Intensive Spanish Immersion Program in Heredia, Costa Rica

I spent one week at Tico Lingo and it was great! The lessons with Freddy were interactive and so much fun.
Unfortunately I could not stay longer, but I learned so much in just one week, thanks to good teaching!
Yeni at the front desk was warm and caring and helped with whatever issue we may had and Chris showed us around in the city, giving us tips and information about Heredia.

The salsa lessons offered after school were great!

I had also booked a homestay and lived with Miriam, a lovely lady who made me feel at home immediately.
Myriam spoke a lot with me, always making sure I understood what she said. She cooked delicious meals and always made sure I got enough food as I'm a big eater.

I spent 4 weeks at Tico Lingo and I loved it! One of the greatest benefits of this program lies in the opportunity to join on any given week and stay as long as feasible. So you really have a chance to make this work with your schedule!
Another reason why I recommend Tico Lingo is their commitment to use only Spanish in class (with slight variations based on the group’s level). The students are invited to engage in meaningful conversation, encouraged to share opinions or even debate questions, all while keeping it light and funny. Don’t be surprised if you’ll be prompted to engage in philosophical discussions you might not have had even in your native language :)
And…Tico Lingo is a community of wonderful people—knowledgeable and fun teachers, kind and helpful staff, and adventurous fellow students! While it was great to enjoy the continuity offered by being with a core small group for the entire time, it was equally great to have new students join each week bringing some fresh perspectives to the class.
No host family in my case, but had a great rental condo so I was able to travel with my partner and pets :)

On your arrival someone from the school will pick you up at the airport then drives you to your family.
They had an evaluation prior to the start of the class so we would fit in the appropriate level.
4 hrs daily class of Spanish, lots of grammar and verbs.
Fresh coffee is always available as well as water and tea.
After class the option to salsa dance or do some yoga was available.
Cooking classes to learn how to cook a Costa Rican meal. And then eat it too!!
On the first day of school we got a guided tour of the city.

The host family was wonderful. Very kind and thoughtful. They prepared meals each day trying different fruits, main dishes and fruit juices. We ate together and spoke in Spanish.

The tour to Manuel Antonio was beautiful beside the rain, it rains a lot in Costa Rica. We saw monkeys and sloth, iguana and parrots.
A refreshing stop at the beach before heading to lunch. A long drive to get there but well worth it. Wish we had a guide from the park to explain a few things.

Ticos are so very kind and patient.
Loved every moment of my stay.

My wife and I completed 2-weeks of instruction and wish we had stayed longer. I made rapid progress in this immersive program despite this being my first-ever Spanish instruction. The instructors are sensitive to the learning needs of students. The administrative staff are responsive and helpful. We greatly appreciated residing in a homestay where minimal English was spoken and we practiced what we learned in class. We welcomed interacting with the diverse student population. We plan to return. Thank you Tico Lingo!

An excellent, and professional experience I had at Tico Lingo. From the staff, and learning, to a supportive host family.
A step in the right direction, for people wanting to learn Spanish.
Have taken Spanish courses on two separate occasions, with Tico Lingo. First one I did, I did not stay with a host family, and I wish I did. Even though it is not home sweet home, with a little bit of flexibility on the students part, living with a Costa Rican family will benefit the learning experience. It will put more value into learning Spanish by having a taste of the culture behind it.

I studied at Tico Lingo for just one week, but it made such an impact on me! Not only did I refresh my rusty Spanish super fast in individual conversation classes with the amazing Erick, but I loved staying with my host family and also made some fun friends along the way. We were able to eat lunch together several times, take cooking and dance classes, and even go on some excursions together. Yenny, Chris, and Robert really made sure I had everything I needed before I arrived, and I received prompt responses to any follow up questions I sent. It was a cheerful, fun place to study, and I hope to come back. My Spanish is so much more on track after that week and then putting it to practice on traveling around CR afterwards. I highly recommend Tico Lingo for its hands on, helpful touches and for great instruction!

My trip to Costa Rica was my first time traveling solo out of the country. Deciding to make it a Learning Vacation was the best decision for me. Tico Lingo offered me a welcoming airport pickup, a caring home stay, and multiple educational experiences. My stay included 1 week of group Spanish classes and 4 free days; I wish I could've stayed so much longer. Additionally, I loved that I could continue my practice of yoga and dance classes while engaging in Spanish immersion. The ease of signing up for an adventurous excursion (that included breakfast, lunch, transportation, and a guide) was such a delight. My initial worries were eased the moment I met my Costa Rican family. They treated me like a longtime friend; they even accommodated my dietary needs. We enjoyed breakfasts and dinners together, talked and even played chess together. After my return to the states, we have continued to stay in touch. I also met other students at Tico Lingo with whom I shared fun times at a night club, farmers market, and hot springs. I had a lot of firsts on this trip, and all of it is because I chose Tico Lingo and I'm so thankful I did. I hope to visit Costa Rica AND Tico Lingo again soon.

My experience at Tico Lingo was great! I participated in a 3-week program (1 week of group classes + 2 weeks of private classes) with two different instructors. My time in class was a good mixture of technical training, to include grammar and vocabulary, combined with conversational training to enforce the skills I had learned. I really enjoyed my group classes, but I learned so much in my private classes. They were personalized to the specific areas I needed to work on--challenging yet beneficial. My host family was hands down the best! They were so accommodating and really treated me like a member of the family. They did not speak English, so I had even more opportunity to practice speaking Spanish. I opted for a longer walk to school which turned out to be pretty nice because every day I could explore the different shops, restaurants, cafes, and landmarks of the city. I also love how central Heredia is as it makes traveling to other parts of Costa Rica so easy. The people are friendly, the food is so good, the area is safe, and Tico Lingo will always hold a special place in my heart.