional cooking class to learn some Costa Rican dishes.
223 people found this review helpful.
Dylan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Priceless experience, the best decision of my life

If you’re looking for quality education, adventure, and to see Costa Rica through the eyes and experience of a local rather than a tourist, this is the place to go. I spent 5 weeks with an amazing family in Heredia, more specifically Mercedes Norte, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my entire life. They were so kind and helpful, made me food everyday, and introduced me to the beauty of Costa Rica. For such a priceless experience, it’s incredibly affordable. My professor Freddy was the best Spanish teacher I’ve ever had. He’s a great guy, and he speaks English exceptionally well, so you never have to worry about learning at a faster pace than you’re comfortable with. The owner, Chris, runs an amazing school, and pairs you with a family that’s right for you. He’s fair and a genuinely good person, and I feel lucky to have been able to participate in this wonderful program. What are you waiting for? The time is now! But be warned, once you get there, you might not leave. Buena suerte y pura vida!

216 people found this review helpful.
Darrell
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Phenomenal School and Much More

Tico Lingo was amazing from start to finish. I did eight weeks at the school and had an incredible experience and learned a lot. The staff helped me with every need both concerning school and not. The teachers at Tico Lingo were too notch. I had the pleasure of working with three of them—Erick, Kevin and Freddy—all amazing and truly cared about our progress They were very adaptive to the needs of the students and met every expectation and more. Heredia was a great city to explore and the housing was very nice with good food. All in all I do not hesitate to recommend Tico Lingo!

What was your funniest moment?
The funniest moment is getting to share our learning experience with everyone. The teachers and staff are comforting and the family vibe helps students adapt quickly. We truly laughed until our faces hurt.
182 people found this review helpful.
Alexander
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What a great experience!

I was apart of the program for 1 month and it was truly an awesome time. I learned loads and met some seriously awesome people. I am stilling living in Costa Rica and I love going back to talk with the staff who are now friends of mine. This program is a great way to ease you into Spanish and the cultural differences you experience while traveling in Costa Rica. My Spanish is much improved and I credit a lot of it to TicoLingo. I am currently traveling around with friends I met there nearly two months ago! What a time it has been! I highly recommend TicoLingo!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Meet as many people as you can and go adventure with them! Seriously just meet everyone and go have a blast!
171 people found this review helpful.
Kassim
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent Program! Highly recommend!

I did the immersive Spanish program for 8 weeks with group classes in the morning and private classes in the afternoon. I would highly recommend the program! I noticed a significant improvement in my Spanish level. The instructors were very helpful and supportive with teaching the language and customized the lessons based on our levels and interests. The administrators and staff were also very helpful and easy to work with. I also did the home stay with a local family which I would also recommend. The family was very accommodating and my stay there forced me to improve my Spanish. Overall a great experience!

165 people found this review helpful.
Francesca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Immersion experience

I attended three weeks of Spanish classes at Tico Lingo in February 2021 and I had a wonderful time.

I was a total beginner, having never learnt any Spanish before, I knew hola and si, and not much else. Whilst it was very challenging at times, trying to learn as much as possible in the short amount of time I was there, Erick was a great teacher. He was very patient and helped me to grab a good understanding of the basics. I was able to make real improvement during my time at Tico Lingo.

We were also able to organise weekend trips with some of the other students, to the volcano and hot springs at La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio National Park. Some of us even met up later in Santa Teresa, for some fun and Spanish practice on the beach.

One of the highlights of the experience was my Homestay family, Sindy and Claudio. They welcomed me into their home and treated me like one of the family. They took a real interest in my Spanish progress, helping me outside of classes, over conservation at dinner and movie nights (in Spanish). They even celebrated my birthday, surprising me with a birthday cake, even though I had only been there for a few days.

It was a great place to learn and I highly recommend Tico Lingo. Thank you Chris, Yennifer and Erick!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
On the weekends, go and explore! Don't be afraid of using public transport (something I was initially hesitant about) but everyone is so friendly and it's rather easy to figure out routes and times (even for someone with my limited Spanish knowledge).
159 people found this review helpful.
Rich
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ideal introduction to Costa Rica and learning Spanish

I initially planned to do one week of Spanish and homestay at Tico Lingo, but I enjoyed it so much I ended up staying for four!

For me, this was an ideal introduction to my trip to Central America. I was able to improve my Spanish, learn about Costa Rica from my homestay family and hang out with other students from the school.

I was in the middle class in the school, Kevin was a great teacher helping us to improve our conversational Spanish, learning grammar, expressing past and present tenses and some handy Tico phrases! Staying in a homestay was great, feeling like part of the family and practicing your Spanish outside of school.

We also organised some trips with other students from the school which was great fun, visiting La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio, also catching up with the guys again in Santa Theresa after we'd finished studying for some time chilling on the beach

Thanks for everything Chris, Yennifer, Maritiza, Kevin and Freddie!

What was your funniest moment?
I told my homestay dad I'd seen bears in the trees in Manuel Antonio. Sloth in Spanish is Oso Perezoso (literally Lazy Bear). I tried to just shorten it to Oso, which is bear. They don't even have bears here. He was very confused!
175 people found this review helpful.
Samuel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome classes!

I studied with Tico Lingo for three weeks in January of 2021. I learned a ton of Spanish and am absolutely way more conversational now, and have a lot of tools to continue to teach myself. I stayed with a host family and was able to continue to learn and practice every night when I went home, and experience authentic Costa Rican culture. My host family was very sweet and genuinely cared about my success in Costa Rica. The school staff was very helpful to any questions I had about Costa Rica, Spanish, and anything else that came up. All around, a great experience.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I wish I had explored the public transit a bit more! I was a bit scared at first to take a bus and just explore, but when I tried that, I had a really great time and saw some very cool things.
158 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

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