Choose your Summer 2026 Program!
| Discover the 'Pura Vida' lifestyle while immersing yourself in the language and culture of Costa Rica. Renowned for having the best climate in the world, the town of Atenas provides a safe, authentic environment for high school teens between 13-18.
Experience the heart of Costa Rica in Atenas, a traditional highland town renowned for its unparalleled safety and the 'best climate in the world.' Our Arcos Journeys Abroad program offers a balanced blend of rigorous academics and breathtaking eco-adventure. Leveraging over 20 years of on-site expertise, we provide superior Spanish instruction at the ATESA Spanish Academy, where immersive Spanish classes are capped at just seven students to ensure personalized instruction. Afternoons are dedicated to hand-picked cultural activities and meaningful community volunteer projects that foster global citizenship, while weekends feature staff-led excursions to the rainforests of La Fortuna and the Pacific shores of Jacó Beach. Join us in the central highlands for a safe, high-impact immersion into Costa Rican culture.
Program Location: Atenas, Costa Rica
Eligibility: 13-18 years of age
Group Size: Typical cohort of 8–15 participants (Min: 5 / Max: 20)
Focus: Spanish Immersion & Culture
Level of Spanish: Accommodates all Spanish levels (Beginner to Advanced)
Accommodation: Homestay (2-3 students per home)
Arrival & Departure Airport: SJO (San José International Airport)
Room & Board | Tuition | Onsite Directors & 24/7 Support | Excursions | Cultural Activities | Airport Transfers | International Medical Insurance
Our schedule reflects the early-to-rise culture of Costa Rica, maximizing the beautiful morning weather for academics and utilizing the afternoons for hands-on cultural workshops. Guided by our seasoned directors, each day is structured to enhance Spanish language acquisition with the highest standards for safety and supervision.
7:00 AM: Breakfast (Gallo Pinto) with your host family
7:45 AM: Walk to ATESA Spanish Academy
8:00 AM: Spanish Immersion in open-air classrooms
9:30 AM: Mid-morning merienda, or snack break
12:00 PM: Lunch at your homestay
2:00 PM: Cultural activity (Ex. Cooking Class or Coffee Tour)
5:00 PM: Community sports or free time in the town plaza
7:00 PM: Dinner at homestay
9:00 PM: Curfew; evening reflections with your host family
Native Spanish instructors lead every lesson at the ATESA Spanish Academy, a premier institution for Spanish language learning since 2006. Students learn Spanish in open-air classrooms nestled among tropical fruit trees, benefiting from small group sizes and personalized attention. The communicative curriculum prioritizes active engagement and is specifically designed to transition learners from basic grammar into confident, real-world conversation.
Classes run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, with a mid-morning merienda (snack break) to recharge. Students enjoy small class sizes with a teacher-to-student ratio never exceeding 7 students per class.
2 weeks, 1 class (30 hours)
3 weeks, 1 class (45 hours)
The Arcos curriculum comes to life through a diverse range of cultural activities and excursions. We provide students with an authentic gateway into the heart of Costa Rica’s world-renowned biodiversity and rural traditions.
La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano: Journey into the tropical rainforest for an overnight excursion to the foothills of Arenal Volcano. Hike a pristine waterfall and zipline through the canopy as you discover the vibrant volcanic landscape and biodiversity of the region.
The Pacific Coast: Enjoy a full-day beach trip to the shores of Jacó complete with professional surf lessons, wildlife and Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity, fully supervised by our veteran on-site directors.
Traditional Cooking Class: Learn the secrets of traditional Costa Rican cuisine including making handmade empanadas and tasting tropical fruit juices.
Community Service: Take part in an impactful staff-led volunteer project, such as providing English-immersion activities to local school children or environmental service at a local nature park, fully supervised by our experienced on-site directors.
Coffee Culture: Visit a local family-owned farm for an authentic coffee tour to learn about the history, harvesting, and local climate, soil and seasons that make Costa Rican coffee among of the best in the world and enjoy a tasting of local varieties.
