CIEE College Study Abroad in Monteverde, Costa Rica

I took Sustainable Development of the Tropics while at CIEE for January. I think it was possibly my favorite class I have ever taken. The professor was awesome. He was super interested and well versed in the subject, which made him super engaging. The format of the class was awesome, we had lectures and then would go to various locations that illustrated what we had learned (about sustainable agriculture and energy sources). We also got to experience some of the different kinds of tourism, which was one of our units in class.

I cannot stress how much fun the January term in Monteverde was! The community of CIEE Monteverde was incredible and all of the staff were helpful and nice. They learn every single student's name and by the end of it, your class, along with the instructor and TA, become a group of your closest friends. I am leaving this program with so many new friends from around the country and with so many memories of fun adventures and excursions that we took. This was the most interesting class I've taken!

Costa Rica is a great place to be, especially when it is not raining. There are a lot of things to do and most of them take advantage of the amazing scenery. Academics weren't too hard or too easy, and professors were understanding when needed. You will get close to the people here since you will interact with them frequently. The cafeteria food was great, even better than some restaurants. Nightlife depends on the occasion, but overall, I would recommend you try a block here, it is a most relaxed experience.

I absolutely loved this program and I would highly recommend it to anyone. The sheer amount of biological diversity that you get to witness and learn about firsthand is unprecedented. The first two weeks you get to go on a field trip all along the pacific coast of Costa Rica and learn about every type of ecosystem that exists. In Corcovado, you wake up to the calls of howler monkeys and Scarlet Macaws out in search of breakfast. The campsite is absolutely beautiful- I would call is glamping because there is a private beach and bar at the place we stay (its called Jungla de Jaguar if you wanna check it out). Here we saw lizards, sloths, toucans, spiders, and someone even had a very up close encounter with a tapir! In Santa Rosa- my personal favorite place, we saw three different species of monkeys on the walk to breakfast alone. We also frequently saw Tamanduas, agoutis, parrots, snakes, frogs, etc. Definitely bring your camera. The teaching staff and TAs are the best people I have ever met in my life, and they will become your best friends. They know the answer to any question you could have, and are the friendliest people in the world. If you love the outdoors, and waking up in paradise, and making amazing friends, 100% do this program!

You don't have to be the most knowledgeable in the environmental field. This program really gives you more than what you put in, as long as you are present and engaged at the moment. The campus is beautiful and the staff are the friendliest out there. Even the locals! Although it is quite embarrassing to not know even just a bit of Spanish, so please learn! Afternoons spent on-campus, you'd still have time to tour the place and its surrounding areas(there are trails everywhere or go downtown), have some coffee(a must-try) or tea by the porch, or pull some mejenga on the field! Most important thing is have fun while learning; Pura Vida!

This was my first study abroad experience and it was amazing. The staff and campus employees were nice and friendly. All the meals were included in the study abroad program and the food was good, but be prepared to eat a lot of beans. It was a great place to make friends. And if you enjoy nature there is a lot of it. The cloud forest is beautiful, and if you keep your eye peeled you can see monkeys, sloths, animals endemic to Costa Rica, and beautiful birds such as the quetzals and toucans. If you are looking for a study abroad experience that lets you get in touch with nature, this is the one.

Even though my time in Costa Rica was only three weeks, I was able to explore and learn about Monteverde and the rest of Costa Rica. The campus is BEAUTIFUL!! You will be able to see lots of wild life and experience incredible sites. The staff was incredible. They were extremely friendly and always there for anyone that needed help. The class was interesting, we were able to have many hands on experiences. I was able to meet a wide range of people, some of them have become my very close friends in such a short amount of time. I highly recommend this program.

This was my first time traveling outside of the United States, and I think I got really lucky having this experience be my first. I was in Monteverde, Costa Rica, for 6 weeks, and I loved being so secluded in the mountains and Cloud Forest. Also, those 6 weeks were filled with grand experiences, like traveling to Manuel Antonio and hiking through the Cloud Forest, but they were also filled with little special moments on campus, such as eating every meal together and weekly dance lessons in the rec room. The staff was extremely supportive, and any questions or concerns I had were answered and addressed. My roommates became some of my best friends, and many of us students have made commitments to visit each other in the States once we return! I also felt spoiled from having delicious meals 3 times a day with fresh, organic ingredients. Additionally, I made long-lasting connections and gathered valuable knowledge through working on the campus farm, helping the kitchen staff clean after meals, meeting local coffee producers and soap makers, and eating pizza at Zelmi’s! This study abroad experience has felt more than just a study abroad — I truly felt integrated into the community. Though I was sad to leave, I know I can still maintain these connections after my travels.