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COSTA RICA
SUMMER CAMP
SPANISH CAMP IN COSTA RICA
Summer Spanish Camp is an amazing experience where you discover a world of travel, language, and intercultural exchange. You are never too young to start exploring and the Summer Spanish Camp program in Costa Rica helps you begin your exploration abroad in a safe and guided environment during your summer break.
Maximo Nivel’s Costa Rica Summer Camp in San Jose and Manuel Antonio is a full-immersion experience for teens between 13 and 17 years old, that integrates the Spanish language into all aspects of the program, including community service, sports, cultural activities, and tourism. You can choose to focus on Spanish classes and improving your language skills or concentrate on community service activities—giving you the chance to make a difference while fully immersing yourself in the local culture. Other camp activities include creative workshops, recreational games, adventure and cultural tours, and lots more. This unique experience helps you develop a better sense of the world and grow into a true global citizen. Maximo Nivel’s Summer Spanish Camp is an experience you remember forever!
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Why I Maximo Nivel
Overall, my experience with Maximo Nivel was amazing, fun, and educational. Both places, San Jose and Manuel Antonio, were a great experience. I loved all the chaperones and my host families made it easy to adapt. I made a lot of really good friends here and I have improved significantly on my Spanish skills. This program let me see the potential I have to learn new things and in progressing in my Spanish speaking.
The main experience I gained from this excursion was learning spanish which was very helpful for me. I decided to parttake in the trip because parts of family speak spanish and therefore I am now able to communicate with them easier. Another positive effect of this excursion was the fact that during the week we stayed in Costa Rica the group also helped in a very impactful social project, cleaning the walls in the city and helping to paint a school. This opened my eyes to the impact people can have on their environment and how people can collaborate to do great things.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
SPANISH IMMERSION
Spanish classes at Summer Camp push you to apply your studies inside and outside the classroom. Spanish classes are an authentic immersion experience led by certified native Spanish-speaking teachers. In the classroom, learners and teachers utilize Spanish conversation and a structured curriculum that emphasizes speaking—you naturally acquire the language as you are pushed to learn through practice.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Campers learn about community service and giving back by getting involved at local schools, communities, and child care centers. Work includes organizing activities with the children, teaching English, and light construction. This is an excellent way to learn more about service to others and volunteering abroad.
Campers experience the original Costa Rican coffee tour to learn how coffee plays an integral part in the local culture and economy. Students learn how coffee is grown, roasted, and processed from bean to cup!
COOKING CLASS
Campers learn how to prepare typical Costa Rican food, such as tamales and empanadas in a participatory cooking class taught by one of our Costa Rican host mothers.
GO KARTS
Campers get an adrenaline rush by racing each other and Maximo Nivel staff around the indoor go kart track in San Jose!
JUNGLE ZIPLINE
This tour explores the jungle canopy through a series of suspension platforms located above the rainforest. Campers zipline from platform to platform taking in the surrounding jungle. The zipline tour is an exhilarating and safe adventure through lush, green canopy and across majestic rivers.
SCAVENGER HUNT
Campers explore the mall -or the beach through a scavenger hunt, where they have a list of clues in Spanish that guide them from place to place
MANUEL ANTONIO NATIONAL PARK
An experienced nature guide leads campers on an informative hike through Costa Rica’s most famous national park. Campers enjoy small beaches, ocean inlets, and see a variety of wildlife.
MOVIE NIGHT
Campers watch movies in Spanish or in English with Spanish subtitles—both are great ways to learn new vocabulary and practice the Spanish language.
MUSEUM TOUR
Campers visit San Jose’s most historic and architecturally-significant buildings and learn about Costa Rica during Pre-Colombian times.
This tour immerses students in the country’s rich culture and history with visits to the National Museum and Jade Museum.
CHOCOLATE TOUR
Costa Rica’s lush jungles have long been famous for producing some of the world´s best coffee, sugarcane, bananas, and chocolate! Spanish campers tour a private, working farm and learn about tropical agriculture and how chocolate is grown and produced, and how some of our most favorite treats are made. Free samples too!
RAINFOREST NIGHT TOUR
Campers experience the fascinating rainforest in Manuel Antonio at night! This the best time to observe and photograph beautiful tree frogs, colorful insects, and other elusive rainforest creatures.
TIQUICIA
The Tiquicia center is perched high above the mountains overlooking San Jose. From this unique vantage point, campers enjoy panoramic
views of the Central Valley and explore ¨Tico¨ folklore through traditional dances and marimba music. There’s also a delicious dinner buffet with traditional Costa Rican dishes.
SALSA CLASS
A fun and relaxed dance class taught by our local professional Salsa instructor. Beyond just Salsa, campers learn other popular Latin American dances, such as Merengue and Bachata.
MANGROVE KAYAKING TOUR
A slow-paced trip through an estuary of the Paquita River. Campers are taken through a safety orientation tour and taught the basics of slow-paddle kayaking. This is a top wildlife tour led by an expert, naturalist guide. The mangrove ecosystem is the habitat of white-faced monkeys, anteaters, iguanas, turtles, crabs, and countless bird species.
SOUVENIR SHOPPING
Campers visit traditional markets and local stores to buy Costa Rican coffee, hand-made jewelry, carved wood handicrafts, and other souvenirs for family and friends back home.
SPORTS & RECREATION
Campers spend the afternoon at a local sports facility such as an indoor soccer field, trampoline park, or basketball court. Members of the Spanish camp community, including host families and Maximo Nivel staff, join in for a rousing game of soccer, the most popular sport in Costa Rica!
HANGING BRIDGES
Campers take a trek through the rainforest along hanging bridges and natural trails up to the top of Rainmaker Mountain. At the summit, there is an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean! The hike continues through the Canopy Walk suspended bridge system, which minimizes forest impact. The tour includes a visit to several picturesque waterfalls and a refreshing swim in a natural lagoon.