Our Atenas host families are located within a safe, 15-20 minute walk of the school. With a nightly curfew and 24/7 on-site support from our bilingual directors, we provide a structured safety net in a small-town environment.
In Atenas, our students don't just visit Costa Rica; they become part of a community. Our directors have lived and worked in the Alajuela province for decades, ensuring that every student feels like a 'local' from the moment they arrive. We pride ourselves on the open-air learning environment at the ATESA Spanish Academy, where the sounds of the rainforest provide the backdrop for language mastery.
The heart of our Atenas program is the deep connection students form with their carefully vetted host families. Atenas is renowned for its welcoming community and tranquil pace of life, making it one of the safest destinations for high school students in Central America. Each homestay is located within a 15-20 minute walk of the language school and typically hosts 2-3 Arcos students. Families provide three daily meals, including traditional Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto and casados, offering a firsthand look at the country's world-class culinary traditions and hospitality.
With over 20 years of experience managing international student travel, our headquarters team in Austin, Texas maintains a rigorous 24/7 safety net for every participant. Experienced on-site directors are available around the clock in case of emergency. Trained in comprehensive health and safety protocols, our headquarters and on-site leadership provide a direct line of communication for parents, ensuring expert guidance and support is always a phone call away.
Every student is covered by a premium international medical insurance policy with Cigna Global. We have established relationships with nearby hospitals such as Hospital CIMA in Escazú to ensure immediate care if needed. For more local medical attention there are two clinics in Atenas; Linea Vital, a private clinic, and CCSS Clinic Atenas; EBAIS Los Angeles, the public clinic.
Our headquarters team and on-site Program Directors provide a seamless, high-support arrival and departure experience in San José (SJO) with transfers to and from Atenas, about a 35-45 minutes drive away. From real-time flight monitoring and professional airport transfers to direct WhatsApp communication with parents and students, every aspect of your transit is supervised by our veteran staff to ensure a safe, coordinated journey from the moment you land until your final departure home.
A native of Atenas and a licensed Naturalist Guide with the Costa Rican Tourism Board, Catalina Ovares brings over a decade of expertise in local flora, fauna, and safety-certified group leadership. As a CPR-certified professional and mother, she combines her deep love for Costa Rican history with a dedicated focus on the safety and well-being of every student.
"This experience taught me that people truly appreciate it when you try your best to speak the language, and I left feeling more confident than ever." — Amelia, 9th Grade, Archie Williams High School, Woodacre, CA
"Everyone was so nice. I loved all of the planned activities and my homestay." — Elliot, 10th Grade, Acalanes High School, Lafayette, CA
"I enjoyed the challenge of speaking to locals and getting around town. The directors were very kind, and the classes were engaging and informative." — Lela, 10th Grade, Concord Carlisle Regional High School, Concord, MA
Yes, Atenas is a smaller, rural community known for its tranquil pace of life, making it significantly safer and more navigable for high school study abroad students than the capital city of San José. At Arcos Journeys Abroad, we enhance this natural safety with 24/7 on-site supervision by our local Directors, carefully vetted homestays in secure neighborhoods, and a comprehensive emergency protocol. We provide every student with a 24-hour emergency contact number to ensure they are never more than a phone call away from assistance.
No, we welcome high school study abroad students of all Spanish levels - from absolute beginners to heritage speakers. On the first day at ATESA Spanish Academy, the local faculty give each student a language assessment to ensure they are grouped with peers at their exact proficiency level. Because our program focuses on immersion, students often find that their Spanish improves more during a few weeks of daily life in Atenas than it does during a full year in a traditional classroom.
While days are warm and sunny, evenings in the highlands can be cool. We recommend light layers and a sturdy pair of walking shoes for rainforest excursions. The summer months coincide with the rainy season so make sure to bring a compact umbrella and shoes that can get wet. If there is rain its usually a brief afternoon or evening shower. We like the rainy season best because it's when everything is at its most lush and green!
Arcos Journeys Abroad is the premier high school division of Arcos Learning Abroad. Since 2020, we have provided transformative, expert-led international education experiences for students throughout the US and abroad.
