Program Reviews

The experience was truly a one of a kind trip! Our guide Cata and our driver Jessica were amazing and taught/explained so much for us. We fit so many activities in such a small amount of time, we were always on the move. The trip was a nice balance between academic activities and fun excursions. My host mom was amazing and took great care of us. The trip was eye opening and I'll take what I've learned and apply it to my future practice as a nurse. Not to mention Costa Rica is beautiful! I miss it already.

I had an absolute blast for my first time going overseas. I was most afraid of my lack of confidence with my Spanish skills. But being in an environment that is welcoming and very encouraging to improve speaking and writing skill made the experience so much fun. Not only that, but because I was constantly surrounded by the language, it helped to immerse myself in the language. I was able to learn some slang and other phrases I likely would not have learned if I were being taught by someone who was not a native.

My host family was very kind and welcoming. On our last couple of days our host mom took us to the beach. It was really sweet of her, and nice that we got to spend more time with her before leaving. She always made the best food and asked about our day.

The excursions and classes were very informative while being tons of fun. I was able to learn about Spanish history and see important landmarks. All of the staff were kind and eager to help us learn the culture and language of their home.
I hope to someday make another trip and discover more of the beauty of Spain.

The overall experience with Arcos was phenomenal. The care and attention we received went above and beyond. As a faculty member, I felt well supported and knew that the student would be cared for. This program balances academics with fun excursions to provide many life-changing experiences for the students. The director of our program, Cata, and our driver, Jessica, were amazing and I felt like I was traveling with family. I would recommend Arcos as a study abroad program to any faculty member seeking to start a program.

ARCOS is the best and the leading vendor for all your study abroad needs. I finished traveling for about two weeks to Costa Rica with my group of 24 students, and I always felt safe and taken cared of. They organize the on ground cultural activities, events, transportation, translations, homestays, etc. and really, anything else you would need. Communication is easy, and they really work with you. The entire ARCOS team and program directors were all so knowledgeable and helpful from start to finish. I appreciate ARCOS so, so much and look forward to many more study abroad trips with them!

I loved my experience studying abroad in Costa Rica. I was placed in the care of an amazing host mother and I had amazing ARCOS directors on my side that helped teach us about the history of Costa Rica. We also had amazing excursions where I got to experience events I wouldn’t of be able to do in California. For example, snorkeling and ziplining would not be something K could experience in my hometown so getting to do it in a new environment surrounded by nature and amazing scenery was a one of kind experience.

It was my first time traveling since I was 11/12 years old. I had a great time visiting Costa Rica. I would love to come back. The tour guides, Angie and Cata, were terrific. They were funny and friendly. The homestead was grand. I wish I had my Mama Tika cooking for me to this day. The excursions were fun, and I enjoyed conversing with the friendly Costa Ricans. This experience made me think I could travel in the future since, prior, I did not want to travel. I want to use this program when traveling.

Once again a stellar program for our Child and Adolescent Studies majors. The 13 day custom program was amazing and so representative of the phenomenal leadership of ARCOS. Each day was arranged perfectly and our students learned so much about the true culture of Costa Rica. We have basically left our heart in Costa Rica. We loved all the cultural and service learning activities. We highly recommend this vendor if you want professionalism, individual attention and quality. Thanks again to Janiva, Cata, Angie, Alejandro and Brent! Our amazing Costa Rica team!

I give Arcos my highest recommendation! Their exceptional service and professionalism played a crucial role in making our physical therapy mission trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, an unforgettable and successful experience. From start to finish, Arcos was dedicated to ensuring that every detail was taken care of, from coordinating logistics to providing invaluable support on the ground. Their team’s commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and responsiveness helped us navigate the challenges of organizing such a complex project, allowing us to focus on delivering physical therapy care to those in need. I am truly grateful for their partnership and cannot recommend them highly enough for any future missions or endeavors!

Recently came back from my second trip to Oaxaca, Mexico for a medical mission trip where my graduate school paired up with another university to create a 4-day medical clinic where we offered preventive care, medications, physical therapy, and home health services to a local village of Oaxaca. ARCOS is a phenomenal team of individuals that work together to create once-in-a-lifetime experiences!! Absolutely would work with Ena and Dani Aguilar along with Antonio and Paulina again!! I cannot wait to embark on further adventures with the ARCOS team <3

Loved this trip - it was a real immersion in Costa Rican hospitality and a great introduction to the businesses and business climate there.

Our tour guide was great, and the weather (supposed to be dry season) was funny. We experienced a lot of rain, but luckily, it wasn't cold. We saw a lot, learned a lot, ate a lot, and laughed a lot.

Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about her country - we got a great history lesson, learned a lot about the flora and fauna from her, and got to experience so much of Costa Rica. It was great.