Arenal Volcano

Ashley Hall

Mahe Van Dyck Spanish

Ashley Hall Costa Rica Custom

An unforgettable 10-day journey to Costa Rica, where students will immerse themselves in the rich culture and natural beauty of Sarapiquí and the Arenal Volcano. Enhance your Spanish skills with daily classes and interact with locals through engaging workshops. Enjoy thrilling activities like white water rafting, ziplining, and exploring ecological gardens. Experience the warmth and immersion of host families in our unforgettable Family Stay Experience® that allows students to become temporary locals . This program offers a perfect blend of education, adventure, and cultural immersion. All travel dates are tentative, pending teacher approval and airline confirmation.
Trip Cost: $5589.00
Trip Leader 1: Mahe Van Dyck
Start Date: 06/17/2025
End Date: 06/26/2025
Total Number of Days: 10

Day 1 | Departure

Arrive in San José Costa Rica. Then, transfer to your family stay community in Sarapiquí. Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2 | Family Stay

Start your day with breakfast with your host family, fostering meaningful connections. Dive into an interactive Spanish class, enhancing your language skills. Next, engage in a hands-on papermaking workshop, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, experience the thrill of white water rafting on the Sarapiquí River. Conclude the day by sharing dinner and stories with your host family, deepening your cultural immersion. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 | Family Stay

Begin your day with breakfast. Attend an engaging Spanish class to boost your language proficiency. Participate in a cooking class where you'll interact using activity-specific vocabulary and enjoy lunch. Explore the Pierella Ecological Garden in the afternoon. End the day with dinner and quality time with your host family. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 | Family Stay

After breakfast with your host family continue improving your Spanish skills with an interactive class. Enjoy a painting workshop that integrates activity-specific vocabulary. After lunch, visit a local school and participate in a friendly soccer match. Conclude the day with dinner and conversations with your host family. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 | Arenal

After breakfast with your host family transfer to Arenal Volcano by bus. Enjoy lunch en route. Explore the breathtaking El Silencio Lookout and Trails around the volcano. Relax and unwind at the Baldi Hot Springs, with dinner included. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 | Family Stay

Begin with breakfast at the hotel. Experience an adventurous day with a shared Sky Tram, Zipline, and Sky Walk at Arenal Park. Have lunch en route before hiking to the stunning Fortuna waterfall. Transfer back to Sarapiquí with dinner included on the way. Students will return to their host families to spend the night. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 | Family Stay

After breakfast with your host family, attend another enriching Spanish class. Participate in a shampoo-making class, learning new vocabulary as you create. Enjoy lunch together, then embark on a shared chocolate tour to discover the local cacao traditions. End the day by eating dinner with your host family. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 | Family Stay

Attend another exciting Spanish class before exploring the La Tirimbina Reserve on a nature walk, immersing yourself in the local flora and fauna. Conclude the day with dinner with your host family. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 | San José

After breakfast say adiós to your familia tica. Take part in a Spanish class to continue honing your skills. After lunch, transfer to San Jóse by bus. Enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 | Return

Depart for the United States with a lifetime of memories! Meals Included: Breakfast

Price Includes

Round-trip airfare from city listed (and any airline fuel surcharges)
In-country transportation (air, motorcoach, van, as applicable)
All overnight accommodations
Insurance for accidents or illness and trip cancellation coverage due to medical reasons only
International phone allowance $10 per day for each leader while in country
Local Spanish speaking guide during tour portion of itinerary
Xperitas Family Stay with all meals included
Local Family Stay Coordinator on call during family stay
24/7 Xperitas emergency support while abroad
Meals as indicated on the itinerary
Tip Payout of $50 per student
Activities Included: Spanish Classes , Paper making workshop , White water rafting , Cooking class , Ecological garden tour , Painting workshop , School Visit , Soccer pick up game , Arenal Volcano Hike , Baldi Hot Springs , Zipline , Fortuna Waterfall hike , Shampoo workshop , Chocolate Tour , La Tirimbina Reserve Nature Walk

Price Excludes

  • Airline baggage fees
  • Increase in air cost due to requests for specific travel dates or airline
  • Costs incurred due to late or missed flights
  • Passport, visa or other document costs
  • Transportation to/from departure city
  • Any meals not indicated on itineraries
  • Spending money and gifts
  • Any fees associated with advanced seating assignments
  • Small-group supplement when group has fewer than 24 participants
  • Any additional tips for guide(s) and/or bus driver(s) beyond the tip payout

Download Itinerary

German Immersion Family

FINANCIAL AID ELIGIBILITY

German Immersion Family

Payment and Cancellation Schedule

Billing and Payments: Xperitas will email a bill for the final payment approximately three weeks before it is due. For all other payments please refer to this schedule. A payment reminder will be sent to you via email a week before a scheduled payment is due. Payments can be made by credit/debit card via the Xperitas portal or by check or money order payable to Xperitas.

Cancellations: Any cancellation made through October 15, 2024 will receive a full refund minus a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations made after this date will be calculated on an individual basis at the time of cancellation and follow the schedule and terms below.

Payment Schedule

Summer Programs: May, June, July, August, 2025

June 15 (Early Bird); October 15, 2024 (Final)

$500 due with application*

November 15, 2024

$1250

January 15, 2025

$1250

March 15, 2025

Balance

*Once the online application and $500 deposit are submitted and processed, participants will receive enrollment confirmation.

