Costa Rica Housing
Accommodations for ECI's Costa Rica Programs
Our Costa Rica Programs include a variety of accommodation types, depending on the choice of trip.
Expedition Costa Rica:
Language School Homestays & Costa Rica Nature Lodges
Natural Wonders Costa Rica:
Chaperoned Casitas Complex Residence & Costa Rica Nature Lodges
Middle School & High School Spring Break:
Costa
Rica Nature Lodges
We make every effort to include only the highest quality accommodations for our study abroad programs in Costa Rica. ECI works closely with the CPI language school to ensure that our Expedition students are staying with carefully chosen families that meet ECI standards.
The casitas complex that houses our Natural Wonders students is a fully chaperoned, secure complex of bungalow-style cabanas that ECI has returned to for many years because of its high standards, proximity to the school, fun activities and beautiful grounds. Additionally, ECI carefully pre-selects each Nature Lodge (where ECI students stay overnight while traveling - weekends for Expedition and Natural Wonders and for the duration of the Spring Break trips), ensuring they meet high standards before included it in our program.
Please see below for descriptions of each type of ECI accommodation in Costa Rica.
Language School Homestay
(Expedition Only)
Expedition students stay with local Costa Rican families on weekdays during their course of study. In each of the three program towns, San Joaquin de Flores, Santa Elena and Flamingo Beach, ECI works closely with CPI to ensure great families for our students. By staying with famiies, Expedition students further immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture, and often make lasting friendships. All of our families live within a short distance of the CPI schools, and homestays include breakfast, dinner and laundry service.
A host family may be comprised of a young couple, families with children, or an older couple with an 'empty nest'. Costa Rican families are usually larger than American families, with young people living at home until they marry, and commonly an aunt or grandmother also in residence. Family is truly essential to the Costa Rican way of life, and our students gain incredible perspective (as well as having lots of fun) by staying with our Language School Homestay families.
The casitas were so nice. I loved all the flowers and fruit. The breakfast was also really good. I liked the pancakes!
Miranda A. (Natural Wonders 2009 student)
Casitas Complex
(Natural Wonders only)
During the study component of the Natural Wonders program, ECI students live in the language school's gated casitas complex. The casitas, cabana-style bungalows, are three blocks from the school. The complex is set back from the road, affording students a peaceful environment. Students share rooms and enjoy a variety of activities, like volleyball, movie night, and swimming. Usually, Natural Wonders students will eat breakfast at the casitas, enjoying lunch and dinner locally. Laundry service is also provided, and ECI chaperones live on site.
I liked staying in the casitas because I didn't understand enough Spanish to stay with a family.... I would love to go again!
Eric C. (Natural Wonders 2008 student)
Nature Lodges
(Weekend travel for Expedition & Natural Wonders, Duration of Spring Break programs)
During the travel portion of Costa Rica trips, ECI students stay at carefully pre-selected nature lodges. In Costa Rica, nature lodges often feature excellent views, whether of Arenal at Volcano Lodge, the cloud forest in Monteverde, or of the beach in Manuel Antonio. Staying at lodges gives students a true feel of the dedication to the environment and land that Costa Ricans pride themselves on. Meals are either provided through the lodge or locally, and ECI chaperones are always close at hand.
Discover Costa Rica on its official website www.visitcostarica.com and see its exact location on
Google Maps.