Lingua Service Worldwide, Ltd.

Learn Spanish in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a peaceful country in Central America. It is located between Nicaragua and Panama. The territory is 51,000 square kilometers (20,000 square miles) and the population is four million people. Costa Rica's literacy rate is 93%, which is among the highest in the developing world. Costa Rica has no army and 35% of its land is devoted to national parks or reserves. The country has an incredible variety of climates, vegetation, wildlife and topography. Visitors can enjoy many activities such as hiking in the rain forests and mountains, going to the Caribbean or the Pacific beaches, visiting active volcanoes, bathing in hot springs, white water rafting, cruising to islands, canopying, diving and much more.

Costa Rica Spanish Institute (COSI) Spanish School

Founded in 1994, COSI strives to be the best Spanish language school in Latin America by offering high-quality, personalized Spanish language instruction at a reasonable price. In spite of being a relatively new Spanish language institute, it has quickly developed an excellent reputation for providing personalized attention in a friendly atmosphere and with a highly professional staff.

THE BEACH AND RAINFOREST PROGRAM Spanish courses are held near the Manuel Antonio National Park which has one of the best beaches on Costa Rica´s Pacific coast for swimming and snorkeling. The park is also wonderful for short walks or full-day hikes. In the Manuel Antonio National Park, there is a rare natural land formation called a tombolo which is the most perfect in the world. A tombolo is a strip of land made of sand that joins a former island to the shore. It takes thousands of years for a tombolo to form. This park is a combination of rain forest, beautiful white sand beaches abounding in flora and fauna and great views. You can see howler, squirrel, and white-faced monkeys; two-toed sloths, coatimundis, raccoons, iguanas and over 350 species of birds and other animal species. In Manuel Antonio, the mountains meet the ocean. It is paradise.  The Spanish school facilities have a great view of the ocean and are just 2 miles from the beach.

Learning Spanish at COSI is exciting, efficient and very relaxed. Their methodology is based on the modern communicative approach emphasizing conversation; however, they are flexible and recognize each student's particular learning needs. Students will learn Spanish by using it in practical situations, facilitating their ability to think in Spanish. The Spanish classes are well organized and follow daily lesson plans. All Spanish teachers plan their day's classes in advance, in order to incorporate each student's particular needs.  Their Spanish teachers are highly trained to provide classes that are relaxing, fun-filled, and effective. All the teachers have studied at the university level and several of them have degrees in linguistics as well as teaching certifications for teaching Spanish as a second language. The main role of the Spanish teacher at COSI is to be a motivator and a facilitator rather than a lecturer, so that the student is able to express his or her individuality while relating to others in Spanish. COSI staff has participated in ACTFL-OPI (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages - Oral Proficiency Interview), workshops and some of them are OPI Spanish official testers.

Spanish group classes normally consist of two or three students per level. It is rare that a class size reaches the maximum of six students. In the event that there is no group at the student's same level, they will provide private tutoring for 3 hours per day for the same price as the group program.

Merengue and salsa dance lessons are also offered once a week. Students can also participate in cooking classes. Once a month, students bring typical dishes from their country to share.

See a video presentation of the Manuel Antonio Spanish School:   Learn Spanish in Manuel Antonio Video

Spanish Language Courses 2008 (please scroll down for 2009 information):

(All programs: Please add USD 100.00 Lingua Service Worldwide Application fee. See Application Procedures.)

All prices include number of Spanish lessons as stated below, cultural program, airport transfer in San Jose, public bus transfer to Manuel Antonio, textbooks and materials.  Each lesson is 45 minutes long.

Mini Group Intensive Spanish Course (Average 2-3 students per class, maximum of 8) --- 20 Spanish Lessons per week. Includes 4 hours of Spanish instruction daily, from Monday to Friday, as well as textbooks and handouts. Morning and afternoon class schedules available.

Mini Group Super Intensive Spanish Course PLUS (Average 2-3 students per class, maximum of 8) --- 20 Spanish Lessons per week PLUS 10 One-to-One Spanish lessons per week.  Includes 4 hours of group instruction daily, from Monday to Friday, plus two private Spanish lessons each day as well as textbooks and handouts. Morning group classes with afternoon private lessons.

