Bienvenido!
Develop your Spanish with private instruction in Costa Rica.
Arenal, a rich community for language immersion. Come and visit one of Costa Rica’s most popular areas while immersing yourself with small group class sizes in our classic language setting. Our medical and nursing students will love this opportunity to be part of a very unique experience. The head of the AEC medical program, Dr Arias has his clinic available for all who are interested.
“AEC offers a great combination of learning experiences, mixed with fun options for seeing Costa Rica!”
The staff, the administrators, the teachers and the host families are all welcoming and wonderful. I have recommended the experience to many fellow students.
Lori Lawson
AEC Client, 2016
Arenal Programs
Additional Program Options
Two Students & One Teacher:
- $35 an hour per person.
- $15 an hour for a second person.
- Minimum 10 of hours per week.
- Both students must have same level of ability.
- If the teacher comes to your hotel, then add an additional $3 per hour.
Private Lessons:
- $25 an hour per person
- $15 an hour for a second person
- Minimum 10 of hours per week
Getting to Arenal
Fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport, (SJO). You will need to arrive by Sunday afternoon to your lodging.
Use AEC’s airport pickup or direct pickup by a driver for ease of arrival to your campus.
Airport Pickup
AEC Spanish students traveling to Arenal can take advantage of the airport pickup package.
The AEC Airport Pickup Includes the following:
A pickup at the airport by a member of our staff.
Overnight stay at our near the airport guest house.
Continental breakfast in the morning.
Routing to the proper bus terminal and paid bus fare.
Price: $140 per person
Lodging in Arenal
Home stays are with local Costa Rican families in the town of Fortuna.
Arenal Homestay
- Each student will have a private room with a shared bathroom.
- Couples can stay with the same family.
- Weekly laundry service is provided.
- Includes two meals a day, breakfast and dinner.
All home-stays are within a 10-minute walk from the center of town.
All families can accommodate students with special dietary needs, such as vegetarians.
Price: $165.00 per person per week
2020 Arenal Pricing
| Program Options | Lodging | 1 Week | 2 Weeks | 3 Weeks | 4 Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Hour private | No lodging | $416 | $832 | $1,248 | $1,664 |
| 20 Hour private | No lodging | $500 | $1000 | $1500 | $2000 |
| 16 hr + Medical or Nursing | No lodging | $566 | $1132 | $1698 | $2264 |
| 20 hr + Medical or Nursing | No lodging | $650 | $1300 | $1950 | $2600 |
| 10 & 10 Spanish & Rotation | No lodging | $580 | $1160 | $1740 | $2320 |
| 20 hour medical rotation | No lodging | $640 | $1280 | $1920 | $2560 |
Program Start Dates
Classes start every Monday of the year except on Costa Rican National Holidays.
There are no refunds for missed days because of holidays.
For weeks with a national holiday, students have the option of dropping down to the 16 hour program and price.
Holidays
The following Costa Rica Holidays are observed by the school
- January 1st, 2019
- March 29th to 30th, 2019
April 11th, 2019
May 1st, 2019
July 25th, 2019
August 15th, 2019
September 15th, 2019
December 25th, 2019
How to Register
Contact our registration coordinator, Jeff Garrison, for more information and assistance with booking your course sessions. To contact Jeff please use the numbers below or submit a message via the contact form.
Call Us
For calls placed from within the U.S. and all international calls, please call:
Inquiry Form
Please fill out our inquiry form one of our knowledgeable representatives will get back to you within one business day.
Explore Arenal
Arenal, a rich community for language immersion. Come and visit one of Costa Rica’s most popular areas while immersing yourself with private one on one Spanish instruction. The area is noted for world renowned flora and fauna where people from all of over the world come to visit. Soak in the relaxing hot springs, jump into the area’s wondrous waterfalls, cascade down a white water adventure, or hike up the famous Arenal Volcano. All of these activities are within sight of your stay with AEC.
For young and old this area can fit the interests of many. From studying the language in a private one on one setting this gives the student the uniqueness to really lock in with their language skills. With our other campus locations you can start your program in Turrialba or Playa Dominical and then move onto Arenal to experience the beauty, uniqueness of each location adding to the overall experience of Costa Rica.
About La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a small town in Costa Rica, northwest of the capital, San José. It’s known as a gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park, comprising 2 volcanoes. Active Arenal Volcano is still laced with lava flows. Hot springs dot the foot of the volcano, on the thermal Tabacón River. Dormant Chato Volcano has a crater lake and rainforest trails leading to La Fortuna Waterfall, with its natural pool.
Arenal Facts
Country: Costa Rica
Province: Alajuela
Altitude: 5,480 feet
Climate: Tropical Rainforest
Average Yearly Rainfall: 2 to 11 inches
Average Temperature: 75°F
Things to See
Rain Forest, Volcano, National Parks and abundant wildlife.
Things to Do
Learn Spanish, adventure tours, river rafting, hiking, zip lining and mountain biking.