Learn Spanish and Volunteer in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica

• North Western Region: 
Guanacaste
• Central Pacific Coast: 
Cartago
• Eastern Lowlands: 
Bribri,  Talamanca,  Puerto Viejo

Dates: Any day of the year

Description: We are a non-profit organization based in Costa Rica, offering volunteer tour packages for individual travelers, families and groups interested in learning the language, exploring the culture, contributing to the communities and discovering the natural beauty of Costa Rica.

Students learn Spanish in a multi-pronged approach as they live with a host family, take interactive Spanish lessons, and utilize their new skills while participating in volunteer activities in the community. We welcome learners of all levels, from total beginners to more advanced students looking to perfect their language skills. In many cases our classes are one-on-one and therefore allow teachers to tailor classes to suit the wishes and level of each individual student.

Our professors average 18 years teaching Spanish. They are fun, enthusiastic, experienced, and are here to ensure that learning Spanish is both fun and rewarding. Volunteers usually stay with host families, which offers total immersion in Spanish and allows for rapid improvement. But a second option of staying in a hostel is often available, depending on the project location chosen.

You'll not only learn Spanish, but through the volunteer program participation, you'll also be able to experience the culture and spirit of Costa Rica by living and working with the local people and personally contributing to the much-needed community development efforts.

Volunteer in the Caribbean beach town of Puerto Viejo, in a small indigenous town or exotic Guanacaste. Join some of our fun projects with local kids, teach English, help out on the indigenous reservation or get wild with one of our environmental or animal projects.

The full range of our exciting volunteer programs is listed below, but check out the individual profiles that we've listed on VolunteerAbroad or visit our website for more details:
* Spring Break Volunteer Adventure
* Summer Volunteer Adventure
* Children and Education:
   - Teaching English
   - Teaching in Elementary Schools.
* Conservation and Wildlife:
   - Monte Alto Nature Reserve
   - Camaronal Sea Turtle Rescue Project, Comaronal Reserve
   - Wildlife Rescue Center, Arenal
   - Children's Eternal Rainforest, Arenal
* Community Development:
   - Bambu Indigenous Project
   - Community Work in Hojancha
   - Bambu Asilo de Ancianos - Retirement Home

Our programs, which volunteers can start on any date, are a minimum of 1 week long. We are able to adapt and customize these programs to suit the volunteer's personality and interests - it is possible to combine different volunteering projects and we can even arrange tours if you wish to spend half your time volunteering and learning Spanish and half your time vacationing.

Please visit our website photo gallery to see photos of our projects and read what past volunteers have said about their experiences in our volunteer blog.

Highlights: You'll not only improve your Spanish, you'll also have life-changing experiences, a positive and lasting impact on a community and unrestricted glimpses of the Costa Rica most visitors don't know.

Live among locals, learn their language and share talents that can make a difference in a society often forgotten.

The vacation is not all work and language learning; plenty of play is available as well. Build bridges, literally and figuratively, and return home fulfilling a community's hopes and feeling fulfilled.

Cost in US$: 1 week - $995, 2 weeks - $1895, each additional week - $399 excluding Spanish lessons (see below for prices)

* Accommodation in guesthouses and hotels can be arranged at extra charge.

Spanish lessons:
10 hours Spanish Lessons USD 150
16 hours Spanish Lessons USD 224
24 hours Spanish Lessons USD 312
32 hours Spanish Lessons USD 384

Excursions and cellphone rental are also available at an extra cost.

Children 12 and under are charged USD 799 and USD 999 for two weeks.

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Costa Rica Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Tropical Adventures's Mission Statement: The Tropical Adventures Foundation is a resource for empowering individuals and communities inside and outside of Costa Rica. Our goals are to: Support the inherent value of the individual, reduce poverty and injustice, help communities achieve sustainable growth, create safe environments, promote international learning and cooperation and foster personal and worldwide peace. Every community around the world faces the fundamental challenge to create social and economic systems that promote peace, human welfare and the sustainability of the environment on which life depends. We meet this challenge by supporting and encouraging initiatives by those living and working closest to where the problems are located. We promote collaboration among diverse individuals, nonprofit organizations, government and businesses from the local area and around the world, as well as from every level of society. Our experience shows such activities help build common understanding, bring forward and reinforce the inherent value of the individual, strengthen a sense of local and worldwide community, and ultimately enable people to improve their lives and reinforce their commitment to society.

Year Founded: 2005