Private Lessons Super Intensive Spanish Course --- 20 One-to-One Spanish Lessons per week.   Includes 4 hours of private lessons daily, from Monday to Friday. Morning or afternoon schedules.

Starting dates 2008:

Starting dates for all levels:  Every Monday year round. 

Holidays 2008: The Institute will be closed during the following holidays in  2008:  1 January,  9 and 10 April,  1 May, 18 August, 25 December.   Classes missed due to holidays are made up during the rest of the week.

One on One Spanish lessons --- Private Spanish lessons. USD 26 per lesson. May be organized all year round. If not taken in conjunction with a group course minimum of one week, 4 lessons per day applies.

Additional Spanish Language Programs available for 2008:   Specialized Spanish Programs (Business Spanish, Tropical Biology, Latin American Literature, and Medical Spanish) are also available.  Additional information and pricing for these programs is available upon request. Note: these programs are available year round on a private tutoring basis.  They will be offered as groups only for closed groups arriving together.

Accommodation  Prices 2008:

Host Family Stays:  It is possible to live with a host family in Manuel Antonio. The standard of the houses in Manuel Antonio is lower than in San José. For a more luxurious stay, you may want to consider staying in a hotel.  

Host Family:  Single Room, 2 meals a day: USD 130 per week. Additional days: USD 22.

Additional Accommodation Options:  Information on Bed and Breakfast and Hotel accommodations can be provided upon request. There are many hotels to choose from in Manuel Antonio.   For those who want to stay in a hotel, COSI will make all the arrangements necessary at the best prices available. Please note that the busy season is from December to April. During this time, hotel reservations should be made in advance. During the rest of the year, hotel prices are usually 20-40% cheaper and reservations can be made more easily.

Spanish Language Courses 2009:

(All programs: Please add USD 100.00 Lingua Service Worldwide Application fee. See Application Procedures.)

All prices include number of Spanish lessons as stated below, cultural program, airport transfer in San Jose, public bus transfer to Manuel Antonio, textbooks and materials.  Each lesson is 45 minutes long.

Mini Group Intensive Spanish Course (Average 2-3 students per class, maximum of 8) --- 20 Spanish Lessons per week. Includes 4 hours of Spanish instruction daily, from Monday to Friday, as well as textbooks and handouts. Morning and afternoon class schedules available.

Mini Group Super Intensive Spanish Course PLUS (Average 2-3 students per class, maximum of 8) --- 20 Spanish Lessons per week PLUS 10 One-to-One Spanish lessons per week.  Includes 4 hours of group instruction daily, from Monday to Friday, plus two private Spanish lessons each day as well as textbooks and handouts. Morning group classes with afternoon private lessons.

Private Lessons Super Intensive Spanish Course --- 20 One-to-One Spanish Lessons per week.   Includes 4 hours of private lessons daily, from Monday to Friday. Morning or afternoon schedules.

Starting dates 2009:

Starting dates for all levels:  Every Monday year round. 

Holidays 2009: The Institute will be closed during the following holidays in  2008:  1 January,  9 and 10 April,  1 May, 18 August, 25 December.   Classes missed due to holidays are made up during the rest of the week.

One on One Spanish lessons --- Private Spanish lessons. USD 26 per lesson. May be organized all year round. If not taken in conjunction with a group course minimum of one week, 4 lessons per day applies.

Additional Spanish Language Programs available for 2009:   Specialized Spanish Programs (Business Spanish, Tropical Biology, Latin American Literature, and Medical Spanish) are also available.  Additional information and pricing for these programs is available upon request. Note: these programs are available year round on a private tutoring basis.  They will be offered as groups only for closed groups arriving together.

Accommodation  Prices 2009:

Host Family Stays:  It is possible to live with a host family in Manuel Antonio. The standard of the houses in Manuel Antonio is lower than in San José. For a more luxurious stay, you may want to consider staying in a hotel.  

Host Family:  Single Room, 2 meals a day.   Prices 2009:   Single Room, 2 meals a day:  1 week: USD 145,    2 weeks: USD 250,   3 weeks: USD 380,  4 weeks: USD 500.   Additional weeks: USD 120 each.

