Costa Rica is a beautiful country full of natural wonders and we would like to share it all with you.
We want you to have the opportunity to explore Costa Rica while you study Spanish. We offer all our students advice and assistance in arranging trips to all parts of the country.
We are aware that most students travel on a tight budget, so as part of our personalized service, we will help you get the best prices possible on tours and hotels. (Instead of receiving a commission, we ask all tour operators and hotels to give a greater discount to our students.)
For more convenience we also offer several packages that include an intensive 4-week Spanish course, Homestay and weekend tours.
If you would like to travel independently, you can choose any Spanish program you wish and we can help you arrange your travel plans (information, tour reservations and discounts, bus tickets, hotel reservations, etc.)
Even after you finish your Spanish program, you are welcome to continue using our travel services. You can leave your luggage at the school while you travel and use the Academy as your “home base”.
SPANISH & HOMESTAY PROGRAMS WITH EXCURSIONS INCLUDED
All 4 WEEK, Spanish & Homestay Programs with:
6 or 5 hours/day, Monday-Friday or
6 hours/day, Monday-Thursday include 2 One Day Tours
All 4 WEEK, Spanish & Homestay Programs with:
4 hours/day, Monday-Friday or
5 hours/day, Monday-Thursday include 1 One Day Tour
For the One-Day Tour students can choose from the following:
- Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley & Lankaster Gardens
- Poas Volcano, Grecia & Sarchi
- Reventazon White Water Rafting
- Coffee Tour
POPULAR TOURS & DESTINATIONS
Tour to Irazu Volcano, Orosi Valley & Lankaster Gardens
The trip begins ascending the breathtaking summit of the Irazu Volcano for a view of the massive crater. On a clear day you can actually see the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans!
After an exciting tour at the volcano,we willdescend tothe historical city of Cartago. Here we will visit the mysterious ruins of the old Parishand view the beautiful Basilica of our “Virgen de los Angeles” with rich displays of carvings, statues and art.
After our visit to the Basílica de Los Angeles we will drive to the Lankester Gardens. The Lankester Gardens are a Tropical Paradise featuring over 800 varieties of exotic orchids, various tropical flowers, and plant life. This tour continues with a ride through the unique beauty of the famous Orosi Valley and Reventazón River.
The area is noted for its rich soil, abundant plant life, and the outstanding coffee plantations. We will have a stop for lunch in a restaurant surrounded by beautiful coffee plantations and an excellent view to the Cachí Lake. Along the way, we will visit one of the oldest colonial churches and see the enchanting “Dreamers House”.
Tour to Poas Volcano, Grecia & Sarchi
The Poas volcano is one of the world’s largest geysers with an awesome crater, over 1.5km wide. The volcano is active but completely safe for viewing.
This tour begins with a beautiful drive through lush coffee plantations and local flower farms. In addition to the volcano, the Poas National Park is a 9,884-acre reserve with rich vegetation and animal life.
The tour includes a hike through the surrounding forest, ending at the emerald green crater lagoon. Next, you have lunch at a mountain restaurant and travel to the town of Sarchi, where local craftsmen build the famous oxcarts of Costa Rica and other wooden crafts.
City Tour
The Academy is located within a short walking distance of the city center. You can do a walking tour from the school to downtown, going past the National Museum, Plaza de la Democracia, Craft Market, Congress Building and ending in the Plaza de la Cultura & National Theater.
National Museum
With the abolition of the Army, the Bellavista Fortress, an old army headquarters, was turned into the National Museum which houses Costa Rican archaeology, jade & gold pieces, colonial & religious art, etc. There is also a tropical garden with old cannons, and some of the walls are pockmarked with bullet holes from the 1948 civil war.
Coffee Tour
Visit a real coffee farm and enjoy the view of coffee fields in the majestic presence of the Poas and Barva volcanoes.
Learn about coffee in a fun way:
Professional actors guide you through each stage of production, from tending the trees to drinking a fresh cup.
Afterwards, you can purchase gourmet coffee and other unique gifts at the factory outlet.
White Water Rafting
This is a fun and exciting trip! Professional rafting guides will take you for a ride in a beautiful river surrounded by tropical vegetation. Our students love this tour!
Butterfly Farm and Zoo-Ave
In the area of Alajuela you can visit the Butterfly Farm and the Bird Zoo (Zoo-Ave)
The Butterfly Farm opened in 1983 and was the first commercial butterfly farm in Latin America. A Butterfly Farm? Yes, we farm butterflies in Costa Rica and it’s a very interesting process. Informative tours take you through tropical gardens filled with hundreds of butterflies of many species.
Students can learn about all the stages of the complex butterfly life cycle and during production season they can watch thousands of pupae being packed for export all over the world.
The Zoo-Ave has a collection of tropical birds, including over 60 Costa Rican species, displayed in a park like setting.
LEARN SPANISH & LEAVE A POSITIVE FOOTPRINT
CRLA students have the opportunity of contributing to make a tangible difference in our world and to leave something positive for future generations.