About Costa Rica

A Central American Country
Costa Rica is the most developed country and the oldest democracy in Central America. It is located to the north of Panama and to the south of Nicaragua. Both the Pacific and Atlantic stretch along the west and east coasts respectively. The country is rich with culture and does not have an army because it was constitutionally outlawed in 1948. These and other unique attributes make study in Costa Rica a fascinating experience.

Some Special Events
Field trips and excursions are an important part of the Costa Rica study abroad experience.

Do you like to hike? We spend a day in the Cloudforest with a trained guide to learn about the tropical environment and ecotourism. This is one of the many field trips we take and after the discussion and tour you are able to choose between hiking to waterfalls or swimming below a canopy of tropical leaves.

Enjoy the nightlife? Following a lecture from Professor Gilbert on the decadence and alluring nature of Latin cultures you can venture out on your own. After class you can sit by the poolside, shop for coffee, or dine out at one of San Jose's mountainside restaurants that overlook the entire city... all while practicing Spanish!