Additional Accommodation Options:  Information on Bed and Breakfast and Hotel accommodations can be provided upon request. There are many hotels to choose from in Manuel Antonio.   For those who want to stay in a hotel, COSI will make all the arrangements necessary at the best prices available. Please note that the busy season is from December to April. During this time, hotel reservations should be made in advance. During the rest of the year, hotel prices are usually 20-40% cheaper and reservations can be made more easily.

Travel to Manuel Antonio:

Students travel to Manuel Antonio by public bus. Buses leave San José every day at 6AM, 12:00 noon and 6 PM. It is a 3 and a half hour bus ride. COSI buys the bus tickets in advance for your trip. If you choose to fly into Manuel Antonio or to rent a car, they will be happy to assist you in making any arrangements. It is recommended that participants arrive in San José on or before the Saturday prior to the start of classes, stay the first night in San José, and travel the following day to Manuel Antonio. COSI can arrange for your stay in San José, either with a host family or in a hotel.

Activities: 

In Manuel Antonio, students can fish, snorkel, dive, rent boogie and surf boards and go white water rafting. They can also kayak, rent jet skis, go dolphin watching, go on a sunset cruise, go horseback riding or go on a canopy tour. It is also possible to rent a car.  Excursions and activities offered outside of the school are offered at extra charge.

Tours must be booked upon arrival and are paid for on-site. The following is a sample of the tours offered (prices are subject to change without notice!):

 Manuel Antonio National Park tour:     $25 (Transportation (one way), park entrance fee, guide).
An experienced nature guide takes you on an informative hike through the park. The guides know where to find sloths, monkeys etc. They will also provide a great deal of information on the history, flora and fauna of Costa Rica during this 2 hours walk.    Guests may remain in the park after the tour. This tour requires MINIMUM 2 PERSONS.

White water rafting:

 A) Naranjo River: $55 (transportation, breakfast, lunch, guide and equipment). A Class III / IV half day challenge for more experienced paddlers. The Naranjo River drops steeply from the mountains above Quepos, though a beautiful jungle gorge and takes you on a wild ride to sea level passing nearby farmlands and palm plantations. Water levels can rise quickly on this river increasing the difficulty and adrenaline levels.  Rafters should be physically fit and adventurous. Fruit and snacks are provided.
 B) Savegre river: $80 (transportation, breakfast, lunch, guide and equipment). This full day adventure includes an incredible 4 wheel drive journey which takes you in to a very remote back country of the Río Savegre for a 4 hour guided Rafting trip with class II / III / IV rapids in rafts for 6 people. There are great swimming holes and a large variety of birds and primary jungles (egrets, toucans, osprey, parrots, kingfishers, and cormorants). We will stop in a little village called “ Río Blanco ” for a Tico style lunch in a thatched roof restaurant with a great view and a nature path. We also stop at some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the area with many blooming heliconias in this shady garden of Eden.  This company offers a special half day rafting tour for students. $45 per person.

Sea Kayaking: $50 (Transportation, meal, water, guide and equipment). A more challeging open ocean paddle along one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful coastlines. Nearby islands are nesting sites for boobies and frigate birds. We stop for a swim and snacks in isolated Biesanz Bay and we lunch at the end of the trip, near the National Park of Manuel Antonio. (Some experience or reasonable fitness as waves and surf are common)

 Mangrove Kayaking: $50 (transportation, snack,  meal, guide and equipment). A perfect place to learn the magic of exploring coastal mangrove areas and seeing wildlife. None of this trip is in the open ocean and the pace of this trip is according to your abilities. Lunch is at a great seafood restaurant.

Damas Island boat tour: $50 (Transportation, lunch or dinner, boat, guide). Treat yourself to a tour by going on a boat tour of the estuary with a guide. There is great birding and wonderful views on these mangrove canals. We will also stop at the island to enjoy a nice walk on the beach and then go to a restaurant for lunch or dinner. This is an excellent chance to see animals and birds. (caimans, sloths, crocodiles, boas, white face monkeys, egrets, and much more). This is a quiet tour which is not physically challenging.