Cancellation Schedule

Summer Programs: May, June, July, August, 2025

Date of Cancellation

Refund Amount

Cancellations received through October 15, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS $100 adminitrative fee*

October 16 – November 30, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS a $250 administrative fee*

December 1, 2024 or later

Refund of all money paid MINUS a $500 administrative fee* AND any air/land

expenses incurred by Xperitas

(Varies by program and cancellation date)

30 days prior to departure

No refund possible

*This fee is to help cover the cost of organizational resources incurred in the planning of the language/cultural immersion experience.

Summer Payment Schedule

Billing and Payments: Xperitas will email a bill for the final payment approximately three weeks before it is due. For all other payments please refer to this schedule. A payment reminder will be sent to you via email a week before a scheduled payment is due. Payments can be made by credit/debit card via the Xperitas portal or by check or money order payable to Xperitas.

Cancellations: Any cancellation made through October 15, 2024 will receive a full refund minus a $100 administrative fee. Cancellations made after this date will be calculated on an individual basis at the time of cancellation and follow the schedule and terms below.

Payment Schedule

Summer Programs: May, June, July, August, 2025

June 15 (Early Bird); October 15, 2024 (Final)

$500 due with application*

November 15, 2024

$1250

January 15, 2025

$1250

March 15, 2025

Balance

*Once the online application and $500 deposit are submitted and processed, participants will receive enrollment confirmation.

Cancellation Schedule

Summer Programs: May, June, July, August, 2025

Date of Cancellation

Refund Amount

Cancellations received through October 15, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS $100 adminitrative fee*

October 16 – November 30, 2024

Refund of all money paid

MINUS a $250 administrative fee*

December 1, 2024 or later

Refund of all money paid MINUS a $500 administrative fee* AND any air/land

expenses incurred by Xperitas

(Varies by program and cancellation date)

30 days prior to departure

No refund possible

*This fee is to help cover the cost of organizational resources incurred in the planning of the language/cultural immersion experience.

Enrollment Information

$6,029-6,129 per participant for a group of 10-14 students and 3 leaders*
$5,589-5,689 per participant for a group of 15-19 students and 4 leaders*


*Ranges based on estimated numbers of participants and leaders.  Final prices are determined by dates, air arrangements, family stay communities and other program components as confirmed by Xperitas, as well as the total size of the group and number of leaders at the time of final billing. Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in fuel prices, exchange rates, and airfare costs beyond the control of Xperitas.

The order of this itinerary and all itinerary items are subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances that may arise prior to or during the program. .

Registration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a family stay, and why is it important?

Xperitas believes that living with a family, speaking their language and participating in their customs is the best, most authentic and rewarding way to experience another culture. This is what distinguishes our programs from any other individual, family or group travel experience. Our host families are volunteers who genuinely want to welcome the student into their home and daily family routine. 

After almost 50 years of arranging family stays, we are no longer surprised when students consistently report that living with a family is the best part of their experience abroad. Our success with family stays is thanks to our network of dedicated people around the world who work to ensure a wonderful experience for our students. 

How does Xperitas find host families?

At Xperitas we take great pride in helping world language learners and host families create lifelong connections. All of Xperitas’ host families are carefully screened using culturally appropriate practices and selected by local coordinators in the destination country. Many of Xperitas' family stay coordinators abroad are educators and other well-connected members of their community. They network through local schools and community organizations to select families who not only speak the language being studied by the visiting student, but also are eager to share their home and their culture with an American teenager. We select host families who are not financially motivated but motivated by the genuine desire to share their home, language, and culture with our student travelers. Our primary concern is the safety of our participants, and we hope almost 50 years of experience will put your mind at ease. 

When will participants receive information about their host families?

We generally distribute host family information when it is received from our family stay coordinators, approximately two weeks prior to the group’s departure. We know you’re anxious to get this information and we’ll pass it on as soon as we get it! 

How can participants best prepare for the Family Stay Experience®?

Xperitas has many helpful resources for participants to prepare for this exciting part of their program. These include the "How Host Families are Chosen" document, monthly Navigator parent newsletters and articles on our blog.

How should participants thank their families for hosting them?

Host families very generously volunteer their time and open their homes to students. Xperitas recommends that participants write thank-you notes before the last day of the family stay and leave them with their host family.

Xperitas also recommends that participants bring small gifts to thank their host families for their hospitality. Gifts given to the host family do not need to be expensive or extravagant. Think about what would be unique and meaningful. Some ideas include:

  • Something that comes from or is made in your town, city or region
  • Preserved food items from your region that you can cook with your host family
  • Clothing or souvenirs featuring sports teams from your school, city or state
  • A book or calendar about your town or state with lots of pictures
  • A personal photo album with photos that depict your life at home – pictures of your family, school, pets and things that you do are best
  • Games that can be played with your host family

What is the leader’s role during the family stay?

Xperitas requires at least one leader to remain on-call during the family stay. Leaders may stay with a family as well, or in a nearby hotel. The on-call leader is available to address any problems that arise during the family stay. If everything is running as planned, the leader is not expected to check in with students individually, and we also encourage leaders not to do so in order to allow students to interact with their families.  

What if an issue arises during the family stay?

Xperitas has staff on call 24/7 while our groups are abroad to address any issues that arise. Participants will have the group leader and local coordinator’s contact information in case an emergency arises. Participants should feel comfortable reaching out to their leader, and the leader should work with the local coordinator to address any issues in collaboration with Xperitas.