SURF SCHOOL
Campers spend the day on one of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica. A professional surf instructor teaches everyone how to ride the waves! Students also get to spend time body surfing, boogy boarding, and paddle boarding. Less adventurous teens can choose to just relax on the beach and watch the action.
SCUBA DISCOVERY COURSE
Campers take part in an optional 2-day introductory “discover scuba” course, taught by certified diving instructors. The course includes 1 day of safety and equipment training in a swimming pool and a 1-day supervised ocean dive. Note, students can opt out of the scuba course and enjoy other Spanish Camp activities if preferred.
And lots more!
DAILY ROUTINE
Every day, Spanish campers immerse themselves in the Spanish language while participating in a variety of activities and events around the capital city of San Jose and the beach towns of Manuel Antonio and Quepos. Monday through Friday, you eat breakfast prior to being picked up in private transportation and taken to your daily tours around Costa Rica.
After your morning activities, lunch is catered in at the school. In the afternoon, from 1:00PM to 4:00PM, the entire group breaks out for their daily Spanish classes. In the evening, you return to your host family for dinner and showers, and then get ready for the camp’s evening events.
During weeknights, planned activities include salsa lessons, bonfires, karaoke, Costa Rican BBQs, game nights, movie nights, as well as quality time and Spanish language practice with your host family. On weekends, you take part in exciting cultural adventures and nature tours led by professional guides and chaperones. Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful and biologically diverse travel destinations on the planet and Spanish Camp never disappoints!
ACCOMMODATIONS
During the Spanish Camp program, you stay with pre-approved, middle class family-stays in San Jose and Manuel Antonio-Quepos. Accommodations at the homes include shared rooms with 1-2 other campers of the same gender and similar age. In the family-stay, breakfast and dinner is included every day and lunches are catered in at the Maximo Nivel institute each day before Spanish class. On weekend overnight tours, you stay at hotels with 1-2 other fellow campers of the same gender and similar age. Chaperones also stay at the hotel. All rooms tend to be simple, but comfortable. Private rooms are available on request.
ABOUT COSTA RICA
Costa Rica is by far one of the most exotic places on Earth! The country offers unparalleled natural beauty, white sand beaches, rainforests, and a wide range of national parks. Costa Rica is located in Central America and borders Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south. A chain of mountains—part of the Andean-Sierra Madre chain—runs the length of the country and separates the Caribbean Sea on the east coast from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast. Costa Rica has thousands of miles of gorgeous coastline and copious amounts of sunshine, which makes it the most inspirational learning environment in the world :)
Costa Rica is a very safe and democratic country. The country is one of the top international tourist destinations in the world and is recognized as the adventure and language learning capital of Latin America. With a population just over 5 million people, Costa Rica is a small country, but it has the most developed economy in Central America, and it is one of the leading countries in education and healthcare in the region. The local people (“Ticos”) are known for their peaceful culture and their friendly and helpful nature, and they are always ready to greet you with a smile, give directions to anywhere you need to go, and they love to help you improve your Spanish!
| Population | 5.1 Million |
|---|---|
| Geography | 51,100 km² (19,730 square miles). Costa Rica is approximately the size of West Virginia. The highest point is Cerro Chirripo 3,810 meters/12,460 feet above sea level |
| Capital | San Jose |
| Founded | 15 September 1821 |
| Currency | Colon (₡) U.S. dollars are accepted in all places of business and are available at most ATMs. Other currencies can be easily exchanged. |
| Languages | Spanish |
| Time Zone | UTC -6:00 |
| Map |  |
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
The Maximo Nivel team is absolutely dedicated to safety and great client service. We understand it can be challenging to let your teenager fly off to another country. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile and ensuring great support for every parent!
Pre-Departure Support
The Maximo Nivel team is here to provide all pre-departure support:
− Where and how to book flights
− How to arrange airline assistance for unaccompanied minors
− Understanding passports and visas
In-Country Support
During Spanish Camp, we are your direct link to your teenager 24/7:
− 24-hour Emergency phone number
− We require all students to call home upon arrival in Costa Rica
− Weekly updates on students and how they are doing
− We make you aware of any urgencies, changes, or updates
− We immediately relay parent messages to students and student messages to parents
− We notify you when your teenager has boarded their flight and safely departed from Costa Rica
Important Note to Parents
Maximo Nivel’s Spanish Camp program is carefully designed to maximize Spanish language learning and intercultural experience. We work very hard to ensure our Spanish Camp is a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment. Our Spanish Camp program is fully chaperoned 24/7.
WHAT TO PACK
Before packing up and heading out to Spanish Camp in Costa Rica, please make sure you and your family discuss what it means to be far from home and the importance of being a good ambassador for your home country while traveling abroad. We strongly encourage parents to be sure your teenager leaves their home country with everything on the list below.
| Documents | Travel Gear | Clothing | Toiletries | Academic Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport valid for at least 6 months | Water bottle | Shorts | Toothbrush | Notebook |
| Credit card | Backpack | Pants | Toothpaste | Pens/pencils |
| International medical insurance & insurance card | Umbrella | T-shirts | Deodorant | Tablet or Laptop (optional) |
| Emergency contact information | Light sweater | Sunscreen | ||
| Maximo Nivel’s contact information | Bathing suit | Mosquito repellent | ||
| Raincoat | Prescription medicine | |||
| Hiking shoes | ||||
| Sneakers | ||||
| Sandals |
*Sending packages to Costa Rica via postal services is not recommended. Packages can take 2-6 weeks to arrive and an additional 2 weeks to clear customs. Custom taxes may also be expensive.
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