Adventure

Item Description

Learn (or brush up on) Spanish in paradise April 13th to April 21st!

Escuelita Spanish School’s eight-day Spanish Immersion guarantees that you will leave understanding and speaking more Spanish than you thought possible. Our lively and creative classes will have you laughing and absorbing the language as children do.

Daily Spanish classes are complemented by time exploring the village and the rainforest. You might find yourself playing soccer in the local daily soccer game, swimming in a crystal-clear waterfall, taking salsa dance classes, learning to cook “gallo pinto” with a local family, volunteering in an elementary school, touring a chocolate plantation, surfing, working on a ranch, hiking in a national forest, or even riding a horse into the sunset on the beach.

This course combines the two most effective ways to learn Spanish: comprehensible-input based classes and immersion into the language and culture. It is appropriate for students of all levels of Spanish. We hope you join us on this adventure!

The cost includes lodging, food and Spanish classes. Airfare is not included.

Click here for an itinerary.

Email Escuelita Spanish School with questions.

Find out more: escuelitaspanishschool.com

ABOUT RANCHO MASTATAL

Rancho Mastatal is a sustainable living center in the mountains two and a half hours south of San José. It includes 325 acres of beautiful forest, waterfalls, crystal-clear rivers, and impressive views of the mountains of La Cangreja National Park. It is surrounded by protected virgin rain forest and there are over seven km of forest trails on the ranch. The ranch grows most of its own food and produces its own energy, is made up of beautiful natural buildings, and serves as a model of green living. 

Accommodations are very beautiful, though modest. This is not a Four Seasons hotel. (In our opinion it is better!) Composting toilets, solar outdoor showers, and simple dwellings are the norm. Staying at the ranch offers an incredible experience of experiencing a slower and more nourishing pace of life. Meals are healthy and delicious, and most of the food eaten is coming directly from the ranch.

THE VILLAGE OF MASTATAL

Mastatal has a population of about 150 people and typifies rural Costa Ricain this part of the country. Most of the inhabitants live from the land, though this is changing with the growing importance of tourism and the degradation of the lands due to overgrazing and intensive farming. The people of Mastatal are generally reserved and incredibly kind. Many families have lived in the area for generations. There is a church, an elementary school, a local wood carver, a middle school, a small restaurant, two village stores, a bar, a community center, and a police residence. 

Students who choose to live with a Costa Rican (Tico) family will have the special experience of becoming part of that family. They will share breakfast and dinner with their Tico family and will eat lunch at Rancho Mastatal in between class sessions. They will also be able to participate in activities with the family as they are not simply “renting a room” from them. This is a unique homestay experience because Escuelita staff will provide translation support for students and their families. We will visit the homestay families to help with communication every day and as needed. The residents of Mastatal live very simply and accommodations with families are more rustic than those at the ranch. The homestays will give students a first-hand experience of the “Pura Vida” (pure life) way of Costa Rica.

AT THE BEACH: ESTERILLOS ESTE

The group will be staying right on the beach at Encantada Ocean Cottages and on the last two nights of the course. Esterillos Este is a quiet, relatively undeveloped beach. Spanish classes will take place in an open-air classroom right on the water. The surf here is perfect for beginner surfers and students will have the option of taking surf lessons and renting surfboards. 

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