Canopy Tour $55 (4x4 truck transportation, breakfast or lunch, trained guides, equipment). This trip offers the excitement of exploring the tropical canopy through a series of suspension platforms which are located high above the forest floor. These platforms are connected by steel cables that have been specially designed for people to slide across, allowing you to discover the flora and fauna of the tropical forest first hand.

Dolphin watch:  $55  (boat transportation, snacks, drinks, bird books, naturalist guide). Marvel at the mysterious islands with their jagged rock formation, towering cliffs and nesting grounds with numerous species of marine birds and their young. Listen to the blowholes; whistle with each surge of the waves. Help us count the various types of dolphins, and whales that frolic just beyond the islands. Learn interesting facts about the national park and the history of Quepoa Indians. Join us and witness those unforgettable offshore sunsets, taking a moment to relax and enjoy another beautiful afternoon in paradise.

Horseback riding. $50 ( Transportation, guide, snacks and lunch or dinner). This horseback riding tour is a half day tour through a typical Costa Rican area called Villa Nueva, where you will see the local country side and jungle. This excellent tour is 30 minutes away from Quepos, and includes 1.5 hours riding.  Don’t forget your bathing suit to go swimming in a beautiful waterfall on the way. For birdwatchers, we recommend going in the afternoon for a better chance to see toucans and some other exotic birds.

Sport fishing trips:  Full Day: US$700   Half Day: US$430 3/4 Day: US$495. 4 persons per boat.
(Transportation to and from hotel, boat transportation, fishing equipment, drinks and snacks). For those who wish to fish, Quepos is the ultimate destination. Unlike northern Costa Rica, Quepos is protected from the winter winds and is considered one of the top fishing destinations in the world. Blue fin offers half-day, ¾ day and full-day charters, as well as customized multi-day trips geared to the demands of the client. Both in-shore and off-shore trips are available. All of the boats have towers with full electronic controls, GPS, and are outfitted with international tournament quality equipment. Lunch included with full-day charters. All beverages and snacks included on all charters.

Rain Maker canopy walk: $58 (Transportation ( Quepos and Manuel Antonio ), naturalist interpreter, light breakfast, campesino lunch and fruit juices).Rainmaker’s Canopy Walk is the area’s most user friendly suspension bridge system. Engineered to U.S. standards, the six sections total 820 ft spanning from platforms attached to massive hardwood trees and reaching to heights over 180 ft above the waterfalls, to create the most impressive Canopy Walk in Costa Rica. The design allows minimal impact to the trees and forest below, providing guided tours, limited to eight guests, an opportunity to explore the majesty of the forest canopy from a bird’s eye view.

Sunset Tour $55 ( Transportation, snorkeling gear, meal, snacks, drinks). Your adventure aboard our sail ships begins as you sail down the scenic coast, past the beautiful beaches and islands of Manuel Antonio National Park. As the boat glides quietly under sail, you’ll probably see dolphins.   You will stop in a scenic jungle bay where you can swim or snorkel in the calm, refreshing water.  On the sunset sail, after dinner, you may view one of the spectacular sunsets.

Bike Tours:  Estrella Tour Company offers a variety of tours in and around the Quepos-Manuel Antonio area.  Tours are based on the participant's resistance and abilities.   They also have bikes to rent. 

Scuba Diving: $ 75 (transportation, boat transportation, diving equipment, drinks, snacks). Because of  the high nutrient content of the water, the abundance and variety of marine life off the coast of Quepos and  Manuel Antonio is impressive. Humpback Whales, Dolphins, Reef Sharks, Giant Manta Rays, Mobula Rays, Sting Rays, Octopus, Sea Turtles, Groupers, Snappers, Angels, Moorish Idols, Trumpet fish and much more. Scuba excursions off the coast of Quepos and Manuel Antonio and dive education. With a full time PADI Instructor on staff, we offer a variety of educational services from beginning open water to dive master

Butterfly Garden:  $15 (Children $8) (Entrance fee, bilingual interpretive guides with knowledge of natural history). The Butterfly Botanical Garden and The Wildlife Refuge are a living laboratory of nature conservancy, and an example of sustainable development, you will see a variety of butterflies, as well as precious tropical hardwood trees ranging from 150 to 200 years of age, and a vast variety of other fauna and flora.

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