COSTA RICA STUDENT LIFE
San Jose is a fun and exciting city with many entertainment and recreational opportunities. Students will find everything from historic sites and museums to, theaters, nightclubs, cafes, and much much more.
Housing & meals
As part of the immersion component of the program, students live with host families. This allows students to practice their Spanish with local speakers 24 hours a day, while also giving students an inside view of Costa Rican culture. Host families look forward to opening their homes and providing an environment in which students not only feel at home but also have the flexibility needed to discover Costa Rica. The opportunity to enjoy home-cooked Costa Rican cuisine also can’t be overlooked!
Most host families live within walking distance or a short commute of Universidad Fidelitas. Students may request to share a family with another student or not. If two students live with one family, each will have a private room. Students have access to common areas of the house.
Meals and laundry are provided by the host family. Breakfast is served prior to the start of classes. Dinner is served in the late afternoon. Lunch is served on days students do not have school/program activities. Laundry is done once per week.
Getting around town
San Jose is an easy city navigate. Buses are the primary mode of transportation around town. The main bus station, Coca Cola Bus Terminal, is centrally located in Downtown San Jose and is the major hub of the entire Costa Rica bus system. It stands on the spot of Costa Rica’s first Coca Cola bottling plant – hence the name.Taxis are available throughout the city, but only accept three riders at a time. A taxi can be hailed on the street and at taxi stands, or reserved by phone.
Insurance
Students will be enrolled in GeoBlue international health insurance (not Atlas insurance). GeoBlue offers comprehensive medical and travel insurance and mandated by Northern Arizona University (NAU), the co-sponsor and manager of the program. Students will receive additional information (including policy details and coverage) in an email from GeoBlue prior to program departure.
ONSITE DIRECTOR
Javier Trejo-Sainz
Onsite Director, Costa Rica
javier@KEIabroad.org
Javier Trejo-Sainz is a Northern Arizona University Spanish instructor. He lives in San Jose full-time while teaching for the program, leading excursions, coordinating housing and courses, and serving as students’ point of contact during their time in Costa Rica. Javier has over 30 years of experience teaching Spanish and managing study abroad programs.
Javier made all the difference in my study abroad experience! He was always available to help with any issues that may arise, and having an inside view to the culture and experiences of the country really helped us go from “tourist” to “participant” while abroad.
